List of India’s HSE Laws & Regulations

1. The Factories Act, 1948 – An Act to consolidate and amend the law regulating labor in factories.
   State Factory Rules of respective States
2. The Mines Act, 1952 (amended 1983) – An Act to amend and consolidate the law relating to the regulation of labor and safety in mines.
   • The Mines Rules, 1955 (amended 1989)
   • The Coal Mines Regulations, 1957
   • The Metallic-ferrous Mines Regulations, 1961
   • The Mines Vocational Rules, 1966
   • The Oil Mines Regulations, 1984 (amended 1996)
   • The Mines Rescue Rules, 1985
3. The Dock Workers (Safety, Health & Welfare) Act, 1986 – An Act to give effect to the Convention concerning the protection against accidents of workers employed in loading and unloading ships.
   The Dock Workers (Safety, Health & Welfare) Regulations, 1990
4. The Indian Boilers Act, 1923 (amended 2007) – An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to steam boilers.
   • The Indian Boilers Regulations 1950 (amended 2010)
   • Boilers Rules of respective States
5. The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment & Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 – An Act to regulate the employment and conditions of service of building and other construction workers and to provide for their safety, health and welfare measures and for other matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
   • The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment & Conditions of Service) Central Rules, 1998
   • State Rules made under the Act of respective States
6. The Dangerous Machines (Regulation) Act, 1983 – An Act to provide for the regulation of trade and commerce in, and production, supply, distribution and use of, the product of any industry producing dangerous machines with a view to securing the welfare of labour, operating any such machine and for payment of compensation for death or bodily injury suffered by any labourer while operating any such a machine, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
   • The Dangerous Machines (Regulation) Rules, 1984 (amended 2007)
7. The Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961 (amended 1986) – An Act to provide for the welfare of motor transport workers and to regulate the conditions of their work
   • The Motor Transport Workers Rules, 1964
8. The Plantation Labour Act, 1951 (amended 2010) and Rules there under – An Act to provide for the welfare of labours and to regulate the conditions of work in plantations.
9. The Beedi & Cigar Workers (Conditions of Employment) Act, 1966 (amended 1993) – An Act to provide for the welfare of the workers in beedi and cigar establishments and to regulate the conditions of their work and for matters connected therewith.
   • State Rules of respective states
10. The Shops and Commercial Establishments Acts enacted by respective State Governments.
11. The Explosives Act, 1884 (amended 1983) – An Act to regulate the manufacture, possession, use, sale, transport, import and export of Explosives.
    • The Explosives Rules, 2008 (amended 2011)
    • The Static and Mobile Pressure Vessels (unfired) Rules, 1981 (amended 2002)
    • The Gas Cylinders Rules, 2004 (amended 2010)
    • The Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012
12. The Petroleum Act, 1934 – An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to the import, transport, storage, production, refining and blending of petroleum.
    • The Petroleum Rules, 2002 (amended 2011)
    • The Calcium Carbide Rules, 1987
    • The Cinematograph Film Rules, 1948
13. The Inflammable Substances Act, 1952 -An Act to declare certain substances to be dangerously inflammable and to provide of the regulation of their import, transport, storage and production by applying thereto the Petroleum Act, and the rules thereunder and for certain matters connected with such regulation.
14. The Insecticides Act, 1968 (amended 2000) – An Act to regulate the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and use of insecticides with a view to prevent risk to human beings or animals, and formatters connected therewith.
    • The Insecticides Rules, 1991 (amended 2006)
15. The Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948 -An Act to provide for the regulation of oilfields and for the development of mineral oil resources.
    • The Petroleum and Natural Gas (Safety in Offshore Operations) Rules, 2009
16. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulation Board Act, 2006 – An Act to provide for the establishment of Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board to regulate the refining, processing, storage, transportation, distribution, marketing and sale of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas excluding production of crude oil and natural gas so as to protect the interests of consumers and entities.
    • The Petroleum and Natural Gas (Appointment of Consultants) Regulations, 2007
    • The Petroleum and Natural Gas (Code of Practice for Emergency Response and Disaster Management Plan)
    • Regulations, 2010
17. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (amended 1991)- An Act to provide for the protection and improvement of environment and matters connected therewith.
