ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES OF A SAFETY OFFICER

RASHMI . S

CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH LED TO THE PROVISION OF SAFETY OFFICER ¬ Factories Act, 1948 – central enactment – occupational health,

safety and welfare of workers. ¬ Factory- 10 or more workmen without power & 20 or more with power. Workplaces with lesser no. of workmen are also factories if State Govt. issues notifications. – Eg: rice mills, floor mills. ¬ Act enforced- Inspector of Factories under State govt - power to make statutory rules to supplement the provisions. ¬ The Ministry of Labour – Central Govt responsible. Controls & co-ordinates all Factory Inspectorates through Directorate General Factory Advice Service & Labour Institutes ( DGFASLI). 

¬ ¬ The original law stated that the employers were supposed to

provide safe machinery and equipment with guards at all points when the machines were running.

¬ ¬ Special Equipments for eyes, and workers working at large

heights (viz – lifts, cranes, hoists)were to be provided. Also, no machine was to be cleaned during it’s working, unless in special circumstances.

¬ ¬ In 1976, a new provision for appointment of safety officers

was added in factories with 1000 or more workers or workers working in hazardous or dangerous operations if notified by the State Government.

TAMILNADU’S FACTORIES ACT 1950 ¬ The TAMILNADU’S Factories act says that the

Inspector of Factories is responsible for enforcing the Factories Act 1948 & the 13 Labour enactments which come under the TAMILNADU’S Factories Act, 1950. ¬ Inspections conducted periodically should have the following inspection forms;  First Inspection Forms for the use of Factory Inspectors &  Factory Inspection Report for second and subsequent inspections by Factory Inspectors.

Sl.No. Plans related to

Approved by

1.

Factories employing 200 and less workers except those engaged in

Deputy Chief Inspector of Factories.

2.

Dangerous operations. Factories t Chief Inspector of employing above 200 workers upto Factories. 1000 workers except those engaged in dangerous operations.

3.

Factories employing more than 1000 workers and all factories engaged in dangerous operations.

Chief Inspector of Factories.

ASPECTS CONCERNING SAFETY MANAGEMENT IN FACTORIES ¬ SAFETY POLICY ¬ APPOINTMENT OF SAFETY OFFICERS ¬ SAFETY COMMITTEE ¬ OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH CENTRES.(FMO, Ambulance) ¬ WELFARE MEASURES (Canteen, Creche, Shelter rooms) ¬ ON SITE EMERGENCY PLANS ¬ SAFETY REPORTS ¬ SAFETY AUDITS ¬ HAZOP STUDIES

SAFETY POLICY ¬ Rule 62(B) under the TAMILNADU’S FACTORIES ACT ,

    

framed under the provisions of Section 7A(3), 41B(2) & 112 requires the preparation of a written statement of safety policy with respect to the health & safety of workers at factories meeting the following criteria; Units covered under Section 2m(i) of the Factories Act & employing more than 50 workers. Units covered under Section 2m(ii) of the Factories Act & employing more than 100 workers. units covered under Section 87 of the Factories Act. Units covered under Section 2(cb) of the Factories Act.

SAFETY POLICY (2000) S. No. Type of factories

No. of factories No. of factories requiring Safety having Safety Policy Policy

1.

Factories employing 250 551 or more workers

480

2.

MAH Units

99

100

SAFETY OFFICERS ¬ Safety officers must be in every factory;

 Wherein one thousand or more workers are ordinarily employed or  Wherein, in the opinion of the State Government, any manufacturing process or operation is carried on, which process or operation involves any risk of bodily injury, poisoning or disease, or any hazard to health, to the persons employed in the factory.  if the State Govt, gives a notification, the occupier will have to mandatorily employ the no. of safety officers stated in the notification.  The duties, qualifications , conditions of service of Safety officers shall be such as may be prescribed by the state Govt.

 

SAFETY OFFICERS (2000) Description of factories

a) Factories employing 1000 or more workers and notified under Section 40-B(1)(i) b) Factories notified under Section 40-B (1)(ii)

No. of factories

100

30

No. of Safety No. of Safety Officers required Officers to be appointed appointed

111

106

30

24

SAFETY COMMITTEE The Rule 61-M of the Tamil Nadu Factories Rules, 1950 framed under the provisions of Section 41 and 41-G of the Factories Act, 1948 require constitution of Safety Committee in the factories meeting the following criteria:



a) Units employing 250 or more workers b) Units covered under Section 87 of the Factories Act, 1948 and employing more than 50 workers c) Units covered under Section 2(cb) of the Factories Act, 1948 and employing more than 50 workers 



As per information available 1024 units required constitution of Safety Committees. However, only 743 units have constituted Safety Committees. 



