danger due to fire & innundation

MINE HZARDSMINE HZARDS

CAUSES AND IMPACTCAUSES AND IMPACT

MINE HAZARDSMINE HAZARDS

• Side Fall

• Roof Fall

• Collapse of Pillars

• Air Blast

• Rock Bursts & Bumps

• Haulages

• Machines


• Explosives

• Blasting

• Electrical Hazards (Shock & Burn)

• Fire

• Explosion

• Innundation

• Lightning Attack


• Heat & Humidity

• Water Gas Explosion

• Slope Failure of OB Dump

Side Fall in OpencastSide Fall in Opencast

• Failure to make and keep the sides secure by providing benches of safe height and adequate width or by sloping

• Creating dangerous overhang by undercutting• Not taking adequate safety measures in

geologically disturbed ground• Inadequate inspection of the sides• Collapse of partings or pillars during extraction

of developed coal seams

Side Fall Disasters in OpencastSide Fall Disasters in Opencast

• Shivrajpur Manganese Mine, Gujrat

• On 06.12.1910 Person Killed 12

• Bhatti Bajri Mines, Delhi State Industries Development Corporation

• Bajri / Badarpur Sand Mine

• On 10th, 16th and 24th January, 1983

Roof and Side Falls in Under Roof and Side Falls in Under Ground MineGround Mine

• Roof & Side not made and kept secure

• Support not as per SSR

• Inspection not done after shot firing

• Entry in to unauthorized place

• Safety prop withdrawer not used

• Inadequate examination and testing of the roof

• Accident while clearing roof fall

ROOF FALL ACCIDENTSROOF FALL ACCIDENTS

• KESSURGARH 9/8/1975, Roof Fall, Fatality : 11 • TOPA 16/07/1982, Cause – Roof Fall, Fatality : 16 • SOMAGUDEM NO.1 09.06.1985 Roof Fall Fatality:6• PATHERDIH 15.09.1985 Cause- Roof Fall Fatality:4• KALYAN KHANI NO.5 14.10.1985 Roof Fall Fatality:4• BANKI 09.04.1986 RoofFall Fatality:4• SATPURA NO.1 19.04.1986 Roof Fall Fatality:4• KENDWADIH 26.11.1986 Roof Fall Fatality:6

ROOF FALL ACCIDENTSROOF FALL ACCIDENTS

• NORTH JHARGRAKHAND 25.05.1988 Fatality:4• DUBESHWARI 18.06.1988 Fatality:4• SOUTH GOVINDPUR 30.06.1989 Fatality:6• DHANPURI INCLINE 18.10.1990 Fatality:4• MAHABIR KHANI NO.1 16.01.94Fatality:4• KOTMA WEST 05.03.1994 Fatality:6

Collapse of PillarsCollapse of Pillars

• Smaller & inadequate pillars• Robbing of pillars• Abnormal size of pillars• Steep gradient• Chanda Colliery 31.08.1915 10• Bhowra Colliery 04.02.1916 24• Rawanwara Colly 14.04.1923 15• West Chirimiri 11.04.1968 14

Air BlastAir Blast

• Large area of uncollapsed roof

• Sudden fall of large area of overhanging roof

• Limited number of outlets / galleries

• JAMURIA 7&8 PITS 08.10.1943 Fatality12

Rock Bursts & BumpsRock Bursts & Bumps

• A sudden and violent failure of rock due to overstress is called a rockburst. A similar failure of coal pillars is caleed a coalburst or bump.

• Mainly in deep mines exceeding 1000m in hard rock mine & 300m in coal mines.

• Minor bursts at shallow depths due to high horizontal stresses of tectonic origin.

• Coal mines of Raniganj Coalfields.

COAL BUMPS ACCIDENTS COAL BUMPS ACCIDENTS

• SODEPUR COLLIERY

• 22.02.1943 Fatality:13

• DHEMO MAIN COLLIERY

• 12.07.1952 Fatality:12

ACCIDENT DUE TO EXPLOSIVESACCIDENT DUE TO EXPLOSIVES

• SURDA COPPER MINE

• On 04.04.1984 by 9.00 PM 80 boulders had been charged for plaster shooting. The Mate, Blaster, Helper & Two Drillers affected by Nitrous Fumes of Nitrous Oxides (100 PPM). They all died by between 2.30 AM & 5.30 AM on 05.04.84 in Hospital.

