📘 Mines Act 1952 – Responsibilities of Managers & Supervisors
The Mines Act, 1952 is the foundation of mining legislation in India. It ensures that mine owners, managers, and supervisors carry out their duties in a safe, lawful, and responsible manner. Under this Act, the Manager is the key statutory person responsible for control, management, and supervision of the mine.
Supervisors and officials assist in implementing statutory provisions, ensuring safe working, and reporting hazards. DGMS (Directorate General of Mines Safety) enforces these responsibilities through inspections, audits, and examinations.
🧑💼 Responsibilities of Managers Under Sections 18, 19 & 23 of the Mines Act, the Manager has full charge of the mine’s operation and safety.
🔹 Key Duties: - Overall control of all mining operations (production, development, maintenance, safety).
- Ensure compliance with Mines Act, Rules, and Regulations (CMR/MMR).
- Provide safe working conditions and welfare amenities for workers.
- Implement Safety Management Plan (SMP) and ensure risk assessments are conducted.
- Supervise statutory appointments — such as overmen, sirdars, and engineers.
- Maintain statutory registers, reports, and returns as prescribed by DGMS.
- Conduct daily inspections and ensure communication of hazards to officials.
- Ensure accident reporting and investigation as per Rule 24 of Mines Rules, 1955.
- Training and supervision: Ensure all workers are trained as per Regulation 8 (CMR) / 13 (MMR).
- Delegation: Can delegate duties but not responsibility — ultimate accountability lies with the manager.
⚖️ Legal Principle: “The mine manager is the legal representative of the owner for ensuring compliance with all statutory provisions.”
👷 Role of Supervisors in Mines Supervisors (Overmen, Sirdars, Foremen, Engineers, etc.) act as link between workers and management. 🔸 Key Responsibilities: - Direct supervision of mining operations and workers.
- Ensure adherence to safety precautions and work procedures.
- Inspect working places before shift commencement.
- Check for gas, roof, and side conditions (in underground mines).
- Report hazards and unsafe acts immediately to higher officials.
- Ensure use of PPE and compliance with DGMS circulars.
- Maintain attendance, work records, and inspection books.
- Stop work if danger is noticed (Section 22).
- Assist manager in implementing safety plans and audits.
- Guide new workers and ensure training attendance.
⚙️ DGMS Exam Relevance
This topic is directly covered in Management & Legislation papers of DGMS exams.
Frequently asked questions include:
- Manager’s legal responsibility.
- Delegation of powers under Mines Act.
- Supervisors’ statutory duties.
- Difference between owner, agent, and manager.
DGMS oral panels often ask scenario-based questions like: “If a sirdar notices roof fall risk, what must he do immediately?”
Answer: Stop work, withdraw persons, and inform the manager.
⚡ Quick One-Liners - Section 18: Manager’s general responsibility for control, management & supervision.
- Section 19: Qualifications of managers.
- Section 22: Power to stop work in case of danger.
- Manager: Legally accountable for safety compliance.
- Supervisors: Responsible for direct control & inspection.
- Delegation doesn’t remove accountability.
- All accidents must be reported to DGMS within 24 hours.
- Manager ensures training & supervision of all workers.
- Daily inspections mandatory for each working district.
- DGMS Circulars reinforce safety implementation.
🧾 Descriptive Model Answer
Q: Describe the responsibilities of mine managers and supervisors under the Mines Act, 1952.
Answer:The Mines Act, 1952 defines the statutory responsibilities of mine management personnel.
The Manager holds overall responsibility for safe operation, statutory compliance, and supervision.
Supervisors ensure daily execution of safety measures, inspection of working places, and hazard communication.
While specific tasks can be delegated, legal responsibility remains with the Manager.
DGMS enforces compliance through periodic inspections and safety audits. In essence: - Manager = control, management, supervision.
- Supervisor = daily execution and monitoring.
🧩 25 MCQs – Mines Act 1952: Manager & Supervisor Duties
Q1. The overall control of a mine under the Mines Act, 1952 lies with:
A. Overman
B. Manager
C. Agent
D. Owner
E. Safety Officer
Answer: B.
Solution: Section 18 gives control to the manager.
Q2. A manager can delegate duties but not:
A. Authority
B. Responsibility
C. Reporting
D. Supervision
E. Inspection
Answer: B.
Solution: Accountability remains with the manager.
Q3. Section 18 of the Mines Act relates to:
A. Workers’ health
B. Manager’s responsibility
C. Accident reporting
D. Welfare
E. None
Answer: B.
