AGENDA - 33rd meeting of Standing Committee on Safety in Coal ...

North Tisra is 210m as per mine plan. However, as AMP / Authentic information are not
available the inspection <strong>of</strong> the barrier was emphasized to check the flow <strong>of</strong> water.
Status <strong>of</strong> Atmospheric condition <strong>of</strong> the old workings:
• O2- 20.6%, CH4- Nil, CO-Nil, Dry Bulb Temp (DBT):41 0 C, Wet bulb Temp
(WBT):41 0 C, Relative Humidity-100%. The said conditions prevail since 2003 as
per records available.
• The cause <strong>of</strong> the high temperature at the Old workings may be due to the seepage
<strong>of</strong> excessive hot water <strong>of</strong> about 45 0 C all along the barrier and high relative
humidity. A Scientific study regarding the ventilation <strong>of</strong> Lodna Colliery is being
conducted by CIMFR, Dhanbad to find means for reducing the high temp. existed
at that old working.
.
About the Incident / accident:-
In 1st Shift <strong>of</strong> 05.01.2009 one Sr.OM who was working as ventilation <strong>of</strong>ficer went to old
working <strong>of</strong> VII Seam 24 th rise along with two others for routine inspection. They went to
UG through 7 Pit (landing at IX/X Seam) at about 11.30 pm. The maximum travelling
time from 7 Pit bottom to 24 th rise <strong>of</strong> VII Seam old working would be 30 to 45 minutes,
therefore, it was expected that the Team might have entered the old workings at any time
between 12.00 noon to 12.30 P.M and not returned after end <strong>of</strong> the shift. A search
operation was started at about 5.30 P.M. with Multigas Detetor, Hygrometer and Flame
Safety Lamp. The whole team reached upto the barrier <strong>of</strong> (-)16 th Level <strong>of</strong> 24 th rise and all
along the barrier pillar, no noxious gases was detected and O2 % was more than 20%,
temperature was 41 0 C, humidity was 100%, then after 30 minute <strong>of</strong> search operation the
whole team returned to (-) 3 rd Level. At about 6.40 P.M. the body <strong>of</strong> Sr.OM was located
at (-) 14 th Level between 22 nd and 23 rd rise and the second body was detected nearby.
The third body was located at about 11.30 A.M. on 06.01.2009 by the rescue team about
13 pillars away.
Findings and Cause <strong>of</strong> the Accident:-
1. The normal route <strong>of</strong> inspection upto (-) 16 th Level barrier is through 24 th rise and
return back along 24th dip upto (-)3 rd Level. Generally, after taking some rest
inspection team used to inspect VII to V/VI Seam drift along (-) 4 th Level upto 21 st
rise <strong>of</strong> VII Seam and back along with same route.
2. After reaching the barrier they inspected the same probably while returning they
followed a different route through the cross-cut and one <strong>of</strong> team member might have
been separated and fell down after getting exhausted.
3. Other members <strong>of</strong> the team in search <strong>of</strong> separated member too got exhausted and laid
down in between in (-)14 th Level keeping their Cap lamp and Flame Safety Lamp
burning with a hope that separated member might locate them on seeing burning
lamps.
4. The postmortem report clearly pointed out the cause <strong>of</strong> their death is “due to heat
exhaustion as a result <strong>of</strong> working in high atmospheric temperature”. The cause
<strong>of</strong> death was simply due to overexposure in the above stated condition for more than
2 to 3 hours.
5. The old working was inspectable within limited span <strong>of</strong> time, as the area was not
adequately ventilated with high DBT, WBT and relative humidity. The temperature
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