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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT
DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF MINES SAFETY

A century committed to the service of the nation

 D.G.M.S. CIRCULARS ( to 20 )
Description Page No.
CMR 3 to 10 2 – 19
1 Returns, notices and records MMR 3 to 10
2 Examinations and Certificates of Competency CMR 11 to 28A 20 – 45
MMR 11 to 31
3 Inspectors and Mine Officials CMR 29 to 37 46 – 60
MMR 32 to 40
4 Duties and Responsibilities of workmen, competent persons and CMR 38 to 57 61 – 76
officials MMR 41 to 59
5 Plans and Sections CMR 58 to 65 77 – 92
MMR 60 to 67
6 Means of Access and Egress CMR 66 to 70 93
MMR 68 to 77
7 Transport of Men and Materials—Winding in Shafts CMR 71 to 86 94 – 155
MMR 78 to 94
8 Transport of Men and Materials—Haulage CMR 87 to 97 156 – 198
MMR 95 to 105
9 Mine Workings CMR 98 to 115 199 – 295
MMR 106 to 118
10 Precautions against Danger from Fire, Dust, Gas and Water CMR 116 to 129 296 – 334
MMR 119 to 130
11 Ventilation CMR 130 to 149 335 – 358
MMR 131 to 145
12 Lighting and Safety Lamps CMR 150 to 158 359 – 371
MMR 146 to 152
13 Explosives and Shot firing CMR 159 to 180 372 – 427
MMR 153 to 170
14 Machinery, Plant and Equipment CMR 181 to 186 428 – 450
MMR 171 to 176
15 Miscellaneous Regulations CMR 187 to 205 451 – 472
MMR 177 to 196
16 General 473 – 492
II Recommendations of National Safety Conferences
1st Conference Aug 1958 493 – 495
2nd Conference July 1966 496
3rd Conference July 1973 497
4th Conference Dec. 1978 497 – 498
5th Conference Dec. 1980 498 – 502
6th Conference Jan. 1986 502 – 505
7th Conference Dec. 1988 505 – 506
8th Conference May 1993 506 – 512
9th Conference Feb. 2000 512 – 517
10th Conference Nov. 2007 518 – 529
11th Conference Jul. 2013 530 – 540
III Mines Act, 1952 541 – 569
IV Mines Rules, 1955 570 – 607
V Mines Rescue Rules, 1985 608 – 609
VI Mines Vocational Training Rules, 1966 610 – 637
VII Mines Creche Rules, 1966 638
VIII Mines Maternity Benefit Act & Rules 639
IX Central Electricity Authority (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply) 640 – 658
Regulations, 2010 Indian Electricity Rules, 1956(repealed in 2010)
X Oil Mines Regulations, 1984 659 – 674
X –
 THE COAL MINES REGULATIONS 1957 &
THE METALLIFEROUS MINES REGULATIONS 1961

RETURNS, NOTICES AND RECORDS

Mine codes—With the introduction of computers in the office of DGMS, every mine has been given a
Mine Code and these Mine Codes have been communicated to all mines. Managements are requested
to ensure that the Mine Code is used in all future communications with all offices of the Directorate
General of Mines Safety.
(Cir. Genl. 2/1993)

CMR 4 & 5 / MMR 4 & 5

1. Monthly and annual returns—Returns should be written in ink and signed legibly by the owner,
agent or manager of the mine or a person holding a power of attorney from the owner. [Section 85-B of
Mines (Amend.) Act, 1983].

The designation of the person who signs the returns should be clearly indicated. If any person signs in
Hindi or other vernacular, its English transcription should also be given.

To prevent difficulties due to sheets coming apart, it is advisable that:

1. the name of the mine is given on each page of the return;

2. each page of the return carries reference to the period to which the return relates; and
3. all sheets in each return are properly bound together.
[Cir. 2/1948, 19/1958, Mines (Amend.) Act 1983]

2. Address for correspondence for examinations and for mines returns—At present as required
under the existing Rules and Regulations, correspondence concerning the examinations conducted by
the Board of Mining Examinations under Coal Mines Regulations, 1957 and the Metalliferous Mines
Regulations, 1961, and the Annual and Monthly Returns to be submitted under the relevant Regulations
are being addressed to the Chief Inspector of Mines (since designated as Director General of Mines
Safety).