SAFETY COMMITTEE (2000) S.No.

Type of factories

No. of factories requiring Safety Committee

(i)

Factories employing 924 250 or more workers

645

(ii)

MAH Units

98

100

No. of factories having Safety Committee

SAFETY OFFICER RULES ¬ Each Safety Officer should have some delegated authority in

occupational health and safety matters which will be determined by the department heads to whom they report, in consultation with the Zone OHS Committee. ¬ The appointment of a Safety Officer does not diminish the particular responsibilities of department heads and supervisors or the primary responsibility of every individual for maintaining occupational health and safety standards. The main role of a Safety Officer is to act as a focal point for all occupational health and safety matters arising at the particular location. Carrying out the role involves:

¬ assisting with promoting occupational health and safety

awareness; 

advising on occupational health and safety problems or obtaining advice on unfamiliar problems from Occupational Health and Safety or other sources; bringing to the attention of staff and students, occupational health and safety hazards associated with their work; bringing to the attention of the relevant department heads unresolved occupational health and safety problems; investigating and reporting on all incidents, injuries and occupational health problems and notifying Occupational Health and Safety of incidents and hazards in line with reporting requirements; liaison with Occupational Health and Safety including providing requested information to Occupational Health and Safety; Co-operation and liaison with occupational health and safety representative(s) on occupational health and safety activities in their zone or department in line with the procedures detailed in the Appendix to the Occupational Health and Safety Policy; and dealing with health and safety issues in line with the procedures detailed in the Appendix to the Occupational Health and Safety Policy.

Absences from Duty by Safety Officers If a safety officer is absent from duty, the relevant department heads(s) should make arrangements for OHS matters to be directed to a deputy safety officer or the health and safety representative covering that area.

TRAINING Safety officers are required to attend a minimum of 2 days Occupational Health and Safety training per year in order to effectively fulfill their Occupational Health and Safety roles. Newly appointed safety officers are required to attend the following Occupational Health and Safety training courses in the first 6 months of their appointment: Introduction to Occupational Health and Safety (1 day) OR the following separate modules Monash policies and procedures (2 hours) Hazard & incident management (2 hours) Risk management workshop (2 hours) Workplace safety inspections (2 hours) Emergency warden training (2 hours) Prevention of Occupational Bullying & Violence at Monash

SAFETY OFFICER- RESPONSIBILITIES Ø The Safety Officer is responsible for monitoring and assessing hazardous and unsafe situations and developing measures to assure personnel safety. Ø The Safety Officer will correct unsafe acts or conditions through the regular line of authority, although the Safety Officer may exercise emergency authority to prevent or stop unsafe acts when immediate action is required. Ø The Safety Officer maintains awareness of active and developing situations. Ø The Safety Officer ensures the Site Safety and Health Plan is prepared and implemented. Ø The Safety Officer ensures there are safety messages in each Incident Action Plan. 

¬ ¬ Only one Safety Officer will be assigned for each incident,

¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬

including incidents operating under Unified Command and multijurisdiction incidents. The Safety Officer may have assistants, as necessary, and the assistants may also represent assisting agencies or jurisdictions. During initial response, document the hazard analysis process, hazard identification, exposure assessment and controls. Participate in planning meetings to identify any health and safety concerns inherent in the operations daily workplan. Review the Incident Action Plan for safety implications. Exercise emergency authority to prevent or stop unsafe acts. Investigate accidents that have occurred within incident areas. Ensure preparation and implementation of Site Safety and Health Plan (SSHP) Assign assistants and manage the incident safety organization.

FUNCTIONS OF THE SAFETY STAFF ¬ Site Safety Officer Assistant: ¬ Provide assistance to the Safety Officer. Ensure all Safety functions

continue when the Safety Officer is attending meetings. ¬ Site Characterization and Monitoring: ¬ Initial on scene hazard assessment of the incident. ¬ Deploy on scene immediately and report back to Safety Officer ¬ Ensure workers are safely monitored by use of ive dosimeters. ¬ Provide heat or cold stress monitoring, using WBGT or other measuring device. ¬ Provide on scene fatigue monitoring for work-rest regimen recommendations. 

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