ASSISTANT MANAGER DEPLOYMENT RULES CMR 2017 – Regulation 30 CMR 2017 – Regulation 30

As Amended by G.S.R. 640(E), Dated 16-09-2025 (Coal Mines – UG + OC) ============================================================ 

  1. INTRODUCTION 

 Regulation 30 of Coal Mines Regulations, 2017 (CMR-2017) specifies the mandatory minimum number of Assistant Managers (AMs) that must be appointed in Underground and Opencast coal mines. The new G.S.R. 640(E), dated 16-09-2025 replaces earlier G.S.R. 427(E) (2019) and introduces:

• Clear manpower norms,
• AMH-based deployment for opencast mines,
• Qualification-based exceptions,
• Dedicated AM responsibilities for safety-critical areas.

Assistant Managers are responsible for:

• Daily supervision
• Safety & statutory compliance
• Hazard management
• Contractor supervision
• Equipment & workplace safety
• Emergency response

Therefore, AM deployment is treated as a safety-critical statutory requirement. ============================================================

  2. UNDERGROUND MINES – DEPLOYMENT RULES Assistant Manager requirement is based on Average Monthly Output (AMO) from all seams. 

  2.1 Deployment Scale

Average Monthly Output	Minimum Assistant Managers Required
Up to 10,000 tonnes	1 AM
Above 10,000 tonnes	+1 AM for every 5,000 tonnes or part thereof

2.2 Example Calculations

1. AMO = 18,000 tonnes

• First 10,000 = 1 AM
• Remaining 8,000 = 2 AM
  Total = 3 AM

1. AMO = 27,500 tonnes

• First 10,000 = 1 AM
• Remaining 17,500 = 4 AM
  Total = 5 AM

2.3 First Class Manager Requirement If monthly output > 20,000 tonnes,
→ At least 1 Assistant Manager must hold First Class Manager’s Certificate (FCM). Reason: high-output UG mines have increased:

• Districts,
• Faces,
• Ventilation risk,
• Support systems,
• Water & gas hazards.

2.4 Areas Under AM Supervision AM must supervise all UG workings including:

• Roadways & crosscuts
• Depillaring panels
• Travelling roads
• Pump chambers
• Conveyors
• Shaft bottom
• Development & depillaring districts

AM must cover every shift. ============================================================

  3. OPENCAST MINES – DEPLOYMENT RULES Deployment is based on Average Material Handled (AMH) which is:
AMH = (Coal + OB) Average of last 3 years. Reason: OC mine hazards depend on:

• OB excavation volume
• Number of faces
• Dump height
• Haul road traffic
• Machinery concentration

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  4. GENERAL SHIFT DEPLOYMENT 4.1 Overall In-Charge – 01 AM (All AMH Ranges) Acts as the principal coordinator under Mine Manager.

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4.2 Planning Section

AMH Range	AM Required
< 6	1
6–18	1
18–36	2
>36	0 (Planning shifts to engineering dept.)

Duties:

• Short & long-term planning
• Blast design, drilling pattern
• Road planning
• Dump planning

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4.3 Coal Workings

AMH	Requirement
<36	1 AM
36–60	1 AM
60–100	2 AM
>100	3 AM

More AMs needed as:

• Multiple coal benches open
• More shovels & draglines active
• Night operations common

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4.4 OB Workings 

 OB removal is the highest-risk activity.

AMH	AM Required
<18	1
18–36	1
36–60	2
60–100	3

Tasks:

• Face inspection
• Bench slope monitoring
• Dozer supervision
• Shovel-truck matching

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4.5 Dump Area (OB Dumps)

AMH	AM Required
<36	1 AM
36–60	2 AM

Dump hazards include:

• Slope failure
• Unstable edges
• Soft foundation
• Seepage water

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4.6 Drilling & Explosive Supervision 

  Rule: 1 AM per 20 tonnes/day of explosive consumption
(“Part thereof” counts as full.) Example: 27 t/day → 2 AM.

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4.7 Haul Road (HIGHEST PRIORITY RULE) 

 If haul road length > 10 km,
→ Dedicated Assistant Manager mandatory
regardless of AMH. Reasons:

• Traffic accidents
• Brake overheating
• Gradient failure
• Night hazards
• Dust visibility issues

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4.8 LMV Roads For <36 AMH → 1 AM
Above that → Not required separately

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4.9 Pit & Dump Slope Stability

AMH	AM Required
<36	1
36–60	2

AM Duties:

• Crack monitoring
• Seepage detection
• Prism/checkmark monitoring
• Barricading danger zones

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4.10 Lighting System 

 Lighting AM required in most AMH ranges:

• Face lighting
• Road lighting
• Workshop lighting
• Stockyard illumination

DGMS LUX standards must be followed.

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4.11 Dust, Noise & Vibration Monitoring 

 AM responsible for:

• Environmental quality
• Air/dust sampling
• Noise & vibration readings
• Compliance with OSHWC Code 2020

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4.12 IME/PME, Training, Health Welfare

AMH	AM Required
<36	1
36–60	2

AM ensures:

• IME/PME
• VT/Refresher training
• Health, sanitation, canteen hygiene
• First Aid compliance

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4.13 Fire, Inundation, Principal Hazard Management

AMH	AM Required
<36	1
36–60	2

AM prepares:

• Emergency plan
• Fire control plan
• Inundation control
• Risk management measures

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4.14 Stockyard/Dispatch 

 AM needed for all AMH ranges:

• Stockpile stability
• Dispatch coordination
• Truck movement
• Fire prevention

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4.15 CHP/Siding 

 Required in low & medium AMH mines. ============================================================ 

