MINE SAFETY- LEARNING FROM INDUSTRIES

Management of Mine Safety in India Governed by Prescriptive Legislation DGMS – Regulatory Authority as per statute Indian mining law has strong legislation base, which has evolved over a period of more than one hundred years Way forward is the system of Self – regulation based on hazard identifications and risk assessments

Evolution of safety legislation in india 1890 - International Labour Conference in Berlin for improvement in the working conditions of miners – 1st trigger for mine statute in India 1895 – GOI initiated 1st step to frame legislation for mine inspection 1901 – The 1st Mine Act – enacted 1923 – The Mines Act 1923 – superseded earlier Act 1952 - The Mines Act 1952 – superseded earlier Act 2010 – Bill for amendment of the Mine Act -1952 placed before Rajya Sabha – under scrutiny of Standing Committee of Labour

Improvement in safety in CIL

Improvement in safety in CIL Over the years the safety performance in CIL has been improved and it is attributed to the following reasons: Collectively commitment shown by the management, workers and regulators Technological advances in the field of mining methods and use of safer mining machineries. Continuous improvement knowledge and skill of our workforce through imparting quality training and conscientious safety awareness drive Strong oversight and assistances from various quarters

Challenges Ahead To solve problems related to increasing depth To Solve Strata Control problems of deeper UG coal mines. To solve problems related to ventilation of deeper UG Coal Mines To Provide apt solutions for Mine Environment Monitoring To Solve Problems of Dump Slope Stability To Provide adequate infrastructure for operation and maintenance of Large Capacity HEMM

Challenges Ahead To Create Compatible infrastructure such as standard all weather haul roads in Opencast Mines To Monitor and Control Mass Blasting and Ground Vibration Problems To install system for Dust & Noise monitoring To Prepare and Implement a requirement based Training and HR Capacity Building Plan To Provide for an effective Emergency Response Mechanism at Mines

Suggested thrust area for UG Mining All new virgin underground mines are to be planned with high degree of mechanization Large scale introduction of mass production technologies like long wall mining technology, continuous mining technology etc. Non mechanized existing mines to be quickly converted to mechanized mines through adoption of SDL/LHD and mechanized drilling for roof bolting

Suggested thrust area for UG Mining Scientific strata and environment monitoring; Risk assessment and mitigation plans; Faster development of infrastructure for UG mines- Mechanized shaft and incline drivages Introduction of quick setting foam stopping for isolating fire Introduction of notch cutter for speedy recess cutting for construction of sectionalization & isolation stooping Digitization of mine plan

Suggested thrust area for UG Mining Introduction of man riding systems in large UG mines where travelling is arduous Adoption of telecommunications in UG mines Air-conditioning systems for mine ventilation, particularly the deep mines of more than 400m depth or where temperature can not be brought down to 30 degree Celsius with conventional ventilation system Creation of machinery manufacturing facilities to support UG mechanization

Suggested thrust area for OC Mining LIMITING FACTORS OF OC PLANNING Apart from macro-economic factors including business environment Depth of reserves Stripping Ratio Extent of surface Area / lands for coal mining Surface constraints including diversion of forest land Availability of land for dumping

Suggested thrust area for OC Mining FUTURE OC MINING Deep opencast mining Extending and deepening existing OC mines Use of more number of surface miner for Coal as well as OB removal Use of more higher capacity of HEMM High wall mining to access exposed coal resources in final opencast batters & thin coal seams

Suggested thrust area for OC Mining THRUST AREA OF OC MINING Conservation of reserves- designing of large size pits and amalgamation of adjacent mines for extracting locked up coal in batters and barriers; Scientific approach for designing pit slopes and dump slopes with appropriate monitoring measures; Large scale adoption of in pit crushing and conveying of coal and OB

Suggested thrust area for OC Mining THRUST AREA OF OC MINING Standardization of HEMM for various pit capacities Land reclamation and mine closure plans with monitoring mechanism Application of IT for traffic management, inventory, maintenance and safety such as GPS based OITDS

Experience learned from recent mine disaster ANJAN HILL DISASTER – 06.05.10, Fatalities - 14 Probable cause - Firedamp explosion caused by spontaneous heating of coal Lesson learnt developed potholes to be filled at the earliest Never allow coal dust to be accumulated in UG Regular inspection of surface over depillerd areas for early detection of cracks & potholes – special attention to be paid in case of hilly terrain Continuous monitoring of mine environment where early sign of heating is detected

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