🆘 DGMS Approval for Rescue & Life-Saving Appliances – BG Apparatus, Self-Rescuers, PPE & Safety Equipment

Mining rescue equipment must meet the highest safety standards, because they directly impact:

• Human life
• Emergency response
• Gas rescue operations
• Firefighting
• Inundation recovery
• Accident management

DGMS policy enforces stringent approval for life-saving appliances under “Special-Order Items”, including:

• BG Breathing Apparatus
• Self-Rescuers
• Gas detectors
• Rescue communication devices
• Stretchers & first-aid kits
• Protective clothing
• Safety helmets, belts & harnesses

This blog fully explains DGMS approval conditions, testing, documentation & statutory compliance.

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🔹 1. What Are Life-Saving Appliances in Mines? 

 These include equipment used during:

• Mine fires
• Gas explosions
• Inundations
• Rescue operations
• Emergency evacuation

DGMS classifies life-saving equipment under high-risk category requiring compulsory approval.

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🔹 2. Major Life-Saving Equipment Requiring DGMS Approval 

  ⭐ 1) BG Breathing Apparatus (BA Set) Used by rescue teams. Required tests:

• Breathing resistance
• CO₂ absorption efficiency
• Duration test
• Overpressure test
• Leak test
• Temperature rise

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⭐ 2) Self-Rescuers (Chemical / Oxygen) Used by workers to escape smoke/gas. Testing includes:

• CO filtering
• Oxygen generation
• Heat build-up
• Mechanical strength
• Strap strength

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⭐ 3) SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) For firefighting & deep rescue. Tests:

• Cylinder pressure
• Valve safety
• Leak test
• Weight

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⭐ 4) Gas Detectors (IS) For detecting:

• Methane (CH₄)
• CO
• O₂ deficiency
• H₂S

Must be Ex-ia and DGMS approved.

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⭐ 5) Stretchers / Rescue Trolleys Must be:

• Flame-resistant
• Strong
• Lightweight
• Easy to carry

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⭐ 6) Rescue Communication Devices Must pass:

• IS test
• Explosion-proof test
• Range/clarity test

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⭐ 7) PPE (Requires DGMS/BIS Compliance)

• Helmets
• Safety shoes
• Gloves
• Protective suits
• Safety belts
• Harnesses
• Eye protection

Must comply with BIS standards such as:

PPE	Standard
Helmet	IS 2925
Shoes	IS 15298
Gloves	IS 4770
Eye protection	IS 5983

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🔹 3. DGMS Approval Process for Rescue Equipment

Manufacturer / IAR ↓ Submit Application (Form B/C) ↓ Testing at CIMFR / BIS / ERTL ↓ Factory Audit (Appendix XIX) ↓ Performance demonstration ↓ DGMS Approval (Form K) For imported rescue products, DGMS also checks:

• IECEx/ATEX
• QAR/QAN
• Indian Authorized Representative (IAR)

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🔹 4. Key Testing Requirements for Rescue Equipment

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⭐ A. BG Apparatus (Breathing Apparatus)

• CO₂ absorption capacity
• Duration test
• Overheating control
• Lung-governed demand valve
• Leak-proof design
• Moisture trap

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⭐ B. Self-Rescuers

• Start-up time
• CO absorption
• Heat generation test
• Cushion withstand test
• Strain test
• Crushing test

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⭐ C. Gas Detectors

• IS/IEC 60079-11
• Methane response time
• Calibration accuracy
• Sensor stability

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⭐ D. Safety Helmets

• Impact test
• Penetration resistance
• Chin strap test
• Shock absorption

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⭐ E. Stretchers

• Load test
• Strap strength
• Fire resistance

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🔹 5. DGMS Documentation Required for Rescue Equipment

• Technical drawings
• User manual
• Installation manual
• BIS license copy
• IECEx/ATEX (if imported)
• QAR/QAN
• Factory QMS (ISO 9001)
• Test certificates
• Performance reports
• Compliance declaration

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🔹 6. Responsibilities of Manufacturer / IAR

• Provide authentic documentation
• Ensure calibration support
• Maintain service centers
• Conduct training for mine rescue teams
• Submit product failure reports
• No unauthorized design modification

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🔹 7. Consequences of Using Non-DGMS Approved Rescue Equipment

❌ High risk of fatalities
❌ Legal action on manager & owner
❌ DGMS mine-closure order
❌ Insurance invalidation
❌ Non-compliance penalties Underground rescue tools must ALWAYS be DGMS approved.

