Safety – Our Priority

Safety – Our Priority 

• Safety is of utmost concern.
• There is Internal Safety Organisation operating at different level to promote safety awareness.
• Progressively shifting from timber support to steel support including roof bolt and resin capsules in watery mines.
• Apart from regular training employees are periodically trained through training centre.
• In house strata monitoring is being done.
• In addition to this Rock Mass Rating is done at the in house laboratory.

 Mission of the Company on Safety

 The Company believes that good safety performance is an integral part of efficient & profitable business management and is fully committed to total safety in all aspects of its operations. The company religiously follows the dictum that safety of persons overrides all production targets.The Company attaches prime importance to safety of the employees which will not be compromised for any other considerations.

Safety Policy

Mining is a hazardous profession with many of its activities forcing against the nature. But in course of time we have learnt to excel in our profession to such an extent that SECL has made multi-dimensional strides in the field of coal mining. There exists an well defined Safety Policy operative in SECL comprising of various issues, a few of these points which attracts special importance are as summarized below;

1. To plan and design all operations in such a way as to eliminate or materially reduced the mining hazards.
2. To co-operate with the Directorate of Mines Safety and the mine equipment manufacturers in developing safer mining systems and equipment as to provide safe working conditions by suitable changes in technology.
3. To regard safe working as regular precedence for improvisation over unsafe practices.  
4. To bring about improvement in working conditions by suitable changes in technology.
5. To organize appropriate forum, with employees’ representatives, for joint consultation on safety matters and to secure their motivation and commitment in safety management.
6. To prepare Annual Safety Plans and Long-term Safety Plans at the beginning of every calendar year, both for the company and for the individual units, to effect improved safety in the various operations, as per respective geo-mining conditions.
7. To improve safety standards through counseling and training the accident-prone persons.
8. To arrange for multi-level monitoring of implementation of the Safety Plans through Internal Safety Organization at the Head Quarters and at Area levels as well as by the Safety Board Members of the company.
9. To ensure that all levels of employees continue to reflect safety consciousness in their working as well as to inculcate accountability towards safety measures amongst them.
10. To institute continuous education, training and re-training of all employees, with emphasis placed on the development of safety-oriented skill.
11. To make continuous efforts to provide all the employees a good Health - physical, mental & social.
12. To investigate the cause of any incidence / accident and suggest preventive measures by Safety Committee and follow up action for remedial measures.
13. To ensure adequate ventilation, illumination and sanitation at all working places.    

Internal Safety Organization

ISO, SECL has 3-tier organization under the administrative control of Director (Tech) Operations with the overall control of Chairman-cum-Managing Director. At Corporate level it is headed by CGM (Safety & Rescue) and at Area by Area Safety Officer.

 Functions are -

·       Formulation of Safety Policy and active Participation in Operation Plan.

·       Inspection of Mines and to remove shortcomings in the system.

·       Enquiry & analysis of every accident / incidence in mines and other related activities and dissemination of its recommendation.

·       Ensuring supply of good quality safety material.

·       Ensuring Implementation of Recommendation of Safety Conference, CIL Safety Board, Standing Committee on Safety, etc.

·       Review of preparedness of monsoon.

·       Organizing Annual Safety Week and specialized Safety Training.

·       Conducting various Safety Committee meetings.

·       Issue of safety clearance to new districts.

·       Conducting meeting of unit Safety Officers with Area CGM/GM on monthly basis.

 Safety Forums

 To enhance safety there exist different Safety Forums such as, Workmen Inspectors and Pit Safety Committees at Unit level, Safety Committee/Board at Area level, Bi-partite & Tri-partite Safety Committee at Area and Corporate level, and Joint Consultative Committees active from Unit to Corporate level.

 Strata Control

 There are in house strata monitoring system with established 3-tier strata control cells at Company, Area & Unit levels.

Objectives –

·         To assess the dilation of strata layers, the convergence of strata and the load & stress around openings.

·         To design optimum support system.

·         To monitor / control caving of roof as desired.

·         To avoid premature collapse of roof & sides.

·         To determine threshold limit of convergence and stress for safe withdrawal of men and machineries.

Activities –

·         Conducting periodic workshops at Area level.

·         Demonstration of instrumentation at Area & Mine level.

·         Mine-wise follow-up for instrumentation.

·         Inspections for strata control monitoring and instrumentation.

·         At mine level strata monitoring is done on regular basis, which includes; inspection of roof & sides, testing of supports, installation & monitoring of supports, monitoring of roof behaviour with the use of indicator props / indicative supports and strata control instrumentation. 

 Roof bolting grouted with cement / resin capsules, as per need, is the prime system of support. The support system is designed on the basis of Rock Mass Rating which is done at the in-house laboratory.

Training of Employees

Apart from statutory training being provided to employees of SECL under the Mines Vocational Training Rules, 1966 at the time of intake and refresher training at regular interval at VTCs at Areas, need based training is also imparted at Area level and at Management Development Institute of SECL HQ, Bilaspur. Executives are also undergoing special training at IICM, Ranchi & other educational institutions / organizations.

 In addition, thrust on training and retraining of Supervisors, Support Personnel, Roof Bolters, HEMM operators and contractor’s workers is maintained as a strategy to reduce accidents due to roof/side falls in underground mines and accidents in opencast mines and at surface of mines

 Safety performance

 The accidents statistics for the year under review as compared to last 5 years are tabulated as under;

 Rescue arrangement

 Our Company has a well organized Rescue Organization under Director(Tech) (Operation), headed by Chief General Manager(Safety & Rescue) with close supervision and guidance of General Manager(Rescue). The company is maintaining one Rescue Station centrally located at Manendragarh, 5(five) Rescue Rooms with refresher training facilities at Nowrozabad, Burhar, Baikunthpur, Bisrampur and Kusmunda, and 5(five) Rescue Rooms at Govinda (Jamuna-Kotma), Haldibadi (Chirimiri), Bhatgaon, Rajgamar (Korba) and Dharam (Raigarh), which are situated within 35 Kms. Of every mine as per statute to facilitate rescue & recovery work as early as possible, except Rani Atari Sub-Area mines of Chirimiri Area. Rescue Station and Rescue Rooms are well equipped with sufficient numbers of apparatus, rescue vans, fire tenders, rescue brigade members with proper modern training facilities and perfect Tele-communication system. Self Rescuers have also been supplied for safe escape of persons in case of irrespirable atmosphere caused due to sudden outburst of fire in mines.  

The Company has strength of 665 active rescue trained personnel (Field Volunteers) against the statutory requirement of 606.

Regular refresher trainings in rescue & recovery work are imparted to executives, supervisory staff & workers at the Mines Rescue Station (MRS), Manendragarh of Hasdeo Area and five other RRTs of different Areas.

The specially designed training galleries have been constructed at MRS and RRRTs to provide for initial and refresher training in simulated environment of fire, spontaneous heating and explosion in underground mines. Initial training of new persons of the mines is also imparted at the MRS, Manendragarh.

Pit practices are also done to make the rescue trained persons acquainted with underground workings.

All mines are having well defined emergency organization plan and rescue plan marked with emergency escape route for quick rescue operation. Mock rehearsals are being carried out in regular interval.

 The details of total 11 Nos. of Rescue Station/Rescue Rooms is as given below- 

(a)   Rescue Station at Manendragarh (Hasdeo Area)

(b)   Rescue Rooms with refresher training facilities at –

          i) Nowrozabad (Johilla Area)

         ii) Burhar           (Sohagpur Area)

        iii) Baikunthpur  (Baikunthpur Area)

       iv) Bisrampur     (Bisrampur Area)

        v) Kusmunda     (Kusmunda Area)

(c)   Rescue Rooms at –

         i) Govinda         (Jamuna-Kotma Area)

        ii) Haldibadi       (Chirimiri Area)

       iii) Bhatgaon       (Bhatgaon Area)

       iv) Rajgamar       (Korba Area)

       v) Dharam          (Raigarh Area)

 SAFETY MEASURES TAKEN IN SECL:

 The following effective steps taken to improve the safety standards in the mines of SECL

 1)      In SECL, due care is taken for the safety of the men and machines working in the mines.  All possible measures are adopted in advance for the safety in mines. To prevent recurrence of accidents all the recommendations of findings of the accident enquiries are being implemented after deliberation in the safety committee meeting (Statutory body). All workers are being trained as per need to make them aware with the changing new technologies and method of workings with due consideration to the safety norms.

 2)      All the provisions of the Mines Act & Rules, Coal Mines Regulations, etc. and the Circulars issued there under in this regard are being complied with to ensure occupational safety for the employees/workers at their workplaces.

 3)      To enhance & ensure safety standards for the workers employed in mines of SECL, there exist different types of Safety Forums such as, Workmen Inspectors and Pit Safety Committee (with workers active participation) at Unit level, Safety Committee/Board at Area level, Bipartite and Tripartite Safety Committee at Area and Corporate level.

