Mining

Accidents

Narayan Reddy. R
GROUP VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTER
 What is an “ACCIDENT”
• An accident is any unexpected or
unplanned event that causes a loss of
production, harm to people, damage to
property or extended costs.
 • Traditionally “Human Error” has been used in
relation to accident causation.
• There are 4 major categories of human error which
have emerged from a scientific research –
1. A ‘SLIP’ is an error which occurs during the
process of carrying out the correct plan of
action. Particular steps are missed out, or
done in the wrong sequence.
2. ‘LAPSES of attention’ are a common cause
of such errors.
3. ‘MISTAKE’ is the choice of an inappropriate
plan of action, although, most of the time,
the individual will have been sure that his
choice was correct at the time.
4. A ‘VIOLATION’ is a deliberate error, which
involves knowingly breaching the
established rules, codes of practice, etc.
• A parallel classification relates to the ‘mental context’
in which the error was made. Errors can be
• Skill based
• Rule based
• Knowledge based
• A ‘skill based’ error is one which occurs during the
execution of well learned routine tasks.
• A ‘rule based’ error is one which occurs when the action
is governed by a set of rules or operating instructions,
where the wrong action is tied in to a given rule.
• A ‘knowledge based’ error occurs when a decision has
to be made between alternative action plans in different
circumstances, i.e. the decision is based on the operator
applying his knowledge and experience to a set of unusual
conditions.
• A combination of these two classifications
can indicate the approach to prevention.
For example, no amount of training,
supervision, management control, or
organizational change, will prevent lapses
of attention, which occur even when
experienced operators are working on
tasks they know well (a skill based slip).
In such a case, the only viable route to
reduce error probability is to design, into
the equipment / system additional
protection against such errors.
 Difference between “technical” cause
and “basic” cause of accidents.
“Technical” “Basic”

• cause of accident • cause indicates “why”

normally indicates the accident has
“how” the accident has occurred i.e. the
occurred i.e. which “root” causes leading
“agency” is most to the malfunctioning
closely associated with or failure of the
the accident causation system which has
or the “event” that has resulted in accident.
resulted in injury or
death.
 “Technical” “Basic”
• For example: Ground • unsafe mechanical or
movement which includes physical condition, unsafe
fall of roof, sides, overhangs, work-situation like
subsidence, landslides etc; dangerous overhang at the
face, insecure sides,
transportation machinery defective machines etc;
including dumpers, heavy unsafe act like violation of
earth movers, other wheeled the provisions of the Mines
trackless means of Act, Regulations, Rules and
transportation; explosives; orders made there under,
electricity; falls (other than and/or unsafe personal
factor which is the mental
fall of ground); irruption of or bodily characteristic
water; flying pieces; responsible for the
drowning; buried in sand etc. performance of the selected
In form IVA of the First unsafe act (unsafe attitude,
Schedule (notice of accident) lack of knowledge or skill,
such “cause wise” bodily defects like faulty
vision, poor hearing and so
classification of the accident on, mental state like
has to be included. nervousness, fatigue etc.
 EXAMPLES OF MINE ACCIDENTS
• While two workers were engaged in extraction of
stone beneath an overhanging face, the mass
measuring 1.5m x 1.7m x 0.9m. thick and consisting
of alluvium with embedded boulders fell through a
height of 3m, killing them instantly.
• Had the face been kept adequately sloped or
benched and not undercut as required U/R
106(1)&(5) of MMR 1961 and had the deceased not
engaged themselves under such overhang thus not
negligently omitting to ensure their safety as
required U/R 181 of MMR 1961, this accident could
have been averted. So the “basic” cause consists of
formation of overhang (unsafe condition) and
employment under such overhang (unsafe act) and
that is “why” accident has occurred.
 EXAMPLES OF MINE ACCIDENTS