    • The Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 (amended 2010)
    • The Manufacture Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989 (amended 2000)
    • The Rules for Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Micro Organisms, Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989 (amended 2010)
    • The Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 [Suppressed the Hazardous Wastes (Management, Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2008] • The Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning, Preparedness and Response) Rules, 1996
    • The Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 [Suppressed the Bio-medical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 1998]
    • The Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage Rules, 1999 (amended 2003)
    • The Noise Pollution (Regulation & Control) Rules, 2000 (amended 2010)
    • The Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation & Control) Rules, 2000 (amended 2007)
    • The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 [Suppressed the Municipal Solid Wastes (Management & Handling) Rules, 2000]
    • The Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016 [Suppressed the Municipal Solid Wastes (Management & Handling) Rules, 2000]
    • The Batteries (Management & Handling) Rules, 2001 (amended 2010)
    • The Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 (amended 2013)
    • The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 [Suppressed the Plastic waste Management and Handling Rules, 2011]
    • The E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 w.e.f 1st October, 2016 [Suppressed the E-waste Management and Handling Rules, 2011]
    • The Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2011.
18. The Water (Preventions Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 (amended 1988) – An Act to provide for the prevention and control of water pollution and the maintaining or restoring of wholesomeness of water, for the establishment, with a view to carrying out the purposes aforesaid, of Boards for the prevention and control of water pollution, for conferring on and assigning to such Boards powers and functions relating thereto and for matters connected therewith.
    • The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Rules, 1975
19. The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977 (amended 2003) – An Act to provide for the levy and collection of a cess on water consumed by persons carrying on certain industries and by local authorities, with a view to augment the resources of the Central Board and the State Boards for the prevention and control of water pollution constituted under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
    • The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Cess Rules, 1978
20. The Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 (amended 1987) – An Act to provide for the prevention, control and abatement of air pollution, for the establishment, with a view to carrying out the aforesaid purposes, of Boards, for conferring on and assigning to such Boards powers and functions relating thereto and for matters connected therewith
    • The Air (Preventions Control of Pollution) Rules, 1982
21. The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 (amended 1992)- An Act to provide for public liability insurance for the purpose of providing immediate relief to the persons affected by accident occurring while handling any hazardous substance and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
    • The Public Liability Insurance Rules, 1991 (amended 1993)
22. The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.- An Act for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property.
    • The National Green Tribunal (Practice & Procedure) Rules, 2011
23. The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (amended 2013) – An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to motor vehicles
    1. The Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 (amended 2005) and Motor Vehicles Rules of respective States
24. The Atomic Energy Act, 1962 (amended 1987) – An Act to provide for the development, control and use of atomic energy for the welfare of the people of India and for other peaceful purposes and for matters connected therewith.
    • The Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules, 2004
    • The Atomic Energy (Working of Mines, Minerals and handling of Prescribed Substances) Rules, 1984
    • The Atomic Energy (Safe Disposal of Radioactive Wastes) Rules, 1987
    • The Atomic Energy (Radiation Processing of Food and Allied Products) Rules, 2012
    • The Atomic Energy (Factories) Rules, 1996
25. The Electricity Act, 2003 (amended 2007) – An Act to consolidate the laws relating to generation, transmission, distribution, trading and use of electricity and generally for taking measures conducive to development of electricity industry, promoting competition therein, protecting interest of consumers and supply of electricity to all areas, rationalisation of electricity tariff, ensuring transparent policies regarding subsidies, promotion of efficient and environmentally benign policies, constitution of Central Electricity Authority, Regulatory Commissions and establishment of Appellate Tribunal and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
    • The Indian Electricity Rules, 1956 (amended 2006)
    • The Central Electricity Authority (Measures Relating to Safety & Electricity Supply) Regulations, 2010
    • The Central Electricity Authority (Safety Requirements for Construction, Operation and Maintenance of Electric Plants and Electric Lines) Regulations, 2011
26. The Energy Conservation Act, 2001 (amended 2010) – An Act to provide for efficient use of energy and its conservation and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
27. The Disaster Management Act, 2005 – An Act provides for the effective management of disasters and for matters connected therewith or incident thereto. (Note: The amendment indicates last amendment year) * List updated on 4th May, 2016

Author: Murali Babu