THE MINES VOCATIONAL TRAINING RULES – 1966

The Vocational Training Rules provide for the training of mine workers with a view to make them aware of the dangers of working in mines so that they can work safely. The salient provisions of Mines Vocational Training Rules are as follows-

CHAPTER III-GENERAL VOCATIONAL TRAINING

6. Scope and Standard – (1) Every person proposed to be employed in mine on the surface or in opencast workings ( other than a person who has held any such previous employment) shall, before he is employed, undergo a course of technical and gallery training as specified in the First Schedule :

Provided that in respect of such class or kind of work as the Chief Inspector may, from time to time, by notification specify, every person proposed to be employed thereto shall, before he is so employed, undergo a further course of practical training on actual operations for a period of not less than six working days.

(2) Every person proposed to be employed belowground in a mine, (other than a person who has held any such previous employment) shall, before he is so employed, undergo –

(a) a course of theoretical and gallery training and gallery training as specified in the Second Schedule, and

(b) a course of practical training on actual operations for a period of not less than twelve working day

Provided that every such person proposed to be employed in a mine wherein safety lamps are required to be used (hereinafter called gassy mine) shall, before he is so employed, undergo a further course of training about the danger of inflammable gas and methods of dealing with the same as specified in the Third Schedule.

7. Training of persons previously employed – Before a person who has previously worked in mines only one the surface or in opencast working is employed belowground, or before a person who has previously worked belowground in non-gassy mines only is employed belowground in a gassy mine, he shall undergo such additional courses of training as specified in sub-rule 6.

CHAPTER IV-REFRESHER TRAINING

8. Scope and standard – Wherever a person returns to employment on the surface or in opencast working or to employment belowground in a mine, after an absence from work for a period exceeding one year he shall, within one month of his joining duty, undergo refresher training as detailed in the Fourth Schedule, which shall include a minimum of –

(1) Three safety lecture and demonstration in the case of persons working on the surface or in opencast workings;

(2) Six safety lectures and demonstrations in addition to the training specified in clause (1) in the case of persons working belowground in a non-gassy mine;

(3) Six further lectures and demonstrations about the danger of inflammable gas and methods of ling with the same, in addition to the training specified in clause (1) and (2) in the case of persons working belowground gassy mine.

9. Training of persons already employed – Every person in employment in a mine at the date of commencement of this rule shall undergo the refresher training as specified in Rule 8, and it shall be sufficient compliance with this rule if, before the expiry of every year from such commencement, at least one fifth of the person so employed are given such training.

10. Training of persons employed belowground in gassy mines – Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules, every person employed belowground in a gassy mine s hall within a period of one year from the commencement of this rule, undergo atleast that part of the refresher training as is specified in the Fourth Schedule under the heading- “3. Additional for gassy mine workers.”

11. Arrangement for refresher training – The refresher training shall be so arranged that the persons who have to undergo training can attend the same conveniently either before or after their normal working hours.

CHAPTER V-TRAINING OF SPECIAL CATEGORIES OF EMPLOYEES

12. Training of timber Mistry – Every person who:

(i) is newly employed as timber mistry in a mine, or

(ii) has not worked as a timber mistry in a mine for a period of six months immediately preceding his employment or re-employment , undergo a course of training in timber as specified in the Fifth Schedule, in addition to the course of training specified under Chapter- III or Chapter IV as may be applicable to him.

13. Training of persons in handling of explosives – (1) Every person other than a qualified shortfirer or blaster who is likely to be employed on a job which involves handling of explosives shall , before he is so employed, in addition to the course of training specified, under Chapter III or Chapter IV as the case may be , undergo a course of training in the handling and use of explosives , as detailed in the Sixth Schedule. Every person who has undergone the said training shall undergo the training again before re-employment if he has not work ed in handling explosives for a continuous period of six months or more before such re-employment. The training under this rule shall be arranged that the persons concerned can attend the same conveniently either before or after their normal working hours.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub rule (I), in the case of metalliferous mines having opencast working only, the course of training may be confined to not less than four lectures and demonstration covering only such items of the Sixth Schedule as refer to opencast working and general principals of shotfiring.

14. Training of person on shotfiring – (1) Every person eligible to appear at the Shotfirer’s Certificate of Competency Examination and who intends to appear at the said examination within the succeeding three months, shall,, before he appears for the examination and in addition to the training specified in Rule 13 undergo a course of training as detailed in the Seventh Schedule. The training under the rule shall be so arranged that the persons concerned can attend same conveniently either before or after their normal working hours.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in Rule 3, the training specified in the Seventh Schedule shall also be undergone within one month of employment, or re-employment, as the case may be, by-

(i) every shotfirer or blaster on employment in an another mine except in case where he has already undergone such training and

(ii) every person who though qualified to fire shots has not worked as a shortfirer for a continuous period of six months or more, on re-employment as a shotfirer :

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rules (1) and (2) in the case of persons, working in metalliferous mines having opencast workings only, or holding blaster, restricted certificate, it shall be sufficient if the course of training is confined to not less than eight lecture and demonstrations and covering only such items of Seventh Schedule as refer to opencast workings and general principles of shotfiring.

15. Training of other categories of persons – The Chief Inspector may by general or special order, require that every person, other that those specified in clause (a) to (g) of sub-rule (1) of Rule 3, to be newly employed in a mine in such k kind of class of work, as may be specified therein, shall undergo a specified course training.

16. Time limit in respect of the training of persons already employed on banding of explosives – Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules, every person employed on handling of explosives shall undergo the training specified in Rule13 within a period of one year from the date of commencement of this rule.

17. Periodical training in gas testing – Every person holding a gas testing shall once in every year, person eligible to appear at the Gas-testing Certificate Examinations and who intends to appear at the examination within the succeeding three months, shall before he appears for the examination, undergo a course of training as detailed in the 8t h Schedule. The training under this rule shall be so arranged that the persons concerned can attend the same either before after their normal working hours.