X – SAFETY CONFERENCE

The Tenth Conference on Safety in Mines was held on 26th and 27th November 2007, at New Delhi. The 10th National Conference on Safety in Mines was inaugurated by the Minister of State for Labour & Employment (Independent Charge), Shri Oscar Fernandes in the presence of Dr. T. Subbarami Reddy, the Minister of State for Mines and Shri M.V. Rajasekharan, Minister of State for Planning. Besides representatives of mine managements and Trade Unions, the Conference was attended by officials of State Government/Union Territories, professional bodies, academic and research institutes, service associations, chief executives officials (CEOs) of almost all mining companies of the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Fernandes said that Safety is not merely a concept or practice but it also recognizes the dignity of work and therefore all efforts should be made for the protection and safety of workers who are toiling for the prosperity of the nation. Shri Fernandes said that to work towards the objective of achieving ‘Zero Accident Potential’, serious introspection and analysis is needed for making an impact. He said there is a need for resources – for research, the subsequent development of new processes, equipment and work method and above all for training and establishment of suitable reward system. These actions must accompany the development and implementation of legislation.

Shri Fernandes said that the various techniques of risk assessment and risk management contribute greatly towards improvement in the safety of mining operations. It is thus desirable that this technique, though in vogue in piecemeal manner as of now, be given the due impetus and dynamism that it deserves so as to realize its full potential. He said that investment in safety has a direct bearing on the overall performance of the mining company and it is expected that the mining companies will put adequate thrust on the safety budget to reduce accidents in mines and thereby improving the safety scenario of the country.

The Conference discussed the following points-

• Review of Status of Implementation of Recommendation of the 9th Conference on Safety in Mines
• Contractor work vis-a-vis Safety
• Safety Issues in mines in unorganized sector
• Occupational Health Surveillance and Notified Diseases
• Mechanization with a view to phase-out manual loading & to improve safety standards
• Reduction of risk from roof and side falls in coal mines
• Safety of Contractor Workers and Implementation of “Cold Work Permit” in Oil mines
• Belowground Communication and Tracking System
• “Safety Management System” : Strategies for Implementation and Path Forward
• Implementation of ILO Convention No.176 in mines

[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.]