COUNTRY REPORTSRI LANKA
IMPROVEMENT OF POLICY ON
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTHFROM POLICY DEVELOPMENT TO
IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES
Prepared by,Eng.S.G.Dissanayake
District Factory Inspecting Engineer
Industrial Safety Division
Department of Labour
Sri LankaMy work experience in the field of occupational/industrial Safety
and Health is as follows;
Title / Work Organization
Factory Inspecting
Engineer,
Industrial Safety Division,
Department of Labour.
District Factory Inspecting
Engineer,
Industrial Safety Division,
Engineer Department of Labour.

Durationfrom 2010 to 2012

from 2012 up to date

Organization Chart of The Departmentof Labour
Commissioner General of Labour [Head of the Department of Labour]
Commissioner of Labour [Industrial Safety]/ Chief Factory Inspecting Engineer[Head of the Industrial Safety Division]
Deputy Commissioner of Labour [Industrial Safety] /Deputy Chief Factory Inspecting Engineer
Specialist Factory Inspecting Engineers
District Factory Inspecting Engineers[Head of the District Factory Inspecting Engineer’s offices]
Factory Inspecting EngineersOccurrence states ofoccupational/industrial accidents andoccupational diseases
Sri Lanka is a developing country. Hence, the country is stillnotindustrialized

enough.

Nowadays,as

theindustrialization is rapidly in progress, more Factories andConstruction works are coming into operation. Hence, theoccurrenceofoccupational/industrial

accidentsandoccupational diseases are on the increase. The following
charts show the details of occupational/industrial accidents
occurred in Sri Lanka, in past few years.

However, the details on occupational diseases are
rare. For the last few years, only three cases havebeen reported. But the actual values may be much
more.
There is approximately 8.6 million work
population in Sri Lanka. Approximately, 500,000
man days are lost annually due to occupational
accidents and diseases.

Data collection methods for statistics
The details, stated above are from the records maintained by theIndustrial Safety Division of the Department of Labour. According
to the law, applied to Factories and Construction Works in Sri Lanka,
every fatal or major occupational accidents and occupational
diseases should be reported to the Industrial Safety Division. But,
some cases are not reported by employers due to the poor
knowledge about the law or disregarding the law. Hence, some cases
are known through the media, the police or the hospitals. Therefore,
there is a difference between the actual details and reported details.

Occupational Safety and Health related
Laws and Regulations
The major law applied to ensure the occupational/industrial
Safety, Health and Welfare of working population is the
Factories Ordinance with subsequent amendments andregulations made thereunder. Though, every Factories andConstruction Works are covered by these laws the Agricultural
Sector, Offices (Government & Private) and Charitable
Organizations, Mines, Fisheries Sector, Transport Sector andSelf-Employed Workplaces are not covered.

In addition, the followings are the other laws
related to occupational Safety and Health.
Electricity act
Employment of woman and children act
Workman Compensation act
Radiation Protection act
Mines act
Pesticide act
Environmental Protection act

Labour Inspection System
Industrial Safety Division is the only organization that has the authority
to administrate the Factories Ordinance in Sri Lanka. Though, there areseveral other semi-governmental organizations such as National
Institute of Occupational Safety and Health [NIOSH], Occupational
Hygiene Division and Industrial Service Bureau [IDB], theseorganizations have not been properly authorized to administrate of alaw related to occupational/industrial Safety and Health. They carry out
only researches, studies, trainings and recommendation works.
Cont …….

Cont …..
As a major
government organization,
the mainobjective of the Industrial Safety Division is to ensure
the Occupational/Industrial Safety, Health and Welfare
at every work place by enforcing the Factories
Ordinance in Sri Lanka. The officers appointed in
the Industrial Safety
Division are as follows.
Chief Factory Inspecting Engineer/Commissioner of Labour[Industrial Safety]
Deputy Chief Factory Inspecting Engineer/ Deputy
Commissioner of Labour [Industrial Safety]
Specialist Factory Inspecting Engineers
District Factory Inspecting Engineers
Factory Inspecting Engineers

Cont …..

Cont …..

The authority of the Industrial Safety Division
has been decentralized through Ten District
Factory Inspecting Engineers’ offices, namely
Anuradhapura,Gampaha,Badulla,Jaffna,Colombo,
Kalutara,

Kurunegala, and Rathnapura.

