SAFETY OF PERSONS AGAINST FALL AT BENCHES IN OPENCAST MINES

-Kalva Krishnudu, FCC(R), Manager (Training), MGVTS, Hosapete, Karnataka.

Email: [email protected]; Ph: +91 9448656260.

1.0 Introduction:

The article throws a light on the importance of observance of Safety

measures while working at the edge of Benches in Opencast Mines and
need to follow the relevant safety Regulations & Recommendations issued
by Director General of Mines Safety in this connection, and further
Implementation of additional control measures determined by the process
the of Risk Management to prevent Fall of persons while working at the
edge (crest) of the Bench in Opencast Mines.

Work persons employed at the edge of Benches in Opencast Mines for

various Routine and Non-routine activities such as Inspection, Cleaning,
Measurement, Marking, Drilling, Charging of explosives, Wire saw
works, Samples collection, Progressive prospecting works, etc., are
exposed to the high risk hazard of Fall from the top Bench to the bottom
Bench which may lead to Serious Bodily Injury or Fatal.

Statutory and Supervisory personnel are responsible and play a prominent

role in ensuring the safety of the persons employed for various works at
the edge of Bench in Opencast Mines. Persons employed at the edge of
Benches in Opencast Mines should follow the Safe Operating Procedures
and other precautionary measures are in place to prevent accidents.

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Figures: Personnel working at edge of Bench without use of “Safety
Belt”.

The Personnel engaged at the edge of Benches in Opencast Mines are

exposed to high Risk of Fall from the edge of top Bench to bottom Bench
and therefore, treated as „unsafe act‟. To Manage this Risk, the activity
must be routed through the “Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and
Risk Control (HIRA)” by suing a Risk Assessment format to determine the
additional controls measures to be implemented to bring down high level
of the risk of the activity to a tolerable level of risk and to perform the
activity safely. It shall be ensured that, a system of Check List and issue
of Work Permit shall be introduced and maintained as one of the control
measures by the Assistant Manager or Mine Foreman in this connection.

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Figures: Personnel working at edge of Bench without use of “Safety
Belt”.

Serious Bodily injuries to Fatal are recorded with DGMS in connection

with the “Fall of persons while working at the edge of Benches in
Opencast Mines”. Therefore, it is recommended to follow the “Safe
Operating Procedures, Implement a system of Check List and issue of
Work Permit, Perform the work under Supervision, Provision of
portable fencings and Use Personnel Protective Equipment like Safety
Belt, Safety Helmet, etc.,” at all the time while performing such
activities. Statutory and Supervisory personnel of the Mine shall take
utmost care for the safety of persons engaged in such high risk activities
at Mine Benches.

2.0 Potential Sources of the Hazards:

As there is high Probability of occurrence of Serious Bodily Injury or Fatal

accident due to this Risk involved in the activity of working at the edge of
Bench, It must be considered as a significant risk and therefore,
immediate follow up action shall be implemented to “bring down the Risk
level, and frequency of exposure of the personnel to the Risk and time of
exposure of the personnel to the Risk by implementing various suitable
control measures determined.

3.0 Risk Management Controls:

Management of Risk for the Hazard of Fall of persons working at the edge
of Benches in Opencast Mine shall be done through the process of “Hazard
Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control (HIRA)” and the control
measure determined through the HIRA shall be implemented as a follow
up action to reduce the risk to a tolerable level. Provision of Personal
Protective Equipments to the persons exposed to this Risk of fall of
Persons as a part of Risk Management shall be considered as the last
choice where the other possible means of Elimination, Substitution,

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Separation, Administration, etc., to reduce the risk are not possible. The
Hazard of Fall of persons working at the edge of Benches in Opencast
Mine (crest) shall be considered as Significant Risk and the same shall be
controlled by the following hierarchy of Risk Control –

1. Elimination: Working at the edge of the Bench is a necessary activity

in the Opencast Mine operations and therefore, it is not possible to
eliminate the activity.

2. Substitution: Most of the activities carried at the edge of the Bench

are sequential in the mining operations, hence substituting the activities
is ruled out.

3. Separation: The Risk involved in working at the edge of the Bench

shall restricted by providing suitable control measures like placing
portable fencing and also by limiting the frequency and time of exposure
of persons to the risk.

4. Administration: Sufficient supervisions shall be provided during all the

time when the personnel exposed to such Hazard while working at the
edge of the Bench, and engaging the trained & experienced personnel for
the activities.

5. Training: Training shall be provided to all personnel exposed to this

Hazardous activity, which include instructions not to enter within three
meters of the edge of the Bench, and to use always Safety belt anchored
suitably while working at the edge of the Bench.

6. Personal protective equipment: It shall be ensured that Safety Belt,

Safety Hat, Notice Boards, placing of Fencings, etc., shall be used to
perform the activity safety.

4.0 Control Measures to prevent Fall of Persons at Benches in

Opencast Mine:

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Following points shall be observed for Safety while working at the edge of
Benches in Opencast Mines:

1. No work shall be carried out at the edge of Benches without

supervision by a competent person. Only trained and experienced
personnel shall be employed for the works at the edge of Benches.

2. No person shall work or move within 1.5 meters of any edge of the
Bench from where he is likely to fall more than a height of 1.8 meters,
unless he is protected by guard rails, fence or safety belt or rope suitably
fixed and sufficiently strong to prevent him from falling that meet the
standards recommended by the Chief Inspector.

3. Bench faces shall be maintained at a safe angle of slope, preferably

less than 70° from horizontal to prevent formation of overhang. Dressing
of Bench face and clearing of undercuts should be done to avoid collapse
of overhang and to prevent Fall of persons employed and Ensure proper
leveling of the floor of Bench to make the place safe for the movement of
personnel & machinery for work at the edge of Bench.

4. Maintain proper rain water drainage to avoid accumulation of water, or

sludge that may form slippery condition on the floor of the Bench.
5. Water used for wet Drilling or Wire saw operations shall be properly
collected at particular sump made for the purpose.

6. Provision of Fencing at dangerous areas and Provision of warning

boards like “SLIPPARY FLOOR or USE SAFETY BELT” shall make personnel
employed aware of the unsafe condition and make them alert in arresting
Fall of persons while working at the edge of Mines Benches.

7. Proper onsite Training and Awareness shall be given to the personnel

engaged in working at the edge of the Bench about the risk involved in
the activity and the preventive measures to be taken in this connection.
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8. Risk Management shall be done through “Identification of Hazard and
Assessment of Risk and Implementation of additional Risk Control
measure” to determine and implement suitable control measures to
arrest Fall of Persons employed at the edge of Benches.

9. Ensure that, formulation of code of safe practices by the manager and

implemented under the supervision and control of a statutory personnel
include the non-routine and non-productive works.

10. A system of Check List and issue of Work Permit shall be introduced
and maintained by the Assistant Manager or Mine Foreman, where the
danger involves in workings at the edge of Benches.

11. Maintain a record of Near-misses, Incidents and Accidents in

connection with Fall of Persons while working at the edge of Benches in
Opencast Mine and Implement the recommended additional control
measure to prevent similar accidents.

5.0 DGMS Recommendations:

Circular (Technical) No. 12 of 1982: Accidents resulted due fall of

persons from height can be averted by the use of proper type of “Safety
belts or Safety ropes”.

DGMS Circular (Technical) No. 1 of 1983: Safety Belt shall be provided

and used by the personnel working at a height more than 1.8 metres. The
Safety Belts should conform to IS: 3521-1983. Such safety belts shall be
treated at par with the safety belts accorded approval by DGMS in past.

6.0 Responsibility:

1. Management of Mine is responsible in ensuring the formulation and

implementation of proper control measures such as supervision by
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statutory personnel, implementation of Safe Operating Procedures,
provision of Sufficient illumination, provision of Personal Protective
Equipments, Training & Awareness to the workmen engaged for the work
such as helpers, driller, samplers, etc., and other possible Risk reduction
measures as well in an innovative manner.

2. It is also the responsibility of individual work person to obey the orders

of superior official in view of safety and to take necessary steps to
perform work safely.

Productivity can’t be achieved without Safety;

Safety can’t be achieved without Training...

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