DANGER DUE TO FIRE DANGER DUE TO FIRE & INNUNDATION& INNUNDATIONIN UNDERGROUND MINESIN UNDERGROUND MINES

DefinitionsDefinitions

• (10A) “fiery seam” means a seam in which a fire or spontaneous heating exists in the workings below ground or in open cast workings lying within the precincts of a mine;

• (12) “gas” includes fume or vapour;• (12D) “general body of air” means the general

atmosphere in a seam and includes the atmosphere in the roof cavities, but does not include general atmosphere in the sealed offarea or in any borehole drilled in coal or in the adjacent “strata”;

DefinitionsDefinitions

• (3) “Auxiliary fan” means a forcing fan or an exhausting fan used belowground wholly or

mainly for ventilating one or more faces forming part of a ventilating district;

• (4A)”Booster fan” means a mechanical ventilator used belowground for boosting the whole

current of air passing along the intake or return airway of a mine or ventilating district;

The Fire TriangleThe Fire Triangle

Now represents the Now represents the “smoldering”“smoldering” mode of mode of combustion.combustion.

Three things are needed for conditions to be right for a fire to get started.

Class AClass AMaterials are:Materials are:

SolidsSolids• WoodWood• PaperPaper• Plastic RubberPlastic Rubber• Coal Coal

““A” stands for “ash”A” stands for “ash”

Takes place as wood, coal, conveyor Takes place as wood, coal, conveyor belts or any carbon based products belts or any carbon based products decomposes from the action of the heatdecomposes from the action of the heatRemember, it is the vapors that burn, Remember, it is the vapors that burn, not the solid.not the solid.

How does a How does a solid burn?solid burn?

How to extinguish a Class A fireHow to extinguish a Class A fire

Adding Adding waterwater

Class A Class A fires onlyfires only

Use a fire Use a fire extinguishextinguisherer

Usually Usually Class A, B Class A, B & C fires& C fires

Pit a lid on it,Pit a lid on it,

Usually oily Usually oily rags or paper rags or paper in a waste in a waste containercontainer

Limit Limit material material burningburning

Shovel away Shovel away material material

Add rock Add rock dust to dust to remaining remaining fuelfuel

Class BClass BMaterials are:Materials are:

LiquidsLiquids• Gasoline, Oil, Diesel fuelGasoline, Oil, Diesel fuel• Greases, Hydraulic fluidGreases, Hydraulic fluid• Gases; i.e.Gases; i.e.Acetylene, PropaneAcetylene, Propane

Natural GasNatural Gas

““B” stands for “boil”B” stands for “boil”

Special care when using flammable and combustible Special care when using flammable and combustible liquidsliquids

The The “ flash point”“ flash point” is when at is when at

the right temperature, the right temperature,

vapors are released that will ignitevapors are released that will ignite

Flammable Flammable LiquidsLiquidsFlash point under Flash point under 100100ooFF

•GasolineGasoline(-42(-42ooF)F)

•TolueneToluene(73(73ooFF

•BenzeneBenzene(12(12ooF)F)

•Cleaning fluidsCleaning fluids

Combustible LiquidsCombustible LiquidsFlash point over 100Flash point over 100ooF & under F & under 164164ooFF

•Diesel fuelDiesel fuel(110(110ooF)F)

•KeroseneKerosene(102(102ooF)F)

•Home heating fuelHome heating fuel(120(120ooF)F)

•Hydraulic fluidsHydraulic fluids

How to extinguish a Class B fireHow to extinguish a Class B fire

Not Not recommendedrecommended

Water can Water can cause the fire cause the fire to spreadto spread

Remove Remove excess liquid excess liquid fuel or shut off fuel or shut off bottled gas bottled gas cylinderscylinders

Put a lid on itPut a lid on it

No oxygen, no No oxygen, no firefire

Use a BC or Use a BC or ABC fire ABC fire extinguisherextinguisher

Class CClass CMaterials are:Materials are:

““Energized” ElectricalEnergized” Electrical

Equipment & CablesEquipment & Cables

Always treat “C” fires as though power is still on!Always treat “C” fires as though power is still on!