Galle,
Kandy,

The Industrial Safety Division carry out following major
activities, through District Factory Inspecting Engineers’
offices, to ensure occupational Safety, Health & Welfare ofworkers in workplaces.
Inspection of Factories/Construction works
Registration of Factories/Construction works
Approval of Factory Building plans and Fire Evacuation plans
Investigation and analysis of occupational accidents/diseases
Conducting of safety awareness programmers on Occupational Safety
Health & Welfare
Investigation of complaints
Scrutinizing the test reports for high risk machines, issued by Authorized
Officers
Appointment of Authorized Officers
Attend coroners courts to give expert evidence
Institution of legal actions

In addition, followings are some other important
activities carried out by the Division
Advisory services for improvement of work
environment in factories
Participation in national committees with regard to
occupational Safety & Health
Safety auditing of factories
Preparation of curriculums on occupational Safety,
Health & Welfare for educational institutions

Generally, Inspections of Factories/Construction Works are carried by
Factory Inspecting Engineers/ District Factory Inspecting Engineers. When
it is specially required, the services of Specialist Factory Inspecting
Engineers are called. A Factory Inspecting Engineer/ District Factory
Inspecting Engineer are supposed to carry out twenty inspections in amonth. After each inspection, the Factory Inspecting Engineer/ District
Factory Inspecting Engineer send an inspection report to the employer ofthe workplace. The inspection report describes the necessary corrective
actions to be taken to ensure the occupational Safety, Health & Welfare.
After doing the first inspection and sending the first inspection report,
periodical monitoring is done including routing inspections. If there areserious contraventions, legal actions are taken.

Workers’ Accident Compensation
Insurance
Maintaining of a Workers’ accident compensation insurance is not a
compulsory requirement in Sri Lanka. But, According to theWorkman Compensation Act, Workers are entitled to receive
compensation after a work related accident or disease. The
compensation can be paid by employer himself or through aninsurance policy maintained by him. The maximum compensationthat can be received in case of a death or other work related accident
or disease as the case maybe is Rs 550,000/- [Approximately 3800 /Dollars]Safety of Equipment and Facilities
Following machinery have been categorized as high risk machinery
Hoist and lifts
Chains, ropes and lifting tackles
Cranes and other lifting machines
Steam boilers and steam receivers
Air/Gas receivers

According to the Factories Ordinance, these high risk machinery should be
In good mechanical construction
Constructed with sound material and adequate strength
Free from patent defects
Properly maintained
Fixed with safety devices
Operated with precautionary measures

Other machinery should be used and maintained in accordancewith the requirements stated in the Factories Ordinance.

According to the Factories Ordinance, in a factory or construction work,
the following facilities should be provided and maintained.

Machinery safety
Electrical safety
Safe and healthy work environment
Pressure vessels safety
Welfare facilities such as washing, sanitary convenience…etc

Training/Educational Programmes
Industrial
SafetyDivision
conducts
manytraining/educational/awarenessprogrammesonoccupational Safety, Health & Welfare in a year. With theparticipation of employers, managerial or supervisorylevel employees, workers or other relevant personnel.
These programmes cover both private sector andgovernment sector too.
With the assistant of lectures, written documents, posters,
pictures, banners, demonstrations, videos, dramas or othertype of activities these functions are held.

Cont …..

Activities of Industrial/Occupational
Safety and Health organizations otherthan the government
In Sri Lanka there are several Industrial/Occupational
Safety and Health organizations such as National
Institute of Occupational Safety and Health [NIOSH],
Occupational Hygiene Division and Industrial Service
Bureau [IDB]...etc. Though, these organizations don’t
have the authority to administrate of a law related tooccupational/industrial Safety and Health. They provide
many services as follows and most of the services arewith the collaboration of the Industrial Safety Divisionof the Department Labour.
Cont ….

