Annual Report,2009 - Directorate General of Mines Safety

DGMS Annual Report, 2009
It is, therefore recommended to implement the above scheme and regularly update the
fire fighting plan maintained at the mine.
No. DGMS (Tech)/Circular No./ 04 Dhanbad, Dated – 16 th February, 2009
To,
Owner/Agent/Manager of All Mines.
Sub :- Use of only Approved Types and Standards of Luminaries for Lighting in
Mines.
Sir,
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Lighting is an essential environmental component for any working place, whether
buildings, roads, offices, factories, stationery or mobile equipment, machines or any
other installation and plants. It has a direct bearing on the efficiency of manpower and
machine in addition to its effect on personal health. It is also well established that
inadequacy of light and long exposure to inadequate lighting conditions lead to
numerous eye slight problems and ill effects on human body. It is also known that
over exposure to light is equally dangerous to human body.
Various researches and studies have been carried out on this subject and different
standards of lighting for specified objectives and operations have been prescribed by
different countries and Standard Organizations.
Bare lamps causing glare are still in frequent evidence. In many cases the quantity of
light generated is sufficient, but only a small percentage of the light reaches the work,
by reason of failure to equip the lamps with suitable reflectors.
“The question of artificial lighting is of special importance at the present time when
night work is general, and common in mines. Notwithstanding the important bearing
which good eyesight must have upon output, the question is not today receiving
adequate attention at the hands of those whose duty it is to obtain this output. Bad
lighting affects output unfavorably, not only by making good and rapid work more
difficult, but also by causing headaches and other effects of eye-strain.
Incidence of accidents due to poor lighting conditions and glare at the eyes of the
driver operating vehicles and HEMMs has also increased in recent past.
Instance have come under the notice of this Directorate, of headaches and eye-strain
resulting from (a) inadequate light, both artificial and natural; (b) artificial light,
adequate in amount, but so placed as to throw a glare on the eyes of the workers; (c)
employment of workers, whose eyesight should be aided by suitable glasses, to carry
out fine work without first testing their eyesight.”
In view of the conditions prevailing at the mines and their effects on health and
safety of the persons employed therein, it is imperative to re-examine the issue of
lighting in the perspective of advancement made in Lighting and Photometry
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