CONSUMER EDUCATION & RESEARCH CENTRE&ORS vs UNION OF INDIA .

The Supreme Court, in a writ petition under Article 32, addressed the urgent need for regulatory measures to protect workers in the asbestos industry from occupational diseases, particularly asbestosis. The Court emphasized the necessity for maintaining health records for workers, implementing specific testing protocols, and ensuring adequate insurance coverage for occupational hazards. The Court directed the establishment of expert committees to set permissible exposure limits and to extend the provisions of the Factories Act to small-scale sectors, thereby holding that comprehensive legislative and regulatory frameworks are essential for worker safety.