Cap. 646 Art. 7Provisions related to the Board.

(1) The Board shall be responsible for ensuring that the

Executive carries out its duties to a high level and shall oversee that the Executive implements health and safety at work initiatives as prescribed in the Act and in regulations made thereunder.

(2) The Board shall review and oversee that the Executive reaches the targets set out for the Authority by the Minister or which the Executive itself proposes in relation to the various duties of the Authority under this Act.

(3) The Board shall review the Authority’s budgets, management accounts, internal procedures, human resource plans and the financial audits.

(4) The Board shall approve and adopt the Authority’s estimates of its income and expenditure for the subsequent year.

(5) The Board shall also have the following functions:

(a) recommend strategies by which the general national policy relating to health and safety at work, indicated to the Authority by the Minister, may be implemented;

(b) advise the Minister regarding the drafting of policies and regulations to promote, maintain and protect a high level of health and safety at work, and on any matter concerning the Authority;

(c) recommend and if required prepare draft regulations for the Minister’s consideration, guidance documents, and Codes of Practice required to promote, maintain and protect a high level of health and safety at work:

Provided that the Board may appoint for this purpose, committees or sub-committees and it may co-opt on the said committees or sub-committees competent persons from outside its membership who, in the opinion of the Board, have professional or expert knowledge on any matter dealt with under this Act so however that the co-opted members shall not have a vote on any matter before a committee or sub-committee;

(d) to solicit participation by the social partners and promote initiatives in favour of high levels of health and safety at work;

(e) to foster harmonious relations on matters of health and safety at work between the various stakeholders and duty holders;

(f) to encourage and support a constructive dialogue between constituted bodies or organisations of whatever nature about the benefits of ensuring health and safety at work;

(g) to engage in regular consultations with constituted bodies regarding matters pertinent to the protection of workers’ health and safety as regulated in this Act.

(6) Prior to the implementation of any policy relating to health and safety at work, the Minister shall request the Board to provide any recommendations or opinions it may have in relation to any policy.

(7) The Board shall refrain from being involved in executive decisions or actions taken by the Executive in fulfilment of the scope and objectives of the Act.

(8) The Board shall on an annual basis and prior to the commencement of the Authority’s financial year, present to the Minister a report in relation to its activities under the Act.

(9) The Board may also undertake such other activity it may deem necessary or expedient for the purposes of its functions and objectives under this Act.

(10) The Authority may, with the approval of the Minister, act as an agent or otherwise on behalf of other persons for any matter related to health and safety at work.