Once the power has been removed, you can Once the power has been removed, you can

probably treat it like a Class A or B fireprobably treat it like a Class A or B fire, , but but remember that cables & equipment can hold remember that cables & equipment can hold electricity even after the power is off!electricity even after the power is off!

““C” stands for “current”C” stands for “current”

Not Not recommendedrecommended

Water can Water can conduct conduct electricityelectricity

May not work May not work because of the because of the high high temperature temperature of the electric of the electric arcarc

Shut off the Shut off the powerpower

May still have May still have A or B fire A or B fire remainingremaining

Use a BC or Use a BC or ABC fire ABC fire extinguisherextinguisher

How to extinguish a Class C fireHow to extinguish a Class C fire

Class DClass Dmaterials includematerials include

Combustible MetalsCombustible Metals• MagnesiumMagnesium• TitaniumTitanium• ZirconiumZirconium• SodiumSodium• PotassiumPotassium• LithiumLithium• CalciumCalcium• ZincZinc

D stands for “ding”D stands for “ding”

Class D materials are usually in alloy type metalsClass D materials are usually in alloy type metals

They are usually started by a Class A-B-C fire, They are usually started by a Class A-B-C fire, and will burn at extremely high temperaturesand will burn at extremely high temperatures

Not Not recommended-recommended-

The OThe O2 2 and Hand H22 in the water in the water will accelerate will accelerate the firethe fire

Not Not recommended-recommended-

Unsure if ABC Unsure if ABC extinguisher will extinguisher will put out put out

Unsure of Unsure of dangerous by-dangerous by-product from the product from the reaction of the reaction of the chemicalschemicals

Shovel away all Shovel away all materials that can materials that can be ignite by the be ignite by the high heat high heat generatedgenerated

Attempt to Attempt to isolate the fire isolate the fire by covering by covering with sand or with sand or rock dustrock dust

Class KClass KThis covers the new synthetic oils This covers the new synthetic oils & greases that are the market & & greases that are the market & the new ones being developedthe new ones being developed

New synthetic oils & New synthetic oils & greases for industrygreases for industry

Problem…Problem… ABC type fire extinguishers may not ABC type fire extinguishers may not work on these fires, a special Class K work on these fires, a special Class K extinguisher may be needed!extinguisher may be needed!

Inquire about what new products that are Inquire about what new products that are available on mine sites that would fall into this available on mine sites that would fall into this new categorynew category

Fire ExtinguighersFire Extinguighers

Dry ChemicalDry Chemical•Ordinary Base Ordinary Base “BC”“BC”

•Sodium BicarbonateSodium Bicarbonate•Potassium BicarbonatePotassium Bicarbonate•Potassium ChloridePotassium Chloride

Do not use on “A” fires, will put out Do not use on “A” fires, will put out only surface area, heated core may only surface area, heated core may re-ignitere-ignite

•Multipurpose Multipurpose “ABC”“ABC”•Monoammonium Monoammonium PhosphatePhosphate•Ammonium PhosphateAmmonium Phosphate•Barium SulfateBarium Sulfate

Classification of extinguishersClassification of extinguishers

Type(s) of Type(s) of fire it can fire it can put output out

How much How much fire a fire a “lay “lay person”person” can can put output out

For example, a 5:A will put out five square foot surface area For example, a 5:A will put out five square foot surface area of Class A fireof Class A fire

A 20:BC will put out a twenty square foot surface area of A 20:BC will put out a twenty square foot surface area of Class B or C fire.Class B or C fire.

A properly trained person can extinguish 2 to 3 times the A properly trained person can extinguish 2 to 3 times the amount listed on the rating.amount listed on the rating.

When using a fire extinguisher, remember the When using a fire extinguisher, remember the the phrase “P.A.S.S.”the phrase “P.A.S.S.”

•P.P. Pull the pinPull the pin

•A.A. Aim lowAim low

•S.S. Squeeze the trigger/handleSqueeze the trigger/handle

•S.S. Sweep side to sideSweep side to side

It is important that you should attend It is important that you should attend an actual “hands on” fire an actual “hands on” fire extinguisher class to be proficient in extinguisher class to be proficient in their usetheir use

DANGER OF FIRE CAUSED BY SPONTANEOUS DANGER OF FIRE CAUSED BY SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTIONCOMBUSTION

Premature collapse of pillars followed by spontaneous heating

Collapse of pillars in active workings. Crushing of pillars in old workings. Spontaneous heating in goaved out panel. Spontaneous heating in active depillaring panel. Spontaneous heating in coal pillars of Development

workings. Spontaneous heating on the surface.

