Mines’ safety experts believe that despite a few unfortunate events in recent years, mines of the State are among the safest ones on the parameters of safety and security. Experts gathered in a one-day workshop organised in CMPDI today said that the mines had been taking precautions to keep any unfortunate event to occur.
Jointly organised by Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI), a subsidiary of Coal India limited (CIl), and Mahanadi Coalfields limited (MCl), the events on ‘Development of Safety Management Plan (SMP) in Indian Mines – Way forward and Decent Work for Contractor Workers’ saw over 200 delegates and experts from CMPDI, CIl, CCl, MCl, iron and steel manufacturing companies and others discussing almost anything and everything related to mines’ safety and security.
Though CMPDI Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) S Sharan couldn’t make it in the event due to some other urgent and unavoidable works, he said in his message that the safety and security of mines and workers remained priority of all the institutes working in this field. The event discussed pertinent issues related to mines safety and security ranging from power point presentations on Development of SMPs at Hirakhand Bundia Incline Mine, Gare Pelma Coal Mine, Narwapahar Metalliferous Mines to Decent Work of Contractor Workers and many others.
Deputy Director General (DDG) of South Eastern Zone (SEZ) of Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) AK Sinha said that the companies needed to go extra mile to ensure safety and security of workers. He also rejected the idea of not letting mining works outsourced saying that outsourcing companies were equally sincere and competent towards safety and security of workers. Notably, the lalmatia Open Cast Mine in Godda where at least one and half dozen workers died in a mine landslide accident was being operated by a private company which was outsourced mining works by Eastern Coalfields (ECl) limited.
Chief Guest of the event and DGMS DG R Guha said on the occasion that the companies in mining area needed to take extra safety and security measures, so that even slightest possibilities of accident could be avoided.