Rules 16-17 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Rules 16 and 17 give mines their own version of the Safety Committee. The mine manager chairs it, five officials or competent persons and the Safety Officer or next most senior official sit on the employer's side, and workers' representatives must include at least one each from the mining, electrical and mechanical disciplines. Rule 17 lists seven functions.
Employer and worker members are equal, up to twenty in all. The manager under section 67 of the Code is Chairman, joined by five officials or competent persons nominated by the Chairman, and the Safety Officer (or the senior-most official next to the manager) as Secretary. Workers' representatives must include at least one each from mining, electrical and mechanical disciplines. Members serve three years; the committee meets at least monthly under rule 14(3).
Why mines are treated separately
Rule 14 makes a Safety Committee compulsory for establishments with five hundred or more workers and, through the proviso to rule 14(3), requires a mine's committee to meet at least once a month; see our rule 14 explainer. Rule 15's composition applies "except in mine". Rule 16 supplies the mine version, and rule 17 the mine functions. Under section 22(2)(d) of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (the OSH Code), a mine with one hundred or more workers also needs safety officers; see our section 22 explainer.
The manager referred to is the manager of a mine appointed under section 67 of the Code; see our sections 67 and 68 explainer. These are Central Rules; State rules apply where the State Government is the appropriate Government. For mine-specific compliance planning, our labour law compliance team can assist.
Rule 16: composition
Size and balance, rule 16(1). Equal numbers representing the employer and workers, not exceeding twenty.
Employer's representatives, rule 16(2). Nominated by the employer and, as far as possible, officials in direct touch with or associated with the workings of the mine, preferably heads of major departments. They consist of:
| Seat | Who |
|---|---|
| Chairman | The manager referred to in section 67 of the Code |
| Members | Five officials or competent persons of the mine nominated by the Chairman |
| Secretary | The Safety Officer or, where there is no Safety Officer, the senior-most official next to the manager |
Workers' representatives, rule 16(3). The method mirrors rule 15:
- where there is a sole negotiating union or a negotiating council or negotiating union, it nominates the workers' representatives, and in the case of a council every registered Trade Union in it is represented in proportion to the number of workers who are its members;
- where there is none, the workers choose among themselves, and the employer may deploy an electronic process;
- women workers must have adequate representation, not less than the proportion of women workers to the total employed;
- if there is no recognised negotiating union or council and a dispute arises, it may be referred to the Regional Labour Commissioner (Central), whose decision after hearing is final;
- and, distinctive to mines, workers' representatives at least one each from mining, electrical and mechanical discipline shall be nominated or elected, as the case may be.
Tenure under rule 16(3)(c) is three years.
The drafting in the gazette text places the discipline proviso after the dispute proviso, but it is a separate requirement. A committee of ten worker seats therefore has to reserve three for the three disciplines, leaving seven for other categories, including women in proportion.
Rule 17: functions
The committee's functions are to:
| Clause | Function |
|---|---|
| (a) | Discuss remedial measures against unsafe conditions and practices in the mine as pointed out in the reports of representatives brought to its notice, and make recommendations |
| (b) | Consider, before commencement of operations in any new area of the mine or installation of an oil mine, commissioning of new electrical or mechanical installation, or introduction of new mining technique, the proposed safety and health measures |
| (c) | Discuss the report of inquiry into accidents, dangerous occurrences and the like, and make recommendations |
| (d) | Formulate and implement appropriate safety campaigns based on analysis of accidents and dangerous occurrences |
| (e) | Serve as a forum for communication on safety and occupational health matters |
| (f) | Discuss standard operating procedures prepared for different plant, equipment, installations and methods at the mine, and make recommendations |
| (g) | Review the Safety Management Plan |
Clause (b) is forward-looking: the committee considers safety measures before a new area, installation or technique goes live, not after. A mine planning a new working face or a new electrical installation should put the proposal on the agenda at design stage. Clause (c) connects to the dangerous-occurrence and accident reporting discussed in our rule 7 explainer, because the committee discusses the inquiry reports. Clause (g) refers to the Safety Management Plan; the text of rule 17 does not define it, so read it with the mine's other safety documents and the Code's provisions on mines.
How rules 14, 16 and 17 operate together
- The mine has a Safety Committee if the threshold in rule 14 (or an order varying it) is met.
- It is composed as rule 16 provides: manager Chairman, five officials, Safety Officer or next senior as Secretary, and an equal number of workers' representatives including the three disciplines.
- It meets at least monthly; the employer keeps it informed of hazards, accident data and surveillance data under rule 14(4).
- It performs the rule 17 functions; the employer acts on its recommendations within fifteen days of receipt under rule 14(5).
- The mine's Safety Officer attends as Secretary and carries the duties in rules 20 and 21; see our rules 20 and 21 explainer.
Practical examples
Example 1. An opencast coal mine has a Safety Committee of fourteen. The manager is Chairman, five officials nominated by him sit with the Safety Officer as Secretary, making seven on the employer's side. Equal numbers mean seven worker representatives, and at least one each from mining, electrical and mechanical work is among them. The committee reviews the Safety Management Plan at its monthly meeting.
Example 2. A mine plans to introduce a new mining technique in one section. Before operations commence there, the manager tables the proposed safety and health measures at the committee under rule 17(b), and the committee's recommendations are recorded.
Need help with mine safety governance?
Mines combine statutory officers, workers' representatives and technical disciplines in one committee, and that takes a clear framework. Our labour law compliance team can help you set up the committee, its calendar and its records against rules 14, 16 and 17.
Key takeaways
- The mine's Safety Committee has equal employer and worker numbers, up to twenty in all.
- The manager under section 67 is Chairman; five officials nominated by the Chairman sit; the Safety Officer (or the senior-most official next to the manager) is Secretary.
- Workers' representatives must include at least one each from mining, electrical and mechanical discipline.
- Women's share must match their share of the workforce; disputes go to the Regional Labour Commissioner (Central).
- Rule 17 lists seven functions, including pre-commencement safety review and review of the Safety Management Plan.
- Meetings are at least monthly under rule 14(3).
Read next
- Rule 14: safety committee
- Rule 15: composition of the Safety Committee
- Rules 20 and 21: safety officers in mines
- Mines Act: safety provisions and the DGMS framework
Disclaimer: Based on the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (as enacted) and, where noted, the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026 (G.S.R. 345(E), 8 May 2026), as on 30 September 2026. The Code is in force from 21 November 2025; some provisions may be notified later, and State Governments make their own rules for establishments where the State is the appropriate Government. Verify the current position before acting.