Lok Sabha Question No. 1905 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-11
Subject: Safety Measures for Employees
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Dr. Sambit Patra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1905 ANSWERED ON 11.02.2026

## Safety Measures for Employees

†1905. Dr. Sambit Patra:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

(a) the details of safety measures in place for the welfare of employees working in the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) under the Ministry of Coal:

(b) whether the Ministry has developed any mechanism to ensure compliance with national and international safety standards for personnel working in these undertakings and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the measures being taken by the Ministry to ensure the successful implementation of  the  four  Labour  Codes  issued  by  the  Union  Government  under  the  recently announced labour reforms; and

(d)  whether  any  proposal  to  undertake  a  comprehensive  review  of  the  grievance redressal system established for the welfare and safety of personnel working in these undertakings is under consideration and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF COAL & MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) & (b): The Government has enacted the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH&WC) Code, 2020, which came into force on 21.11.2025. The Code regulates working conditions and workplace environments to safeguard  the health, safety, and welfare of workers, including mine workers.

Further, coal sector-specific safety regulations have been implemented under the Coal Mines  Regulations,  2017,  to  prescribe  modernisation,  mechanisation,  emergency response and evacuation requirements in coal mines. Appropriate mechanism is in place  to  ensure  compliance  with  national  and  international  safety  standards  for personnel working in Coal PSUs, which includes:

1. Adoption of Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment based Safety Management Plan.
2. Accreditation of ISO-45001 for mining establishments.
3. Incorporation of modern safety features in mining machinery.
4. Technological intervention for monitoring safety parameters.

(c): Since enactment of the Labour Code on 21.11.2025, the following measures have been undertaken to ensure effective implementation:

1. Awareness campaigns through standees, handbills, display boards, banners and materials approved by the Ministry of Labour & Employment across mines, offices, colonies, lamp rooms and canteens;
2. Extensive  use  of  digital  platforms  and  social  media  to  generate  awareness among employees;
3. Placement of awareness boards and standees at entry and exit gates to ensure maximum visibility;
4. Dissemination  of  simplified  briefs  in  English,  Hindi  and  regional  languages through WhatsApp and internal digital channels; and
5. Last-mile outreach through interaction by field-level officers with workers during shift-change hours.

(d): Coal PSUs have a well-established and functional grievance redressal mechanism operating through multiple platforms, as detailed below:

Centralised  Public  Grievance  Redress  and  Monitoring  System  (CPGRAMS): Grievances  relating  to  welfare  amenities  and  service  matters  are  lodged  through CPGRAMS and are regularly monitored and disposed of by the concerned divisions within prescribed timelines.

e-Nivaran  Portal: Coal  India  Limited  has  launched  the  e-Nivaran  portal  for  the redressal  of  grievances  of  separated  employees  and  their  dependents.  The  portal provides a transparent, efficient and time-bound grievance redressal mechanism with real-time tracking and status updates through SMS and email.

Representations through email and hard copy : Representations received through official email or in hard copy are duly acknowledged, examined and disposed of by the competent authority in accordance with extant rules and guidelines.

The existing grievance redressal mechanisms are reviewed periodically to ensure their effectiveness, transparency and responsiveness.

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