Annual Report,2009 - Directorate General of Mines Safety

DGMS Annual Report, 2009
General of Mines Safety since its inception is trying its best to see that such
occurrences do not occur and the valuable lives and properties are saved.
Whenever there occurs an accident, disaster or any dangerous occurrence, an
investigation is made both at the mine management as well as DGMS level. Causes of
such occurrence are found out and remedial measures suggested to prevent recurrence
of such accident or disaster. However, it has been observed that such preventive
measures are not properly implemented nor a recheck done in other mines to see that
such situation and conditions which lead to such accidents or disaster do not exist.
When a mine becomes very large, this system to produce the required quantity of
mineral also becomes complex and dynamic. In cast of such mines, it becomes
necessary to study the systems in details with all its components and parameters to
find out the detects or flaws. A single person or group of persons may not be well
equipped to know the defects in the system, therefore it becomes necessary to engage
such number of competent persons or experts on various subjects who can really find
out the faults an suggest remedial measures. In such cases, it becomes a job of experts
comprising of multi disciplines and subjects.
With this objectives in view, it becomes necessary to carry out Risk assessment and
Safety management studies and prepare a Safety Management Plan to ensure that the
risk to injuries and loss of time and properties are eliminated and kept in control. A
Technical Circular No. 13 of 2002 giving details and guidelines of such studies have
already been circulated in the past but the progress made on this issue in mineral and
not encouraging.
Safety Audit is an integrated component of Risk Assessment and Safety Management,
which is required to be undertaken every year and on occurrence of every accident or
dangerous occurrence. However, it is also required that the Team which conducts such
System Study and Safety Audit should comprise of eminent persons from various
fields of operations and are kept updated about the latest tools and technique
prevailing in the industry not only in India but world over. It has been observed many
a times that a single person retired from the Industry conducts the safety audit and
prepares the report entirely based on his experience and exposure without bringing in
any new facts or instrument to deal with certain difficult situation and thus such
studies do not yield any tangible results.
Therefore, it is recommended that :-
i) DGMS recognized Service Providers may be engaged is System Study and
Safety Audit work to be under taken at any mine.
ii) Such Third Party System Study and Safety Audit (SYS-SA) should be
conducted at least once in every year, after every major accident or disaster or
dangerous occurrence, before implementation of any new technology or use of
any new system or machinery in the mine.
iii) Such Study may be subject-wise as well as an Integrated Report of the mine
incorporating all subjects such as mining, mechanical, electrical, personal,
occupational Health & Hygiene, and any other subject applicable to the mine
and the system prevailing or to be used therein.
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