🧰 DGMS GENERAL-ORDER Approved Items – Appendix II Detailed Guide

Under the DGMS Approval Policy – Second Revision 2016, mining equipment is classified under:

• General-Order Approval
• Special-Order Approval
• Provisional Approval

General-order items are those NOT required to undergo DGMS laboratory testing or special certification, unless modified, as they pose low-to-moderate safety risk. These items are listed in Appendix II of the Approval Policy. This blog explains every item category clearly with examples — in OME-style format.

---

🔹 1. What Are General-Order Items?

These are equipment/materials that:

• Have low explosion/fire risk
• Don’t operate electrically in hazardous zones
• Are used commonly in mines
• Already covered under BIS standards
• Do not require DGMS special testing

However, they must be:

• BIS-certified (where applicable)
• Manufactured under ISO 9001 QMS
• Safe for mining use

---

🔹 2. DGMS General-Order Approval – Key Features

Feature	Description
Risk Level	Low/Moderate
DGMS Testing	Not required before supply
Approval Type	Automatically permitted under General Order
Requirements	Must follow BIS/ISO standards
Modification	Must be reported to DGMS
Special Case	If item becomes hazardous, DGMS may upgrade to Special Order

---

🔹 3. Full List of DGMS General-Order Items (Appendix II) 

(Explained in simple OME Style) Below is the complete categorized list based on the DGMS Approval Policy (2016).

---

⭐ A. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) These items do NOT require special-order approval:

• Safety helmets (IS 2925)
• Safety shoes (IS 15298)
• Gloves (rubber, leather, cut-resistant)
• Protective eyewear (IS 5983)
• Reflective jackets
• Ear muffs & plugs
• Dust masks (non-respirator type)
• Welding goggles

⚠️ Note: Respirators, BA Sets & SCSR require special-order approval (covered in Blog 3).

---

⭐ B. Mechanical Tools & Equipment

• Hand tools (hammers, chisels, wrenches)
• Wire ropes & chains
• Mechanical jacks
• Ladders (wooden / aluminium)
• Conveyor belts (non-FLP)
• Belt fasteners & clips
• Pulley lagging
• Idlers & rollers
• Rope clips
• Mechanical shovels

---

⭐ C. Rubber, Plastic & Hose Items

• Rubber hoses
• PVC pipes
• Water hose reinforcement
• Rubber sheeting
• Plastic ventilation ducts (non-electrified)
• Poly ropes

---

⭐ D. Electrical Items (Non-Hazardous Zone Use) Allowed ONLY in surface mines & non-gassy areas:

• Non-FLP lighting fittings
• Switches
• Sockets
• Extension cords
• Insulated hand tools
• Domestic-type cables

⚠️ Cannot be used underground in gassy seams.

---

⭐ E. Civil & Construction Materials

• Cement, sand, bricks
• Concrete blocks
• Roof support cement bags
• Shotcrete materials
• Reinforcement bars
• Rails (track material)
• Sleepers
• Grouting mix

---

⭐ F. Mine Surveying & Measurement Tools

• Measuring tapes
• Staffs & levelling rods
• Tripods
• Mirror box
• Theodolite (non-electronic older types)
• Clinometers
• Dumpy Level

⚠️ Electronic Total Stations & GPS do NOT need special-order approval, but must comply with BIS standards.

---

⭐ G. Ventilation Accessories (Non-Electrical)

• Curtain cloth
• Air-crossing doors
• PVC ventilation tubes (non-powered)
• Stoppings material
• Ventilation cloth

---

⭐ H. Transport Accessories

• Mine tubs (non-electrical)
• Wheels & axles
• Couplers
• Haulage ropes (non-FLP)
• Wagon fittings
• Braking shoes

---

⭐ I. Miscellaneous Items

• Paints & coatings
• Nails, bolts, fasteners
• Hand lamps (non-electric)
• Wooden supports
• Metal sheets
• Warning boards
• Signage boards

---

🔹 4. Items That DO NOT Need DGMS Approval (Common Misconceptions)

• Bulldozers
• Excavators
• Dump trucks
• Surface drills
• Hydraulic hoses
• PPE except SCSR & BA sets
• Conveyor mechanical parts
• Civil construction items

💡 Because they operate outside hazardous underground zones.

---

🔹 5. When Do General-Order Items Need Special Approval?

