Article 17. (Safety Committee)
(1) The employer shall establish a safety committee at each workplace of the scale and in the industries defined by Cabinet Order, in order to have it investigate and deliberate on the following matters and submit its opinion to the employer:
(i) Matters pertaining to the basic measures for preventing dangers to workers
(ii) Matters pertaining to safety among the causes of industrial accidents and countermeasures to prevent its recurrence
(iii) In addition to the matters listed in preceding two items, important matters pertaining to prevention of workers from dangers.
(2) The safety committee shall be composed of the members stated below, and the number of members under item (i) (hereinafter referred to as “item (i) member”) shall be only one:
(i) The general safety and health manager, or other person designated by the employer from among those who will exercise overall control over the execution of the undertaking at the said workplace, or those similar to the above.
(ii) One whom the employer designated from among safety officers.
(iii) One whom the employer designated from among the workers at the said workplace who possesses experience in safety
(3) The member of item (i) shall chair the safety committee.
(4) As regards the members other than the item (i) member, the employer shall designate those recommended by the trade union where there exists a trade union organized by a majority of workers at the said workplace or by those representing a majority of workers where there exists no trade union organized by a majority of workers.
(5) Where a collective agreement concluded with the trade union organized by a majority of the workers at the said workplace provides for otherwise, the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall not apply to that extent.