Prevention of Fall of Person from Height or into Depth

Government of India Ministry of Labour & Employment Directorate General of Mines Safety No. DGMS (Tech) Circular No. 6 of 2025 To The Owner, Agent and Managers of all Mines Dhanbad, dated .20 JJ 025 Subject: Prevention of accidents due to Fall of Person from Height/ into Depth in mines.

It has been found that fall of persons from height and fall of person on same lever are significant causes of fatal accidents in mines.

From 2015 to 2024, there were a total of 113 fatal accidents (38 accidents in coal mines and 73 in metalliferous mines and 02 in Oil mines) attributed to this cause. Fall of Persons from Height/into Depth alone resulted in 96 fatal accidents, Fall of Persons on the Same Level resulted in 09 and 08 fatal accidents respectively.

Accidents due to fall of person from height and fall of person on the same level in the coal, metalliferous and oil mines from 2015 to 2024 is provided -in Table I given below:

Table 1: Fatal accidents due to fall of person from height and fall of person on the same level in the coal, metalliferous and oil mines from 2015 to 2024 Fall of Person from Height/ into Fall of Persons on the Same Level Year Total Coal Depth Metalliferous Oil Coal Metalliferous Oil Total Inquiries into the accidents due to fall of person from height and fall of person on the same level revealed that the majority of accidents were due to human behaviour or unsafe acts, non-availability/usage of PPE(like Safety Belt), inadequate supervision, non-implementation of Safe Operating Procedures, non-conductance of risk assessment/job safety analysis and deployment of unskilled/untrained persons.

A Model check list to prevent accidents due to fall of person from height is provided herewith for guidance:

Table 2: Model check list to revent accidents due to fall of erson from hei ht in mines S.No.

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Item Is there an effective Safe Operating Procedure formulated for working at hei hts?

Are all workers aware of the Safe Operating Procedure for working at hei hts and its im ortance?

Is the task ke t under the su ervision of com tent su ervisor?

Is adequate lighting throughout to reduce the risk of falls in Iow visibility conditions?

Are fall protection devices provided to the concerned persons readily available for use?

Are reasons for failing to use fall protection devices and remedial measure taken?

Are there adequate training modules prepared on the correct usage of fall rotection devices?

Is it verified by the senior mine officials that the training certification was made after effective trainin ?

Is there a proper communication system between supervisors and workers r ardin •ob duties?

Is there a clear accountabil rocess for saf violations related to falls?

Are there re ular safe meetin s focused on fall rotection ractices?

Are workers encouraged to report safety concerns and are they taken seriousl ?

Are lessons learned from previous incidents documented and communicated to all relevant rsonnel?

Are guardrails, safety nets and platforms etc. are of proper design and construction and ro erl in lace?

Is there an effective emergency response plan to respond quickly to fall- related incidents maintained?

Are persons working near edges or unstable areas prohibited unless secured b fail safe s stem safe belt or full-bod harness rovided?

Are properly designed roads or footpaths equipped with handrails and ladders?

Are mobile hone use is restricted in work areas to minimize distractions?

Any other measures required/ reported by officials or Supervisors have been taken into consideration before resum tion of work?

Yes No If any of above questioners having answer No, shall further be reviewed by Manager/ Safety Officer before resumption of work.

The analysis of historical data highlights the persistent risks associated with fall of person from height, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive safety measures. By implementing effective training programs, enhancing safe work practices, and installing robust engineering controls, mining organizations can significantly reduce incidence related with fall of persons.

The persons to be deployed to work at height shall be subjected to such test which enables his suitability for the same including Vertigo test. Unless the person is successfully undergone such test, he shall not be deployed to work at heights.

Therefore, I request you to adopt a proactive approach that emphasizes accountability, continuous education, and the review and updating of the Safety Management Plan/ System, thereby improving Safe Operating Procedures and implementation of simple checklists to eliminate the impact of falls and protect the workforce in the mining industry.

( al'Tah)

Director General of Mines Safety and Chief Inspector of Mines