What Form 17 is, which rule prescribes it, who maintains and signs it, how often workers are examined, and how we support factories in Assam with on-site examination batches and documentation.
Form 17 is the Health Register prescribed by the Assam Factories Rules, 1950, framed under the Factories Act, 1948 and enforced by the Office of the Chief Inspector of Factories, Government of Assam. Rule 14 (Duties of Certifying Surgeon): at visits to factories carrying on dangerous operations the Certifying Surgeon examines the persons employed and records the results in a register known as the Health Register (Form No. 17), kept by the manager; power of suspension by an entry in the register.
Factory Medical Officer examinations of hazardous-process workers are recorded separately in Form 28 — Rule 61-O (Medical Examination, in the 61-series hazardous-process rules): workers in a hazardous process are examined by the Factory Medical Officer once before employment and once every six months; details recorded in the Health Register in Form No. 28; no first employment without a Certificate of Fitness in Form 33 granted by the FMO; abnormalities reported to the Certifying Surgeon..
Assam uses Form 17 for Certifying Surgeon examinations and Form 28 for Factory Medical Officer examinations in hazardous processes.
The Assam Factories Rules, 1950, made under Section 112 of the Factories Act, 1948 and enforced by the Office of the Chief Inspector of Factories, Government of Assam.
Rule 14 (Duties of Certifying Surgeon): at visits to factories carrying on dangerous operations the Certifying Surgeon examines the persons employed and records the results in a register known as the Health Register (Form No. 17), kept by the manager; power of suspension by an entry in the register.
The factory manager keeps Form 17 on the premises, produces it to the Certifying Surgeon at each visit and to the Inspector on demand. Form 17 / Form 28 registers and certificates kept by the manager and available to the Inspector.
The Certifying Surgeon appointed or authorised by the State Government under Section 10 of the Factories Act, 1948. An AFIH-qualified Factory Medical Officer does not sign the dangerous-operation entries unless that doctor also holds the Certifying Surgeon appointment.
Whenever the factory employs workers in any operation notified as dangerous under Section 87 and the schedules to the Assam Factories Rules, 1950 — from the first examination after employment and at every periodic examination thereafter.
Schedules (lead, chrome, silica, chemical works, solvents) require Certifying Surgeon examination at first employment and periodically with Form 17 entries and Form 27/28 certificates.
Worker identity and job, the process, the date and result of each examination by the Certifying Surgeon including the nature and results of tests, fitness or unfitness, any suspension with its period and reasons, and re-certification with the Certifying Surgeon's signature and date.
Hazardous process: pre-employment, then every 6 months (Rule 61-O). Dangerous operations: as per schedule.
Factory Medical Officer examinations of hazardous-process workers are recorded separately in Form 28 — Rule 61-O (Medical Examination, in the 61-series hazardous-process rules): workers in a hazardous process are examined by the Factory Medical Officer once before employment and once every six months; details recorded in the Health Register in Form No. 28; no first employment without a Certificate of Fitness in Form 33 granted by the FMO; abnormalities reported to the Certifying Surgeon.. The FMO — typically an AFIH-qualified doctor — also runs the Occupational Health Centre (Rule 61-P (Occupational Health Centre): scaled by workforce — retainer, part-time or full-time FMO with OHC facilities.) and reports abnormalities to the Certifying Surgeon.
The Certifying Surgeon performs the dangerous-operation examinations, signs the register and certificates, suspends and re-admits workers, and gives the final opinion on appeals against the Factory Medical Officer's findings.
Yes. The rules require the manager to provide a clean, ventilated, furnished room for the Certifying Surgeon's exclusive use during examinations at the factory. Our batches are organised on site.
We map your processes to the Assam Factories Rules, 1950 schedules, run the on-site batch with AFIH-qualified doctors and technicians (Per schedule — refinery and fertiliser exposure surveillance at Digboi, Numaligarh, Bongaigaon and Namrup; dust and noise surveillance for tea, plywood and paper factories.), coordinate the Certifying Surgeon's visit, prepare the Form 17 entries and certificates for signature and deliver digital records, statistics and a recall calendar.
We review your factory licence and process list against the Assam Factories Rules, 1950 to confirm which workers fall under Form 17 and which tests and intervals apply.
AFIH-qualified occupational-health doctors and technicians examine workers at your premises; where the schedule requires the Certifying Surgeon, we coordinate their visit as part of the same batch.
Entries are prepared in the prescribed Form 17 format with the correct signatory, together with the Certificates of Fitness, ready for the authority's inspection.
You receive a digital copy, de-identified batch statistics and a due-date tracker for the next periodic examination.
No. Form 17 is the Certifying Surgeon's register for dangerous operations; Factory Medical Officer examinations of hazardous-process workers go in Form 28, with a Certificate of Fitness in Form 33. A factory with both a hazardous process and a scheduled dangerous operation maintains both.
Only if that doctor is also appointed or authorised as a Certifying Surgeon by the State Government. The AFIH qualification alone does not confer that authority. We provide AFIH-qualified doctors for the Factory Medical Officer role and coordinate Certifying Surgeons for Form 17.
Assam Factories Rules, 1950 — full consolidated text (non-government host); official cross-check pending (last checked 2026-09-12). This is a full consolidated text from a non-government host; we cross-check against the official portal before marking it verified, and confirm current requirements with the authority before every batch.
Send us your process list and headcount and we will scope the examination batch and documentation.
Status: Corroborated — official cross-check pending · Last checked: 2026-09-12. Source: Assam Factories Rules, 1950 — full consolidated text (non-government host); official cross-check pending.
Nodal Healthcare provides occupational-health services through qualified medical professionals. AFIH-qualified doctors and Factory Medical Officers are not, by virtue of that qualification, Certifying Surgeons; Certifying Surgeons are appointed or authorised by the State Government under Section 10 of the Factories Act, 1948. Where a statutory provision requires a Certifying Surgeon or other authority-approved practitioner, we coordinate compliant services through appropriately qualified, authorised or empanelled professionals, subject to the applicable state rules and appointment requirements. Content on this page is a general guide and not legal advice; always confirm current requirements with the competent state authority.
