Lok Sabha Question No. 3000 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-20
Subject: Accidents in Mines
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Chandrani Murmu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3000 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2023

## ACCIDENTS IN MINES

3000. MS. CHANDRANI MURMU:

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

- (a)the number of accidents in mines across the country, particularly in Odisha along with the details of deaths and injuries since 2010 as well as categories of accidents;
- (b)the  details  of  compensation  in  terms  of  money,  job  and  other compensations  as  per  norms  in  Odisha  including  the  policy  of compensation in this regard, district-wise;
- (c)the  number  of  cases  of  accidents  occured  due  to  negligence  and the action taken therein;
- (d)whether  the  Government  has  constituted  a  task  force  to  provide solutions so that accident does not occur; and
- (e)if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

- (a): The  number  of  accidents  in  mines,  deaths  and  injuries across the country including Odisha since 2010 is annexure.
- (b): The compensation to the workers in the mines for injuries and deaths is provided by the respective Mine Management as per the provisions  of  the  Workmen  Compensation  Act,  1923.  The  details  of compensation, etc. are not maintained centrally in Ministry of Labour & Employment.

Contd..2/-

There are also provisions to protect the interest of workers injured  in  an  accident  under  Mines  Act,  1952.  The  mine  owners  are required to comply with provisions viz. to provide alternate employment  in  the  mine  for  which  the  employee  is  medically  fit, disability allowance determined in accordance with the rate prescribed etc.

- (c): The number of accidents occurred in mines the country is annexed.  After  each  accident,  Directorate  General  of  Mines  Safety (DGMS), a subordinate office of the Ministry of Labour & Employment conducts enquiry to find out the reasons of the accident so that such accidents  could  be  avoided  in  future.  After  enquiry,  DGMS  take appropriate action as per the law against the persons found responsible for the accident. These actions include prosecution in the court of law, suspension, removal from service, withheld of promotion / increment, removed from the statutory post, etc.
- (d) to (e): DGMS has been entrusted the task of inspection of mines to ensure the compliance of the provisions of Mines Act 1952 and rules and  regulations  framed  thereunder  for  enhancing  the  safety  of  mine workers. The steps taken by DGMS to reduce the fatalities in mines and improve the safety of workers engaged therein are as under:
- (i). Legislative measures: (a) Enquiry into the accident and dangerous occurrences to ascertain the cause and circumstances that led to the accident  and  suggests  suitable  remedial  measures  to  the  mine management.
- (b)    Inspection  of  the  mines:  Temporary  stoppages of a mine or part thereof;  serving  the  Improvement  Notices  &  Prohibitory  Orders  to rectify  the  contraventions  of  statute  observed  during  the  course  of inspections.
- (ii). Developmental  measures  such  as  standard  setting,  adopting various recommendations of the ILO Conventions,
- (iii).  Promotional  measures  such  as  holding  National  Conferences  on Safety in mines, conducting National Safety Awards (Mines), imparting Vocational Training and Other Training, Observance of Safety Weeks and Safety Campaigns, Holding Rescue Competition, promoting participation of worker in safety management, awareness and information dissemination.

(iv).  Technical  measures  such  as  Introduction  of  Risk  Assessment Techniques  and  preparation  of  Safety  Management  Plan  aimed  at mitigation  of  risks  and  to  ensure  safety  of  workmen,  introduction  of standard  operating  procedures  to  avoid  unsafe  practices  in  mines, issuing circulars as guidelines for safe operations in identified thrust areas from time to time.

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## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  &  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3000 FOR 20.03.2022 BY MS. CHANDRANI MURMU REGARDING 'ACCIDENTS IN MINES'

## Details of fatal accidents, serious accidents, persons killed and persons injured in  Mines in the country during calendar year 2010 - 2022

|   Year |   No. of Fatal accidents |   Number of Persons Killed |   No. of Serious accidents |   Number of Persons Injured |
|--------|--------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|   2010 |                       97 |                        118 |                        480 |                         511 |
|   2011 |                       65 |                         67 |                        533 |                         556 |
|   2012 |                       79 |                         83 |                        536 |                         548 |
|   2013 |                       77 |                         82 |                        456 |                         468 |
|   2014 |                       59 |                         62 |                        379 |                         394 |
|   2015 |                       54 |                         55 |                        302 |                         316 |
|   2016 |                       67 |                         94 |                        268 |                         278 |
|   2017 |                       56 |                         61 |                        266 |                         272 |
|   2018 |                       49 |                         62 |                        266 |                         280 |
|   2019 |                       51 |                         56 |                        193 |                         204 |
|   2020 |                       48 |                         53 |                        118 |                         139 |
|   2021 |                       43 |                         51 |                        188 |                         195 |
|   2022 |                       24 |                         28 |                        179 |                         189 |

## Details of fatal accidents, serious accidents, persons killed and persons injured in  Mines in the Odisha during calendar year 2010 - 2022

|   Year |   No. of Fatal accident |   Number of Persons Killed |   No. of Serious accident |   Number of Persons Injured |
|--------|-------------------------|----------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------|
|   2010 |                       2 |                          2 |                         6 |                           6 |
|   2011 |                       4 |                          4 |                        10 |                          10 |
|   2012 |                       2 |                          2 |                         9 |                           9 |
|   2013 |                       1 |                          1 |                         9 |                          10 |
|   2014 |                       1 |                          1 |                        11 |                          11 |
|   2015 |                       3 |                          3 |                         4 |                           4 |
|   2016 |                       2 |                          2 |                         4 |                           4 |
|   2017 |                       5 |                          5 |                         2 |                           2 |
|   2018 |                       8 |                          8 |                         2 |                           4 |
|   2019 |                       7 |                         10 |                         2 |                           2 |
|   2020 |                       5 |                          5 |                         2 |                           2 |
|   2021 |                       2 |                          2 |                         3 |                           3 |
|   2022 |                       0 |                          0 |                         4 |                           4 |

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