9.5 One of the agenda items in the periodic meetings of the Boards of mining companies shall be "Safety Performance Appraisal" of the company.
DGMS(Tech)Circular No. 3 Dhanbad, dated the 11.9.2000.
To
The Owners, Agents and Managers of all mines.
Sub:- Recommendations of 9th Conference on Safety inMines was held on 2nd & 3rd February 2000 at New Delhi. Besides reviewing the status of implementation of the recommendations of Eighth Confernece on Safety in Mines, the conference had deliberated upon and had made valuable recommendations on the following subjects :
1. Preventing Mine Disasters
A) from Inundation, & B) from Fire, and Effective Emergency Resposnse. 2. Risk Mnanagement as a Tool for Development of Appropriate Health and Safety Management Systems. 3. Quality Control for Improving safety. 4. Communication System between DGMS Offices and Mine Management at Site. 5. Blow Out & Fire Hazards in Oil Mine. 6. Occupational Health Surveillance in Mining Industry. 7. Increasing Effectiveness of worker's participation in Safety Management throught Safety Committees.
The recommendations of the Conference are hereby being brought to your attention for information and necessary action.
( R.L. Arora ) Director-General of mines Safety.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE NINTH CONFERENCE ON
SAFETY IN MINES HELD ON 2ND AND 3RD FEBRUARY 2000,
AT NEW DELHI.
1.3 In respect of small-mechanised mines, which are operating in non-coal sector, it may not be feasible for a small organisation to create a special department on Occupational Health Services. For such small mines, it is suggested that an Association of small mines operators creates common facilities and infrastructure for occupational health services. Creation of such facility is specially needed for asbestos, manganese and mica mines.
Simultaneously with creation of facilities for occupational health services, it is also necessary to improve quality of life of employees working in mining industry by provision of well planned housing colonies provided with all modern facilities such as good drinking water, good sanitation, drainage and recreational facility.
1.4.2 Wherever practicable, roof bolting as a method of support in coal mines should be used. Its performance should be monitored regularly. A few conventional timber props may be used as indicator props.
1.4.3 Coal mining companies should take initiative to select/promote development of suitable type of drills & other accessories for use in various types of roof strata. A task force may be created for the purpose which may oversee the introduction of steel supports.
1.4.4 Development of a portable instrument for detecting the hidden slips in the roof of coal mines should be taken up on priority by R&D organisations.
1.6 The recommendations of DGMS (Tech) Circular No.18 of 1975 shall be implemented forthwith.
1.7 Audiometry should be introduced, as a part of mandatory medical examination, for persons seeking employment in mines and for persons engaged in operations/areas where noise level exceeds 90 dB(A).
1.8.1 The portion of surface haul road in mine premises where there is heavy traffic of men and machines, should have a separate lane properly fenced off from the haul road for pedestrians and two wheelers.
1.8.2 Trucks and other heavy vehicles, not belonging to management should not be allowed in the mine premises without a valid pass issued by the competent authority of the mine.
Before the pass is issued the mine engineer should check the road-worthiness of such vehicles.
In order to check entry of unauthorised vehicles in mine premises, each mine should establish properly manned check gate(s) at the entrance(s) where record of entry and exit of each such vehicle should be maintained.
At the check gate the license of the drivers should also be checked for eliminating the possibility of unlicensed persons driving the vehicles.
1.9 Persons engaged in surface operations and, in particular, the contractors' workers, who incidentally are often inexperienced and least informed about job-safety matters, need closer and more competent supervision. To minimise accidents due to surface operations it would be ensured that:
All persons engaged at any work within the mine premises through the contractors have received relevant training and other job-related briefings and that the drivers of vehicles belonging to contractors entering the mine premises have additionally been explained the salient provisions of "traffic rules".
Each mining company should draw up appropriate training schedules and modalities in this regard and implement the same.
In case of smaller mines, such arrangement may be
made by association of mine operators.
2.0 Preventing Mine Disasters from Inundation
2.2 Suitable infrastructure at area level may be provided for drilling advance bore holes to detect presence of waterlogged workings in advance.
2.3 Embankments provided against river and jore to guard against inundation should be designed properly keeping in view the engineering parameters. The details of such construction should be properly shown in the underground plan and water danger plan.
2.4 Surface excavation or disturbance in or near major sources of water, which are connected or are likely to be connected to below ground workings should be filled up completely.
2.5 Detailed precautions against inundation may be laid down while working beneath or in the vicinity of river and major water bodies. This may include framing and implementing standing order for safe withdrawal of persons, including system of information both manual and automatic, effective communication system and system of safe and timely withdrawal of persons to safety.
2.6 Mechanism may be developed for warning mines about impending heavy rains similar to warning of impending cyclone issued in coastal areas for taking necessary action. Also coordination with concerned agencies/departments about opening of dams in the rivers on the upstream side should be examined.
2.7 Winding system serving as sole means of ingress and egress may be made constantly available even in adverse weather conditions, failure of steam or electricity or any other reasons.
2.8 Effective communication may be established within the mine and between mines for safe withdrawal of persons. Necessary standing orders in this regard need to be framed and enforced.
2.9 Recommendations of 6th Conference on Safety in Mines to evolve suitable cadre structure for mine surveyors and upgradation of their skill by availing facilities at various institutions, appointment of qualified surveyors and providing infrastructure including computerised facility at area level to oversee survey work of the mine etc. may be implemented.
2.10 R&D efforts should be continued to develop a system for construction of water-tight chamber as last refuge below ground in case of inundation.
3.0 Preventing Mine Disasters from Fire, and Effective Emergency Response
3.2 Recognizing the urgent need for making the emergency plan responsive, speedy and effective, each mine shall review the existing emergency plan, at a higher level keeping in view the risk from fire.
3.3 A tripartite committee may be formed to study the feasibility of establishing rescue rooms in coal mines having high risk of fire and employing more than 350 persons ordinarily employed in a shift below ground may be considered.
3.4 A tripartite committee may be formed to study the feasibility of storing oxygen type self rescuer at strategic places below ground in coal mines with risk of fire in such scale so as to cater to the needs of persons who can be affected in an emergency may be explored.
3.5 Each mining company shall formulate and implement structured training programme for development of awareness and increasing effectiveness of emergency response in case of fire amongst work persons, officials and management.
3.6 Through sustained and meaningful R&D activities,
mining companies and research institution shall help in creating a better
understanding of the complex geo-mining situations leading to the occurrence
of fire, which in turn will help in formulating guidelines to combat the
problem of fire in effective manner. Early detection of heating effect
of reversal of fan and control of fire, other associated aspects may be
studied.
4.2 Risk assessment process should aim at effective management of risks, by identifying,
(ii) which risks need careful on-going management, and the nature of the on-going attention
4.4 Risk management plans shall be prepared on the basis of risk assessment and implemented in the identified mines.
5.1 Each mining company and the manufacturer/supplier shall satisfy themselves that the product has valid approval where applicable and conform to relevant standards where available at the time of supply.
5.2 Each large mining company may setup quality control cell or strengthen where the same exist, identify critical items which require testing for quality assurance at the time of procurement and during use and arrange testing of the same. Testing facilities may be setup wherever feasible;
5.3 Any defect or failure of approved items or those having BIS certification may be promptly brought to the notice of the appropriate authority for further action.
6.2 In organized mining sector, an effective internal and external system of communication besides P&T means shall be established both ways between the mines and, Rescue Rooms/stations, hospitals and DGMS offices.
6.3 Each mining company in the organized sector shall formulate and implement a comprehensive communication protocol clearly assigning duties and responsibilities of persons at various levels.
6.4 In un-organized mining sector, effective communication system shall be established in the following manner,
(ii) P&T telephone at managers’ office and residence.
7.0 SAFETY IN OIL MINES – BLOWOUT AND FIRE HAZARDS.
7.1 GENERAL:
Each oil company shall formulate a system to monitor all incidents of fire and blowout, whether or not involving loss of life, injuries and loss of property, investigate the causes and take necessary remedial measures.
7.2 PRECAUTIONS AGAINST BLOWOUT :
7.3 PRECAUTIONS AGAINST FIRE
7.3.1 Each Oil company shall examine the condition of pipelines carrying hydrocarbon with special emphasis on:
7.3.3 Work permit system for hot work, cold work and electrical work should be formulated and implemented under the competent supervision at all the oil installations.
8.1 Occupational Health services as recommended by 7th Conference where ever not yet established shall be established within a period of one year.
8.2 Each mining company operating mechanised mines shall computerise all records of medical and environmental surveillance.
8.3 Every PME Centre shall be provided with the facility for chest radiographs, lung function tests, arrangement for classification of chest radiographs and also wherever required facilities for audiometry.
9.0 INCREASING EFFECTIVENESS OF WORKER’S PARTICIPATION IN SAFETY MANAGEMENT.
9.5 One of the agenda items in the periodic meetings of the Boards of mining companies shall be "Safety Performance Appraisal" of the company.