Cont …..
Certain researches
Studies
Educating or trainings
Awareness/campaign programmes
Testings
Inspections
Investigations
Study programmes
Surveys
Risk assessments
Recommendations
Making policies, guidelines, standards, codes...etc
Organizing and sponsoring conferences,seminars,workshops
Publication and promoting works

OHSMS and Risk Assessments
In many of the workplaces In Sri Lanka, proper
Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems
and proper Risk Assessment systems are not followed.
The management of every workplace always target on
profit and productivity. But, due to the poor
knowledge/education on the subject or due to the lackof awareness, they are not aware on proper
Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems
and proper Risk Assessment systems. Therefore,
unexpected accidents and diseases occur in workplaces
and the profit and productivity go down.

Campaigns/Events/National
Conventions/Exhibitions
Every year, the 2nd week of October has been
declared as the National Safety Week of Sri Lanka.
Every year, 28 April is celebrated as the World Day
for Safety and Health at Work. On these durations,Occupational Safety and Health awarenessprogrammes/campaigns and other relevant activities
are carried to promote Occupational/Industrial Safety
and Health in workplaces.

References
Statistics from the Department of Labour, Sri Lanka
Statistics from the ILO
Websites of relevant organizations
Factories Ordinance No 45 of 1942

Obstacles in promoting OSH in the
country and suggestions of countermeasures
1.

The Factories Ordinance came into effect in 1950.Though many subsequent
amendments have to be done; only few have been done until now. There are many
regulations to be made under this ordinance. But, only few have been made. Still,there are no laws on Chemical Safety and Ergonomics. There are no regulations
made on Electrical Safety. Even though, The Factories Ordinance covers every
type of Factories and Construction Works, it does not cover the Agricultural
Sector, Offices (Government & Private) and Charitable Organizations, Mines,
Fisheries Sector, Transport Sector and Self-Employed Workplaces. Hence, only
about 2.5 million out of 8.6 million of working population is covered undercurrent laws

Cont …..

Cont …..
Therefore, current laws should be upgraded immediately to suit thepresent industrial situations.
Therefore, current laws should be upgraded immediately to suitpresent industrial situations.

the

In additions, the process of making of policies, guidelines, standards,
codes..etc on OSH is very slow due to lack of resources, experts andother influences. These issues should be addressed properly.
The resources including human resources and facilities provided are notenough to give a proper service on occupational Safety Health.
Therefore, sufficient resources and facilities should be provided
The knowledge/experience of Factory Inspecting Engineers on
occupational Safety Health is not sufficient. Therefore, there should be
a proper training and knowledge upgrading system.

THANK YOU

COUNTRY REPORT-SRI LANKA
IMPROVEMENT OF POLICY ON OCCUPATIONAL
SAFETY AND HEALTH - FROM POLICY DEVELOPMENTTO IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES

Prepared by,Eng.S.G.Dissanayake
District Factory Inspecting Engineer
Industrial Safety Division
Department of Labour
Sri LankaMy work experience in the field of occupational/industrial Safety and
Health is as follows

Title

Work Organization

Duration

Factory Inspecting

Industrial Safety Divisionfrom 2010 to 2012

Engineer

Department of Labour

District Factory Inspecting

Industrial Safety Division

Engineer

Department of Labour

from 2012 up to

dateORGANIZATION CHART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR

Commissioner General of Labour [Head of the Department of Labour]

Commissioner of Labour [Industrial Safety] / Chief Factory Inspecting Engineer[Head of the Industrial Safety Division]

Deputy Commissioner of Labour [Industrial Safety] /Deputy Chief Factory Inspecting Engineer

Specialist Factory Inspecting Engineers

District Factory Inspecting Engineers[Head of the District Factory Inspecting Engineer’s offices]

Factory Inspecting EngineersOccurrence states of occupational/industrial accidents andoccupational diseases
Sri Lanka is a developing country. Hence, the country is still not industrialized
enough. Nowadays, as the industrialization is rapidly in progress, more Factories
and Construction works are coming into operation. Hence, the occurrence ofoccupational/industrial accidents and occupational diseases are on the increase.
The following charts show the details of occupational/industrial accidents occurredin Sri Lanka, in past few years.

However, the details on occupational diseases are rare. For the last few years, only
three cases have been reported. But the actual values may be much more.
There is approximately 8.6 million work population in Sri Lanka. Approximately,
500,000 man days are lost annually due to occupational accidents and diseases.

