Draft Dock Work Safety Regulations 2026 Issued Under OSH Code

Notification no. G.S.R 119(E); Dated: 09.02.2026

Section 136 of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (OSH&WC Code), empowers the Central Government to make regulations relating to mines and dock work. Accordingly, the Central Government has notified the draft Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Dock Work) Central Regulations, 2026, prescribed under the OSH&WC Code. The draft regulations apply to all the major ports in India as defined in the Indian Port Act, 2025.

Objections and Suggestions can be submitted within 45 days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette. The key highlights of the draft Regulations are as follows:

• Qualifications of Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator or Inspectors-cum-Facilitators – As per the draft regulations, the central government may, by notification in the official gazette, appoint persons as it thinks fit and possessing a degree in any branch of engineering or science from a recognised university or institute to be Chief inspector-cum-facilitator or inspector-cum-facilitator.
• Filing of Annual Returns by Establishments – As per the draft regulations, every employer of an establishment must send annually a return relating to such establishment in Form IX to the Inspector-cum-facilitator having jurisdiction by 31st January following the end of each calendar year.
• General Requirements Relating to Construction, Equipping and Maintenance for Safety of Working Places – The general requirements relating to construction, equipping and maintenance for the safety of working places on shore, ship, dock, structure and other places at which any dock work is carried on are as follows:

1. 1. The port authority, in the case of shore, and the master, in the case of a ship, must ensure that the maximum loads are not exceeded.
   2. Staircases in a warehouse or storage must be provided with a substantial handrail of 1 metre height and maintained. The protective handrail must be provided on the open sides of the staircase.
   3. Safe access to the deck cargo, hold ladders and any place of work must be ensured by securely installed steps or ladders.
   4. All areas of a dock must be kept properly drained and graded in order to facilitate safe access to sheds, warehouses and store places and safe handling of cargo and equipment.
   5. Cargo platforms must be made of sound material, substantially and firmly constructed, adequately supported and maintained in good working condition.
   6. Cargo platforms must not be overloaded.

• Efficient Lighting Requirements – The draft regulations require the port authority in case of a dock, wharf and master in case of ship to ensure that all areas on a dock and a ship where the dock work is carried out and all approaches to such areas and locations to which dockworkers are required to go during their employment, must be safely and efficiently lighted in an appropriate way.
• Providing and Maintaining Adequate Ventilation and Suitable Temperature in Every Building – As per the draft regulations, the port authority, in case of a dock, wharf, and master in case of ship, must ensure that all areas and buildings where goods are kept must be designed and constructed ensuring effective and suitable arrangements for securing and maintaining adequate ventilation through the circulation of fresh air and comfortable temperature.
• Fire and Explosion Prevention Measures – As per the draft regulations, the port authority must ensure that every place where dock workers are employed must be provided with sufficient and suitable fire-extinguishing equipment and an adequate water supply at ample pressure as per national standards. Further, fire-extinguishing equipment must be properly maintained and inspected at regular intervals, and a record must be maintained to that effect.
• Safety Measures for Dock Workers Onboard – Every employer of the dock worker must ensure the following safety measures for the dock workers working onboard:

1. 1. Weather forecasts must be regularly checked and monitored.
   2. Individuals with compromised health conditions must be forbidden from engaging in work aboard vessels.
   3. The master must ensure that preventive measures are in place to reduce the risk of persons falling overboard and systems are in place to raise the alarm and to begin recovery procedures immediately.
   4. Provision for the rescue from drowning of dock workers must be made and maintained. It must include the supply of life-saving appliances or other suitable rescue equipment, which must be kept in readiness and must be reasonably adequate for all circumstances.

• Measures Providing for the Handling of Dangerous Substances – The draft regulations require that before the unloading of any dangerous goods from any ship commences, the master or officer-in-charge and the agent of ship, intending to handle such goods, must furnish the employer of the dock workers, the Port authority, and the inspector-cum-facilitator with a declaration of dangerous goods at least 48 hours prior to the ship’s arrival.

Click Here To Read The Full Notification