(1)

The appropriate Government may, in the event of the occurrence of an accident in an establishment which has caused or had the potentiality to cause serious danger to employees and other persons within, and in the vicinity of the workplace or whether immediate or delayed, or any occupational disease as specified in the Third Schedule, which has been or is suspected to have been contracted, in epidemic proportions, appoint one or more persons possessing legal or special knowledge to act as assessors or competent persons in such inquiry in order to inquire into the causes of the accident and disease, fix responsibilities and suggest a plan of action for the future to prevent such accidents or diseases and submit the report to the appropriate Government.

(2)

The appropriate Government may direct a Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator or any other officer under the control of the Government concerned or appoint a committee to undertake a survey in such manner as may be prescribed by the appropriate Government on the situation relating to safety or health at work at any workplace or class of workplaces or into the effect of work activity on the health of the employees and other persons within and in the vicinity of the workplace.

(3)

The officer directed or committee appointed, under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), to hold an inquiry, shall have the powers of a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908(5 of 1908), for the purposes of enforcing the attendance of witnesses and compelling the production of documents and material objects, and may also so far as may be necessary for the purposes of the inquiry, exercise such powers of an Inspector-cum- Facilitator under this Code as may be necessary.

(4)

The Central Government may make rules for regulating the procedure of inquiry and survey and other related matters under this section.