Lok Sabha Question No. 2076 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-02
Subject: Accidents and Loss of Life in Mines
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: D. M. Kathir Anand

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2076 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2019

## ACCIDENTS AND LOSS OF LIFE IN MINES

2076. SHRI D.M. KATHIR ANAND:

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

- (a)the reasons for the recent mine accidents in Angul district of Odisha and failure of safety mechanism against mine accidents;
- (b)whether it is true that the number of accidents and loss of life in mines in the country are higher as compared to that of mines in foreign countries and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)the details regarding action being taken to augment safety and efficiency of mines in the country?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): The  details  of  recent  mine  accident  in  Angul  district  of  Odisha  and reason thereof are as under:

| Date of    | Mine Name   | Owner                    | Reason                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|------------|-------------|--------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 14-03-2019 | BALRAM OCP  | Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd. | While a motor Grader was being operated at a workshop of opencast coal mine, its operator fell down from the operator cabin and run over by the first rear wheel of the same motor grader, thereby inflicting serious bodily injuries to him, which later on proved fatal. |

Contd..2/-

| 28-05-2019   | BALRAM OCP                      | Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd.   | A security guard was run over by dumper in the opencast mine.                                                                                                                           |
|--------------|---------------------------------|----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 20-06-2019   | BHUBANE SWARI OPENCAS T PROJECT | Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd.   | While a contractor worker climbed upon the live 230 volts tubular lighting pole for checking the connections, he received electric shock and got electrocuted.                          |
| 23-07-2019   | BHARATP UR PROJECT              | Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd.   | High and loose dumped overburden retained against the thin in-situ barrier (Parting) having cracks and fire etc., failed suddenly in which few persons were buried underneath and died. |
| 31-08-2019   | BALARAM OCP                     | Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd    | A person was sitting in a quarry of opencast mine, who was run-over by the grader.                                                                                                      |

- (b): The data related to accidents in other countries are not maintained by the  Ministry  of  Labour  &  Employment.  However,  the  trend  of  accidents  and resultant causalities in mines during 2001 to 2018 has declined from 109 to 29 and 141 to 33 respectively in our Country.
- (c): The following steps are taken by Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) to augment safety and efficiency of mines in the country:
- (1) Inspection  of  mines  by  officers  of  DGMS  to  assess  the  safety parameters are conducted and following measures are taken :
-  Pointing out contraventions
-  Withdrawal of permission
-  Issue of improvement notices
-  Prohibition of employment
-  Informal stoppages
-  Prosecution in the court of law
- (2) To maintain the safety of labourers working under great risk conditions  in  coal  mines  the  following  steps  are  also  taken  by  the Government:
- (i) To  promote  and  propagate  safety  awareness  in  mines,  National Safety Awards (Mines), National Conference on Safety in Mines are organized by DGMS. The recommendations of National Conference on Safety in Mines are implemented to enhance the safety of mine workers.

- (ii) Workers  participation  and  sensitization  in  matters  of  safety  are ensured through training in safety and by initiatives like observance of safety week and safety campaigns, etc.
- (iii) Safety  training  programmes  are  organized  among  Managers  and Supervisors for improving safety standards in mines.
- (iv) Introduction  of  Risk  Assessment  Techniques  and  preparation  of safety management plan aimed at elimination of risks and to ensure safety of workmen.
- (v) Introduction  of  standard  operating  procedures  to  avoid  unsafe practices in mines.
- (vi) Time  to  time,  DGMS  Circulars  are  issued  as  guidelines  for  safe operations in identified thrust areas.

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