Use of Manila Ropes in Mines – DGMS Guidelines, Applications & Safety Provisions

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🧾 DETAILED NOTES

1️⃣ Introduction

Manila ropes are natural fiber ropes made from the abacá plant, traditionally used in mines for light-duty purposes such as signaling, lashing, or temporary connections. However, DGMS strictly prohibits the use of manila ropes in any critical load-bearing or winding operation, due to their limited tensile strength, poor resistance to moisture, and quick deterioration in humid underground conditions.

2️⃣ DGMS Guidelines and Legal Provisions

(A) Coal Mines Regulation, 2017: Reg. 111 to 117 deal with winding ropes and haulage ropes, mandating steel wire ropes (conforming to IS: 1855/2003) for these purposes. Manila ropes are only permitted for temporary, non-load-bearing tasks like signaling.

(B) Metalliferous Mines Regulation, 1961: Reg. 125 clearly states that manila or fiber ropes shall not be used for any purpose involving transport of persons or heavy material.

(C) DGMS Circular References: DGMS Circular No. 2 of 1980 (discontinuation underground), Technical Instruction 5 of 1994 (replacement in haulage), and Circular 4 of 2005 (warning on degradation) all reinforce the move away from natural fiber ropes for safety-critical tasks.

3️⃣ Limitations of Manila Ropes

Low tensile strength compared to steel wire ropes.
Absorbs moisture, leading to rotting, slippage, and significant strength loss (up to 50% when wet).
Degrades quickly due to friction and humidity.
Prone to sudden breakage under dynamic (shock) loads.
Not suitable for winding or haulage where human safety is at risk.

4️⃣ Approved Alternatives

Steel wire ropes (e.g., IS: 1855/2003 for winding, IS: 6594/2001 for haulage).
Polypropylene or Nylon ropes (for light signaling or guide lines).
Other man-made fiber ropes with adequate strength and DGMS approval.

5️⃣ Safe Use of Manila Ropes (Permitted Applications)

Signaling ropes in small haulage installations.
Temporary hand lines or guide ropes.
Bundling of light materials (not exceeding 20 kg).
Non-critical rigging during maintenance.

❌ Prohibited: Use in winding, hoisting, suspension of ladders, cage connections, or any purpose involving transport of persons or materials.

6️⃣ Maintenance & Inspection

Manila ropes should be kept dry, away from oil, acids, and water.
Visual inspection daily for wear, fraying, or cuts.
Immediate disposal if fibers appear discolored, brittle, or damaged.

⚙️ QUICK ONE-LINERS (Revision Points)

Manila ropes are natural fiber ropes from abacá fiber.
Not allowed for winding, haulage, or lifting persons/heavy material.
Permitted only for signaling and light-duty, non-safety tasks.
Reg. 125 (MMR 1961) restricts their use.
DGMS Circular 2/1980 advised discontinuing their use.
Replace with steel wire or synthetic ropes for safety.
Strength of manila rope decreases by ~50% when wet.
Must be stored dry and clean.
Inspection required before every use.
Prohibited in transport or suspension of persons.

🧮 DESCRIPTIVE MODEL QUESTION

Q. Describe the DGMS guidelines and statutory provisions regarding the use of manila ropes in mines.

Answer:
Manila ropes, made from abacá fiber, were traditionally used in mines. However, due to their low strength and susceptibility to moisture and rot, their use is now heavily restricted. As per Reg. 125 of MMR 1961 and implied by Reg. 111–117 of CMR 2017 (which mandate steel ropes), manila ropes are prohibited for any purpose involving winding, haulage, or suspension of persons or heavy materials.

DGMS Circulars (e.g., 2/1980) further emphasize their replacement with steel wire or synthetic ropes. Their use is only permitted for temporary, non-load-bearing, non-safety-critical tasks like signaling lines or light-duty bundling.

🧩 25 DGMS-Based MCQs

Q1. Manila ropes are made from:

Solution: Manila ropes are manufactured from the fibers of the abacá plant.

Q2. DGMS permits use of manila rope for:

Solution: Its use is restricted to non-load-bearing, non-safety-critical tasks like signaling.

Q3. Regulation prohibiting manila rope use in metalliferous mines:

Solution: Reg. 125 of MMR 1961 explicitly prohibits fiber ropes for transporting persons or materials.