• While a dumper operator was sleeping by the

side of his dumper, he was run over by another
dumper and was killed on the spot.
• Had he not slept whilst on duty in
contravention of the provisions of Reg. 41(7) of
MMR 1961, this accident could have been
averted. Here the basic cause is “unsafe act” of
sleeping whilst on duty.
 EXAMPLES OF MINE ACCIDENTS
• While deep hole blasting was done in overburden
bench a piece of stone measuring about 1m x 0.7m
x 0.6m flew and landed on a mine tipping tub 58m
away which was being used as a “shelter” by the
blaster. The tub was damaged causing fatal injury
to the blaster.
• Had the blaster taken “adequate” shelter as
required U/R 164(1) of MMR 1961 this accident
could have been averted. The “basic” cause here
again is “unsafe act” (contravention of the
provisions of Reg. 164(1) of MMR 1961)
Examples of “UNSAFE ACT”
• Standing under suspended Load
• Starting machines without warning
• Making safety devices inoperative
• Driving at unsafe speed
• Not using safety devices
• Using unsafe equipment
• Working on moving machines
• Failure to use safe dress and Personal Protective
Equipment
• Crossing a fence
Examples of “UNSAFE CONDITION”
• Protective devices not available
• Unguarded moving parts
• Weak, defective, damaged equipment
• unsafe work process or method of work
• Unsafe natural work place
• Narrow roads
 Accident prevention
Corrective action: - Any action has to be one of the
four types;
1. Engineering provision: - provision of guards,
fencings, locking devices, etc.
2. Persuasion and appeal: - it includes
instructions, this requires a constant control by the
supervisory staff; the workers are to be educated
orally, by notices, posters, personal examples, etc.
 Accident prevention
3. Personnel adjustment: - choose a suitable
man, for a particular job, according to his
mental and physical aptitude.
4. Discipline: - it is the last resort, and is an
important corrective measure. But care should
be taken that discipline is not abused. One
should listen to any genuine difficulty
expressed by the worker.
 DOMINO SEQUENCE ILLUSTRATES “HOW ACCIDENTS OCCURES”

1 2 3 4 5

ANCESTRY FAULT UNSAFE ACCIDENT

CONDITION OR INJURY
OF
PERSON UNSAFE ACT OR DEATH
S.NO INJURY/DEATH FACTOR EXPLANATION OF FACTORS

UNDESIRABLE TRAITS OF CHARACTER (LIKE

RECKLESSNESS, STUBBORNNESS, VIOLENT
ANCESTRY AND SOCIAL
1. TEMPER, GREED NERVOUSNESS, EXCITABILITY,
ENVIRONMENT
ETC,) MAY BE EITHER INHERITED OR ACQUIRED
FROM THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT.

THE UNDESIRABLE TRAITS LEAD TO FAULTS OF

2. FAULT OF PERSON
PERSONS/HUMAN ERRORS.

UNSAFE ACT OR FAULTS OF PERSONS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR

3. UNSAFE WORKING COMMITTING OF UNSAFE ACTS OR THE
CONDITION EXISTENCE OF PHYSICAL HAZARDS.

UNSAFE ACTS AND UNSAFE CONDITIONS LEAD

4. ACCIDENT
TO ACCIDENTS.

5. INJURY OR DEATH AN ACCIDENT LEADS TO INJURY OR DEATH.

ANCESTRY FAULT UNSAFE ACCIDENT
CONDITION OR INJURY
OF
PERSON UNSAFE ACT OR DEATH
 4 5

3
FAULT
ANCEST INJURY
OF ACCIDENT OR DEATH
RY PERSO
N

UNSAFE
CONDITION OR
UNSAFE ACT
Statutory provisions related to accident
• Minor injury (Form ‘K’)
• Reportable Injury (Form ‘J’)
• Serious bodily Injury
• Sec. 23 of Mines Act; Notice to be given of
accidents
• Sec. 24 of Mines Act 1952. Power of
Government to appoint court of enquiry in
cases of accidents
• Reg. 9 of MMR 1961. Notice of Accident
• Reg. 190 of MMR 1961; Place of accident
 Statutory provisions related to
accident
Form IV A : - Notice of accident/occurrence,
To be sent, CIM, RIM, DM, EI.
Form IV B : - Particulars of diseased, to be sent
with in 7days
Form IV C : - Particulars of injured person
returning to duty
 How to conduct Accident Investigation
• The statutory obligation and must be submitted to
the CIM and RIM within 15 days of the occurrence of
the accident.
• The primary purpose of accident investigation is to
identify the cause and circumstance leading to the
accident. so that suitable measures may be taken to
prevent recurrence of similar accidents.
Accident Investigation Cont….
• A successful accident investigation must answer
three questions:

1. What happened?
2. How it happened?
3. Why it happened?
And to serve as a basis of prevention, a 4th question
4. How can it be prevented in future?
Accident Investigation Cont….
The step-by-step procedure as be follows:
1. Collection of the basic information
2. Inspection of the site of accident
3. Preparation of the site plan by the surveyor
4. Examination of records, reports, plans, etc.
5. Examination of materials, equipments, etc.
and their testing, if required
6. Examination of witnesses
7. Analysis of the evidence; identification of the
unsafe acts and conditions
 How to Write a Report of inquiry in to
Accident
STRUCTURE OF THE REPORT
1. Introduction: this should contain a statement of
the accident.
2. Background information: this should contain a
brief description of the workings and the operations
relevant to the accident.
3. Events prior to the accident: the operation in
progresses and the actual work that was being done
by the victim and his co-workers together with their
respective positions in the workings just before the
accident occurred should be described here.
4. Occurrence of the accident: here a detailed
description of how the accident occurred should be
given.
 Accident Report
4. Rescue and recovery: the description here
should include the following :
▫ The time when the rescue operations were started,
the time of accident and when they were
completed.
▫ The names of persons who took part in the
operations.
▫ How these operations were conducted.
▫ Details of first-aid and medical treatment given
and
▫ The extent to which the place of accident was
disturbed and whether any supports or other
materials were introduced at the place.
 Accident Report
6. Inspection and inquiry: in this part of the
report the inquiry officer should mention date
and time of his inspection of the accident site
and the details of observation made by him. He
should also mention the names of the person
who accompanied him and the person who
pointed victim was found.
• The inquiry officer should also list the names
and designations of witnesses examined by him
with the dates of such examinations. A summary
of the relevant portions of their depositions
should be given and the full recorded statements
of the witnesses should be appended to the
report.
 Accident Report
7. Analysis of evidence: in this part of the report,
the inquiry officer should analyze systematically
all the record evidence in the light of his own
observations at the accident site. He should point
out the contraventions at the accident site. He
should point out the contraventions of the
statutory provisions and should identify the unsafe
acts and unsafe conditions that resulted in the
accident.
8. Cause of the accident: this is the most
important part of the report and here the inquiry
officer should state his conclusions regarding the
main cause and the contributory causes of the
accident giving justification for arriving at these
conclusions.
 Accident Report
9. Responsibility: here the inquiry officer
should identify the persons responsible for the
contraventions of statutory provisions, if any,
and departures from the safe practices that led
to the accident.
10.Recommendations: this is another very
important part of the report and here the
inquiry officer should say how the accident
could have been averted and what measures
should be taken to prevent similar accidents in
future.
 Accident cost
• Direct costs: -
• Rescue and recovery.
• First-aid/medical treatment
• Compensation
• Disruption of production.
• Damage of equipment and tools.
• Scientific investigations
 Accident cost
• Indirect Costs: -
• Long term loss of production due to damage of
equipment.
• Loss of valuable time of management
• Psychological stress on survivors and those who
work with accident victims
• Abrupt loss of skilled workers involved in the
accident and those who after witnessing a
serious event are unable to return to work for
many days.
• Loss of morale affecting production &
productivity for a long time.
• Loss of revenue to the state.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH