PART III.

Safety.

17. —(1) All floors, steps, stairs, lifts, passages and gangways shall be of sound construction and properly maintained.

(2) For every staircase in a building or affording a means of exit from a building, a substantial handrail shall be provided and maintained, which, if the staircase has an open side, shall be on that side, and, in the case of a staircase having two open sides, or in the case of a staircase which, owing to the nature of the construction thereof or the condition of the surface of the steps or other, special circumstances, is specially liable to cause accidents, such a handrail shall be provided and maintained on both sides. Any open side of a staircase shall also be guarded by the provision and maintenance of a lower rail or other effective means.

18. —(1) While any person is within an office for the purpose of employment or meals, the doors of the office, and of any room therein in which the person is, and any doors which afford a means of exit for persons employed in the office from any building or from any enclosure in which the office is situated shall not be locked or fastened in such a manner that they cannot be easily and immediately opened from the inside.

(2) The contents of any room in which persons are employed shall be so arranged or disposed that there is a free passage way for all persons employed in the room to a means of escape in case of fire.

(3) Every window, door or other exit affording means of escape in case of fire, or giving access thereto, other than the means of exit in ordinary use, shall be distinctively and conspicuously marked by a notice in red letters of an adequate size.

(4) The Minister may make regulations for offices, or for any class or description of office, requiring that provision be made for giving such warning in case of fire as may be prescribed.

(5) Effective steps shall be taken to ensure that all the persons employed are familiar with the means of escape in case of fire and their use, and with the routine to be followed in case of fire.

(6) The Minister may make regulations for offices or for any class or description of office requiring that provision be made for fire preventive facilities.