DANGER DUE TO ACCIDENTAL OR OPEN DANGER DUE TO ACCIDENTAL OR OPEN FIRESFIRES

In underground Illicit distillation of liquor Electricity Mechanical friction Blasting Locomotives Welding Explosions Sabotage

DANGER DUE TO ACCIDENTAL OR DANGER DUE TO ACCIDENTAL OR OPEN FIRESOPEN FIRES

On surfaceDumping of hot materialsLighting of fire near exposure of coalBurning of weeds near exposure of coalIllicit distillation of liquor in abandoned

quarries

General precautions against FireGeneral precautions against Fire

• Reg.116 [General precautions against Fire – (1) No oil, grease, canvas or other inflammable material shall be stored in any mine except in a fire-proof receptacle. Greasy or oily waste in workings belowground, shall be regularly removed to the surface.

• (2) No person shall place or throw, or cause or permit to be placed or thrown, any naked lightor lamp on or near any timber, wooden structure or other combustible material.]

Surface precautions against fireSurface precautions against fire

• 117. Surface precautions against fire – • (1) All surface structures and supports within a horizontal

distance of 10 metres from all entrances to a mine shall be of incombustiblematerial.

• (2) Shale or other carbonaceous material shall not be heaped or dumped, and dead leaves or dry vegetation shall not be allowed to accumulate or remain, and combustible materials other than materials required for use within a period of 24 hours, and inflammable materials, shall not be stored within a distance of 15 metres from any entrance to a mine, which is noteffectively sealed off from the workings belowground.

Surface precautions against fireSurface precautions against fire

• (3) all wild or herbaceous plants shall be removed and all dead leaves and dry vegetation cleared as often as may be necessary to prevent an outbreak of fire in ocp.

• (4) No person shall deposit any heated material or ashes on any outcrop of coal or in any opencast working or any ground broken by extraction of coal.

• (5) No fire to be lighted in any opencast working within a distance of 15 metres from any entrance to a mine, except by the permission in writing of the manager.

• (6) A competent person shall, once at least in every seven days, inspect the top of all entrances to a mine, all opencast workings and any ground broken by extraction of coal. A record of every such inspection shall be maintained.

Underground precautions Underground precautions against fireagainst fire

• 118. Underground precautions against fire – • (1)(a) No timber or other combustible material shall be

used in the construction of, or in connection with, any shaft lining or any room housing any machinery or apparatus belowground.

• (b) Wood cuttings to be removed to the surface at the end of every shift.

• (2) No fire to be lighted in any workings belowground :Provided that –(i) 1[in gassy seam of the first degree], flame or electric welding or repairing apparatus may be used belowground if permitted by a order in writing of the manager.

• (ii) 2[in gassy seam of the second degree], a flame or electric welding or repairing apparatus may be used belowground with prior permission from the Regional Inspector.

Underground precautions Underground precautions against fireagainst fire

• (3)(a) No person shall leave a portable light or lamp belowground unless he has placed it in charge of some other person remaining therein.

• (b) At the end of a shift, unless the mine is worked by a continuous succession of shifts, after all persons have left the mine, all lights shall be extinguished and all power cut off.

• [(4) Proper provisions to prevent an outbreak of the fire belowground or the spread of fire from any part of the same mine or from any adjoining mine, and adequate steps to control or isolate any such fire or heating that may occur.

• (5) All unused inclines shall once at least in every 30 days be inspected by a competent person for signs of illicit distillation of liquor. A report of every such inspection shall maintained.

Further precautions against spontaneous Further precautions against spontaneous heatingheating

• 3[118A. – Further precautions against spontaneous heating• (1)(a) independent ventilation system. artificial panels should

be created by the construction of stoppings. Panel size as per incubation period of the coal.

• (b) No coal, shale or other carbonaceous to be left or stacked belowground. Areas with fallen coal to be effectively sealed off.

