Inquiry into Accidents Due to Natural Death in Mines – DGMS Circular, Reporting & Classification

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Thu Oct 30, 2025

🧾 DETAILED NOTES

1️⃣ Introduction

In mining operations, even non-operational or natural incidents like sudden natural deaths of mine employees are considered reportable under the Mines Act, 1952. The DGMS requires every case of death occurring on mine premises—whether during working hours or not—to be investigated to confirm the absence of operational or managerial negligence.

2️⃣ Legal Provisions

Relevant legal references include:

The Mines Act, 1952 – Section 23 & 24 (Notice and inquiry into accidents).
Coal Mines Regulation, 2017 – Reg. 9.
Metalliferous Mines Regulation, 1961 – Reg. 9.
DGMS Circular: Inquiry into natural deaths to ensure proper classification and reporting.

3️⃣ Objective of Inquiry

Confirm the cause of death is natural (not due to unsafe mine condition).
Eliminate suspicion of negligence or machinery fault.
Ensure prompt and transparent reporting.
Maintain statistical integrity of accident data.

4️⃣ Procedure of Inquiry

Immediate Reporting: Manager must notify DGMS and Regional Inspector within 24 hours.
Medical Certification: Qualified doctor certifies natural cause (e.g., cardiac arrest).
On-Site Inspection: DGMS officer inspects scene to verify no operational link.
Form IV Submission: Manager submits complete report with:
- Name, age, occupation of deceased
- Cause of death with medical certificate
- Witness statements and location details
DGMS Classification: Statistical – if mine-related; Non-Statistical – if purely natural.

5️⃣ Classification of Cases

Type	Description	Example
Statistical	Related to mine operation	Fall, machinery accident
Non-Statistical	Natural cause unrelated to work	Heart attack, stroke

6️⃣ Responsibilities of Mine Management

Maintain health records and conduct periodic medical check-ups.
Ensure first-aid and emergency response readiness.
Submit reports within 24 hours of occurrence.
Keep all documents for 5 years for audit/reference.

7️⃣ DGMS Follow-Up

DGMS officials may conduct surprise inspections, review post-mortem or medical certificates, and ensure classification accuracy.

8️⃣ Preventive Measures

Routine medical surveillance under Mines Rules, 1955.
Fitness-to-work check-ups.
Health awareness and stress management sessions.
Well-equipped first-aid rooms with trained personnel.

⚙️ QUICK ONE-LINERS (Revision Points)

Section 24 of the Mines Act covers natural death inquiries.
DGMS must be informed within 24 hours.
Form IV is used for reporting.
Medical certificate is mandatory.
DGMS classifies as non-statistical if natural.
Manager responsible for submission.
Records to be preserved for 5 years.
Health surveillance reduces such incidents.
DGMS ensures impartial verification.
Transparency is the key goal.

🧮 DESCRIPTIVE MODEL QUESTION

Q. Explain the procedure of inquiry into accidents due to natural death in mines as per DGMS circulars.

Answer:
When a natural death occurs within mine premises, it must be reported under Section 24 of the Mines Act, 1952. The Mine Manager immediately informs DGMS and arranges medical examination. The DGMS Inspector visits the site, verifies conditions, and ensures no operational lapse exists. A detailed report in Form IV is submitted with the medical certificate. DGMS then classifies the case as non-statistical (if natural). The purpose is to maintain transparency and accurate accident records in the mining sector.

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

Q1. Inquiry into natural death is conducted under:

Solution: Section 24 of the Mines Act, 1952 specifically empowers the government to direct an inquiry into cases of death, including those from natural causes.

Q2. Natural death cases are classified as:

Solution: If the inquiry confirms the death is from natural causes and not related to mining operations, it is classified as Non-statistical.

Q3. Manager must inform DGMS within:

Solution: Notice of any death (accidental or otherwise) on mine premises must be given to DGMS within 24 hours.

Q4. Reporting form used for such cases:

Solution: Form IV (A/B/C) under Mines Rules is the standard form for submitting detailed reports of accidents or dangerous occurrences.

Q5. Medical certificate should be issued by:

Solution: Only a qualified and registered doctor (Medical Practitioner) can legally certify the cause of death.

Q6. Which of the following is a natural cause?

Solution: A heart attack is a medical event (natural cause), while the others are operational mining accidents.

