1302 Legislation in Indian Mines
and Sanitation in Mines 1303
details shall be prepared in duplicate, and such sketch shall be duly signed
by the manager/undermanager, etc., safety officer, surveyor, and the
workmen's inspector (where there is no workmen's inspector, by a workperson
present at the place of accident). Such sketch shall also be supported by the
photographs, where practicable, of the place of accident. .
If the place of accident is disturbed/altered to prevent further accident,
or to rescue persons from danger before the sketch could be prepared, the
same shall be prepared immediately thereafter, giving all relevent details
as existed before the place was disturbed/altered.
One of the authenticated sketches shall be delivered or sent to the
concerned Regional Inspector.
Furnishing correct information in the accident notices is very impor-
tant for evolving an effective programme of accident prevention. In respect
of serious accidents, since enquiries are seldom held by the Inspectorate, a
correct information is all the more necessary.
The accident notice forms should be filled in carefully on the basis of
the enquiries, colducted under the Regulations, by the manager, assistant
manager, etc.
In form IV-A, the actual location of the accident should be clearly
stated by specifying :
(i) the shaft, seam/vein, level number, etc., (in case of an under-
ground location), or,
(ii) the quarry and bench, etc., (in case of a location in opencast
workings), or,
(iii) the exact location on the railway siding, surface tramline,
workshop, pit top, office, etc., (in case of a location on the surface).
In case of accidents, occurring on the surface, it should be clearly
mentioned whether or not that particular area falls within the mine leasehold.
Further, unless a clear indication of both 'cause' and 'description' of the
accident is given, the data cannot be properly examined for finding ways and
means to prevent the same.
A correct description of an accident involving "injury by a piece of
coal/stone while at work" may be as follows :
"While a (miner or loader or trammer, etc.) was (cutting coal or
Safety, Health,.
measuring (give dimension)which fell from (roof or side or face,. or
basket or tub, etc., as the case may be) at a height of (give dimensions)."
The items 'Compensation' and 'Date of Return of Duty' (in case of coal
mines) should be coi'rectly filled in. If the information is not immediately
available, it may be sent subsequently, and a suitable note added to the
Proforma.
The date of return of duty should relate to the date when the affected
worker can perform the duties normally assigned to him before the
occurrence of the accident. Alternative light work, if any, given in the
meanwhile, should not alter the above date.
Tlie date, on which the worker has been deciared to be medically fit
for resumption of his normal duties, may be furnished against the date of
resumption of duri es; and a suitable foot-note added for clarification. In such
cases, the return should be accompanied by a copy of the Fitness Certifi-
cate, issued by the certifying doctor.
In Form IV-C, to be submitted by the metalliferous mines only, the
date of accident should also be entered against every name.
A failure of heart may be caused in the natural way, or as a result of
any injury,. received while engaged in any operations connected with
mining. In case it is felt that the death has been caused by heart failure in any
operation whatsoever, the post-mortem report of the dead body should be
submitted to the Chief Inspector as soon as possible.
In order to study the impact of vocational training, it is suggested that
an additional item should be included, in the accident notices and records,
in respect of each deceased/injured person, viz.:
"State whether the person/persons had received initial and/or, re-
fresher training under the Mines Vocational Training Rules. If so, give
particulars thereof."
Occasionally, roof falls occur in mines which (i) do not result in any
fatal or serious accident, or (ii) could not be termed as 'premature collapse
of any part of working'. Though no notice is required to be sent, every major
roof fall in a mine, whether it is in a development district, or at a longwall
face,. or at any other place in the mine, and irrespective of the fact whether
it was anticipated or not, is a useful pointer to the general deterioration of
roof conditions at that place. It is, therefore, suggested that the report of
every such roof fall in a mine should be furnished to the concerned Regional
loading coal or withdrawing props, etc.) at (x depillaring/development face, Inspector within 24 hours of the occurrence, giving all relevant particulars
or y roadway, or z junction), he was injured by a piece of (coal or stone) along with a sketch plan, showing the site and dimensions of the fall, and
the action taken, or proposed to be taken, to deal with the situation.