In a bid to step up safety in mines, government has decided to issue cards to workers highlighting vital questions related to the issue and empower them to bring to notice of the senior supervisors if such measures are found absent.
The initiative was launched here today by Labour and Employment Minister Sis Ram Ola under 'Safety is my responsibility' campaign at the 11th conference on safety in mines.
The Minister conceded that despite efforts by government agencies, due importance is yet to be given by the mining industry to prevention of adverse effect on health of workers and the traditional approach towards safety has stopped yielding better results.
"The rapidly changing scenario of mining industry the world over and specifically in India has introduced newer hazards and safety concerns at workplace while the traditional hazards such as inundation, fire, dust, noise etc. In mines are yet to be fully controlled.
"These hazards post new challenges for occupational safety and health professionals as well as mining technologies and will require comprehensive surveillance at workplaces and newer strategies for prevention of accidents in mines," he said.
The endeavour to bring down the hazards to prevent accident and occupational diseases by all available means to an acceptable level of risk must continue, he underscored.
Ola said his Ministry will work in tandem with the industry with a view to achieving a nationally acceptable and internationally comparable standards of health, safety and welfare for the workers engaged in various mines.