  5. SHIFT DEPLOYMENT (B-SHIFT & C-SHIFT) Coal Workings

• Minimum 1 AM
• 100 Mm³ → 2 AM

OB Workings

• 1 AM compulsory
• Increase based on excavator count

Dump Management

• Back shift = 1 AM
• For >36 AMH → 1 every shift

Haul Road

• Back shift = 1 AM
• 60 Mm³ → 2 AM

Lighting

• Night shift must have lighting AM
• Ensures DGMS LUX compliance

Dust Suppression

• 18 AMH → 1 AM in back shift

Stockyard/Dispatch

• Back shift = 1
• 36 Mm³ → 1 every shift

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  6. ADDITIONAL AM REQUIREMENT (SCALING RULE) If AMH exceeds lower limit:
→ Additional AMs as per table:

AMH Range	Additional AM per
1–6 Mm³	1 per 1 Mm³
6–18 Mm³	1 per 2 Mm³
18–36 Mm³	1 per 2.5 Mm³
36–60 Mm³	1 per 3 Mm³
60–100 Mm³	1 per 3.5 Mm³
>100 Mm³	1 per 4 Mm³

Example:
AMH = 42 Mm³
Excess over 36 = 6 Mm³
Scaling = 1 AM / 3 Mm³
→ Total = 2 additional AMs ============================================================ 

  7. SPECIAL PROVISIONS 7.1 Mandatory First-Class Personnel

Minimum 30% of AMs must hold:

• First Class Manager Certificate
  OR
• First Class Manager (Opencast Restricted)

7.2 Equivalent Qualification Rule 

Graduate Mining Engineers may be treated as AM for:

• Lighting
• Roads
• Noise & dust monitoring
• Survey/environmental duties
• Health/sanitation
• PME/IME management

7.3 Contractor Supervision 

 AM must:

• Check validity of competency certificates
• Ensure VT/Refresher
• Enforce PPE use
• Maintain attendance
• Monitor contractor fleets
• Ensure no unauthorized worker enters the pit

7.4 Emergency Duties 

 AM must:

• Be present during emergencies
• Coordinate evacuation
• Stop unsafe operations
• Conduct investigation
• Submit immediate report to Manager

7.5 Appointment Order Requirements (Reg. 7(3)) 

 Each AM must have:

• Specific area of charge
• Written order in noticebook
• Copy sent to DGMS
• Entry maintained in statutory register

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  8. 40 HIGH-YIELD ONE-LINERS (FOR EXAM REVISION)

1. AM deployment rules → Reg. 30 CMR 2017.
2. New notification → G.S.R. 640(E) (16-09-2025).
3. Underground → AMO-based.
4. Opencast → AMH-based.
5. AMH = Coal + OB (3 yrs avg).
6. UG first 10,000 t = 1 AM.
7. Each additional 5,000 t = 1 AM.
8. 20,000 t → 1 AM must be FCM.
9. OC overall in-charge = 1 AM.
10. Planning AM needed up to 36 AMH.
11. Coal face AM increases with AMH.
12. OB working → highest-risk zone.
13. Dump AM mandatory all ranges.
14. Explosives → 1 AM/20 t/day.
15. Haul road >10 km → mandatory AM.
16. LMV roads → 1 AM (<36).
17. Dump stability → 1 or 2 AM.
18. Lighting AM mandatory.
19. Dust/noise/vibration = AM duty.
20. Health, training, PME → AM duty.
21. Fire/inundation → AM oversight.
22. Stockyard/dispatch → 1 AM all ranges.
23. Siding/CHP → AM for low-medium AMH.
24. Back-shift → AM compulsory.
25. Stockyard >36 → AM every shift.
26. Scaling rule gives extra AMs.
27. ≥30% AMs must be FCM.
28. Equivalent qualification = B.Tech Mining.
29. AM area of charge must be written.
30. Contractor work supervised by AM.
31. PPE compliance → AM checks.
32. Hazard management → AM duty.
33. Barricading unstable zones.
34. Check cracks/seepage.
35. Monitor LUX at night.
36. Heavy traffic → AM presence.
37. Accident enquiry → AM.
38. Logbook entries → essential.
39. 24×7 supervision — essential.
40. AM = backbone of mine safety & compliance.

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  9. DESCRIPTIVE MODEL ANSWER Explain the Assistant Manager deployment requirements as per Regulation 30 of the Coal Mines Regulations, 2017 as amended in 2025. Model Answer:
Regulation 30 of the Coal Mines Regulations, 2017, as amended by G.S.R. 640(E) dated 16-09-2025, prescribes the minimum number of Assistant Managers (AMs) to be appointed in both underground and opencast coal mines. In underground mines, deployment is based on Average Monthly Output, where one Assistant Manager is required for the first 10,000 tonnes and one additional Assistant Manager for every 5,000 tonnes or part thereof. When the output exceeds 20,000 tonnes, at least one Assistant Manager must hold a First Class Manager’s Certificate. In opencast mines, deployment is based on Average Material Handled (AMH), which is the average of coal plus overburden handled during the preceding three financial years. Specific numbers of AMs are prescribed for coal workings, overburden workings, dumps, drilling and explosives, haul roads, planning, lighting, stockyard, dispatch, environmental monitoring, health and welfare, and principal hazard management. Special conditions apply, such as mandatory deployment of a dedicated AM for haul roads longer than 10 km and 1 AM per 20 tonnes/day of explosive consumption. Additional Assistant Managers must be provided based on the scaling factor when AMH exceeds the lower range, and at least 30% of the total AMs must hold First Class Manager or First Class (Opencast) certificates. Every Assistant Manager must have a clearly defined area of jurisdiction with orders issued under Regulation 7(3). The provisions ensure adequate supervision, improved safety, and compliance with statutory requirements in coal mines. ============================================================