No. DGMS (Tech) Circular No. 4 of 2001.                              Dhanbad, dated the 06/08/2001.

To

All owners, Agents and Managers of

Belowground Coal Mines.

Sub: Fatal accidents due to fall of roof in belowground coal mines.

In a recent accident due to roof fall in a belowground coal mines it was revealed that while six coal fillers were engaged in loading coal by the Overman in his presence in a slice in a depillaring district, a mass of roof measuring 6.5m x 4.2m x 0.5 – 2.5m thick fell from roof at a height of about 2.5m trapping the Overman and four coal fillers. While the Overman and two coal fillers died instantly, third coal filler died soon after he was rescued and the fourth died after about five hours of the accident.

The enquiry further revealed that the Overman ignored the cracking sound of the impending fall and the coal fillers were asked to fill the tubs in his presence. As the sound due to goaf movement is a clear phenomenon, the supervisors have to take the decision of withdrawal. This was ignored in this case which could have saved the valuable lives.

It is therefore reiterated that the workers and the supervisors engaged in the depillaring district shall be trained to make them conversant with the workings of the depillaring including timely withdrawal of work persons during impending fall.

I sincerely believe that the management will make all out efforts to train and retrain the workers and supervisors which will definitely make headway in eliminating similar type of accidents in future.

Director General of Mines Safety.