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Accidents Due to Roof Fall During 2014 – DGMS Report, Analysis & Safety Measures

Accidents Due to Roof Fall During 2014 – DGMS Report, Analysis & Safety Measures

⛏️ DETAILED NOTES

1️⃣ Introduction

Roof fall is one of the most common and deadly hazards in underground coal mines. According to DGMS accident statistics (2014), a significant percentage of fatalities were caused by collapse of roof or sides, primarily due to poor roof support, inadequate examination, and failure to follow support plans.

2️⃣ DGMS Findings (2014)

  • Major Cause: Insufficient or delayed support installation.
  • Contributing Factors: Over-extraction and wide spans between supports; Poor quality of timber or props; Water seepage and weak roof strata; Inadequate supervision or early withdrawal of support.
  • Affected Areas: Bord & pillar workings, depillaring panels, junctions, and inclines.
  • DGMS Observation: 90% of roof fall accidents were preventable through proper roof monitoring and timely support installation.

3️⃣ Legal Provisions

Regulation / Rule Description
CMR 2017 – Reg. 99 & 100 Precautions against roof and side falls.
CMR 2017 – Reg. 124 Support rules and systematic support plans.
Mines Act, 1952 (Sec. 23) Responsibility of owner, agent, and manager for safety.
DGMS Circular (Tech.) 06/2014 Guidelines for systematic support rules (SSR).

4️⃣ Causes of Roof Fall

  1. Non-installation or removal of support before time.
  2. Delay in setting supports near the working face.
  3. Poor condition of timber or bolts.
  4. Wide gallery width or overhanging roof.
  5. Non-adherence to systematic support rule (SSR).
  6. Lack of supervision during loading or depillaring.

5️⃣ Preventive Measures

  • Proper Support Installation: Immediate setting of props/bolts within 1.5 m of the face.
  • Systematic Support Rules (SSR): Follow approved SSR for each seam.
  • Strata Monitoring: Use tell-tales, extensometers, and convergence indicators.
  • Adequate Lighting: Ensure illumination for roof visibility.
  • Training: Educate workers on early signs of roof movement.
  • Supervision: Supervisory presence during support installation and removal.
  • Roof Bolting: Mechanized bolting for improved safety.

6️⃣ DGMS Recommendations

  • Conduct strata behavior studies for all working sections.
  • Install instrumented monitoring systems for roof convergence.
  • Use resin-grouted bolts for long-term stability.
  • Prepare contingency roof fall response plans.
  • Conduct refresher training on roof support installation.

7️⃣ Learning from DGMS 2014 Report

Issue Identified Corrective Action
Delayed support installation Install supports immediately after cutting
Poor supervision Ensure competent person presence
Weak strata Apply grouted bolts & steel girders
Non-adherence to SSR Strict compliance and review
Untrained labor Conduct practical training sessions

⚡ QUICK ONE-LINERS

  • Roof fall = top cause of fatalities in underground mines.
  • Reg. 99–100, CMR 2017 = roof and side protection.
  • DGMS Circular 06/2014 = systematic support rule (SSR).
  • Supports must be within 1.5 m of face.
  • Telltales used for roof movement monitoring.
  • Depillaring areas highly prone to roof falls.
  • SSR must be mine-specific and DGMS-approved.
  • Weak roof → use steel supports or bolts.
  • Roof fall risk increases with poor supervision.
  • Continuous monitoring = key to prevention.

🧠 DESCRIPTIVE MODEL QUESTION & ANSWER

Q. Explain the causes and preventive measures of roof fall accidents in coal mines with reference to DGMS 2014 findings.

Answer:
Roof fall accidents occur when the immediate roof strata collapse due to inadequate support or weak geological conditions. As per DGMS (2014) accident analysis, most roof falls were preventable with better supervision, proper support systems, and adherence to systematic support rules. Main causes include:

  • Non-installation of supports within required distance.
  • Poor quality of timber and roof bolts.
  • Failure to follow approved SSR.
  • Lack of strata monitoring.

