Review and development of safety procedures for the Indian mining industry

China has an extensive fuel and non-fuel mining industry. Productivity has been increasing with the introduction of new technologies and with the closing down of small mines. However there remains an on-going need to further improve productivity and to reduce the reported high level of mine accidents. The Australian Mining Industry, considered to be world class, provides high proportions of the world's traded minerals. It has been a leader in world trends in mining relating to production and safety management. The Australian industry is highly mechanised, has an industry accepted emphasis on workers health and safety and has low accident and fatality rates. An Australian Government funded program has facilitated the introduction of Australian mine safety practices into India. This paper presents a Case Study of the Indian Mines Inspectorate (DGMS) preparations for, and implementation of, technology changes in mine safety. In 1995 the Indian Government realised that globalisation would force changes to their Mining industry to improve both mine productivity and safety. There was concern that Mines Inspectors and Mine Operators may not recognise safety issues associated with the introduction of new technology and there would be a continuing high accident level in operating mines. The Australian International Mine Safety Training Company (AIMSTC) was engaged by the Australian Government's aid agency (AusAID) to assist both the Indian Inspectorate and the mining industry implement change. Over a four year period, AIMSTC together with DGMS, has carried out a Safety Management program with the Indian Mining Industry. The final year in particular aimed to prepare the industry for future safety challenges associated with the introduction of mechanisation, new technologies and privatisation. A Case Study is presented to provide an example of the issues that were addressed and the achievements of the program. The success of this work will be seen in how widespread the system approach to safety, installed at a number of mines in the final year, extends into the Indian Mining Industry to improve safety and production. The relevance of a similar program for the Chinese Mining Industry will be discussed.