Lok Sabha Question No. 2127 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-01
Subject: Fire Accidents
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: SADASHIV KISAN LOKHANDE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2127 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.01.2018

## FIRE ACCIDENTS

†2127. SHRI SADASHIV LOKHANDE:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT   be pleased to state:

- (a)the  reasons  for  repeated  fire  accidents  in  coal  mines  along  with  the remedial steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (b)the details of the expenditure incurred by the Government for security in coal  mines  and  factories  situated  in  various  States  during  the  last  two years and the current year; and
- (c)the measures taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to further improve fire fighting system of coal mines and factories in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a): Coal  fire  takes  place  due  to  spontaneous  heating  and  not  complying the  precautions  laid  down  in  the  Coal  Mines  Regulations,  2017.  Detailed precautions  have  been  laid  down  in  the  Coal  Mines  Regulations,  2017  to guard against danger of fire in coal mines.

Following remedial actions are taken by Directorate General of Mines Safety under Ministry of Labour & Employment in Mines

- (i) Regular  sample  inspections  are  done  by  the  officers  of  DGMS  and based  on  the  observations  during  the  inspections,  actions  like  pointing  out  contraventions,  withdrawal  of  permission,  issue  of improvement notice, prohibition of employment and prosecution are taken.
- (ii) Accidents and dangerous occurrences due to fire are inquired into and  based  on  the  findings  actions  are  taken  to  prevent  similar accidents in future.

Contd..2/-

- (iii) Following  promotional  measures  are  also  taken  -  Conference  on safety      in  mines,  National  Safety  Awards  (Mines),  Observance  of Safety Week and Safety Campaign.
- (b):    The onus of providing security and ensuring safety in mines rests with the mine managements, as clearly laid down under section 18 of the Mines Act, 1952 as 'The owner and agent of every mine shall each be responsible for making financial and other provisions and for taking other such steps as may  be  necessary  for  compliance  with  the  provisions  of  this  Act  and regulations, rules, bye-laws and orders made thereunder.'
- (c): Based  on  the  experiences,  following  measures  have  been  taken  or proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  further  improve  firefighting system of coal mines:
- (i)  Amendment  of  safety  laws-  In  view,  of  the  recent  technological developments and the experience of DGMS,  The Coal Mines Regulations,  1957  has  been  recently  replaced  by  The  Coal  Mines Regulations, 2017.
- (ii) Issue of circulars for safer operations in identified thrust areas.
- (iii) Issue of technical instructions to DGMS officers for their guidance.

For  the  factories  which  otherwise  fulfills  the  criteria  for  coverage under the Factories Act, 1948, Section 38 of the Act provide for precautions in case of fire and the provision is as under:

## Precautions in case of fire

- (1) In  every  factory,  all  practicable  measures  shall  be  taken  to  prevent outbreak of fire and its spread, both internally and externally, and to provide and maintain:-
2. (a) safe means of escape for all persons in the event of a fire, and
3. (b) the necessary equipment and facilities for extinguishing fire.
- (2) Effective  measures  shall  be  taken  to  ensure  that  in  every  factory  all the workers are familiar with the means of escape in case of fire and have been adequately trained in the routine to be followed in such cases.

(3) The  State  Government  may  make  rules,  in  respect  of  any  factory  or class  or  description  of  factories,  requiring  the  measures  to  be  adopted  to give effect to the provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2).

(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (a) of sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), if the Chief Inspector, having regard to the nature of the work carried on in any factory, the construction of such factory, special risk to life or  safety,  or  any  other  circumstances,  is  of  the  opinion  that  the  measures provided  in  the  factory,  whether  as  prescribed  or  not,  for  the  purposes  of clause (a) of sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), are inadequate, he may, by order in writing, require that such additional measures as he may consider reasonable and necessary, be provided in the factory before such date as is specified in the order.

Further, the State Governments are empowered  to frame their respective  State  Factories  Rules  under  the  Act  and  Section  41  of  the  Act empowers the State Governments to make Rules providing for supplementing the  provisions  of  Section  38  of  the  Act.  Both  the  Act  and  State  Factories Rules are enforced by the respective State Governments.  Further there are penal provisions provided under Section 92 of the Act, for violation of any of the provisions of the Act and the Rules framed thereunder and the Factory Inspectorates of the State Governments are empowered to take penal action for violation of the provision of the Act and State Factories Rules.

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