1304 Legislation in Indian Mines Safety, Health, and Sanitation in Mines 1305

If the Central Government so feels about any accident in a mine, it Statistics reveal that the indirect costs due to accidents may be as low
may appoint a Court of Enquiry, with a competent person as the Chairman, as 1:1, and as high as 20:1. An average figure may be taken as 4:1.
and a person or persons, possessing legal or special knowledge, as assessor/
assessors. The details of the Court of Enquiry are discussed in Chapter II. In a safe mine, there are no accidents, and, as such, there are no
interruptions in production. There are no manshifts lost, no disturbance of
Accident Costs
the relays/teams of workers. No one is psychological upset because his
Some costs involved in the accidents are listed below; friend is out of action, for a short time, or permanently, due to an accident.
DIRECT COSTS The machines are well maintained and properly operated. They are utilised
(A) To Employer (B) To Employee for production to their maximum efficiency. The supplies of materials are
1. Medical treatment. 1. Decreased income. always at hand, and as such, working places are not to be kept idle for lack
2. Compensation 2.Financiallossatributableto of roof support, or for lack of sufficient ventilation at the working place. The
decreased income. track and hauling equipment are properly maintained. The supervisors and
3. Pension. 3. Loss or decrease in future workers are happy because there is mutual trust and friendship. All these
earn- make for production.
4. E mp lo yee p ro ra ta p lant in ing power.
creased. The safe mines have usually the following characteristics in corn-
5. F i r s t - a i d mon :
6. Loss of production due to tem- (1) Highly effective miner training programme, using relevant
porary stoppage of work.
training materials, tailored to the individual miner's needs, and presented by
7. P lant d amage.
well qualified instructors.
INDIRECT COSTS
(2) Standard operating procedures, that are clearly understood and
(A) To employer (B) To Employee
practised by all supervisors and workers.
1. Loss of employee's skill. 1.Personalpainandmentalcon-
cern. (3) Even-handed enforcement of established policies, concerning
2. Loss of uniform and/or es- 2. Inability to enjoy normal rela- absenteeism, job assignments, and operating procedures.
timated production. tions.
(4) Support by the top management of the miner's safety depart-
3. Conduct of accident enquiries 3. Increased difficulties in matters
ment, in terms of staff and money, for the safety programme, and the
and preparation of accident re of family life.
ports. authority to carry it out effectively.
4. Increase in labour tension. 4. Deterioration in morale. (5) Strong joint efforts by the management's and the miner's
5. Lessened goodwill in public 5. Economic loss to the family of representatives to continually address the safety issues, correct hazards
and employee relations the injured. promptly, and take positive action to resolve conflicts over job safety
6. Breaking in new men. 6.Losoftimeofthefelowwork- and health problems.
men.
(6) Thorough periodic review of the mine plans by the manage-
7. Damage to tools and equipment.
8. Loss of time for the period the ment to insure that the plans include measures needed to adequately control
damaged equipment was out of the physical environment of the mine.
order.
Realisation of the enormous cost of accident, both of injury and non-
9. Sp o i led j o b .
10. Failure to fill orders. injury type, has led to the development of a new approach to safety, viz.,
11. Overhead costs while work was interrupted. damage control, total accident control, or total loss control. The philoso-
12. Spoilagefire, water, explosion, etc. phy behind the approach is that the emphasis has to be on "accident