Q4. DGMS Circular that discontinued manila rope use:

Solution: DGMS Circular 2 of 1980 was a key directive advising the discontinuation of manila ropes for many underground uses.

Q5. Manila ropes lose strength mainly due to:

Solution: As natural fibers, they are susceptible to all these factors, especially moisture which causes rot and significantly reduces strength.

Q6. Manila ropes are used only for:

Solution: Their use is restricted to non-safety-critical, light-duty applications.

Q7. Manila rope strength reduces by __ when wet:

Solution: Moisture absorption and rot can drastically reduce the tensile strength of manila ropes, often by 50% or more.

Q8. For winding, DGMS requires:

Solution: Winding operations must use steel wire ropes conforming to specified Indian Standards.

Q9. IS standard for winding ropes:

Solution: IS 1855 specifies standards for steel wire ropes used in mine winding. IS 6594 is for haulage.

Q10. Manila ropes should be stored:

Solution: To prevent rot and moisture absorption, they must be stored in a dry, ventilated location.

Q11. Manila ropes are prohibited for:

Solution: Suspending ladders is a load-bearing, safety-critical task for which manila ropes are prohibited.

Q12. DGMS recommends replacing manila ropes with:

Solution: Steel wire ropes (for strength) and synthetic ropes (for resistance to rot) are the approved alternatives.

Q13. Manila ropes were replaced mainly due to:

Solution: Their unreliability, especially in wet mine conditions, is the primary safety reason for their replacement.

Q14. CMR 2017 provisions for winding ropes are under:

Solution: This set of regulations in CMR 2017 covers winding equipment, including ropes, safety catches, and attachments.

Q15. Manila rope inspection frequency:

Solution: Any rope used, even for light duty, must be visually inspected for integrity before each use or at least daily.

Q16. Fiber ropes degrade faster in:

Solution: Moisture accelerates the rotting and degradation of natural fibers.

Q17. Manila ropes are still used for:

Solution: Non-load-bearing signaling is one of the few applications where they may still be found.

Q18. Manila rope replacement mandated under:

Solution: Both circulars address the phasing out and dangers of using degraded natural fiber ropes in mines.

Q19. Strength of manila rope depends on:

Solution: All these factors (original quality, degradation from age, weakening from moisture) affect its final strength.

Q20. Synthetic ropes are preferred because:

Solution: Synthetic ropes (like Nylon/Polypropylene) do not rot in water and generally have a higher strength-to-weight ratio.

Q21. DGMS prohibits manila ropes for:

Solution: Winding is a safety-critical, high-load operation where only approved steel wire ropes are permitted.

Q22. Manila ropes were traditionally used in:

Solution: They were common in older underground mining for various light-duty tasks before modern materials became available.

Q23. Manila rope’s main advantage was:

A. High strength B. Fire resistance C. Water resistance D. None E. Low cost & Flexibility

Solution: They were historically used because they were inexpensive, flexible, and widely available.

Q24. DGMS Tech Instruction 5 of 1994 advises:

Solution: This instruction specifically pushed for replacing natural fiber ropes in haulage systems with more reliable alternatives.

Q25. Manila ropes are completely banned in:

Solution: All three are safety-critical, load-bearing operations where the use of manila ropes is prohibited by regulations.

🔗 INTERNAL LINKS

Related Topic	Read More On...
MMR 1961	Metalliferous Mines Regulations 1961 - Chapter 1
CMR 2017	CMR 2017 Part 2 - Working & Supervision Rules
Mines Act, 1952	Mines Act, 1952 Simplified - Key Provisions
DGMS Circulars	DGMS General Circular No. 01 of 2023

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Use of Manila Ropes in Mines – DGMS Guidelines, Applications & Safety Provisions

🧾 DETAILED NOTES

1️⃣ Introduction

2️⃣ DGMS Guidelines and Legal Provisions

3️⃣ Limitations of Manila Ropes

4️⃣ Approved Alternatives

5️⃣ Safe Use of Manila Ropes (Permitted Applications)

6️⃣ Maintenance & Inspection

⚙️ QUICK ONE-LINERS (Revision Points)

🧮 DESCRIPTIVE MODEL QUESTION

🧩 25 DGMS-Based MCQs

🔗 INTERNAL LINKS

🧵 Study DGMS Safety Standards with Expert Notes & 25 MCQs!

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