Appointment of Fire Safety Officer.

(1) To ensure the effective fire prevention and life safety measures of the buildings or premises as may be specified by an order by the State Government in this behalf, every factory or the owner and occupier or occupiers individually or jointly, as the case may be,- (i) shall appoint a fire safety officer, having such qualifications as may be prescribed; (ii) send the compliance report to the Regional Fire Officer or the Chief Fire Officer, as the case may be, under section 18. (2) The fire safety officer so appointed under sub-section (1) shall, be issued by the Regional Fire Officer or the Chief Fire officer, as the case may be, the enrolment certificate under his signature and seal of the office in the prescribed form. (3) In case of a vacancy of the fire safety officer appointed under sub-section (1), either on resignation or otherwise, the factory or the owner and occupier or occupiers individually or jointly, as the case may be, shall be required to immediately appoint the fire safety officer. (4) In case of non-appointment of the fire safety officer, as envisaged under Sub section (1), the Regional Fire Officer or the Chief Fire Officer, as the case may be, may take such steps as he deems necessary, which includes report to the Labour Commissioner for the closure of the factory and in other cases to the relevant authority for necessary action under relevant law.