44.-(1) No premises shall be used as a factory unless such premises have been certified by an Inspector as being provided with adequate fire-fighting equipment and such means of escape in case of fire for the persons employed therein as may reasonably be required in the circumstances of each case and if any premises with respect to which no such certificate is in force are used as a factory, the occupier shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding επτακόσιες πενήντα λίρες ή σε φυλάκιση που δεν υπερβαίνει τους έξι μήνες ή και στις δύο αυτές ποινές and if the contravention in respect of which he was so convicted is continued after the conviction he shall (subject to the provisions of section 96 of this Law) be guilty of a further offence and liable in respect thereof to a fine not exceeding εβδομήντα πέντε λίρες ή σε φυλάκιση που δεν υπερβαίνει τις επτά ημέρες ή και στις δύο αυτές ποινές for each day on which the offence was so continued.
It shall be the duty of the Inspector to examine every factory and, on being satisfied that the factory is so provided as aforesaid, to give such a certificate accordingly. The certificate shall specify precisely and in detail the means of escape provided, and shall contain particulars as to the maximum number of persons employed or proposed to be employed in the factory as a whole and, if the Inspector thinks fit, in any specified part thereof, and as to any explosive or highly inflammable material stored or used and as to other matters taken into account in granting the certificate. The certificate shall be attached by the occupier to the General Register.
(2) All fire fighting equipment and the means of escape specified in the certificate as aforesaid shall be properly maintained and kept free from obstruction.
(3) In the case of a factory constructed or converted for use as a factory before the commencement of this Law no offence shall be deemed to be committed under this section by reason of the use of the factory during any period that may elapse between the coming into operation of this Law and the grant or refusal of a certificate by the Inspector after examining the factory under this section and if the Inspector refuses to grant a certificate in respect of the factory unless alterations are made, no such offence shall be deemed to be committed while the alterations are being carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Inspector.
(4) If after the grant of a certificate, it is proposed to make any material extension or material structural alteration of the factory premises or to increase materially the number of persons employed in the factory or in any part specified in the certificate, or to begin to store or use explosive or highly inflammable material in the factory or materially to increase the extent of such storage or use, the occupier shall give notice in writing to the Inspector of the proposal.
(5) In the Inspector on receipt of the notice mentioned in the last foregoing subsection is of opinion that the conditions in regard to escape in case of fire will be affected, or if at any time they are satisfied that by reason of changed conditions the existing means of escape have become insufficient, they may by notice in writing require the occupier to make such alterations, within such period, as may be specified in the notice.
(6) The occupier shall, within the period specified in any notice of the Inspector under this section, carry out any alterations required by the notice, and upon their being carried out to the satisfaction of the Inspector shall amend the certificate or issue a new certificate; and if the alterations are not so carried out, the Inspector shall, without prejudice to the taking of other proceedings, cancel the certificate.
(7) If the occupier of any factory is aggrieved by the refusal of the Inspector to grant a certificate under this section or by being required by the Inspector under this section to carry out any alterations at the factory or by the cancellation of a certificate, he may appeal by way of complaint, within twenty-one days of the refusal, notice of requirement, or cancellation, to a District Court, and, pending the final determination of the appeal, no offence shall be deemed to be committed under this section by reason that the premises to which the appeal relates are used as a factory without a certificate being in force with respect thereto; and the decision of the Court shall be binding on the occupier and the Inspector.
(8) If it appears to an Inspector that the conditions in regard to escape in case of fire in any factory are so dangerous that the factory or any part thereof ought not to be used or ought not to be used for a particular process or work, until steps have been taken to remedy the danger he may, in lieu of serving a notice on the occupier of the factory under the foregoing provisions of this section, make a complaint to a District Court and the Court may, on being satisfied of the matters aforesaid, by order prohibit the use of the factory or part thereof, or its use for the particular process or work, until such works have been executed as are in the opinion of the Court necessary to remedy the danger.
When any works have been executed in pursuance of such an order as aforesaid, the Inspector shall amend any certificate in force under this section in respect of the factory, or issue a new certificate, as the case may require.
(9) The Υπουργός may make rules as to the means of escape in case of fire to be provided in factories or any class or description of factory.