Safety measures for trucks, tippers, dumpers and OTR tyre handling

æRQ5R/Government of India Ministry of Labour & Employment Directorate General of Mines Safety BRICs DGMS (Tech) Circular No. /MHQ/2026/ 05 To, Dhanbad, Date 04/ 2026 All Owners, Agent and Managers of Coal and Metalliferous mines Subject: Strengthening Safety Measures for Trucks, Tippers, Dumpers and OTR Tyre Handling Operations in Mines.

I invite your attention to the alarming increase in accidents involving Wheeled Trackless Transportation Machinery, specifically dumper, tippers, trucks and similar vehicles etc., deployed in mines.

The analysis of accident statistics in coal and Metalliferous mines for the year 2023 to 2025 revealed that a total of 118 and 94 fatal accidents occurred involving 142 and 125 fatalities in coal and Metalliferous mines respectively. Out of the total, 39 (33%) fatal accidents involving 42 fatalities in coal and 21 (22%) fatal accidents involving 26 fatalities in metalliferous mines were related to transport machinery such as dumpers, tippers, trucks and other wheeled trackless vehicles.

In the year 2026(till 31st July, 2026), a total of 25 fatal accidents occurred in coal mines involving 26 fatalities and 25 fatal accidents occurred in Metalliferous mines involving 31 fatalities. Out of the total 9 (36%) fatal accidents involving 9 fatalities in coal and 8 (32%) fatal accidents involving 8 fatalities in metalliferous mines were related to transport machinery such as dumpers, tippers, trucks and other wheeled trackless vehicles It has further been noticed that, in last three years 4 fatal accidents and 5 dangerouS occurrences had taken place during handling, removal, mounting and dismantling of large off the road (OTR) tyres due to the use of tyre handlers without essential safety devices, improper operating procedures, inadequate maintenance and insufficient training of operators.

From the analysis of above accidents revealed that, most of the fatal accidents due to transportation vehicle caused due to run-over and/or toppling of wheeled trackless equipment and/or during tyre handling, etc., in coal and Metalliferous mines.

The analysis further revealed that all the above accidents could have been averted had the precautions & preventive measures as prescribed in the statute, circulars, guidelines issued by the Directorate from time to time had been taken.

It has been observed with serious concern that fatal and serious accidents involving trucks, tippers and dumpers continue to occur in mines despite the enforcement of G.S.R. 987(E) dated 01.10.2018 issued under Regulation 216(2) of the Coal Mines Regulations, 2017, prescribing mandatory safety features and devices for Heavy Earth Moving Machinery (HEMM). Recent DGMS(Tech.) circulars no. 06 of 2020 and 07 of 2025 and DGMS safety alerts also indicate that accidents involving wheeled trackless transportation machinery remain a major cause of fatalities in opencast mines.(both in Coal and Metalliferous mines)

Accordingly, all Owners, Agents and Managers of mines are hereby directed to ensure the following:

1. No truck, tipper or dumper shall be deployed unless all safety features specified under G.S.R. 987(E) are installed, periodically tested and functioning properly.

2. Daily pre-operational inspection of braking systems, steering, seat belts, reversing alarms, lighting, cameras, blind-spot monitoring, proximity warning systems and other mandatory safety devices shall be carried out and recorded.

3. Defective HEMM shall be withdrawn from service immediately until all defects affecting safety are rectified.

4. All persons employed or to be employed to operate heavy earth moving machinery including tippers and dumpers shall be trained and their competency shall be evaluated by a Board constituted by the management, who shall be the persons who are not connected with imparting training.

Training module for imparting special training to "operators" or "drivers" of wheeled trackless equipment shall be prepared based on the size, capacity, type, manufacturer, use, etc., of the equipment and considering original equipment manufacturer(OEM) modules/schedules on operation and maintenance.

5. Tyre handlers shall be fitted with all safety devices, including tyre fall back arrester , hydraulic cut-off of load moment indicator ,suitable gradeability.

overload protection, emergency stop systems, locking mechanisms and other fail-safe features.

6. Manual handling of large off the road (OTR) tyres shall be strictly prohibited wherever mechanical tyre handling equipment is available.

7. Risk assessment shall made on tyre handling and based on that Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS) shall be prepared and strictly implemented for all tyre handling and dismantling operations.

8. Only trained, competent and authorised persons shall be allowed to operate tyre handlers and carry out OTR tyre mounting or dismantling.

9. Periodic inspection, preventive maintenance and functional testing of tyre handlers shall be conducted and documented.

10. Mine management shall conduct regular safety audits to verify compliance with G.S.R. 987(E), haul road standards, traffic management plans and tyre handling procedures.

11. Any non-compliance observed during inspection shall be rectified immediately, and further preventive action shall be ensured.

All mine Owner, Agent and Managers are directed to review existing safety arrangements and take immediate corrective measures to prevent recurrence of such accidents. Strict compliance with statutory provisions, Circulars, guidelines, DGMS notifications and the recommendations contained in DGMS Safety Alerts shall be ensured at all times.

This circular shall be brought to the notice of all concerned officers, supervisors, operators, contractors and workmen and shall be displayed prominently at suitable locations in the mi e.

Direct ate General of Mines Safety & Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator