Uninterrupted Mineral Production and Transportation During COVID-19 Lockdown

Government of India Ministry of Labour & Employment Directorate General of Mines Safety 'GENERAL No. DGMS/ General Circular Dhanbad dated 30.03.2020.

The Owner, Agent and Manager of mines concernedu Subject: Uninterrupted mineral production, transportation of mineral etc, to sustain mineral production activities during lockdown period due to COVID-19 pandemic.

As you are aware, the Central as well as the State Governments have issued various directives to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has issued guidelines vide order no 40-3/2020 DM-I (A) dt 24- 03- 2020 to Ministries/ Departments of Government of India, State [Union Territory Governments and State [Union Territory authorities for strict implementation with effect from 25-03-2020. At clause 5 of the said guidelines industrial establishments which require continuous process are exempted from shut down. Subsequently, Ministry of Home Affairs vide order no 40-3/2020- DM -I (A) dt 25-03-2020 has issued an addendum to the guidelines dt 24-03-2020 by adding, inter alia, to clause 5 as under:

Sub clause (c) to clause 5 .

( c ) coal and mineral production , transportation , supply of explosives and activities incidental to mining operations x" Ministry of Mines, Government of India, has also issued advisory to all State Governments with a request to issue necessary instructions to the concerned authorities to allow mining operations during the lockdown period to ensure continuity of operations at Steel, Aluminium, Copper, Cement and other such plants which require continuous industrial process.

Coal and mineral production is essential to ensure that the nation smoothly passes through the present crisis. However, it needs to be ensured that the mine workers, officials and others engaged in mining, transportation and other activities incidental to mining operations take adequate precautions so that they do not get infected and do not become a medium to the spread of the corona virus. It is also required to follow the advisories issued in this regards by the Ministry of Home Affairs Government of India and the SOPs and advisories issued to the State Governments by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, including ICMR, NDMA and other related agencies.

In this regard, it has been decided in the public interest to issue the following advisory for the well-being of person employed in mines.

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Ensure proper cleaning and frequent sanitization of the workplace, particularly of the frequently touched surfaces. Ensure regular supply of hand sanitisers, soap and running water or such arrangement All such mining operations where workers in groups are required to be present in confined space / close proximity where, the social distancing or working distancing cannot be maintained , e.g. in underground manual face working, loading, manual drilling, support work etc., shall be stopped forthwith.

Number of persons travelling in cage, or any other system of man riding at a time, should be regulated to the extent that the norms of social distancing is ensured.

Only mechanized underground mines, and mechanised opencast mines, where workers are not present in close proximity may be continued.

In this regard manager of the mine shall prepare SOP to be followed by the employees, with regard to the precautions to be taken as per advisories issued in this regards from Government against the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure its wide publicity amongst the employees.

All workers and officials employed in the mines must be provided with sanitizers, masks and other personal protective equipment needed to protect them from this virus, free of cost.

It shall be ensured that the safety standards are not compromised in the wake of this pandemic, '2020 8.

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Persons shall be employed only where duly qualified statutory supervision has been provided so that, the safety and health of persons employed in mines are not jeopardized.

Provisions of the Mines Act, 1952, and the Rules, Regulations and Bye-Laws framed thereunder must be strictly followed.

It is further suggested that the persons employed at the mine shall be advised to take care of their health and in case of any respiratory symptoms ,fever etc., should leave the workplace immediately and inform their reporting officers or controlling authority, who shall arrange for necessary medical checkup and treatments. They should observe home-quarantine if required as per the guidelines issued by MoH & FW, Government of India available at the following URL:

mohfwqov.in/DraftGuideIinesforhomequarantine.pdf.

Your unequivocal and whole hearted co-operation is solicited, so that the smooth supply of coal and essential minerals for the nation is ensured without compromising the safety, welfare and health of persons engaged in mining and allied activities, Officials of this Directorate are available on phone and email etc, in case you need any assistance or further clarification.

'2020 (D K Sahu)

Director General of Mines Safety (Officiating) & Chief Inspector of Mines