Lok Sabha Question No. 1735 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-13
Subject: Coal Mine Workers
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: VINOD KUMAR BOIANAPALLI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1735 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.2.2019

## Coal Mine Workers

## 1735. SHRI B. VINOD KUMAR:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the number of coal mine workers working in different State owned coal mines across the country, State/ UT-wise;

(b) the details of the number of facilities including safety facilities being provided to these workers across the country;

(c) whether the Government has received any complaints at present in some of the States in connection with  violation  of  safety  guidelines  in  their  mines  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof,  State/UT-wise  and  the reasons therefor;

(d)  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  make  these  coal  mines/all  coal  mines  as  zero accidental; and

(e)  whether  the  Government  has  issued  guidelines  to  States  to  provide  training  to  workers  for  safety during the work time and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF FINANCE, RAILWAYS AND COAL (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (c): Information is being collected.

(d): The matters relating to safety, health and welfare of persons employed in the mines are dealt with under  the  Mines  Act,  1952,  Rules  and  Regulations  made  there  under.    Directorate  General  of  Mines Safety (DGMS) administers the Mines Act, 1952 for ensuring safety in the mines  of the country. The owner, agent, manager and other statutory persons appointed in the mines are required to comply with the provisions of the statute. Chief Inspector of Mines and Inspectors of Mines make inspections and enquire, whenever it is required, to ascertain whether provisions of the Mines Act 1952 and of the regulations, rules and bye-laws and of any order made there under are observed in a mine.

In order to prevent re-occurrence of accidents, DGMS issues various circulars specifying therein the  preventive  measures  to  be  taken  for  ensuring  safety  in  mines. To  ensure  that  the  mineworkers  are provided  with  adequate  safety  measures  while  working  in  the  mines,  Officers  of  DGMS  undertake inspections of mines and take following measures:

-  Pointing out contraventions
-  Withdrawal of permission
-  Issue of improvement notices
-  Prohibition of employment
-  Informal stoppages
-  Prosecution in the court of law

To prevent accidents in the mines the following steps are also taken/being 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 go a long way in enhancing safety of mine workers.
- (ii) Workers participation and sensitization in matters of safety are ensured through training in safety and by initiatives like celebration 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.

(e):  Training to the persons employed in  mines is provided as per the provisions of The Mines Vocational Training Rules, 1966 (a subordinate legislation of The Mines Act, 1952). The salient points of The Mines Vocational Training Rules, 1966 are:

- (i) Provision for training centre as per the provisions of the Rule 18 of The Mines Vocational Training Rules, 1966.
- (ii) Provisions  for  Training  officer  as  per  Rule  20  of  The  Mines  Vocational  Training  Rules, 1966.
- (iii) Provision of trainer as per Rule 22 of The Mines Vocational Training Rules, 1966.
- (iv) Provision of initial  and refresher  training  to  workmen  as  per  Rule  6  and  8  of  The Mines Vocational Training Rules, 1966

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