Safety in Mines

Introduction

 Mining is a hazardous profession associated with high level of

accidents and injuries
 According to the Directorate General of Mine Safety report of
accident statistics, there were 117 & 101 fatalities and 509 &
52 serious injuries in the year of 2010 in coal & metalliferous
mines
 On an average, there are 83 & 49 fatal and 729 & 94 serious
accidents in coal & Metalliferous mines, respectively over last
Ten Years (2002-2011).
 The average death rate per 1000 persons employed per year
is around 0.26 & 0.42 and that of serious injury rate is around
1.95 & 0.74 in coal & Metalliferous mines, respectively.
 Several causes starting from personal to sociotechnical
factors are responsible for such high injury experience rates
in mines
Year-Wise Fatality and Serious Injury Rates per 1000 Persons Employed in
Indian Coal Mines
 Trend in Death rate per thousand persons employed
in Indian Mines for the Period 2002-2011
yea coal oil copp Gol Iron Lime Man Galen Tota All
r er d Ore Ston g. a l Miner
e ore & Met als
Sphl al
200 0.23 0.09 0.30 0.00 0.30 0.52 0.29 0.22 0.45 0.28
2
200 0.27 0.05 0.00 0.00 0.39 0.33 0.08 0.00 0.45 0.31
3
200 0.24 0.10 0.00 0.00 0.34 0.52 0.21 0.79 0.43 0.28
4
200 0.29 0.05 0.00 0.00 0.43 0.27 0.00 0.31 0.36 0.30
5
200 0.36 0.29 0.00 0.32 0.51 0.59 0.15 0.31 0.47 0.38
6
200 0.21 0.16 0.00 0.33 0.34 0.47 0.07 0.30 0.40 0.26
7
200 0.25 0.25 0.38 0.00 0.25 0.32 0.30 1.22 0.43 0.30
8
200 0.26 0.17 0.38 0.33 0.18 0.11 0.00 0.00 0.31 0.27
Chapter – 01

Safety terms and definitions;

Occupational Hazards of Mining
Safety terms and definitions
Safety

This is the conservation of human life and its

effectiveness, and the prevention of damage to
items as per mission requirements.

OR

Safety is the degree of freedom from risk and

hazard in environment such as a mine.
Accident

This is an unplanned and undesired event in a sequence

of events, that occurs through a combination of causes;
it results in physical harm (injury or illness) to an
individual, damage to property, a near-miss, a loss or
any combination of these effects.

Q. Why do accidents take place in mines?

A: Accident causation is a complex process. But

generally these are caused due to Unsafe Acts and
Unsafe conditions . A combination of factors at the same
moment may lead to accident causing injury or persons
may escape without any injury.
Unsafe Condition

This is any condition, under the right set of condition, may

create accident.

Unsafe Behavior

Unsafe This is the manner in which an individual conducts

himself/herself that is unsafe to himself/herself or others.
Hazards

This is the source of energy and physiological and

behavioral factors which, when uncontrolled effectively,
results in harmful occurrences.

Safe
This is protected against any possible hazards.
Hazards in Mines

This is the source of energy and the

physiological and behavioral factors which,
when uncontrolled effectively, results in harmful
occurrences
Conveyors
Job
stress
Chapter - 2

Accidents and their

classification;

and

Statistics of Fatal and

Serious
accidents in Indian Coal as
well as Metalliferous Mines
(Upto 2006)
What accidents come under the
purview of the Mines Act?

What accidents are not included in

the statistics published by the CIM?
Classification of Mine Accidents/Injuries
WHICH RESULTS IN DEATH OF ONE OR
FATAL:
MORE PERSON
SERIOUS:WHICH RESULTS IN SERIOUS BODILY
INJURY TO ONE OR MORE PERSON. SERIOUS
BODILY INJURY IS DEFINED AS AN INJURY WHICH
INVOLVE THE PERMANENT LOSS OF ANY PART OF
THE BODY OR PERMANENT LOSS OF OR INJURY TO
THE SIGHT OR HEARING OR ANY PERMANENT IN
CAPACITY OR FRACTURES OF ANY BONE OR
JOINTS.
REPORTABLE: WHICH RESULTS IN REPORTABLE
INJURY TO ONE OR MORE PERSON. REPORTABLE
INJURY IS DEFINED AS ANY INJURY OTHER THAN A
SERIOUS BODILY INJURY WHICH INVOLVES THE
ENFORCED ABSENCE OF THE INJURED PERSON
FROM WORK FOR A PERIOD OF 72 HOURS OR
MORE.
Classification of Mine
Accidents/Injuries (Contd.)
MINOR:WHICH RESULTS IN MINOR INJURY TO
ONE OR MORE PERSON. MINOR INJURY IS
DEFINED AS ANY INJURY OTHER THAN A SERIOUS
BODILY INJURY WHICH INVOLVES THE ENFORCED
ABSENCE OF THE INJURED PERSON FROM WORK
FOR A PERIOD EXCEEDING 24 HOURS BUT, LESS
THAN 72 HOURS.
 Accidents

Major
Disasters Accidents
Conclusion

Average death rates due to the coal mine accidents are 114 per year.

Whereas, in Delhi alone over 2000 deaths are reported annually in

traffic accidents

But, we can not conclude from the above figure that walking or
driving on the streets of Delhi is more risky than working in coal
mines.

In order to evaluate the chances of a person being killed or injured at

work in a mine or a factory, on the road, in the air, in the water, it is
necessary to evaluate to evolve a common yardstick by which the
standards of safety in different industries or elsewhere can be
measured.
Major Accidents in the Indian Coal Mines (Post Independence period)
Sl. Dates of Name of Mines Fatalities Cause
No Accident
1 12/07/1952 Dhemomain 12 Roof fall

2 05/08/1953 Majri 11 Inundation

3 14/03/1954 Damra 10 Explosion of fire damp.

4 10/12/1954 Newton Chikli 63 Inundation

5 05/02/1955 Amlabad 52 Explosion of fire damp.

6 26/09/1956 Burra Dhemo 28 Inundation

7 19/02/1958 Chinakuri 175 Explosion of fire damp.

8 20/02/1958 Central Bhowra 23 Inundation

9 05/01/1960 Damua 16 Inundation

10 28/05/1965 Dhori 268 Coal dust explosion

11 11/04/1968 West Chirmiri 14 Premature collapse of

workings
12 18/03/1973 Jitpur 48 Explosion of fire damp.

13 08/08/1975 Kessurgarh 11 Roof fall

14 18/11/1975 Silewara 10 Inundation

15 27/12/1975 Chasnala 375 Inundation

Major Accidents in the Indian Coal Mines (Post Independence period)
16 16/09/1976 Central Saunda 10 Inundation

17 04/10/1976 Sudamdih 43 Explosion of fire damp.

18 22/01/1979 Baragolai 16 Ignition of fire damp

19 24/08/1981 Jagannath 10 Water gas explosion

20 16/07/1982 Topa 16 Roof fall

21 14/09/1983 Hurriladih 19 Inundation

22 13/11/1989 Mahabir 6 Inundation

23 25/01/1994 New Kenda 55 Fire/suffocation by gases

24 26/09/1995 Gaslitand 64 Inundation

25 06/07/1999 Prascole 6 Fall of roof/collapse of

workings
26 24/06/2000 Kawadi 10 Failure of OC bench

27 02/02/2001 Bagdigi 29 Inundation

28 05/03/2001 Durgapur Rayatwari 6 Collapse of

partings/workings
29 16/06/2003 Godavari Khani-7LEP 17 Inundation

30 16/10/2003 GDK-8A 10 Roof fall

31 15/6/2005 Central Saunda 14 Inundation

Trends of Fatal and Serious Accidents in Coal Mines in India
Fatal accidents Serious accidents
Year
Accidents Fatalities Accidents Injuries

1995 137 219 757 813

1996 131 146 677 723

1997 143 165 677 725

1998 128 146 523 560

1999 127 138 595 650

2000 117 144 661 707

2001 106 141 667 720

2002 81 97 629 650

2003 83 113 563 578

2004 90 99 599 608

Average per
year 114 141 635 673
Note: (i) Lignite is included in coal.
Chapter - 3

Basic Causes of Accident

Occurrence;

and

Cause wise Accident Analysis

(from 1995-2004)
 Basis Causes of Accident Occurrence
In order to identify the root causes of accidents,
it is a common practice to safety professional to
find out the factors associated with accidents.
The DGMS classification of accident causes is as
follows:
1. Ground movement
2. Transportation Machinery (winding in shaft)
3. Transportation Machinery (Other than winding in
shaft)
4. Machinery other than Transportation
Machinery
5. Explosives
6. Electricity
7. Dust, gas and other Combustible Materials
8. Fall (other than fall of ground)
9. Other causes
Fatal Accidents in Indian Coal Mines (Last 10 Years)
Fatal Accidents in Indian Coal Mines (Last 10 Years)
Fatal Accidents in Indian Coal Mines (Last 10
Years)
Fatal Accidents in Indian Coal Mines (Last 10
Years)
Statistical accident/Injury analysis

Methods of Statistical accident/Injury

Analysis

Bivariate analysis
Multivariate analysis
 Statistical accident/Injury analysis

Place-wise Cause-wise

Statistical
accident/Injury
analysis

Occupation-wise Body parts-wise

Shift-wise
Statistical accident/Injury analysis

Place-wise analysis based on

Belowground
Opencast
aboveground

Shift-wise analysis based on

Morning Shift
Evening Shift
Night Shift
Statistical accident/Injury analysis
Cause-wise analysis based on

Fall-of-Object
Fall-of-Roof
Fall-of-Side
Haulage
Loading-of-Coal
Slip-and-Fall
Tools-and-Machines
Transportation of Machine
Others
Statistical accident/Injury analysis
Body parts-wise analysis based on

leg
Finger
Back
Hand
Knee
Thumb
Foot
Head
Others
Statistical accident/Injury analysis
Occupation-wise analysis based on

Fall-of-Object
Fall-of-Roof
Fall-of-Side
Haulage
Loading-of-Coal
Slip-and-Fall
Tools-and-Machines
Transportation of Machine
Others
Chapter - 4
Investigations into
Accident and Accident
Report
Investigations into Accident
(Part-I)

The primary purpose of accident

investigation is to identify the
causes and circumstances leading
to the accident so that suitable
measures may be taken to further
accident of similar type.
 Accident Investigation

a successful accident investigation

must answer three questions:
1.What happened?
2.How it happened?
3.Why it happened?
and to serve as a basis of
prevention, a fourth question:
4.How it can be prevented?
Accident Investigation
Procedure:
 Collection of basic information
 Inspection of the site of accident
 Preparation of accident site plan by the surveyor
 Examination of records, reports, plan etc.
 Examination of materials, equipments etc. and their
testing, if required.
 Examination of Witness
 Analysis of evidence: Identification of the unsafe acts
and condition
Collection of basic information
 Date and time of accident
 Name, age, sex and nature of
job of the victim
 Details of Vocational training
undergone by the victim
 Place of accident
 Apparent cause of accident
 Details of the mine working and
operations related to the
accident
 System of supervision and name
 Inspection of the site of accident

 Observation of the minutest

details at the accident site
 All materials and objects found at
the site should be noted
 The position of the victim(s) and
the eye-witness should be
recorded
 The enquiry officer should himself
draw a sketch plan of the accident
site showing all the details
Preparation of accident site plan by the surveyor

They should prepare an accident

plan (R.F. of 100:1) showing all
the details of the accident site
Examination of records, reports, plan etc.
A close examination relating to
the accident is essential to
ascertain:
– The general system of work
– Awareness of lurking dangers
– Promptness in dealing with
defects and dangers
– Status of safety prevailing prior to
the accident
– Availability and effectiveness of
Examination of materials, equipments etc.
and their testing, if required.

These should be examined by

experts, and if necessary, be
tested at a reliable laboratory
Examination of Witness
 The witness should be examined in
a definite sequence
 The witness should be examined
individually and separately
 All eye-witness should be
examined at the site of the
accident
 The inquiry officer should not
disturb the emotional and verbose
witness but allow them to speak
 If conflicting statements are made
by different witness, the should be
Analysis of Evidence

 The inquiry officer should

analyze systematically all the
recorded evidence in the light
of his own observations at the
accident site.

 He should point out the

contraventions of the statutory
provisions and should identify
the unsafe acts and unsafe
Accident Report
(Part-II)
 STRUCTURE OF THE ACCIDENT
REPORT
THE REPORT SHOULD BE DETAILED UNDER THE FOLLOWING
HEADS:

INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
EVENTS PRIOR TO ACCIDENT
OCCURRENCE OF THE ACCIDENT
RESCUE AND RECOVERY
INSPECTION AND ENQUIRY
ANALYSIS OF EVIDENCE
CAUSES OF THE ACCIDENT
RESPONSIBILITY
RECOMMENDATIONS
 ACCIDENT REPORT
As a safety officer, put up a report of enquiry and investigation into a fatal accident due to
fall of roof in a depillaring area killing two loaders on spot.

From : ---------------- , Safety Officer,

---------------- Colliery. Dated, 1st November, 2010
To
The Manager,
----------------- Colliery,
Sir,
Ref. Your letter No. A/E – 235 dated 17.08.2008
I am submitting herewith a report on roof fall accident that occurred on 13th September,
2010 at about 8 p.m. in the depillaring district in ----------
seam at ------------ colliery and resulted in death of two loaders namely, -------------- and
--------------.
Encl. Inquiry Report. Yours faithfully,
(Signed)
ACCIDENT REPORT