Rule 32. Safety Committee

(1) In every establishment (a) wherein two hundred and fifty or more employees are ordinarily employed; or

(b) which handles a hazardous substance as defined in clause (zb) of section 2 and employs fifty or more employees; or

(c) which carries on any hazardous process as defined in clause (za) of section 2 or carries operation declared to be dangerous under the Code and employs fifty or more employees, there shall be a Safety Committee to be set up by the employer.

(2) The representatives for the management of Safety Committee shall include; -

(a) a senior official, who by virtue of his position in the establishment can contribute effectively to the functioning of the Committee. Such a senior official shall be the Chairman of the Safety Committee;

(b) a Safety Officer or Medical Officer, wherever available and the Safety Officer in such a case shall be the Secretary of the Safety Committee; and

(c) a representative each from the human resource, production, maintenance and purchase departments.

(3) The employees' representatives of this Committee shall be elected by the employees.

(4) The tenure of the Committee shall be two years.

(5) The Safety Committee shall meet as often as necessary but at least once in every quarter. The minutes of the meeting shall be recorded and produced to the Inspector-cum-Facilitator on demand.

(6) The Safety Committee shall have the right to, -

(a) ask for necessary information concerning health and safety of the employees; and

(b) seek any relevant information concerning health and safety of the employees.

(7) The functions and duties of the Safety Committee shall include, -

(a) assisting and co-operating with the management in achieving the aims and objectives outlined in the Health and Safety Policy of the establishment;

(b) dealing with all matters concerning health, safety and environment and to arrive at practicable solutions to problems encountered;

(c) creating safety awareness amongst all employees;

(d) undertaking educational, training and promotional activities;

(e) deliberating on reports of safety environmental and occupational health surveys, emergency plans, safety audits, risk assessment and implementation of the recommendations made in the reports;

(f) carrying out health and safety surveys and identifying causes of accidents;

(g) looking into any complaint made on the likelihood of an imminent danger to the safety and health of the employees and suggest corrective measures; and

(h) reviewing the implementation of the recommendations made by it.

(8) Where owing to the size of the establishment, or any other reason, the functions referred to in sub-rule (7) cannot be effectively carried out by the Safety Committee, it may constitute such sub-committees, as may be required to assist it.

Provided that the establishments other than audio-visual production, Building or other Construction work, factory or plantation may constitute a safety committee in such a manner as approved by Chief Inspector-cum- Facilitator based on the following conditions: -

(i) The establishment has a safety committee consisting of equal representatives of employers and workers;

(ii) the safety committee performs the functions mentioned in Rule 22(7);

(iii) the details of the committee are available to all the employees; and

(iv) the Safety Committee shall meet as often as necessary but at least once in every quarter. The minutes of the meetings shall be recorded and produced to the Inspector-cum-Facilitator on demand.