Preventive measures:

  • Strict adherence to CMR 2017 Reg. 99 & 100.
  • Use of tell-tales, convergence indicators, and roof bolting.
  • Ensure timely setting of supports.
  • Provide training to workers and supervisors.
  • Periodic roof examination by competent persons.

Thus, effective implementation of SSR and strata control monitoring ensures safe mining operations and reduces fatalities.

🎯 25 MCQs – Roof Fall Accidents (DGMS Focus)

Q1. Major cause of underground mine fatalities:

Solution: Roof fall consistently ranks as a leading cause of fatalities in underground mines.

Q2. Regulation for roof and side protection:

Solution: Regulations 99 and 100 specifically address precautions against dangers from roof and sides.

Q3. DGMS Circular for SSR:

Solution: DGMS Tech Circular 06/2014 provides guidelines for Systematic Support Rules (SSR).

Q4. SSR stands for:

Solution: SSR is the acronym for Systematic Support Rule.

Q5. Distance of first support from face:

Solution: Regulations often specify supports must be set promptly, typically within 1.5m of the working face.

Q6. Device for roof monitoring:

Solution: Tell-tales are simple mechanical or electronic devices used to detect roof movement.

Q7. Roof fall accidents mostly occur in:

Solution: Depillaring involves extracting pillars, making the roof highly unstable and prone to falls.

Q8. Main cause of roof fall:

Solution: The failure to install supports timely after excavation is a primary cause.

Q9. Immediate roof movement detected by:

Solution: Tell-tales are specifically designed to indicate separation or movement in the roof strata.

Q10. Roof bolting is used for:

Solution: Roof bolts bind rock layers together, reinforcing the roof.

Q11. DGMS recommends roof bolt type:

Solution: Resin-grouted bolts provide strong, long-lasting anchorage.

Q12. Roof fall prevention plan forms part of:

Solution: Roof control is a critical element addressed within the overall Safety Management Plan (SMP).

Q13. Roof fall incidents must be reported under:

Solution: Section 23 of the Mines Act covers the reporting of accidents, including dangerous occurrences like roof falls.

Q14. Weak strata need:

Solution: Steel supports (like girders or arches) or systematic bolting offer higher strength for weak rock.

Q15. Roof control officer appointed in:

Solution: While strata control is vital everywhere, dedicated officers might be appointed in larger, complex underground mines.

Q16. Roof fall hazard increases due to:

Solution: Lack of supervision often leads to shortcuts and non-compliance with support rules.

Q17. SSR should be approved by:

Solution: Systematic Support Rules must be formally approved by DGMS.

Q18. Safety sign for roof hazard:

Solution: Specific warning signs are used to indicate areas with potential roof instability.

Q19. Roof fall analysis helps in:

Solution: Analyzing past incidents helps understand why they happened and how to prevent recurrence.

Q20. Roof bolting spacing decided by:

Solution: Bolt pattern and spacing must be based on scientific assessment of rock conditions.

Q21. Roof fall during blasting is prevented by:

Solution: Clearing the area of personnel before blasting is the primary safety measure against blast-induced falls.

Q22. Strata behavior study is essential for:

Solution: Understanding how the strata behaves under mining stress is crucial for designing safe support systems.

Q23. Roof fall accidents mostly occur in:

Solution: While possible in metal mines, the layered sedimentary nature of coal seams makes roof falls a more frequent hazard in coal mines.

Q24. Roof fall prevention training required for:

Solution: Everyone working underground needs to be aware of roof fall hazards and prevention methods.

Q25. Goal of DGMS roof fall circular:

Solution: The ultimate aim of DGMS safety regulations and circulars is to eliminate accidents and achieve zero harm.

🔗 INTERNAL LINKING SUGGESTIONS

Related Topic Read More On...
Strata Monitoring Strata Monitoring in Longwall Workings
Safety Management Integrated Safety Management Plan (SMP)
DGMS Circulars DGMS Tech Circular No. 02 of 2020
Legislation (CMR) CMR 2017 Part 2 - Working & Supervision Rules

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