• (c) no extraction of pillars in any seam or section shall be commenced until fire dams or stoppings have been provided in all entrance to the panel, except that in the fire dams or stoppings built in entrances which are to be kept open for ventilation or haulage suitable doors or openings may be left.

• (d) panel to be isolated by adequate stoppings as soon as it has been goaved out.

Further precautions against spontaneous Further precautions against spontaneous heatingheating

• (2) Sufficient material for dealing with fire & sufficient number of persons trained in the use of this material.

• (3)(a) For detecting spontaneous heating, the air in the return airway of every depillaring district, and of every goal which has not been isolated, shall be;

• (i) tested for percentage of carbon monoxide once at least in every seven days; and

• (ii) completely analysed once at least in every 30 days with a view to determining the ratio CO-formed/O2- absorbed.

• (b) If CO-formed O2 – absorbed ratio increases, suitable measures to determine the site of the heating and to deal with it.

• (c) depillaring district shall be inspected on every idle day, and all unused working & stoppings inspected once at least in every seven days, by a competent person.

DISASTER IN MINES CAUSED BY FIRESDISASTER IN MINES CAUSED BY FIRES

Lady Rangi Mica Mine 19 killed on 12.04.1932

Loyabad Colliery 35 killed on 30.01.1936

Jagannath OCP 10 killed on 24.06.1981

New Kenda 55 killed on 25.01.1994

Observations of New Kenda Court of Inquiry

• The court of inquiry appointed under section 24 of the Mines Act, 1952 to enquire into causes and circumstances attending the accident that occurred in New Kenda Colliery of Eastern Coalfields Ltd.. on 25.1.94 causing loss of 55 lives due to fire, made the following observations :

• 1. Workers shall be made acquainted with the existence of escape routes/2nd outlets from work places/working districts to the surface of the mine/mine outlets. Maintenance of the escape routes should strictly be adhered to and there must be markings/signs to indicate such escape routes. Mock rehearsals shall be carried out regularly to keep them aware of the escape routes.


• 2. There is an immediate need for development of awareness amongst workers, supervisors and management officials for identifying hazards due to fire in underground coal mines. Intensive education and training of the miners as well as supervisory staff shall be taken up in this regard.

• 3. In belowground coalmines, efficient telephone communication shall be provided and maintained from the working districts/places to the surface.

• 4. In all working places in belowground and all other places of fire risk such as coal stocks, spoil heaps containing carbonaceous material and exposed coal surfaces liable to heating, adequate quantity of water at sufficient pressure for the purpose of efficient fire-fighting along with other fire fighting equipments shall be provided and kept maintained as required under provisions of Reg. 120(1) (a) of CMR 1957.


• 5. No person should be permitted to go belowground without self-rescuer. It is mandatory as per Reg. 191D of CMR 1957. It should be strictly complied with. Measures should be taken for training and re-training of workmen in proper use of self rescuers. Proper implementation of safety measures in accordance with these observations can bring about definite improvement in the safety standards in the mines. Suitable steps may therefore be taken early in this direction.

(Cir. Tech. 6/1999)

DANGER OF INNUNDATIONSDANGER OF INNUNDATIONS

• DANGER FROM SURFACE WATER: SOURCES OF SURFACE WATER MAY BE

I. RIVERS AND NALLAHS

II. TANKS AND RESERVOIRS

III.ACCUMULATED WATER IN OLD OPENCAST WORKINGS OR IN LOW-LYING AREAS


• Water from these sources can get into the under ground workings through I. SHAFTS AND INCLINESII. BROKEN GROUNDS OVER CAVED GOAVESIII. BORE HOLES OR GEOLOGICAL DISTUBANCES LIKE FAULTSIV. OPENINGS AND BREACHES CREATED BY COLLAPSE OF OVERLYING STRATA BY