Data collection methods for statistics
The details, stated above are from the records maintained by the Industrial Safety
Division of the Department of Labour. According to the law, applied to Factories
and Construction Works in Sri Lanka, every fatal or major occupational accidents
and occupational diseases should be reported to the Industrial Safety Division. But,
some cases are not reported by employers due to the poor knowledge about the law
or disregarding the law. Hence, some cases are known through the media, thepolice or the hospitals. Therefore, there is a difference between the actual details
and reported details.

Occupational Safety and Health related Laws andRegulations
The major law applied to ensure the occupational/industrial Safety, Health andWelfare of working population is the Factories Ordinance with subsequent
amendments and regulations made thereunder. Though, every Factories andConstruction Works are covered by these laws the Agricultural Sector, Offices(Government & Private) and Charitable Organizations, Mines, Fisheries Sector,
Transport Sector and Self-Employed Workplaces are not covered.
In addition, the followings are the other laws related to occupational Safety and
Health.
Electricity act
Employment of woman and children act
Workman Compensation act
Radiation Protection act

Mines act
Pesticide act
Environmental Protection act

Labour Inspection System
Industrial Safety Division is the only organization that has the authority toadministrate the Factories Ordinance in Sri Lanka. Though, there are several othersemi-governmental organizations such as National Institute of Occupational Safety
and Health[ NIOSH], Occupational Hygiene Division and Industrial Service
Bureau[IDB], these organizations have not been properly authorized toadministrate of a law related to occupational/industrial Safety and Health. They
carry out only researches, studies, trainings and recommendation works.
As a major government organization, the main objective of the Industrial Safety
Division is to ensure the Occupational/Industrial Safety, Health and Welfare at
every work place by enforcing the Factories Ordinance in Sri Lanka. The officers
appointed in the Industrial Safety Division are as follows.
Chief Factory Inspecting Engineer/ Commissioner of Labour [Industrial
Safety]Deputy Chief Factory Inspecting Engineer/ Deputy Commissioner of Labour[Industrial Safety]
Specialist Factory Inspecting Engineers
District Factory Inspecting Engineers
Factory Inspecting Engineers
The authority of the Industrial Safety Division has been decentralized through Ten
District Factory Inspecting Engineers’ offices, namely Anuradhapura, Badulla,
Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Jaffna, Kalutara, Kandy, Kurunegala, and Ratnapura.

The Industrial Safety Division carryout following major activities,
through District Factory Inspecting Engineers’ offices, to ensure
occupational Safety, Health & Welfare of workers in workplaces.
.

Inspection of Factories/Construction works
Registration of Factories/Construction works
Approval of Factory Building plans and Fire Evacuation plans
Investigation and analysis of occupational accidents/diseases
Conducting of safety awareness programmers on Occupational Safety
Health & Welfare
Investigation of complaints
Scrutinizing the test reports for high risk machines, issued by Authorized
Officers
Appointment of Authorized Officers
Attend coroners courts to give expert evidence
Institution of legal actions
In addition, followings are some other important activities carried out by theDivision
Advisory services for improvement of work environment in factories

Participation in national committees with regard to occupational Safety &HealthSafety auditing of factories
Preparation of curriculums on occupational Safety, Health & Welfare foreducational institutions

Generally, Inspections of Factories/Construction Works are carried by
Factory Inspecting Engineers/ District Factory Inspecting Engineers.
When it is specially required, the services of Specialist Factory
Inspecting Engineers are called. A Factory Inspecting Engineer/ District
Factory Inspecting Engineer are supposed to carry out twenty
inspections in a month. After each inspection, the Factory Inspecting
Engineer/ District Factory Inspecting Engineer send an inspection reportto the employer of the workplace. The inspection report describes thenecessary corrective actions to be taken to ensure the occupational
Safety, Health & Welfare. After doing the first inspection and sending
the first inspection report, periodical monitoring is done including
routing inspections. If there are serious contraventions, legal actions aretaken.

