Section 491-5 - Power to prohibit(a) The department shall have the power, upon its own initiative, to make an investigation of that portion or branch of any industry which employs home-workers, in order to determine:(1) Whether the wages and conditions of employment are injurious to the health and welfare of home-workers in such portion or branch; or(2) Whether the wages and conditions of employment prevailing in such portion or branch have the effect of rendering unduly difficult the maintenance of existing labor standards, or the observance and enforcement of labor standards established by law, or regulation for the industry of which such portion or branch is a part, thus jeopardizing wages or working conditions of the factory workers in such industry.(b) If, on the basis of information in its possession, with or without an investigation as provided in this section, the department shall find that industrial homework cannot be continued within any industry without injuring the health and welfare of the home-workers within that industry, or without rendering unduly difficult the maintenance of existing labor standards or the observance and enforcement of labor standards established by law for the protection of the factory workers in that industry, the department shall, by order, require all employers, representative contractors, or contractors in such industry to discontinue the furnishing within this Commonwealth of articles or materials for industrial homework, and no permit issued under this act shall be deemed thereafter to authorize the furnishing of articles, or materials for industrial homework prohibited by such order.(c) All power machines used in conduct of industrial homework shall be guarded in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Department of Labor and Industry.1937, May 18, P.L. 665, § 5.