Section 63C in The West Bengal Factories Rules, 1958
63C. Safety Committee
(1)in every factory-(a)wherein 250 or more workers are ordinarily employed; or(b)which carries on any process or operation declared to be dangerous under section 87 of the Act; or(c)which carries on hazardous process as defined under section 2 (cb) of the Act; There shall be a safety committee.(2)The representatives of the management on Safety Committee shall include(a)a senior executive, who by his technical qualification and position in the organisation can contribute effectively to the functioning of the Committee, shall be the Chairman;(b)a Safety Officer and a Factory Medical Officer wherever available and in such a case the Safety Officer shall be the Secretary of the Committee;(c)one representative each from the production maintenance, purchase and personnel departments.(3)The Workers' representatives in the Safety Committee shall be such as to represent majority of the shop floors.(4)The tenure of the Committee shall be two years.(5)Safety Committee shall meet as often as necessary but not less than once in a quarter. The minutes of the meeting shall be recorded and be readily available to the Inspector on demand.(6)Safety Committee shall have the right to obtain from the manager any information relating to-(a)potential safety and health hazards to which the workers may be exposed while they are at work;(b)accidents as well as date resulting from surveillance of the working environment and of the health of workers exposed to hazardous substances so far as the factory is concerned;(c)health records or the medical records of the workers maintained under section 41 C of the Act;Provided that the Committee undertakes to use the data, on a confidential basis, solely to provide guidance and advice on measures to improve the working environment and the health and safety of the workers.(7)Function 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 occupier;(b)dealing with all matters concerning health. safety and environment and to arrive at practicable solutions to the problems encountered;(c)creating safety awareness amongst all workers;(d)undertaking education, training and promotional activities towards health and safety;(e)discussing reports on safety, environmental and occupational health surveys, safety audits and risk assessment for implementation of the recommendations made in the reports;(f)discussing on-site emergency plan and disaster control measures for effective implementation;(g)carrying out health and safety surveys and indentifying causes of accidents;(h)looking into any complaint made out of apprehension on the likelihood of an imminent danger to the safety and health of the workers, suggesting corrective measures and reviewing the implemention of the remedial measures taken to eliminate danger; and(i)reviewing and analysing the work and operational procedures for identification of hazards and their elimination.(8)Where owing to the nature and size of the factory. or any other reason, functions referred to in sub-rule 7 cannot be effectively carried out by Safety Committee, it shall establish sub-committee as may be required to assist it.Rule prescribed under sections 41 B and 112.