a) POT-HOLING DUE TO EXCESSIVE WIDTH OF

GALLERIESb) SUBSIDENCE CAUSED BY INADEQUATE STOWINGc) SUBSIDENCE DUE TO COLLAPSE OF

PILLARS


• DANGER FROM UNDERGROUND WATER: SOURCES OF UNDERGROUND WATER MAY BE

I. OLD WATER- LOGGED WORKINGS IN THE SAME SEAM OR IN ANOTHER SEAM

II. A SUMP EITHER IN THE SAME SEAM OR ANOTHER SEAM

III. OLD WATER- LOGGED WORKINGS IN THE ADJOINING MINE

IV. HIGHLY WATER BEARING STRATA OVERLYING THE WORKING SEAM


• Water from these sources may innundate the active workings because of

I. ACCIDENTAL CONNECTION

II. DEVELOPMENT OF CRACKS, FISSURES AND FRACTURES

III. FAILURE OF BARRIER PILLAR OR PARTING

IV. FAILURE OF DAMS

Danger from surface waterDanger from surface water

• 126. Danger from surface water – • 1[(a)] adequate protection against such inrush shall be

provided and maintained. • [(b) every entrance shall be not less than 1.5 metres

above the highest flood level at that point].• (2) No workings shall be made in any mine vertically

below –• (a) any part of any river, canal, lake, tank or other

surface reservoir; or• (b) any spot lying within a horizontal distance of 15

metres from either bank of a river or canal or from the boundary of a lake, tank or other surface reservoir;

• (3) Every application with two copies of a plan and section showing the existing position of the workings of the mine, the proposed layout of workings, the depth of the surface, the position and depth of any goaves in every seam in the neighborhood, all faults, dikes and other geological disturbances.

Danger from surface waterDanger from surface water

• 3[(4) All workings made under sub-regulation (2) shall be clearly demarcated belowground.

• (5)(a) A competent person shall, once at least in every 14 days during the rainy season and once at least in every 30 days during other periods of the year, examine every protective measure provided under sub-regulation(1), whether in use or not, for their stability. A report of every such examination shall be recorded in a bound paged book kept for the purpose, and shall be signed and dated by the person making he examination and countersigned by the manager.

• (b) The protective measure and workings aforesaid shall also inspected, once at least in every quarter by the manager personally.]

Danger from underground Danger from underground inundationinundation

• 127. Danger from underground inundation. – 4[(1) Proper provision to prevent irruption of water other liquid matter or any material that is likely to flow when wet from the workings of the same mine or of an adjoining mine and to prevent accidents while drilling bore-holes for probe or release of a body of water or other liquid matter.

• (2) (a)(i) Where work is being done in –(ii) any place in a seam or section, which is at a lower level that any other place in a lower seam or section; or

• (iii) any place in a seam approaching a fault passing through an upper seam or section, which contains or may contain an accumulation of water or other liquid matter or any material that is likely to flow when wet; or

• (b) all useful information including the position, extent and depth of the above mentioned features shall be acquired and kept recorded and a scheme ofworking designed to prevent irruption shall be prepared and put into operation.


• (3) working which has approached within a distance of 60 metres of any other working (not being the working which has been physically examined and found to be free from accumulation of water or other liquid matter or any material that is likely to flow when wet) shall be extended further except with the prior permission in writing of the Regional Inspector and subject to such conditions as he may specify therein.

• Explanation – For the purpose of this sub-regulation, the distance between the said workings shall mean the shortest distance between the workings of the same seam or between any two seams or sections, as the case may be, measured in any direction whether horizontal, vertical or inclined.].


• (6)(a) The height or width of any working referred to in sub-regulation (3) or sub-regulation (5) shall not exceed 2.4 metres and there shall be maintained at least one bore-hole near the centre of the working face, and sufficient flank bore-holes on each side; and, where necessary, bore-holes above and below the working to intervals of not more than five metres.

• All such bore-holes shall be 2[drilled sufficient close to each other to ensure that the advancing face will not accidentally hole through into a working containing water or liquid matter or any material that is likely to flow when wet and shall be] maintained and shall be constantly maintained at sufficient distance in advance of the working and such distance shall in no case be less than three metres.

GASALITAND COURT OF ENQUIRYGASALITAND COURT OF ENQUIRY

• Inquiry—The Court of Inquiry appointed under Section 24 of the Mines Act, 1952 to enquire into causes and circumstances attending the accident that occurred in Gaslitand Colliery of M/s. Bharat Coking Coal Limited on 27th September, 1995 causing loss of 64 lives due to inundation, made the following recommendations :


• (1) Before the onset of monsoon, mines situated by the side of the river or other water sources should be inspected by the Directorate-General of Mines Safety along with the mine management.