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🔥. 25 MCQs (DGMS Pattern) with Answers

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1) BG apparatus used for —

a) Haulage
b) Rescue operations
c) Pumping
d) Lighting
e) None
Ans: b

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2) Self-rescuer protects against —

a) Water
b) Noise
c) Toxic gases
d) Heat
e) None
Ans: c

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3) Gas detectors used in rescue must be — a) Ex-d
b) Ex-n
c) Ex-ia
d) Domestic
e) None
Ans: c

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4) DGMS issues approval in —

a) Form X
b) Form K
c) Form S
d) Form 3
e) None
Ans: b

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5) PPE helmet must follow —

a) IS 3000
b) IS 2925
c) IS 6000
d) IS 1111
e) None
Ans: b

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6) Self-rescuer must pass —

a) Colour test
b) CO absorption test
c) Noise test
d) Heat test
e) None
Ans: b

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7) BG apparatus is used by —

a) Manager
b) Workers
c) Rescue-trained personnel
d) Watchmen
Ans: c

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8) Stretchers must be —

a) Metallic only
b) Heavy
c) Lightweight & fire-resistant
d) PVC
Ans: c

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9) Importing SCBA requires —

a) Local approval only
b) IAR + IECEx/ATEX + Indian testing
c) GST
d) TDS
Ans: b

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10) Factory audit ensures —

a) Sales
b) Profits
c) Safe manufacturing
d) Transport
Ans: c

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11) Gas detector accuracy is important because —

a) Price
b) Weight
c) Life safety
d) Colour
Ans: c

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12) Ex certification for detectors ensures — a) Water resistance
b) Decoration
c) Explosion safety
d) Noise improvement
Ans: c

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13) Fire rescue requires —

a) O₂ cylinder
b) SCBA
c) Water bottle
d) Rope only
Ans: b

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14) Self-rescuer duration is — 

a) 10 min
b) 30–60 min
c) 1 hr
d) 5 hr
Ans: b

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15) Test for BG apparatus —

a) X-ray
b) Leak test
c) Colour test
d) CT scan
Ans: b

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16) Radar for methane is —

a) Not required
b) Gas detector
c) Fan
d) Lamp
Ans: b

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17) Calibration of detectors must be —

a) Yearly
b) Monthly
c) 5-yearly
d) Optional
Ans: b

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18) IS standard for helmets —

a) IS 1002
b) IS 2925
c) IS 2070
d) IS 3440
Ans: b

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19) Rescue communication must be —

a) Domestic
b) IS/Ex-approved
c) Wired only
d) None
Ans: b

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20) Stretchers must withstand —

a) Small load
b) High load (rescue weight)
c) No load
d) Random load
Ans: b

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21) DGMS rejects self-rescuers if —

a) Colour changes
b) Strap is long
c) CO absorption low
d) Label printed wrong
Ans: c

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22) Field performance report needed for —

a) New company
b) First production
c) Renewal
d) Sales
Ans: c

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23) PPE must comply with —

a) GST
b) BIS standards
c) Private rules
d) Bank rules
Ans: b

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24) SCBA cylinder test —

a) Drop test
b) Crack test
c) Pressure & leak test
d) Hammer test
Ans: c

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25) DGMS ensures rescue equipment is —

a) Cheap
b) Imported
c) Reliable & life-saving
d) Heavy
Ans: c

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                  🔚 Conclusion 

Rescue & life-saving appliances are critical for protecting miners during accidents. DGMS ensures:

• High-quality breathing apparatus
• Accurate gas detectors
• Reliable PPE
• Robust stretchers & communication tools
• Compliance with BIS/IEC/ATEX standards

Every piece of rescue equipment must be DGMS-approved, tested & safe for emergencies.

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