If:

• Manufacturer changes design
• Use changes from surface → underground
• Product causes accidents
• BIS certification lapses
• DGMS issues safety circular for the product

Then DGMS may mandate special-order testing.

---

🔹 6. Why General-Order Items Are Important? Because they:

• Make up 60–70% of mine supplies
• Are required daily
• Are easy to procure
• Have wide application in mining operations

They form the backbone of routine mine safety & production activities.

---

🔥 25 MCQs (DGMS Pattern) with Answers

---

1) General-order items require —

a) DGMS lab testing
b) Factory license
c) No special DGMS testing
d) Explosive license
e) None
Ans: c

---

2) Safety shoes fall under —

a) Special-order
b) General-order
c) Provisional approval
d) Explosive
e) None
Ans: b

---

3) PVC pipe is —

a) Explosive
b) General-order item
c) Flameproof
d) IS device
e) None
Ans: b

---

4) Conveyor belts (mechanical) require —

a) ATEX
b) General-order approval
c) No approval
d) Electrical testing
e) None
Ans: b

---

5) SCSR falls under —

a) General-order
b) Special-order
c) Civil items
d) Rope items
e) None
Ans: b

---

6) Rubber hoses are —

a) Flameproof
b) Explosive
c) General-order item
d) Electrical item
e) None
Ans: c

---

7) Non-FLP lights can be used in —

a) UG gassy mines
b) Zone 1
c) Zone 2
d) Surface mines
e) None
Ans: d

---

8) Roof bolts made of steel are —

a) Explosives
b) General-order
c) FLP
d) IS
e) None
Ans: b

---

9) FLP motors are —

a) Allowed without approval
b) General order
c) Special-order items
d) Civil materials
e) None
Ans: c

---

10) BIS certification applies to —

a) Explosives only
b) General-order items
c) Coal grade
d) Workers
e) None
Ans: b

---

11) Measuring tape is —

a) IS
b) FLP
c) General-order
d) Explosive
e) None
Ans: c

---

12) Cap lamp battery is —

a) General
b) Special-order
c) Explosive
d) Ordinary
e) None
Ans: b

---

13) Plastic ventilation duct (non-electrical) —

a) Special
b) General-order
c) FLP
d) None
e) None
Ans: b

---

14) Roof support cement bags fall under —

a) Explosive items
b) General-order materials
c) Hazardous goods
d) LPG
e) None
Ans: b

---

15) Theodolite (manual) is —

a) Flameproof
b) High-risk
c) General-order
d) Explosive
e) None
Ans: c

---

16) Gas monitors fall under —

a) General
b) Special-order
c) Civil
d) Rope items
e) None
Ans: b

---

17) Divider & compass in surveying are —

a) IS items
b) FLP
c) General-order tools
d) Electrical items
e) None
Ans: c

---

18) Ropes & chains are —

a) Explosives
b) General items
c) Special items
d) Semi-approved
e) None
Ans: b

---

19) Conveyor belt idlers are —

a) Electrical
b) General items
c) Special items
d) Gas items
e) None
Ans: b

---

20) A product must move to special-order if — a) BIS increases price
b) Design is modified
c) New logo used
d) Sold online
e) None
Ans: b

---

21) Helmets must comply with —

a) DGMS FLP
b) Ex d
c) IS 2925
d) IS 230
e) None
Ans: c

---

22) Rope clips used in mines are —

a) FLP
b) IS
c) PPE
d) General-order
e) None
Ans: d

---

23) Threaded fasteners require —

a) Flameproof test
b) Electrical test
c) General-order approval
d) BIS Act only
e) None
Ans: c

---

24) Blocks and sleepers are —

a) FLP
b) General-order civil materials
c) Explosives
d) PPE
e) None
Ans: b

---

25) DGMS General-order items =

a) High-risk items
b) Explosive items
c) Low-risk items under Appendix II
d) Survey permits
e) None
Ans: c

---

🔚 Conclusion 

General-order items form the largest category of equipment used in mines.
They do not need DGMS special testing but must follow BIS & ISO standards. Understanding these items helps mine managers:

• Avoid procurement delays
• Ensure statutory compliance
• Reduce costs
• Improve operational safety
• Prevent misuse of non-approved equipment

---

🚀 Download DGMS Equipment Approval Notes at OnlineMiningExam.com
📝 Practice 10,000+ DGMS MCQs
🔔 Join our OME Telegram for daily mining updates

---