law: Factories Act, 1948 
  28. Hoists and lifts 
  (1) In every factory- 
  (a) every hoist and lift shall be- 
  ( i ) of good
  
  mechanical construction, sound material and adequate strength;
  (ii) properly maintained, and shall be
  
  thoroughly examined by a competent person at least once in every period of six
  
  months and a register shall be kept containing the prescribed particulars of
  
  every such examination;
  (b) every hoist way and lift way shall be
  
  sufficiently protected by an enclosure fitted with gates, and the hoist or lift
  
  and every such enclosure shall be so constructed as to prevent any person or
  
  thing from being trapped between any part of the hoist or lift and any fixed
  
  structure or moving part;
  (c) the maximum safe working load shall be
  
  plainly marked on every hoist or lift, and no load greater than such load shall
  
  be carried thereon;
  (d) the cage of every hoist or lift used for
  
  carrying persons shall be fitted with a gate on each side from which access is
  
  afforded to a landing;
  (e) every gate referred to in clause (b) or
  
  clause (d) shall be fitted with interlocking or other efficient device to
  
  secure that the gate cannot be opened except when the cage is at the landing
  
  and that the cage cannot be moved unless the gate is closed.
  (2) The following additional requirements shall apply to hoists
  
  and lifts used for carrying persons and installed or reconstructed in a factory
  
  after the commencement of this Act, namely:
  (a) where the cage is supported by rope or
  
  chain, there shall be at least two ropes or chains separately connected with
  
  the cage and balance weight, and each rope or chain with its attachments shall
  
  be capable of carrying the whole weight of the cage together with its maximum
  
  load;
  (b) efficient devices shall be provided and
  
  maintained capable of supporting the cage together with its maximum load in the
  
  event of breakage of the ropes, chains or attachments;
  (c) an efficient automatic device shall be
  
  provided and maintained to prevent the cage from over-running.
  (3) The Chief Inspector may permit the continued use of a hoist
  
  or lift installed in a factory before the commencement of this Act which does
  
  not fully comply with the provisions of sub-section (1) upon such conditions
  
  for ensuring safety as he may think fit to impose.
  (4) The State Government may, if in respect of any class or
  
  description of hoist or lift, it is of opinion that it would be unreasonable to
  
  enforce any requirement of sub-sections (1) and (2), by order direct such
  
  requirement shall not apply to such class or description of hoist or lift.
   4  [Explanation :
  
  For the purposes of this section, no lifting machine or appliance shall be
  
  deemed to be a hoist or lift unless it has a platform or cage, the direction or
  
  movement of which is restricted by a guide or guides.]