Solution: Defines duties of manager.
Q4. Section 19 deals with:
A. Appointment of manager
B. Qualification of manager
C. Powers of DGMS
D. Inspections
E. Accident notices
Answer: B.
Solution: Specifies required qualification.
Q5. Section 22 of the Mines Act empowers a person to:
A. Hire workers
B. Stop work in danger
C. Increase production
D. Approve designs
E. None
Answer: B.
Solution: Workers can withdraw from danger.
Q6. The mine manager is legally responsible to:
A. DGMS
B. Workers only
C. Owner
D. All of the above
Answer: A.
Solution: DGMS enforces statutory responsibility.
Q7. The immediate supervisor in opencast mine is:
A. Sirdar
B. Overman
C. Foreman
D. Surveyor
E. Manager
Answer: C.
Solution: Foreman supervises operations.
Q8. Overmen report directly to:
A. DGMS
B. Manager
C. Engineer
D. Owner
E. Safety Officer
Answer: B.
Solution: Overmen assist the manager.
Q9. A supervisor must inspect working places:
A. Once a week
B. Once a day before shift
C. Once a month
D. Every fortnight
E. None
Answer: B.
Solution: Mandatory daily inspection.
Q10. Accident reporting is required within:
A. 12 hours
B. 24 hours
C. 48 hours
D. 72 hours
E. One week
Answer: B.
Solution: As per Rule 24, Mines Rules, 1955.
Q11. Training and development are ensured by:
A. Owner
B. DGMS
C. Manager
D. Sirdar
E. Inspector
Answer: C.
Solution: Training responsibility lies with the manager.
Q12. Which section empowers withdrawal from danger?
A. 22
B. 18
C. 20
D. 25
E. None
Answer: A.
Solution: Section 22 covers withdrawal from danger.
Q13. Manager must maintain:
A. Attendance register
B. Statutory reports & registers
C. Medical records only
D. Contractor list only
E. None
Answer: B.
Solution: Mandatory under Mines Act & Rules.
Q14. The main function of supervisors is:
A. Planning
B. Financial audit
C. Daily control & inspection
D. Recruitment
E. None
Answer: C.
Solution: Supervisors handle daily supervision.
Q15. Sirdar must check for:
A. Gas, roof, side conditions
B. Wage slips
C. Attendance
D. Machinery spares
E. None
Answer: A.
Solution: Mandatory for safety.
Q16. DGMS stands for:
A. Directorate General of Mine Safety
B. Department of Geological & Mineral Studies
C. Director General of Mineral Science
D. Directorate of Ground Mining Safety
E. None
Answer: A.
Solution: Statutory authority under Ministry of Labour.
Q17. Who is responsible for accident investigation?
A. DGMS Inspector
B. Manager
C. Overman
D. Owner
E. Engineer
Answer: B.
Solution: Manager must investigate and report.
Q18. Supervisor reports hazard to:
A. DGMS
B. Manager or Agent
C. Owner directly
D. Safety Officer only
E. None
Answer: B.
Solution: Chain of command to manager.
Q19. DGMS inspections ensure:
A. Production targets
B. Statutory compliance & safety
C. Bonus checks
D. None
Answer: B.
Solution: DGMS monitors legal safety compliance.
Q20. Daily supervision by supervisors ensures:
A. Target achievement
B. Safety compliance
C. Leave records
D. None
Answer: B.
Solution: Supervisors ensure safety.
Q21. Accident notice is sent to DGMS under:
A. Rule 24, Mines Rules 1955
B. Section 18
C. Section 22
D. Regulation 9
E. None
Answer: A.
Solution: Rule 24 mandates 24-hour reporting.
Q22. The final accountability for safety rests with:
A. Manager
B. DGMS
C. Supervisor
D. Owner
E. None
Answer: A.
Solution: Legal responsibility lies with manager.
Q23. Managers must ensure compliance with:
A. Mines Act
B. Rules & Regulations
C. DGMS Circulars
D. All of the above
Answer: D.
Solution: Must comply with all statutory instruments.
Q24. Supervisors can stop work:
A. Only if approved by DGMS
B. In case of immediate danger
C. During shift end
D. After manager approval
E. None
Answer: B.
Solution: Authorized to act in emergencies.
Q25. The relationship between manager & supervisor is:
A. Legal & operational
B. Informal
C. Non-reporting
D. Financial only
E. None
Answer: A.
Solution: Supervisors assist manager in operational control.
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