This document discusses the roles and functions of safety committees in mines. It provides background on how safety committees were established through various safety conferences and amendments to the Mines Act. Safety committees are mandated for mines employing over 100 people and comprise managers, officials, workmen, and a safety officer. Their functions include discussing unsafe conditions, reviewing new operations, considering accident reports, planning safety campaigns, and facilitating communication on safety issues. The recommendations of safety committees must be implemented by mine management.

1. Roles & Functions of Safety
Committee
K D PRASAD
B TECH(MIN), ISM DHANBAD
EX GENERAL MANAGER(MINING), MCL

2. Background Information
1. Pit Safety Committee is the brain child of first safety
conference held in 1958 at Kolkata. The conference
recommended that safety committee should be set up in
every mine to discuss the matter relating safety and inspect
the mine by the worker representative.
2. Accordingly D.G.M.S acted and advise all the mines coal and
metal to form safety committee vide circular no 49 of 1964,
circular no 21 o 1966.

3. Background Information
3. But unfortunately the industry did not take up the same very
seriously. The matter was rightly observed by Jitpur court of
enquiry and following observation were made by the court-“safety
to be effective should be based on safety consciousness of all
those engaged in work in production. This would include the
workers who are only engaged to do such work but in fact suffer
most when accidents occur. A deliberated attempt should be made
to enlist the cooperation of workers and their unions and to create
interest in safety matter among them.”

4. Background Information
4. Third conference of safety in mines 14/15 July 1973 unanimously
agreed for safety committee.
5. Fifth conference of safety in mines held in New Delhi, 26th
December 1980 recommended that Mines Act should be amended
to give statutory backing to the institution.
6. In the year 1983 passing of mines amendment bill by both house
of parliament for constitution of safety committee and workmen’s
Inspectors resulted in amendment of Section-58 (vv) and Section-
58 (cc) respectively.

5. Why Designating WI in Mines?
 Mines Act’1952, Section 58(cc) empowers Central Govt to
make rules –
 for providing for inspection of mines to be carried out on
behalf of the persons employed therein by a technical expert
(not less than an overman in status), the facilities therefor, the
frequency at which and the manner in which such inspections
are to be carried out and the manner in which reports of such
inspections are to be made

6. Why formation of Safety Committee?
 First Safety Conference held on 5th -6th August’1958 in Calcutta
recommended – At every large mine, a Safety Committee should
be set up to discuss matters relating to safety.
 Accordingly D.G.M.S acted and advised all the mines coal and
metal to form safety committee vide circular no 49 of 1964,
circular no 21 o 1966.

7. Why formation of Safety Committee?
 Third Conference of Safety in mines 14/15 July 1973 unanimously
agreed for Safety Committee.
 Fifth conference of safety in mines held in New Delhi, 26th
December 1980 recommended that Mines Act should be amended
to give statutory backing to the institution.
 In the year 1983 passing of mines amendment bill by both house of
parliament for constitution of safety committee and workmen’s
Inspectors resulted in amendment of Section-58 (vv) and Section-
58 (cc) respectively.

8. Why formation of Safety Committee?
 In the Mines(Amendment) Act’1983, Section 58(cc)has provided-
 for providing for inspection of mines to be carried out on behalf of
the persons employed therein by a technical expert (not less than
an overman in status), the facilities therefor, the frequency at
which and the manner in which such inspections are to be carried
out and the manner in which reports of such inspections are to be
made.

9. How Safety Committee is formed ?
 Rule 29T : For every mine where in more than 100 persons are
ordinarily employed, the owner Agent or Manager shall constitute
a Safety Committee for promoting safety of the mines.
 Provided that the Chief Inspector may by a general order in writing
ask the owner, Agent or Manager of any group of specified mines
in a specified area to constitute a group safety committee in such
a manner and such condition as may be specified in order.

10. How Safety Committee is formed ?
 Rule 29U - Safety committee comprises the following -
 a) The Manager – Chairman
 b) Five numbers of officials or competent persons of the mine
nominated by the chairman
 c) Five workmen nominated by workmen of the mine as
procedure clause (a) of sub rule of 29Q.
 d) Workmen inspector
 e) The Safety Officer acts as Secretary

11. How Safety Committee is formed ?
 Provided that any other official, competent person or work person
may be co-opted by the Chairman as a member of the Committee
on any day or days of the meeting, if considered necessary.

12. What are the functions of Safety
Committee ?
 Rule 29V The functions of the Committee shall be-
 (1) to discuss remedial measures against the unsafe conditions and
practices in the mine as pointed out in the reports of Workmen’s
Inspector or otherwise brought to the notice of the Committee and make
appropriate recommendations;
 (2) to consider, before commencement of operations in any new district
of mine or commissioning of new electrical or mechanical installation or
introduction of new mining technique, the proposed Safety and health
measures including related codes of practice and to make appropriate
recommendations;

13. What are the functions of Safety
Committee ?
 (3) to discuss the report of inquiry into accident and make appropriate
recommendations;
 (4) to formulate and implement appropriate Safety campaign based on
analysis of accidents;
 (5) to meet at least once in 30 days to consider the matter placed before
it and any other matter that may be raised by the members and make
such recommendations as it may deem fit; and
 (6) to serve as a forum for communication on Safety and occupational
health matters.

14. Implementation of recommendations of the
Safety Committee
 Rule 29W - The functions of the Committee shall be-
 (1) to discuss remedial measures against the unsafe conditions and
practices in the mine as pointed out in the reports of Workmen’s
Inspector or otherwise brought to the notice of the Committee and make
appropriate recommendations;
 (2) to consider, before commencement of operations in any new district
of mine or commissioning of new electrical or mechanical installation or
introduction of new mining technique, the proposed Safety and health
measures including related codes of practice and to make appropriate
recommendations;

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