On 15 April 2026, the Directorate General of Mine Safety (DGMS) published amended safety schedules under the Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions Code, 2020, with a 45-day compliance window for high-risk manufacturing sectors—including textiles and apparel. This update tightens dust-control, machine-guarding, and ergonomic standards specific to spinning mills, weaving units, and garment-manufacturing facilities.
The deadline falls on 30 June 2026.
Market signals
New rules mandate monthly air-quality audits and mandatory respiratory protection in carding, combing, and spinning areas. Mills operating without certified dust-suppression systems face operational suspension.
Textile units must now implement digital LOTO protocols and machine-specific safety checklists. Non-compliance triggers facility closure notices and potential director-level criminal liability.
All operators on power looms, spinning frames, and dyeing equipment must complete DGMS-recognized safety certification within 60 days. Unregistered workers cannot legally operate machinery post-deadline.
The Occupational Safety Code amendments are notified under the Ministry of Labour & Employment and are binding on all textile manufacturers under the Factories Act, 1948. Non-compliance exposes business owners to financial penalties (₹50,000–₹2 lakhs per violation), closure orders, and criminal prosecution under Section 92 of the Code. Vinayakam Consultants assists textile and apparel clients with gap-assessment audits, DGMS-aligned safety documentation, worker training schedules, and internal compliance reporting—ensuring factories remain operationally licensed while protecting workforce welfare.
Your action checklist
- Conduct a facility-wide safety audit against the 15 April 2026 DGMS schedules; document dust-control, machine-guarding, and emergency-response systems and identify compliance gaps by 20 June.
- Enroll all machinery operators, supervisors, and maintenance staff in DGMS-recognized occupational safety certification programs; maintain attendance registers and certificates on-site for inspection.
- Install or upgrade dust-suppression, ventilation, and air-quality monitoring systems; obtain third-party certification reports for submission to the local factory inspector before 28 June.
- Revise Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for lockout-tagout, personal protective equipment (PPE), and incident-reporting; conduct staff briefing sessions and maintain signed acknowledgment records.
Frequently asked questions
Textile mills must comply with the updated Occupational Safety Code rules by 30 June 2026. The DGMS notified these amendments on 15 April 2026, providing a 45-day compliance window for high-risk manufacturing sectors.
Non-compliance exposes business owners to financial penalties of ₹50,000–₹2 lakhs per violation, facility closure orders, and criminal prosecution under Section 92 of the Code, including potential director-level criminal liability.
All operators on power looms, spinning frames, and dyeing equipment must complete DGMS-recognized safety certification within 60 days. Unregistered workers cannot legally operate machinery after the deadline.