Factories Act, 1955

Safety Committee and Safety Delegate.

73.—(1) Where the persons employed in a factory have selected from among themselves a committee (in this subsection referred to as the Safety Committee) for the purpose of promoting the better safety, health and welfare of the persons employed, the following provisions shall have effect:—

(a) it shall be a function of the Safety Committee to assist in securing compliance by the occupier of the factory and by the persons employed therein with the provisions of this Act and of the orders and regulations made under this Act,

(b) upon the request of the Safety Committee, the occupier shall make an entry in the general register noting—

(i) the establishment of the Safety Committee, and

(ii) if the Safety Committee has nominated one of its members to be the Safety Delegate for the purposes of this section, the name of the Safety Delegate,

(c) the occupier shall be entitled to be represented, by at least one person nominated by him, at each meeting of the Safety Committee,

(d) the occupier shall consider any representations made to him by the Safety Committee on matters affecting the safety, health and welfare of the persons employed,

(e) the Safety Committee shall consider any representations made to it by the occupier on matters affecting the safety, health and welfare of the persons employed,

(f) an inspector shall consider any representations made to him by the Safety Delegate on matters affecting the safety, health and welfare of the persons employed (being representations made on the request of the Safety Committee) and, for this purpose, may inspect any records of the proceedings of the Safety Committee,

(g) an inspector shall be entitled, should he so wish, to have the Safety Delegate accompany him on his tour of inspection of the factory or any part of such tour.

(2) If the Minister is satisfied that there exists in the factory a committee or other body which is not a committee such as is referred to in subsection (1) of this section but which is so constituted as to be capable of discharging the functions of such a committee, he may, on application being made by the committee or other body and with the consent of the occupier of the factory, issue a certificate recognising the committee or other body as a Safety Committee for the purposes of this section and, while such certificate is in force, the provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall apply to the committee or other body.