📘 Detailed Notes (Exam-Oriented)
1. Background

• In large underground mines, workers often travel long distances → walking increases fatigue and accident risk.
• Man Riding Systems (MRS): Special transport systems (rope haulage, chair lifts, man riding cars) designed for safe & efficient transport of miners.
• This circular formally adopts standards for man riding systems, ensuring uniform safety & reliability.

2. Need for Standards

• Past accidents due to unsafe/unapproved man riding practices.
• Lack of uniformity across coal and metal mines.
• Rising mechanization → more man riding installations.
• DGMS mandated standard adoption to reduce accidents.

3. Types of Man Riding Systems

1. Rope-Hauled Man Riding Systems (underground haulage).
2. Chair Lift Systems (for steep inclines, coal mines).
3. Man Riding Cars/Locomotives (track-mounted).
4. Cage/shaft man riding systems (vertical transport).

4. Key Provisions of the Circular

1. Design & Approval
   • Only DGMS-approved man riding systems allowed.
   • Design must comply with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) & international standards.
2. Capacity & Speed
   • Limits on maximum speed (generally ≤ 3 m/s for underground man riding haulage).
   • Seating capacity not to be exceeded.
3. Safety Features
   • Automatic braking system.
   • Guard rails & hand grips.
   • Proper illumination & ventilation along routes.
   • Emergency stop facilities.
4. Inspection & Maintenance
   • Daily checks by competent persons.
   • Weekly inspection & monthly records.
   • Annual detailed examination by engineer.
5. Training & Use
   • Only trained miners allowed to travel.
   • Overloading & unsafe boarding prohibited.
   • Clear instructions displayed at boarding points.

5. Importance

• Reduces fatigue → workers reach face in better condition.
• Saves travel time → improves productivity.
• Prevents accidents during travel → ensures safety.
• Standardization ensures uniform DGMS approval process.

6. Exam-Oriented Key Points

• Circular 01 of 2020 = Man Riding Standards.
• Max speed (rope haulage man riding) ≈ 3 m/s.
• Only DGMS-approved systems allowed.
• Daily/weekly inspection mandatory.
• Systems = Rope haulage, Chair lift, Cars, Cage.

📝 25 MCQs – DGMS Approval Circular No. 01 of 2020
Q1. Circular 1 of 2020 deals with:

1. Man riding standards
2. Gas detection standards
3. Blasting standards
4. Electrical standards
5. Inundation standards

✅ Answer: 1
Solution: It adopts standards for man riding.
Q2. Man riding systems are mainly used in:

1. Surface quarries
2. Underground mines
3. Cement plants
4. Oilfields
5. None

✅ Answer: 2
Solution: Used to transport workers underground.
Q3. Which is NOT a type of man riding system?

1. Rope haulage man riding
2. Chair lift system
3. Dumper truck ride
4. Man riding cars
5. Shaft cage man riding

✅ Answer: 3
Solution: Dumpers are not man riding systems.
Q4. Max speed for rope haulage man riding:

1. 1 m/s
2. 2 m/s
3. 3 m/s
4. 5 m/s
5. 10 m/s

✅ Answer: 3
Solution: Speed ≈ 3 m/s.
Q5. Approval of man riding systems is granted by:

1. Mine manager
2. DGMS
3. State Govt.
4. Mine owner
5. Contractor

✅ Answer: 2
Solution: Only DGMS approval is valid.
Q6. Standards are adopted from:

1. Local rules
2. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) + International norms
3. Manager’s decision
4. Worker’s union
5. None

✅ Answer: 2
Solution: Based on BIS & international norms.
Q7. Which safety feature is NOT required?

1. Automatic braking
2. Guard rails
3. Emergency stop
4. Proper lighting
5. Decorative painting

✅ Answer: 5
Solution: Decorative painting is irrelevant.
Q8. Daily checks of man riding system are done by:

1. DGMS officer
2. Competent person in mine
3. Workers themselves
4. Contractor
5. None

✅ Answer: 2
Solution: Daily checks = competent person.
Q9. Detailed annual exam is done by:

1. Winding Engine Driver
2. Electrical foreman
3. Mechanical/Mining engineer
4. Mine manager only
5. None

✅ Answer: 3
Solution: Qualified engineer must check annually.
Q10. Chair lift systems are used in:

1. Vertical shafts
2. Steep inclines
3. Surface pits only
4. Cement plants
5. None

✅ Answer: 2
Solution: Chair lifts → steep inclines.
Q11. Man riding cars run on:

1. Roads
2. Conveyor belts
3. Tracks underground
4. Air cushion
5. None

✅ Answer: 3
Solution: Track-mounted man riding cars.
Q12. Why man riding is needed?

1. Reduce fatigue
2. Save time
3. Improve safety
4. All of the above
5. None

✅ Answer: 4
Solution: All reasons valid.
Q13. Boarding instructions must be:

1. Written clearly at stations
2. Oral only
3. Secret
4. None

✅ Answer: 1
Solution: Written instructions required.
Q14. Which is a vertical man riding system?

1. Shaft cage
2. Chair lift
3. Rope haulage
4. Cars
5. None

✅ Answer: 1
Solution: Shaft cage for vertical transport.
Q15. Emergency stop devices must be:

1. Near only manager’s office
2. At all boarding points
3. At worker’s colony
4. None

✅ Answer: 2
Solution: Emergency stop near boarding.
Q16. Illumination is required:

1. Only at surface
2. Along man riding route
3. Only at office
4. None

✅ Answer: 2
Solution: Proper lighting along route.
Q17. Guard rails are required for:

1. Preventing derailment & falls
2. Decoration
3. Storage
4. None

✅ Answer: 1
Solution: Prevent accidents.
Q18. Overloading man riding cars is:

1. Permitted
2. Prohibited
3. Encouraged
4. Not specified

✅ Answer: 2
Solution: Strictly prohibited.
Q19. Ventilation is important during man riding because:

1. Reduces fatigue
2. Prevents gas accumulation
3. Prevents heat buildup
4. All of the above

✅ Answer: 4
Solution: Ventilation critical.
Q20. Accident-free man riding depends on:

1. Design
2. Maintenance
3. Training
4. All of the above

✅ Answer: 4
Solution: All factors critical.
Q21. Workers must be:

1. Untrained
2. Properly trained before using MRS
3. Ignorant of rules
4. None

✅ Answer: 2
Solution: Training mandatory.
Q22. Which body enforces man riding safety?

1. DGMS
2. State Govt.
3. Mine manager only
4. Trade unions
5. None

✅ Answer: 1
Solution: DGMS ensures compliance.
Q23. Maximum seating capacity of a car must be:

1. As per load test only
2. Exceeded for faster transport
3. As per design approval
4. Not important

✅ Answer: 3
Solution: Based on DGMS-approved design.
Q24. Rope haulage MRS must have:

1. Braking system
2. Runaway protection
3. Speed control
4. All of the above

✅ Answer: 4
Solution: All features required.
Q25. Main aim of Circular 01 of 2020 is:

1. Boost production
2. Standardize man riding safety
3. Save costs
4. Reduce manpower
5. None

✅ Answer: 2
Solution: Adoption of safety standards for man riding. ✅ Memory Hack:
👉 “2020 Vision = Clear Ride” → Circular 1 of 2020 = Clear standards for Man Riding Systems.