Lok Sabha Question No. 1356 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-25
Subject: Silicosis Disease
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Dushyant Singh

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1356 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2022

## SILICOSIS DISEASE

1356. SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH:

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

- (a)whether  the  Government  has  any  nationwide  policy  on  prevention and treatment of Silicosis disease, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b)the details of the protocols followed in identifying the persons with silicosis  and  deaths  occurred  due  to  silicosis  especially  in  mining areas of the country;
- (c)whether the Government has any proposal to notify silicosis as an epidemic, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d)the  details  of  the  States  which  have  notified  silicosis  as  an epidemic;
- (e)whether  the  Government  is  providing  any  rehabilitation  for  the deceased person's family, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f)the details of the number of deaths occurred due to silicosis in the country till now, State-wise?

## ANSWER

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

(a): The Government has enacted the Factories Act, 1948 and the Mines Act, 1952 to ensure occupational safety, health and welfare of the workers employed in the factories and the mines respectively. The provisions of the Factories Act and rules framed thereunder are enforced  by  the  respective  State  Governments  /  Union  Territories. Measures  taken  by  Directorate  General  of  Mines  Safety  (DGMS)  to prevent  silicosis  and  other  dust  related  diseases  to  the  persons employed at the mines are as follows:

- 
- 
- 
- Wet drilling.
- Periodic monitoring of dust levels at workplace.
- Personal Dust Exposure profile using Personal Dust Samplers.
-  Use  of  Dust  mask  and  Dust  respirator  as  Personal  Protective Equipment.
-  Initial  Medical  Examination  before  employment  and  Periodical Medical  Examinations  of  persons  employed  in  mines  at  an interval of 5 years.
- 
- Occupational health survey;
-  Regular Awareness Campaign among the mine owners and mine workers regarding causes and prevention of Silicosis and other dust related diseases.
- (b): The details of protocols followed in identifying the person with silicosis and deaths occurred due to silicosis especially in mining areas of the country are as under:
- (i) As per the section 9A of the Mines Act 1952, the Chief Inspector or an Inspector or other officer authorized in this behalf may undertake the  safety  and  occupational  health  survey  in  a  mine  to  identify  the persons with silicosis or any other occupational diseases.
- ii)  As  per  provisions  of  the  Section  25  of  the  Mines  Act  1952,  if  any person employed in the mines contracts any notified disease including Silicosis,  the  Owner,  Agent  or  Manager  of  the  Mine  send  Notice  to Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) in appropriate form.
- iii)    Rule  29B  of  Mines  Rules,  1955  provides  for  health  status  of workers  employed  in  a  mine  to  be  checked  at  the  time  of  first employment  and  periodical  medical  examination  at  every  five  years intervals. Periodic medical examination or the chest xray examination  or  both  are  conducted  at  more  frequent  intervals  if  the examining authority deems it necessary to confirm a suspected case of a dust related disease.
- (c) & (d): Silicosis is specified/ notifiable disease in the Third Schedule  of  the  Factories  Act,  1948  and  the  notified  disease  in  the Mines Act, 1952.

Contd..3/-

(e): Compensation  for  silicosis  affected  person  is  given  under Workmen  Compensation  Act,  1923  by  the  Mine  Management.  There also  provisions  to  protect  the  interest  of  labourers  affected  by  the notified  diseases  under  the  Mines  Act,  1952.  The  mine  owners  are required to comply with provisions viz. to provide alternate employment  in  the  mine  for  which  the  workmen  is  medically  fit, disability allowance determined in accordance with the rates prescribed etc.

- (f): The details of death occurred due to silicosis in the country are not maintained centrally in the Ministry of Labour & Employment.

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