   4)      All the recommendations/suggestions made by the Standing Committee on Safety in coal mines, National Safety Conference, Court

    of   Inquiries, Safety Boards, Tripartite, Bipartite & Pit Safety Committees are implemented forthwith.

 5)      Senior officers are inspecting the mines of SECL to check safety status.  Suggestions given by them to improve the safety status of mines are implemented immediately.

 6)      Code of Safe Practices are framed for critical operations and implemented.

 7)      To enhance and maintain the safety awareness among workers Safety Fortnights and special safety drives are observed in mines of SECL. Awareness and Safety talks in each shift are being practiced on regular basis to develop a safety culture in accordance of “Code of Safe Practices”.

 8)      The protective appliances against the danger of fire, dust, noise, air pollution and visibility have been introduced in addition to normal protective safety appliances being supplied to the workers. This will further help in preventive control of safety hazards.

9)      All the accidents were enquired into by the ISO & DGMS officials and based on their findings and with the approval of competent authority the disciplinary action was taken against the persons found responsible for the accident. Also based on the findings of enquiry report, ISO circulars were issued for taking immediate corrective measures.

10)  Risk Assessment for all the mines of SECL has been done either externally or internally (by individual unit management). All the risk prone areas identified and accordingly Safety Management Plan has been prepared for time framed implementation.

 11)  Thrust on reduction of deployment in areas of high risk with regard to danger of roof and side falls through mechanization.

(a) Introduced Short-wall Mining at Balrampur 10&12 of Bisrampur Area to work under protective roof

(b) Introduced High Wall Mining at Sharda in Sohagpur Area to reduce exposure of persons to risk areas.

12)   Strata control cell has been established in all the mines to closely monitor the strata behaviour in underground. Efforts are being made from ISO Strata Control Cell to prevent accidents due to fall of roof & sides, such as imparting education on strata monitoring upto grass root level through Brain Storming and on the job trainings alongwith regular follow up. Predictive strata control instrumentation has been initiated at few of depillaring districts namely, Kumda 7&8, Govinda UG, Banki Main, Surakachhar 3&4, West JKD UG, and  Nowrozabad (West) UG.

 13)  Roof bolting with resin capsules has been introduced in all watery mines.

         14)  One Gas Chromatograph has been installed centrally at Mines Rescue Station, Manendragarh and is functioning properly.

         15)  High capacity Dumpers have been introduced in mega OC projects to reduce the fleet of vehicles.

 16)  The operators for new high capacity HEMMs are being trained with Training Simulator.

         17)  Before monsoon the high level review is done to assess the status of monsoon preparation with apprehended danger due to UG /           surface waters and accordingly action plan is prepared for implementation & monitoring.

   18)  Ventilation pressure quantity survey is being undertaken with the help external scientific agency, CIMFR in order to provide better  

     working environment in underground workings.

19)  The rescue station / room etc. have been fully equipped with round the clock emergency services available within 35 Km. of all mines under the SECL command area (except Rani Atari mine in Chirimiri Area).

 20)  The initial training is imparted to all new entrant and refresher training to all employees as per statute. Thrust on training and retraining of Supervisors, Support Personnel, Roof Bolters, HEMM operators and contractor’s workers was maintained as a strategy to reduce accidents due to roof/side falls in underground mines and accidents in opencast mines and at surface of mines. Achievement in this regard in 2010-11 is given below;

21)  The major area of risk is assessed for each mine and preventive actions are also provided to educate workers. DO’s and DON’Ts with posters publicity and propaganda is adapted. All the accidents affected persons is called before the Pit Safety Committee Meeting and the cause of accident as well as the mistake / defect in the system is analysed to avoid such accidents. Training and refresher training is provided to all the workmen.  All the resources are made available at the worksite with its know-how to avert accidents in future.

The list of rules, manuals, circulars, etc followed in general in mining industry are;

1)      The Mines Act.

2)      The Mine Rules, The Coal Mines Regulations, The Mines Vocational Training Rules, The Mines Rescue Rules, etc. framed under the Mines Act and the DGMS Circulars issued there under time to time.

3)      The Maternity benefit Act.

4)      The Workmen Compensation Act.

5)      The Safety Manuals for Coal Mines.

6)      The Mineral Conservation Act.

7)      The Indian Electricity Rules.

8)      The Indian Explosive Act & Rules.

9)      The Environmental Pollution & Protection Act. etc.

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Copyright © South Eastern Coalfields Limited
SECL Bhawan, Seepat Road,
Post Box No. 60, Bilaspur
Pin - 495006(Chhattisgarh)