• (2) The feasibility of reclamation of opencast workings including the disused ones, near rivers and major sources of water, particularly those having connections to belowground workings either directly or through subsidence cracks and fissures may be examined to prevent inundation in such mines.


• (3) Detailed precautionary measures against danger of inundation should be laid down while working beneath or in the vicinity of rivers and major surface water bodies, particularly during the rainy season. This may include framing and implementing standing orders for safe withdrawal of persons, provision of float alarm as a means of warning in case of rise in water level in the river in addition to river guards and an effective and speedy communication system which can function even independent of electricity and work in adverse conditions.


• (4) need for fore-warning the mines about possible impending heavy rains, similar to the warning of impending cyclone issued in costal areas.

• (5) mines which have pits as the only means of exit may require captive generators in working conditions to run the winders in case of emergency. In case of steam boilers, the boilers to be under proper shed with sufficient insulation around the boilers and the pipelines.


• (6) The need for an effective communication system over and above the signaling system between the surface and belowground which shall remain in operation even with failure of electricity and also be rugged enough to remain operative in adverse conditions has been felt strongly. Suitable system may be developed, if not already available and used in belowground mines.


• (7) In mines where the barriers have become ineffective due to interconnections or otherwise, the same may be restored early, even artificially, by constructing suitable dams, explosion proof stopping and other methods.

• (8) All disused pits, potholes and surface subsidence existing in the vicinity of river or surface source of water and where there is a danger of inundation present, shall be sealed by reinforced concrete seals or other suitable effective means.

Additional Recommendations of Gaslitand Court of Inquiry

• (1) Sanctity of mine boundary: A mine boundary should be such as to contain hazards caused due to mishap in a neighboring mine with the help of suitable vertical barriers along the boundary in all seams being worked. In cases where such barriers do not exit, neighboring mines will have to be isolated and protected with construction of suitable protective measures along the boundary in all seam workings keeping in view of nature of the hazard. There should be no horizontal transfer of property between two mines.


• (2) Embankment : Construction of embankment is an engineering activity meant to provide protective measures against hazard of inundation from surface water. The current practice of embankment construction is limited to the geometric dimensions only. There are no guidelines regarding the foundation design, the material of construction, nature of slope facing and the procedure of construction. There is an urgent need for modification and framing guidelines concerning the above parameters for embankment construction.


• (3) River channel: In the Jharia coalfield with a high concentration of coal seams being worked in the neighborhood and under the river channels, the later are found perched at higher levels compared to the post-mining depressed surface topography of the immediate neighborhood. In case of breach of embankments constructed to provide preventive measures against inundation, the river course finds its way to the adjacent depressed land thereby providing a large source of water supply adding to the magnitude of the problem. Such topographic changes in the surface profile need to be prevented and/or remedied by suitable corrective action.


• (4) Highest known flood level (H.F.L.): The height of a protective embankment is related to the HFL. The HFL on the other hand is related to the amount of water flow in the river channel during a particular year. This however presupposes the cross section of the river channel remaining undisturbed. In reality this gets disturbed due to mining activity as well as considerable amount of silting. Thus it would be necessary to adjust the HFL according to the changed river channel cross-section


• (5) Abandoned pits : All pits proposed to be abandoned are to be properly secured at the collar level against hazards of inundation by surface water. Managements are requested to take suitable steps to implement the recommendation of the court of inquiry in the mines under their control.

[Cir. Tech. (SOMA) 2/2001]

INNUNDATION DISASTERS IN INDIAN MINESINNUNDATION DISASTERS IN INDIAN MINES

PHULARITAND COLLIERY KILLED 23 ON 11.01.1912 BIHAR

JOTEJANAKI COLLIERY KILLED 13 ON 28.06.1913 BENGAL

LOYABAD COLLIERY KILLED 11 ON 16.01.1935 BIHAR

MAKERWAL COLLIERY KILLED 14 ON 06.07.1942 MP MAJRI COLLIERY KILLED 11 ON 05.08.1953 MP NEWTON CHIKLI COLLIERY KILLED 63 ON

10.12.1954 MP BURRA DHEMO COLLIERY KILLED 28 ON

26.09.1956 BENGAL

INNUNDATION DISASTERS IN INDIAN MINESINNUNDATION DISASTERS IN INDIAN MINES

CTRL BHOWRA KILLED 23 ON 20.02.1958 BIHAR

DAMUA COLLIERY KILLED 16 ON 05.01.1960 MP

SILEWARA COLLIERY KILLED 10 ON 18.11.1975 MAHARA.

