Coal mines accidents reduced but not fatalities: report

New Delhi, Sept 9 (UNI) The accidents in coal mines in the country have come down but not the fatalities, according to an official report.

During the last three years and the current year in respect of both--private and public sector mines-- though the number of accidents fluctuate from year to year but the number of casualities over the years was on the rise, said Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS)'s report.

The number of fatalities during 2004 was 96 in 87 accidents while it went up in 2005 to 117 in 79 mine accidents. Similarly, in 2006 there were 138 deaths in 79 accidents. This year, upto July, 64 persons losts their lives from 62 mine mishaps, said DGMS, which works under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The report said the major reason for the accidents were fall of roof and sides, collapse of rope haulage and conveyor system, fall of persons/objects, inundation and gas explosion in underground mines and accidents caused by dumpers and other machinery in opencast mines.

The loss of properties in mines was not quantified separately since the equipment cost involved was insignificant and in most cases depreciated.

The report said the management of the colliery is responsible for strict compliance of the prescribed safety standards in mines.

While the coal companies take all care in observing safety legislation, they have also a stringent safety monitoring mechanism at corporate and local levels mainly through Internal Safety Organisations.

The Workmen Inspectors are also deployed in each mine as per the statutory requirement and periodic reviews are held at colliery level, area level and corporate level involving workers representatives and management, said the report.

Over and above, the regulatory authority, DGMS, regularly undertakes safety inspection of the mines to enforce compliance of safety legislation.

At national level, the safety aspects of coal mines in the country are reviewed periodically by the Standing Committee on Safety in Coal Mines under the Chairmanship of Minister of Coal.

Government gives highest priority for safety of coal mines and miners, report added.

In addition to compliance with the requirements of mine safety laws, the coal companies were taking measures to reduce number of accidents by way of following scientific roof support systems based on rock-mass-rating, increased use of steel supports and roof bolts, avoiding worker exposure to hazardous conditions.

The other measures included replacing rope haulages with conveyor belts, introduction of continuous miner technology and long wall technology in underground mines, regular monitoring of mine environment for detecting inflammable and noxious gases and before every monsoon preventive measures against inundation are implemented.

Apart from this the implementation of Code of Practices for Heavy Earth Moving Machinery operators, maintenance staff and others, thrust on training and retraining of supervisors and workmen to increase safety awareness, regular safety audit of mines and risk assessment and safety monitoring through multi-disciplinary Internal Safety Organisation (ISO), sources said.

UNI