II – CONFERENCE ON SAFETY IN MINES
One of the biggest coal dust explosion in the history of the Indian mining, resulting in 265 deaths, occurred in May-1965, at Dhori Colliery, which was till then considered a non gassy mine. The court of enquiry, which enquired in the matter, made a number of recommendations of far reaching importance, some of which were later incorporated in the Coal Mines Regulation. The Second conference on Safety in Mines was held in July-1966, in Calcutta to review afresh the entire position regarding safety in mines. The Conference was informed that on the recommendations of the Dhori Court of Inquiry and suggestions made by the Safety Experts from the U.K. and the ILO the Chief Inspector of Mines had either already taken or proposed to take action in regard to the following-
(a) Provision of safety lamps
(b) Conducting of surveys by managements to check the presence of gas
(c) Ventilation standards
(d) Installation of mechanical ventilators
(e) Clearance of coal dust.
[The National Conferences on Safety in mines discuss the emerging safety issues in mines to identify the thrust areas for improvement in the safety standards in Indian mines and are attended by different stakeholders from mining industry of the country. The conferences review the status of safety in mining and adequacy of existing measures in improving working conditions in mines in a spirit of mutual cooperation.
This National Conference is the highest tripartite forum at the national level for deliberation on issues connected with safety and health in mines. CEOs of the mining companies as employers’ representatives, the leaders of the Central Trade Unions as workers’ representatives, representatives of the Central and State Governments, professional institutions, academic and research institutes and members of Parliamentary Standing Committee of the Ministry of Labour and Employment participate as delegates in the conference.]