Workers’ Accident Compensation Insurance
Maintaining of a Workers’ accident compensation insurance is not a compulsory
requirement in Sri Lanka. But, According to the Workman Compensation Act,
Workers are entitled to receive compensation after a work related accident or
disease. The compensation can be paid by employer himself or through aninsurance policy maintained by him. The maximum compensation that can bereceived in case of a death or other work related accident or disease as the casemaybe is Rs 550,000/- [Approximately 3800 /-Dollars]

Safety of Equipment and Facilities
Following machinery have been categorized as high risk machinery
Hoist and lifts
Chains, ropes and lifting tackles
Cranes and other lifting machines
Steam boilers and steam receivers
Air/Gas receivers

According to the Factories Ordinance, these high risk machinery should be
•
•
•
•
•
•

In Good mechanical construction
Constructed with sound material and adequate strength
Free from patent defects
Properly maintained
Fixed with safety devices
Operated with precautionary measures

Other machinery should be used and maintained in accordance with therequirements stated in the Factories Ordinance.

According to the Factories Ordinance, in a factory or construction work, thefollowing facilities should be provided and maintained.
Machinery safety
Electrical safety
Safe and healthy work environment
Pressure vessels safety
Welfare facilities such as washing, sanitary convenience…etc

Training/Educational Programmes
Industrial Safety Division conducts many training/educational/awarenessprogrammes on occupational Safety, Health & Welfare in a year. With theparticipation of employers, managerial or supervisory level employees, workers orother relevant personnel .These programmes cover both private sector andgovernment sector too.
With the assistant of lectures, written documents, posters, pictures, banners,
demonstrations, videos, dramas or other type of activities these functions are held.

Activities of Industrial/Occupational Safety and Healthorganizations other than the government
In Sri Lanka there are several Industrial/Occupational Safety and Healthorganizations such as National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health[NIOSH], Occupational Hygiene Division and Industrial Service Bureau[IDB]...etc. Though, these organizations don’t have the authority to administrate ofa law related to occupational/industrial Safety and Health. They provide many
services as follows and most of the services are with the collaboration of theIndustrial Safety Division of the Department Labour.
Certain researches
Studies
Educating or trainings
Awareness/campaign programmes
Testings
Inspections
Investigations
Study programmes
Surveys
Risk assessments
Recommendations
Making policies,guidelines, standards, codes...etc
Organizing and sponsoring conferences, seminars, workshops
Publication and promoting works

OHSMS and Risk Assessments
In many of the workplaces In Sri Lanka, proper Occupational Safety and HealthManagement Systems and proper Risk Assessment systems are not followed. The
management of every workplace always target on profit and productivity. But, due
to the poor knowledge/education on the subject or due to the lack of awareness,they are not aware on proper Occupational Safety and Health Management
Systems and proper Risk Assessment systems. Therefore, unexpected accidents
and diseases occur in workplaces and the profit and productivity go down.

Campaigns/Events/National Conventions/Exhibitions
Every year, the 2nd week of October has been declared as the National Safety
Week of Sri Lanka... Every year, 28 April is celebrated as the World Day for
Safety and Health at Work. On these durations, Occupational Safety and Healthawareness programmes/campaigns and other relevant activities are carried topromote Occupational/Industrial Safety and Health in workplaces.

References
Statistics from the Department of Labour, Sri Lanka
Statistics from the ILO
Websites of relevant organizations
Factories Ordinance No 45 of 1942

Obstacles in promoting OSH in the country and suggestionsof counter measures
The Factories Ordinance came into effect in 1950.Though many subsequent
amendments have to be done; only few have been done until now. There are many
regulations to be made under this ordinance. But, only few have been made. Still,there are no laws on Chemical Safety and Ergonomics .There is no regulations
made on Electrical Safety. Even though, The Factories Ordinance covers, every
type of Factories and Construction Works, it does not cover the Agricultural Sector,
Offices (Government & Private) and Charitable Organizations, Mines, Fisheries
Sector, Transport Sector and Self-Employed Workplaces. Hence, only about 2.5
million out of 8.6 million of working population is covered under current laws
Therefore, current laws should be upgraded immediately to suit the present
industrial situations.
In additions, the process of making of policies, guidelines, standards, codes...etc on
OSH is very slow due to lack of resources, experts and other influences. Theseissues should be addressed properly.
The resources including human resources and facilities provided are not enough togive a proper service on occupational Safety Health. Therefore, sufficient
resources and facilities should be provided
The knowledge/experience of Factory Inspecting Engineers on occupational Safety
Health is not sufficient. Therefore, there should be a proper training andknowledge upgrading system.