In order to cut down delay, it is required that in future annual, quarterly and monthly returns etc. may
be addressed to :

The Director General of Mines Safety.

[Attention : The Deputy Director (Statistics),] Dhanbad, and all correspondence concerning
examinations may kindly be addressed direct to :

The Chairman, Board of Mining Examinations, [Attention : The Joint Director of Mines Safety
(Exam.)] Office of Director General of Mines Safety, Dhanbad.
(Cir. 41/1970)
3. Mention of Post Box No. in Correspondence— To facilitate quick delivery of unregistered letters
in Dhanbad, the concerned Post Box No., as given below, should invariably be mentioned on the
envelope :

1. Post Box No. 65 : For all correspondence addressed to the Secretary, Board of Mining
Examinations, Dhanbad.
2. Post Box No. 73 : For all correspondence addressed to the Director-General of Mines Safety,
Dhanbad.

CMR 6/MMR 6
Pumping in disused shafts—In case of pumping operations in disused shafts prior information should
be sent to the DGMS and pumping shall not be started without making arrangements for mechanical
ventilation.
(Cir.37/1973)

CMR8/MMR8
1. Substitute appointments of assistant managers and surveyors—When the services of Assistant
Managers and Surveyors are transferred to another mine of the same management or terminated, the
substitutes are not being appointed for a considerable time in some cases. Sometimes even the notice of
termination of the services of an Assistant Manager or a Surveyor is not given for a long time in
contravention of Reg. 8(2) of the Coal Mines Regulations 1957 which requires a notice to be given
within 7 days of any appointment or termination of the services of such officials.

The requirements of law in this regard should be strictly complied with, and substitute appointments of
Assistant Managers and surveyors should be made latest within two weeks of the permanent incumbent
leaving the service of the mine.
(Cir. 34/1964)

2. Notice of Appointment/Termination of Engineers—Notice under Reg. 8 of CMR 1957 and MMR

1961 in respect of Appointment/Termination of an Engineer in Form I of the First Schedule should be
accompanied by a supplementary form in the proforma given below :

Supplementary form to accompany Notice in Form I in respect of appointment/termination of Engineer.

1. Mine particulars :
(i) Name of Mine : Mineral worked :
(ii) Postal address of owner :
(iii) Name and address of owner :
(iv) Inspection Region to which the mine belongs :

2. Particulars of Engineer :
(i) Name :
(ii) Father's name :
(iii) Date of birth : Age :
(iv) Permanent address :
(v) General qualifications :
(vi) Engineering qualifications :
 Degree/Diploma Institution from which obtained Date of obtaining
Degree/Diploma

(vii) TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE : (a) In Mines

Name of Mine Capacity Period From...........to..............
1.
2.
3.

(b) In places other than mines :

Name of Establishment Capacity Period From...........to..............
1.
2.
3.

(viii) No. and date of approval certificate obtained, if any, from the Directorate-General of
Mines Safety;
(This does not apply to Degree/Diploma holders.)

3. Aggregate H.P. of machinery in use under the charge of the Engineer at the mine.

4. Date of Appointment/Termination.

Date.......................... Signature.,

Place......................... Designation : Owner/Agent/Manager

(Cir. 8/1968)

3. Notice of appointment of engineers & notice of temporary authorisation in the absence of

engineer— According to Reg. 8(2) of CMR 1957 and MMR 1961, the owner, agent or manager is
required to send the notice of appointment of engineer to the D.G.M.S. and to the J.D.M.S. In a number
of cases it is not made clear whether both the authorities have been sent the notice. The notice should
also be sent to the J.D.M.S. concerned and the fact indicated in the notice sent to the D.G.M.S.

