(1) Every establishment wherein 500 (five hundred) or more building workers are ordinarily employed, there shall be a safety committee constituted by the employer which shall be represented by equal number of representatives of employer and the building workers employed in such establishment. In no case the number of representatives of the employer shall exceed the representatives of the building workers.
The committee shall be represented by representatives of the recognised union, wherever such union exists.
(2) The main functions of the safety committee, shall be,—
(a) to identify probable cases of accident and safe practice in building or other construction work and to suggest remedial measures;
(b) to stimulate interest of employees and building workers in safety by organising safety weeks, safety competitions, talks and film shows on safety, preparing posters or taking similar other measures as and when required or as necessary;
(c) to go round the construction site with a view to check unsafe practices and defect unsafe conditions and to recommend remedial measures for their rectification including first aid, medical and welfare facilities;
(d) to look into the health hazards associated with handling different types of explosives, chemicals and other construction materials and to suggest remedial measures including use of proper personal protective equipment;
(e) to suggest measures for improving welfare amenities in the construction site and other miscellaneous aspects of safety, health and welfare in building or other construction work; and.
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(f) to bring to the notice of the employer the hazards associated with the use, handling and maintenance of the equipment used during the course of the building and other construction work.
(3) The safety committee shall meet at regular intervals at least once in a month and it shall be chaired by the senior person having overall control over the affairs of the construction site.
(4) The agenda and minutes of the meeting shall be circulated to all concerned and it shall be in Tamil and shall be produced to the Inspector on demand for inspection.
(5) The decisions and recommendations of the safety committee shall be complied with by the employer within reasonable time limits.