Factories Act, 1948
9. Powers of Inspectors
Subject to any rules made in this behalf, an Inspector may,
within the local limits for which he is appointed,-
(a) enter, with such assistants, being persons in the service of
the government, or any local or other public authority, 4[or with an
expert] as he thinks fit, any place which is used, or which he has reason to
believe is used, as a factory;
28 [(b) make examination of the premises, plant, machinery,
article or substance;
(c) inquire into any accident or dangerous occurrence, whether
resulting in bodily injury, disability or not, and take on the spot or
otherwise statements of any person which he may consider necessary for such
inquiry;
(d) require the production of any prescribed register or any
other document relating to the factory;
(e) seize, or take copies of, any register, record or other
document or any portion thereof as he may consider necessary in respect of any
offence under this Act, which he has reason to believe, has been committed;
(f) direct the occupier that any premises or any part thereof,
or anything lying therein, shall be left undisturbed (whether generally or in
particular respects) for so long as is necessary for the purpose of any
examination under clause (b);
(g) take measurements and photographs and make such recordings
as he considers necessary for the purpose of any examination under clause (b),
taking with him any necessary instrument or equipment;
(h) in case of any article or substance found in any premises,
being an article or substance which appears to him as having caused or is
likely to cause danger to the health or safety of the workers, direct it to be
dismantled or subject it to any process or test (but not so as to damage or
destroy it unless the same is, in the circumstances necessary, for carrying out
the purposes of this Act), and take possession of any such article or substance
or a part thereof, and detain it for so long as is necessary for such
examination;
( i ) exercise such other powers as may
be prescribed:]
PROVIDED that no person shall be compelled under this
section to answer any question or give any evidence tending to incriminate
himself.