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Accidents During Mineral Transport in Opencast Mines – DGMS Guidelines, Inquiry Procedures & Contractor Responsibilities

Accidents Due to Wheeled Trackless Machinery During 2014 – DGMS Report, Causes & Prevention

🧾 DETAILED NOTES

1️⃣ Introduction

Transport-related accidents in opencast mines—especially involving contractor vehicles—constitute a major portion of fatal and serious incidents reported to DGMS. These include collisions, overturning of dumpers, and run-over accidents due to negligence, poor haul road maintenance, or untrained drivers. DGMS mandates thorough inquiry and corrective actions under CMR 2017 – Regulation 98, 99, 101, and 111.

2️⃣ Common Causes of Transport Accidents

  • Improper Haul Road Design: Sharp curves, inadequate width, or steep gradient.
  • Untrained Operators: Contractors employing unlicensed or untrained drivers.
  • Over-speeding and Poor Supervision.
  • Poor Illumination and Lack of Signage.
  • Unmaintained Equipment: Defective brakes, tires, or steering.
  • Absence of Traffic Management Plan (TMP).
  • Non-compliance with DGMS Transport Safety Circulars.

3️⃣ DGMS Circulars and Legal Framework

  • CMR 2017, Regulation 99: Duties of competent persons for transport control.
  • CMR 2017, Regulation 101: Haul road construction & maintenance.
  • DGMS Circular 8 of 2010: Traffic management & contractor transport safety.
  • DGMS Circular 1 of 2017: Vehicle fitness & driver competency verification.
  • Mines Act, 1952 – Sec. 23 & 24: Reporting of accidents and inquiries.

4️⃣ Inquiry Procedure

  1. Immediate Reporting: Accident must be reported to DGMS, District Authority, and Police.
  2. Inquiry Committee Formation: Led by Mine Manager, including Safety Officer and Contractor Representative.
  3. Evidence Collection: Photographs, witness statements, vehicle inspection.
  4. Root Cause Analysis: Evaluate mechanical, human, and environmental factors.
  5. DGMS Inspection: Independent verification by Regional Inspector.
  6. Corrective Actions: Road redesign, driver retraining, contractor penalization.

5️⃣ Preventive Measures

  • Haul road gradient ≤ 1 in 16.
  • Width = Dumper width × 3 minimum.
  • Speed limit signage at every 100 m.
  • Mandatory pre-employment & refresher training for drivers.
  • Fitment of seat belts, reverse alarms, and reflectors.
  • 3-tier inspection: Operator → Supervisor → Safety Officer.
  • Contractor vehicles must be maintained under Form B register.

6️⃣ DGMS Inquiry Responsibilities

  • Ensure the contractor and owner share liability under Mines Act Section 18.
  • Verify insurance and medical arrangements.
  • Record all evidence and forward findings to DGMS within 15 days.

7️⃣ Case Study (Example: Fatal Accident 2019)

A dumper overturned while reversing at a coal bench edge. The operator was untrained and unbelted. Inquiry revealed the absence of berm and overloading beyond design capacity. DGMS mandated re-design of haul roads and suspension of the contractor for safety negligence.

8️⃣ Summary

Contractor-related transport accidents can be avoided through strict compliance with DGMS guidelines, periodic inspection, driver training, and robust supervision. Accountability must be ensured through joint responsibility between mine management and contractor.

⚙️ QUICK ONE-LINERS (Revision Points)

  • Regulation 101 CMR 2017 → Haul road maintenance.
  • Regulation 99 → Transport supervision duties.
  • Traffic Management Plan is compulsory.
  • DGMS Circular 8 of 2010 → Contractor vehicle safety.
  • Road width = 3 × vehicle width.
  • Minimum berm height = half wheel diameter.
  • Speed limit → 20 km/hr for heavy vehicles.
  • Accident reporting → within 24 hours to DGMS.
  • Joint inquiry mandatory for contractor accidents.
  • Fatigue and over-speeding are prime causes.

🧮 DESCRIPTIVE MODEL QUESTION

Q. Explain the DGMS procedure for inquiry into accidents involving mineral transport by contractors in opencast mines.

Answer:
When transport accidents occur in opencast mines, the Mine Manager must immediately report the incident to DGMS and initiate inquiry. An inquiry committee including the contractor, Safety Officer, and DGMS Inspector investigates the cause, identifies lapses, and recommends preventive measures.
Common causes include poor haul road design, untrained drivers, and absence of TMP. Under Reg. 99 & 101 of CMR 2017, DGMS directs corrective action, contractor accountability, and follow-up compliance verification.

🧩 25 DGMS-Based MCQs (Dynamic Answers – A–E)

Q1. The majority of transport accidents in opencast mines occur due to:

Solution: Haul road traffic (collisions, overturning) is the most significant cause of accidents in opencast transport.

Q2. Regulation governing haul road maintenance is:

Solution: Regulation 101 of CMR 2017 specifically outlines the standards for construction and maintenance of haul roads.

Q3. Minimum haul road width = dumper width ×

Solution: For two-way traffic, the standard guideline is 3 times the width of the largest vehicle, plus berms.

Q4. Speed limit in heavy vehicle haul roads:

Solution: While site-specific, a speed limit of 20-30 km/hr is commonly enforced for loaded heavy dumpers. 20 km/hr is a conservative safety standard.

Q5. DGMS Circular 8 of 2010 deals with:

Solution: This circular specifically addresses traffic management and the safety of contractor-operated vehicles.

Q6. Inquiry reports must be sent to DGMS within:

Solution: The detailed inquiry report (after the initial 24-hour notice) is typically required within 15 days.

Q7. Haul road gradient shall not exceed:

Solution: 1 in 16 is the generally prescribed maximum gradient for permanent haul roads to ensure safe vehicle operation.

Q8. Who is responsible for safe transport operations?

Solution: Under the Mines Act, both the mine management (Owner/Agent/Manager) and the contractor share responsibility for safety.

Q9. Minimum berm height along road edge:

Solution: The standard guideline for berm height is that it must be at least half the diameter of the largest tyre.

Q10. Reverse alarm is mandatory for:

Solution: All heavy earth-moving machinery (HEMM), including dumpers, must be fitted with an audible reverse alarm.

Q11. Regulation 99 CMR deals with:

Solution: Regulation 99 of CMR 2017 outlines the duties of competent persons for various operations, including transport control.

Q12. Fatal transport accidents are reported under:

Solution: Section 23 of the Mines Act, 1952, mandates the "Notice of Accident" for fatal and serious incidents.

Q13. Temporary haul roads must be inspected:

Solution: While daily checks are good practice, a formal, recorded inspection is often required weekly for such roads.

Q14. Contractor drivers must be:

Solution: DGMS circulars strictly mandate that all operators of HEMM must be properly trained (VTI) and hold a valid license.

Q15. Poor illumination can lead to:

Solution: Poor visibility on haul roads, especially at night, is a major cause of vehicle collisions.

Q16. Safety signage should be placed every:

Solution: Regular placement of signage (e.g., speed limits, gradients) at intervals like 100m is a common TMP guideline.

Q17. DGMS Circular 1 of 2017 focuses on:

Solution: This circular re-emphasized the importance of verifying vehicle road-worthiness and operator competency.

Q18. Vehicle inspection register is maintained in:

Solution: Form B of the Mines Rules, 1955 is the register of employees, which includes details of competent persons (like drivers). Daily inspection logs are often separate but linked. (Note: This is a tricky question; Form B is for employee records including competency, which is relevant to contractors).

Q19. Fatal accident reports are forwarded by:

Solution: The Mine Manager is the statutory head responsible for all official reporting to DGMS.

Q20. The primary aim of DGMS inquiry:

Solution: The main goal of an inquiry is to identify the root cause to prevent future recurrence, not just assign blame.

Q21. Contractors are responsible under which section?

Solution: Section 18 of the Mines Act, 1952, outlines the responsibilities of owners, agents, and managers, which extend to contractor operations.

Q22. Accident evidence includes:

Solution: A thorough inquiry relies on all available evidence: physical (photos, site), testimonial (witnesses), and documentary.

Q23. Traffic Management Plan ensures:

Solution: A TMP organizes traffic routes, speeds, and rules to ensure a safe and smooth flow of vehicles.

Q24. Lack of TMP results in:

Solution: Without a TMP, traffic becomes chaotic, leading to a higher risk of interactions and collisions.

Q25. Corrective action after fatality includes:

Solution: Corrective actions are comprehensive and address all root causes, which may include penalization, training, and engineering changes.

🔗 INTERNAL LINKS

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