The notice of temporary authorisation, in case of temporary absence of the Engineer [Reg. 33(3) of
CMR 1957 and 34(4) of MMR 1961] should be sent to the Joint Director of Mines Safety concerned.
[Cir. 24/1972]

CMR9/MMR9
1. Standing orders for emergency— In order to ensure timely and effective action in case of major
underground accident in a mine, it is necessary that each mine should draw up a standard procedure to
be followed in the event of an emergency. The standing orders should include instructions for different
categories of staff who would take action in the manner indicated in the Standing Orders. The
instructions should be kept up-to-date at all times and be made available to the mine officials concerned
and to the local rescue station. It will also be necessary to have mock rehearsal of the Standing Orders
at regular intervals of say three to six months.
(Cir. 58/1962)
Note : See Reg. 199A of CMR/190A of MMR Emergency Plan

2. Post-mortem examination in case of death by heart failure— Failure of heart may be caused in
the natural way or as a result of any injury received while engaged in any operations connected with
mining. It will, however, be appreciated that the fact of death having been caused due to heart failure
can be established only by means of a post-mortem examination of the dead body.

In case it is felt that death has been caused by heart failure in any operation whatsoever, while sending
information of accident in or about the mine to various authorities an intimation giving details of the
occurrence and pointing out that it is not a mining accident should also be sent to the local Police. The
police authorities may then take necessary action for sending the dead-body for a post-mortem
examination. A copy of the post-mortem report should be submitted to D.G.M.S. as soon as possible.

In case of non-compliance with these instructions, the occurrence may be treated as an accident coming
within the purview of the Mines Act.
(Cir. 37/1959 & 30/1960)

3. Necessity of post-mortem examination— Medical Officers employed in mines, too often attribute
the cause of death to heart failure in case of sudden death in a mine without carefully assessing the
evidence available to them. On postmortem examination, in many such cases, gross internal injury e.g.
rupture of liver, fracture of cervical vertebrae etc. has been found. In one case, evidence of head injury
was also found. Such mistake has occurred specially in cases showing no external injury. But it must be
realised that serious internal injury may occur in the absence of any external injury. To avoid such
confusion it is required that Medical Officers should withhold their opinion, unless the case is obvious,
and advise postmortem examination in all cases of sudden death in a mine.
(Cir. 50/1970)

4. Correct information in notice of accident—While submitting statutory notices regarding accidents

(or particulars of the persons killed/ seriously injured), mine managements do not pay adequate
attention to the particulars required to be furnished. It is important for evolving an effective programme
of accident prevention that the facts of the accidents are brought to light. In respect of serious
accidents, official enquiries are not usually held, with the result that the only source of available
information in a large majority of cases may be the notice sent by mine managements. The accident
notice forms should, therefore, be filled in carefully on the basis of enquiries conducted under the
provisions of Regulation 41(8) of the Coal Mines Regulations, 1957 or Regulation 44(8) of the
Metalliferous Mines Regulations, 1961 (as the case may be). Some of the salient features which require
particular attention are indicated below :

FORM IV-A
Item 2 : Place & Location in Mines

1.1 The information here is to be filled in respect of two different aspects i.e. place and location. The
different categories under place may be :—
(a) 'Underground' (Development area), Depillaring area, shaft. Gallery, Roadway, Incline,
Longwall face, Goaf etc., or
(b) 'Opencast working' or
 (c) 'Surface'
The actual 'location' should be clearly stated by specifying :
(i) the shaft, seam/vein, level number etc. (in case of an underground location) or
(ii) the quarry and bench etc. (in case of a location in opencast workings) or
(iii) the exact location on the railway siding, surface tram line, workshop, pit top, office etc.
(in case of a location on surface).

In addition, in case of accidents occuring on surface, it should also be clearly mentioned whether or not
that particular area falls within the mine leasehold.

Item 3 : (i) Classification of Accident/Occurrence

1.1 The entry here should be made according to the classification given in instruction (b) of the form
IV-A. Care should be taken to see that this classification is in keeping with the 'cause' given under the
next column.

1.2 Though it is the most important of the items to be filled in the proforma, it is usually the most
neglected. While limitation of space requires that this entry should be concise, too much condensation
also creates complication. Very often, the cause is reported as being : "injured by a piece of coal/stone
while at work" or, "injured by a tub while at work" etc.

As may be seen, this does not give any meaningful idea of the 'cause' or 'description' of the accident.
The former situation may arise out of any of the following :

(a) piece of coal or stone falling from the roof or from side or from the face, or
(b) falling from a basket, or
(c) rolling down from a tub, or
(d) due to flying pieces.

Likewise, the latter statement may relate to any of the following :

(a) "injured by a runaway tub" or
(b) "crushed between tubs and sides of roadways", or
(c) "crushed in between tubs" or
(d) "crushed while rerailing a derailed tub" etc.