CHASNALA COLLIERY KILLED 375 ON 27.12.1975 BIHAR

CTRL SAUNDA KILLED 10 ON 16.09.1976 BIHAR

HURRILADIH KILLED 19 ON 14.09.1983 BIHAR

MAHABIR COLLIERY KILLED 06 ON 13.11.1989 BENGAL

GAZALITAND KILLED 64 ON 27.09.1995 BIHAR

BAGDIGI COLLIERY KILLED 29 ON 02.02.2001 JHARKH

DANGER DUE TO EXPLOSIONDANGER DUE TO EXPLOSION

EXPLOSION MAY BE DUE TO:a) fire damp aloneb) coal dust alonec) both fire damp and coal dust

FACTORS ESSENTIAL TO CAUSE AN EXPLOSION:

a) the presence of an explosive mixture and

b) a suitable source of ignition

DANGER DUE TO EXPLOSIONDANGER DUE TO EXPLOSION

SOURCES OF IGNITION:

a) flames

b) heated surface

c) sparks

d) explosives

EXPLOSION DISASTERS IN INDIAN MINESEXPLOSION DISASTERS IN INDIAN MINES

• KHOST COLLIERY 16.06.1908 20BALUCHISTAN

• DISHERGARH COLLIERY07.02.1910 11 BENGAL• KHOST COLLIERY 09.03.1922 13

BALUCHISTAN• PARBELIA COLLIERY 04.01.1923 74

BENGAL• KARHARBAREE COLLIERY 24.07.1935 62

BIHAR• BAGDIGI COLLIERY 29.06.1935 19

BIHAR• POIDIH COLLIERY 18.12.1936 209 BENGAL

EXPLOSION DISASTERS IN INDIAN MINESEXPLOSION DISASTERS IN INDIAN MINES

• AMLABAD COLLIERY 05.02.1955 52BIHAR

• CHINAKURI COLLIERY 19.02.1958 176BENGAL

• DHORI COLLIERY 28.05.1965 268 BIHAR• JEETPUR COLLIERY 18.03.1973 48

BIHAR• SUDAMDIH COLLIERY 04.10.1976 43

BIHAR• BARGOLAI COLLIERY 22.01.1979 16

ASSAM• BHATDIH COLLIERY 06.09.2006 50

JHARKHAND

Scenario after NationalisationScenario after Nationalisation

• JEETPUR • Date: 18/3/1973, Cause – Explosion, Fatality : 48 • CHASNALA • Date: 27/12/1975, Cause – Inundation, Fatality : 375 • KESSURGARH • Date: 9/8/1975, Cause – Roof Fall, Fatality : 11 • SILEWARA • Date: 20/11/1975, Cause – Inundation, Fatality : 10• CENTRAL SAUNDA • Date: 16/9/1976, Cause – Inundation, Fatality : 10

• SUDAMDIH • Date: 4/10/1976, Cause – Explosion, Fatality : 45 • BARAGOLAI • Date: 22/10/1979, Cause – Explosion, Fatality : 16 • JAGANNATH • Date: 24/06/1981, Cause – Fire, Fatality : 10 • TOPA • Date: 16/07/1982, Cause – Roof Fall, Fatality : 16 • HURRILADIH • Date: 14/11/1983, Cause – Inundation, Fatality : 19• MAHABIR • Date: 13/11/1989, Cause – Inundation, Fatality : 6

• TIPONG• Date: 19.11.93, Cause – Explosion, Fatality:9• NEW KENDA • Date: 25/1/1994, Cause – Fire, Fatality : 55 • GASLITAND • Date 26/9/1995, Cause-Inundation, Fatality : 64 • BAGDIGI • Date 2/2/2001, Cause – Inundation, Fatality : 29 • BHAATDEE • Date: 6/9/2006, Cause – Explosion, Fatality : 50• Chandan Hill• 00.05.2010, Cause- Explosion, Fatality: 14

Thank you.

danger due to fire & innundation

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