Lok Sabha Question No. 27 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-03
Subject: Safety of Workers Working in Mines
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Sangamlal Kadedin Gupta, Ravi Kishan Shukla, Manoj Kumar Tiwari, Ramdas Chandrabhanji Tadas

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 27 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.02.2020

## SAFETY OF WORKERS WORKING IN MINES

- †27.  SHRI SANGAM LAL GUPTA:

SHRI RAVI KISHAN:

SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:

SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS:

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

- (a)whether  the  Government  has  laid  down  any  norms  for  safety  of workers working in mines;
- (b)if so, the details thereof;
- (c)the time period after which the equipment of the mine workers are changed;
- (d)whether the Government has any provision to provide compensation
- for accidents occurred with workers in mines; and
- (e)if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b): Yes,  Sir.  The  safety  of  workers  employed  in  the  mines  is dealt  with  in  the  Mines  Act,  1952  and  Rules  &  Regulations  made thereunder.  Directorate  General  of  Mines  Safety  (DGMS)  under  the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India administers this Act for ensuring safety of the persons employed in mines.

Contd..2/-

In  order  to  prevent  re-occurrence  of  accidents  in  future, Directorate  General  of  Mines  Safety  issues  circular  for  the  mining industry for preventive measures to be taken. To ensure that the mine workers are provided with adequate safety measures while working in the mines, DGMS undertakes inspections of mines and take measures vis a vis: Pointing out contraventions, Withdrawal of permission, Issue of improvement notices, Prohibition of employment, Informal stoppages and Prosecution in the court of law.

- (c): The provisions related to the intervals for issue of Personnel  Protective  Equipments  (PPEs)  like  protective  footwear, helmet  &  other  personnel  protective  equipments  to  the  persons working in the mines has been specified in the Coal Mines Regulations,  2017,  Oil  Mines  Regulations,  2017  &  the  Metalliferous Mines Regulations, 1961 framed under Mines Act, 1952.
-  The  owner,  agent  or  manager  of  a  mine  shall  supply  protective footwear, free of charge, at intervals not exceeding six months.
-  The owner, agent or manager of a mine shall supply helmet, free of  charge,  at  intervals  not  exceeding  three  years  or  such  other intervals  as  the  Chief  Inspector  may  specify  by  a  general  or special order in writing.
-  Where it appears to the Regional Inspector or the Chief Inspector that  any  person  or  class  of  persons  employed  in  a  mine  is exposed  to undue  hazard  by reason of the nature of his employment,  he  may,  by  a  general  or  special  order  in  writing, require  the  owner,  agent  or  manager  of  the  mine  to  supply  to such person or class of persons, free of charge, gloves, goggles, shin  guards,  respirator  or  such  other  protective  equipment  as may be specified in the order.
-  The  protective  equipment  provided  shall  be  replaced  free  of charge by the owner, agent or manager whenever it is rendered unserviceable by legitimate use.
- (d) & (e): Yes,  Sir.  The  compensation  for  accidents  occurred  with workers in mines are provided by the respective mine management in terms  of  relevant  provisions  of  the  Employees'  Compensation  Act, 1923.

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