Lok Sabha Question No. 3920 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-13
Subject: Accidents in Coal Mines
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: VIJAY KUMAR S.R.

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF COAL**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3920**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON  13.8.2015**

**Accidents in Coal Mines**

**3920.  SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:**

Will the **MINISTER OF COAL** be pleased to state :

1. Whether the Coal India Limited (CIL) and its subsidiaries, particularly Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) have declared 2013-14 as the zero accident year;
2. if so, the details thereof, company-wise; and
3. the efforts made/ likely to be made by CIL to improve their safety performance?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OFCOAL, POWER AND NEW AND RENEWABLEE ENERGY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)**

(a)to(c): Coal India Ltd. (CIL) and its subsidiaries including  Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) have not declared 2013-14 as the zero accident year.  However, to improve safety of operations the following measures are being taken by CIL :

1. CIL has established a structured multi-disciplinary Internal Safety Organization (ISO) to assist the line management at various levels in matters related to Safety.
2. Safety Management Plan: Various hazards and associated risks related to mining operations have been identified. Based on risk assessment, Safety Management Plans (SMPs) have been prepared for all mines of CIL and control measures are being implemented. It is an on-going process for continuous review and improvement of safety standards in mines.
3. Safety Audit of the mines is conducted from time to time.

4.    Steps for Disaster Prevention:

- To check Inundation/ in rush water:

Thrust on Risk assessment, Safety Audit, Check Survey, Trials of Geo-physical Methods for detection of water bodies / proving parting etc.

- To control spontaneous heating, fire & explosion in mine:
    - More thrust on construction of sectionalization stopping.
    - Fresh Pressure Quantity Survey to improve ventilation standard of UG mines.
    - Use of Gas Chromatograph to analyze mine air sampling with better accuracy.
    - Use of Local Methane Detector (LMD) and Environmental Tele-Monitoring System (ETMS) for early and accurate detection of methane below ground for degree-III gassy mines.
    - Risk assessment for identifying hazards related to spontaneous heating / fire potential is being done.

5. For reduction of accidents due to roof/side falls:

- Stress on face mechanization to reduce exposure of workmen in active working zone.
- Support Plan based on Rock-mass-rating (RMR) of over-lying roof strata.
- Greater use of Roof Bolting for roof support specially for freshly exposed roof.
- Mechanization of roof drilling for roof bolting purpose by using roof bolting machines.
- Introduction of resin capsules particularly for watery seams and seams with low RMR.
- Use of different type indicators such as auto warning tell-tale, magnasonic extensometer, telescopic convergence recorder, remote convergence recorder, stress meter, load cell (mechanical), strain gauge load meter and tri-axial geophone (micro-seismic technology) etc. for monitoring strata movement.

6. For reduction of accident at Opencast as well as on surface of mine:

- Surface Miners are being used in several opencast mines of CIL, which are safe and eco-friendly.
- Mine-specific Traffic Rules have been framed, circulated and implemented in every mine.
- Standard Operating Procedures related to safe operation of various mining operations.
- Training of Contractor’s Workers involved in OB and Coal transportation.
- Introduced Simulation based training for tipper & dumper operators / HEMM operator.

8. Special Safety Drives are conducted periodically to assess the level of compliance of safety norms in each mine. Annual safety fortnight is also conducted once every year for the same purpose.
9. Other safety measures initiated recently:
    - Special training programme for safety officers and other key mining officials directly engaged in ensuring safety at mines by the SIMTARS, Australia accredited executives.
    - Several R&D projects on safety have also been initiated.
    - Spreading knowledge and coal mine safety related information through publication of quarterly safety bulletin from CIL.

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