Q7. DGMS Inspector’s main role is to:

Solution: The inspector's inquiry is to confirm the death was indeed natural and not caused or aggravated by any mining condition or negligence.

Q8. Form IV is submitted by:

Solution: The Mine Manager is legally responsible for submitting all statutory forms, including accident reports.

Q9. Non-reporting of natural death may lead to:

Solution: Failure to report any death on mine premises as required by the Mines Act is a serious violation and can lead to prosecution.

Q10. Inquiry records must be preserved for:

Solution: A 5-year preservation period is a standard requirement for many statutory records for audit and reference.

Q11. Which section ensures inquiry of accidents?

Solution: Section 23 deals with Notice of Accident, while Section 24 deals with the Power of Government to appoint an inquiry.

Q12. DGMS categorizes non-statistical deaths for:

Solution: The main purpose is to maintain the integrity of accident statistics, so that safety indices reflect only operational accidents.

Q13. Periodic medical check-ups aim to:

Solution: PME helps in early detection of underlying health issues, which can prevent sudden deaths at work.

Q14. Inquiry aims to ensure:

Solution: The primary goal of the inquiry is to rule out any managerial or operational negligence that could have contributed to the death.

Q15. DGMS reporting ensures:

Solution: Reporting all specified incidents, including natural deaths on premises, is a legal requirement.

Q16. Medical certificate verifies:

Solution: The medical certificate or post-mortem report is crucial for establishing the physiological cause of death.

Q17. Record keeping duration under DGMS circular:

Solution: A 5-year retention period for accident inquiry records is a standard guideline.

Q18. Natural deaths inside mines are considered:

Solution: Once confirmed as natural, they are classified as non-statistical to separate them from operational accidents.

Q19. Section 23 of Mines Act relates to:

Solution: Section 23 details the requirement for the mine management to give notice of accidents.

Q20. Immediate step after a death:

Solution: The first statutory step, along with securing the scene and informing local police, is to notify DGMS.

Q21. DGMS ensures inquiry is:

Solution: The entire process is designed to be transparent to ensure no facts are hidden.

Q22. Medical reports must be signed by:

Solution: Only a registered medical practitioner (doctor) is qualified to sign a medical certificate.

Q23. Inquiry helps:

Solution: The inquiry's main purpose is to confirm or rule out any operational causes, even if the death appears natural.

Q24. DGMS circulars ensure:

Solution: By requiring inquiry and reporting, DGMS reinforces management's accountability for all incidents on premises.

Q25. Primary objective of inquiry is:

Solution: The goal is to legally and transparently classify the death (Statistical vs. Non-Statistical) based on facts.

🔗 INTERNAL LINKS

Related Topic	Read More On...
Accident Classification	Criteria to Determine Accidents (Statistical vs Non-Statistical)
Health Rules	Medical Re-examination by Appellate Board - Rule 29K
Accident Reporting	Accident Reporting & Hazard ID
Mines Act	Mines Act, 1952 Simplified - Key Provisions

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Inquiry into Accidents Due to Natural Death in Mines – DGMS Circular, Reporting & Classification

🧾 DETAILED NOTES

1️⃣ Introduction

2️⃣ Legal Provisions

3️⃣ Objective of Inquiry

4️⃣ Procedure of Inquiry

5️⃣ Classification of Cases

6️⃣ Responsibilities of Mine Management

7️⃣ DGMS Follow-Up

8️⃣ Preventive Measures

⚙️ QUICK ONE-LINERS (Revision Points)

🧮 DESCRIPTIVE MODEL QUESTION

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

🔗 INTERNAL LINKS

⚖️ Prepare for DGMS Exams with India’s 1st Online Mining Academy!

OUR COURSES View More

📚 Daily Quiz • DGMS Prep

Inquiry into Accidents Due to Natural Death in Mines – DGMS Circular, Reporting & Classification

🧾 DETAILED NOTES

1️⃣ Introduction

2️⃣ Legal Provisions

3️⃣ Objective of Inquiry

4️⃣ Procedure of Inquiry

5️⃣ Classification of Cases

6️⃣ Responsibilities of Mine Management

7️⃣ DGMS Follow-Up

8️⃣ Preventive Measures

⚙️ QUICK ONE-LINERS (Revision Points)

🧮 DESCRIPTIVE MODEL QUESTION

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

🔗 INTERNAL LINKS

⚖️ Prepare for DGMS Exams with India’s 1st Online Mining Academy!

OUR COURSES View More

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