Moreover, the information should describe the occurrence viz. :

Was it that 'piece of coal fell from the roof while a miner was dressing it'?
Or
Was it that 'while a loader was loading coal, a piece of coal suddenly fell from the roof and injured
him'?
Or again,

Was it that 'when a miner entered a fenced-off goaf area and started picking coal, suddenly the roof
gave way and a mass of roof coal measuring a meters x b meters x c meters (thick) fell down and
buried the miner?'

Unless a clear indication of both the "cause" and 'description of the accident' is given, the data cannot
be properly examined for finding ways and means to prevent the same. For example, reverting to the
first case above, instead of merely stating "injured by a piece of coal", the correct entry should have
taken the form :

"While a miner (or loader or trammer etc.) was cutting coal (or loading coal or withdrawing props etc.)
at (x depillaring/development face or y roadway or z junction) he was injured by a piece of coal or
stone measuring (give dimensions) which fell from (roof or side or face or basket or tub etc. as the case
may be) at a height of (give dimension)".

If the injuries resulted in the death of the person(s) involved, the information could be conveyed in the
above sentence itself by adding the words "fatally injured" or could be furnished by adding a separate
sentence e.g. "the injuries resulted in the death of the worker (instantaneously or x hours later etc. as
the case may be)".

FORM IV-B

2. This form is to be enclosed with the accident notice (in Form IV-A) or is to be sent within a week of
submission of the same. Very often this is not done leading to protracted and unnecessary
correspondence. Managements are, therefore, advised to take action to ensure early submission of this
form.

There should be no difficulty in this respect particularly in respect of those Serious accidents where
notices are submitted late in view of the injury having taken more than 20 days to heal. If, at the time of
submission of Form IV-B, particulars relating to items "Return to duty" and "compensation" etc. are
not available, this information may be sent subsequently and a suitable foot-note may be added in the
proforma (this difficulty is in respect of coal mines only; for non-coal mines, a separate Form IV-C
exists for this purpose), (for coal mines also Form IV-C has recently been introduced).

2.1 The entry against item 7 (iii) in this form is often not made correctly. This information is necessary
for calculating the "severity of the injury". The period should relate to the actual number of days that
the worker has been incapacitated, i.e. the number of days that elapsed before the worker could perform
the duties normally assigned to him (i.e. the duties he was attending to prior to the accident).
Alternative light work given, if any, in the meantime (referred to in item 8 of the form) should in no
way affect the procedure indicated above.

The case of workers who do not resume duties after being declared medically fit also needs a
clarification. In such cases, the date on which the worker has been declared to be medically fit for
resumption of his normal duties may be furnished against the date of resumption of duties, and a
suitable footnote added for clarification. In such cases, the return should be accompanied by a copy of
the Fitness Certificate issued by the certifying doctor.
(Cir. 79/1963)

5. Revised Forms IV-A, IV-B and IV-C for sending notices of accidents/dangerous occurrences—
In view of introduction of computeristion in D.G.M.S. and the experience gained, formats for notices in
Forms IV-A, IV-B and IV-C have been revised. Managements are requested to send all the notices of
accidents and dangerous occurrences in the new formats with immediate effect using the codes as given
below and the mine-code as per D.G.M.S. General Cir. No. 2 of 1993. No column/item should be left
blank.
Notice in Form IV-C should be sent within 15 days of the injured' returning to duty in case of all mines
including coal mines.
[Cir. Legis. (SAP) 2/1993]

6. Reporting of every big or major roof fall— Occasionally roof falls occur in' mines which do not
result in any serious or fatal accident, or could be termed as 'premature collapse of any part of the
workings' so as to come within the mischief of the provisions of Regulation 9 of Coal Mines
Regulations, (Notice of Accident).

All the same, every big or major roof in a mine whether it is in a development district or at a longwall
face or at any other place in a mine, whether or not it is a working place and irrespective of the fact
whether it was anticipated or not, is a useful pointer to general deterioration of roof condition at that
place. It is therefore advisable to look into every such incident in a mine with a view to taking suitable
precautionary measures, well in time.

Report of every such roof fall in a mine should be furnished to the concerned Joint Director of Mines
Safety within 24 hours of the occurrence, giving all relevant