Health & Safety Provisions

• Section 19 – Drinking Water: Mines must provide clean and safe drinking water.
• Section 20 – Conservancy: Latrines & urinals to be provided separately for men & women, well maintained.
• Section 21 – Canteens: Mandatory in mines with 250+ workers.
• Section 22 – Shelters, Rest Rooms, Lunch Rooms: Provided in large mines for rest during work intervals.
• Section 23 – Medical Appliances: First-aid boxes & trained personnel must be available at all times.

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Worker Welfare Clauses

• Section 24 – Welfare Officers: Mines employing 500+ workers must appoint a welfare officer.
• Section 25 – Working Hours: Maximum working hours regulated for surface & underground miners.
• Section 28 – Weekly Rest: Workers entitled to one day of rest every week.
• Section 30 – Leave with Wages: Workers entitled to paid leave after 240 days of work in a year.
• Section 31 – Compensation & Welfare Fund: Employer responsible for worker compensation & contribution to welfare schemes.

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DGMS Exam Highlights

• Mines Act 1952 balances health, safety, and welfare of miners.
• DGMS enforces compliance through inspections, circulars & penalties.
• Exam focus: sections related to welfare (19–31) + their application in coal & metal mines.

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 DGMS-Style MCQs on Mines Act 1952 – Worker Welfare & Health
Q1. Under Mines Act 1952, drinking water must be:
A. Supplied only on request
B. Clean & safe, at suitable points
C. Available only in canteens
D. Provided once per shift
E. Optional in small mines
Answer: B
Solution: Section 19 mandates safe drinking water at convenient points.

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Q2. Canteens are compulsory in mines with:
A. 100+ workers
B. 200+ workers
C. 250+ workers
D. 300+ workers
E. 500+ workers
Answer: C
Solution: Section 21 requires canteens in mines employing >250 workers.

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Q3. Section 20 of Mines Act deals with:
A. Working hours
B. Conservancy
C. Medical appliances
D. Welfare officers
E. Rest shelters
Answer: B
Solution: Section 20 = proper sanitation (latrines, urinals).

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Q4. First-aid appliances must be available under:
A. Section 23
B. Section 21
C. Section 24
D. Section 19
E. Section 30
Answer: A
Solution: Section 23 ensures first-aid boxes & trained staff.

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Q5. Welfare officer is required when mine employs:
A. 250+ workers
B. 300+ workers
C. 400+ workers
D. 500+ workers
E. 1000+ workers
Answer: D
Solution: Section 24 mandates welfare officer in mines >500 workers.

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Q6. Rest shelters/lunch rooms are compulsory under:
A. Section 22
B. Section 23
C. Section 19
D. Section 28
E. Section 31
Answer: A
Solution: Section 22 requires rest shelters for large mines.

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Q7. Maximum working hours per day under Mines Act:
A. 7 hours underground, 8 hours surface
B. 8 hours underground, 9 hours surface
C. 6 hours underground, 7 hours surface
D. 9 hours underground, 9 hours surface
E. Unlimited if paid overtime
Answer: A
Solution: Section 25 – 7 hrs underground, 8 hrs surface.

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Q8. Weekly rest entitlement under Mines Act:
A. 1 day per 15 days
B. 1 day per 10 days
C. 1 day per 7 days
D. 2 days per week
E. No fixed rest period
Answer: C
Solution: Section 28 mandates 1 weekly rest day.

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Q9. Paid leave eligibility arises after:
A. 120 days’ work
B. 180 days’ work
C. 240 days’ work
D. 300 days’ work
E. Continuous service only
Answer: C
Solution: Section 30 = leave after 240 days of work.

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Q10. Medical appliances in mines fall under:
A. Welfare provisions
B. Safety provisions
C. Health provisions
D. Both health & welfare
E. Compensation provisions
Answer: D
Solution: Section 23 covers health (first-aid) and welfare.

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Q11. Compensation & welfare fund provisions are in:
A. Section 22
B. Section 30
C. Section 25
D. Section 31
E. Section 20
Answer: D
Solution: Section 31 relates to compensation & welfare.

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Q12. Which section ensures clean drinking water?
A. 20
B. 21
C. 19
D. 23
E. 28
Answer: C
Solution: Section 19 = drinking water.

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Q13. Mines employing >250 workers must provide:
A. Rest shelters
B. Canteen
C. Welfare officer
D. Free housing
E. Paid leave
Answer: B
Solution: Section 21 = canteen.

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Q14. Section 24 applies when number of workers is:
A. 200
B. 300
C. 400
D. 500
E. 600
Answer: D
Solution: Welfare officer required >500 workers.

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Q15. Rest shelters are primarily for:
A. Lunch only
B. Rest during work intervals
C. Medical treatment
D. Weekly holidays
E. Emergency evacuations
Answer: B
Solution: Section 22 = rest shelters during intervals.

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Q16. Mines Act 1952 welfare clauses cover sections:
A. 1–10
B. 11–18
C. 19–31
D. 32–40
E. 50–60
Answer: C
Solution: Sections 19–31 = welfare & health.

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Q17. Which is NOT a welfare provision?
A. Drinking water
B. Canteens
C. First-aid
D. Explosive handling rules
E. Welfare officer
Answer: D
Solution: Explosive handling is safety, not welfare.

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Q18. DGMS enforces Mines Act provisions by:
A. Worker unions
B. Court only
C. Inspection & penalties
D. Ministry of Labour only
E. Company policy
Answer: C
Solution: DGMS ensures compliance through inspections/penalties.

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Q19. Leave with wages under Section 30 is available:
A. After 120 days
B. After 240 days
C. Immediately after appointment
D. Only for surface workers
E. After 1 year
Answer: B
Solution: Eligibility = 240 days work.

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Q20. Health check-up camps in mines are part of:
A. Physiological needs
B. Safety provisions
C. Welfare measures
D. Esteem needs
E. Overtime facilities
Answer: C
Solution: Health camps = welfare provision.