DGMS Guidelines for Occupational Health Survey of Workers Exposed to Airborne Dust + 25 MCQs

🧾 DETAILED NOTES

1️⃣ Introduction

Mining environments often expose workers to airborne dust, which can lead to serious occupational diseases such as Pneumoconiosis, Silicosis, Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis (CWP), and COPD. To prevent such illnesses, DGMS mandates Occupational Health Surveys and regular medical examinations for workers in dust-prone areas.

2️⃣ Legal Framework

Rule / Standard	Description
Mines Rules, 1955 – Rule 29B	Periodic medical examination (PME)
Rule 29C	Medical standards
Form ‘O’ & Dust-specific formats	Medical documentation
DGMS Circular (Medical)	Dust exposure health guidelines
ILO Classification	Chest X-ray grading for pneumoconiosis

3️⃣ Dust-Prone Areas / Processes in Mines

A) Underground Coal Mines: Drilling & blasting, Cutting/Shearing, Conveyors & transfer points, Loading/Unloading.

B) Opencast Mines: Drilling operations, OB removal, Surface miners, Haul road traffic, Crusher plants.

C) Metalliferous Mines: Stoping, Development drilling, Ore crushing & screening.

4️⃣ Occupational Health Survey – Key Components

Medical History & Dust exposure history
Respiratory assessment
Physical examination
X-ray (ILO Chart Grading)
Spirometry / Lung Function Test
Oxygen saturation test

5️⃣ DGMS Medical Examination Guidelines

1️⃣ Initial Medical Examination (IME): Before posting to dust-prone areas.

2️⃣ Periodical Medical Examination (PME) Frequency:

Every 5 years (general, <45 years)
Every 3 years (high-risk/dust-exposed workers)
Every year (above 60 years)

3️⃣ Fitness Assessment: Medical Officer must certify: FIT, UNFIT, or Fit with restrictions.

6️⃣ Medical Record Maintenance

Mines must maintain: Form O, Additional medical formats (e.g., Respiratory, Audiometry), X-ray database, Lung function test results, and Worker health history. Records must be kept for life of worker + 10 years.

7️⃣ Responsibilities

Role	Responsibility
Manager	Ensures compliance, identify dust-prone workers, arrange IME/PME.
Medical Officer	Conducts examinations, fills all formats, and certifies fitness.
Owner/Agent	Provide medical facilities & equipment (X-ray, audiometer, spirometer).

⚙️ QUICK ONE-LINERS (Revision)

Dust exposure causes pneumoconiosis & silicosis.
IME + PME mandatory for dust-prone workers.
Chest X-ray must follow ILO guidelines.
Spirometry required for lung assessment.
Mine Manager ensures compliance with Rule 29B.
DGMS monitors medical records.
Dust source control (wet drilling) reduces risk.
Records kept for life + 10 years.
Use of masks (IS 9473) and wet drilling essential.
High-risk workers examined annually (or every 3 years).

🧩 DESCRIPTIVE MODEL QUESTION & ANSWER

Q. Explain the need for additional formats along with Form ‘O’ in the medical examination of mine workers.

Answer:
Form ‘O’ has been traditionally used for medical examination under the Mines Rules, 1955. However, due to increasing occupational health risks (pneumoconiosis, hearing loss), DGMS introduced additional formats (Ref: Circular 1/2017) to make health screening more comprehensive. These formats include specialized respiratory, cardiac, hearing, and vision assessment sheets. This ensures uniform standards, supports early detection of occupational diseases, and enhances compliance with Rule 29B and DGMS guidelines, ultimately ensuring worker fitness.

🧮 25 DGMS-Based MCQs (5 Options Each)

Q1. Occupational Health Survey is required for workers exposed to:

Solution: Occupational Health Surveys for dust are specifically targeted at workers exposed to airborne respirable dust.

Q2. Rule governing PME:

Solution: Rule 29B of the Mines Rules, 1955, specifically deals with the Periodical Medical Examination (PME) of persons employed in mines.

Q3. Chest X-ray grading follows:

Solution: The International Labour Organization (ILO) classification system is the standard for grading X-rays for pneumoconiosis.

Q4. Common dust disease:

Solution: Pneumoconiosis is the general term for irreversible lung diseases caused by inhaling mineral dust.

Q5. PME frequency for dust-exposed workers (high-risk):

Solution: While the general PME is every 5 years, for high-risk workers (like those in dusty environments), a frequency of every 3 years is often mandated.

Q6. High-risk dust workers (above 60) examined:

Solution: As per DGMS Circular 1/1986, all employees above 60 years of age must be examined annually.

Q7. Dust monitoring requires:

Solution: A gravimetric or personal dust sampler is the standard instrument for measuring respirable dust concentration.

Q8. Medical Officer must certify:

Solution: The purpose of the examination is for the Medical Officer to certify the worker's fitness for duty.

Q9. Silicosis caused by:

Solution: Silicosis is a specific type of pneumoconiosis caused by inhaling respirable crystalline silica (free silica) dust.

Q10. Lung test used:

Solution: Spirometry is the standard test to measure lung function (how much and how fast air can be moved).

Q11. Medical history includes:

Solution: A key part of the occupational health survey is documenting the worker's history of exposure to hazards like dust.

Q12. Mine Manager must:

Solution: The Manager is responsible for identifying hazardous areas/jobs and ensuring workers in them get the required medical exams.

Q13. Records kept for:

Solution: Occupational health records must be preserved for the entire working life of the employee plus 10 years after cessation.

Q14. Pneumoconiosis affects:

Solution: Pneumoconiosis is, by definition, a disease of the lungs caused by inhaling dust.

Q15. Dust can be controlled by:

Solution: Wet drilling is a primary engineering control method to suppress dust at its source.

Q16. PME includes:

Solution: For dust-exposed workers, the PME must include a Chest X-ray and a Lung Function Test (Spirometry).

Q17. Workers must:

Solution: Workers have a responsibility to report any symptoms of ill health (like breathlessness or coughing) to the medical officer.

Q18. DGMS inspects:

Solution: Medical records (like Form O and P) are statutory documents that DGMS inspectors will audit for compliance.

Q19. X-ray view needed:

Solution: The standard view for a chest X-ray for pneumoconiosis screening is Postero-anterior (PA).

Q20. Dust-prone workers include:

Solution: Drilling is a primary operation that generates high levels of respirable dust, making drillers a high-risk group.

Q21. Silica dust common in:

Solution: Metalliferous mines (e.g., quartz, granite, metal ore) often have rock with a high percentage of free silica.

Q22. Coal dust causes:

Solution: CWP, or "Black Lung Disease," is the specific type of pneumoconiosis caused by inhaling coal mine dust.

Q23. Dust masks are:

Solution: A dust mask (respirator) is a form of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Q24. Spirometry measures:

Solution: Spirometry is the standard pulmonary function test (PFT) that measures air volume and flow in the lungs.

Q25. Main purpose of Occupational Health Survey:

Solution: The survey is a medical surveillance tool designed for the early detection of occupational diseases like pneumoconiosis.

🔗 INTERNAL LINKS

Related Topic	Read More On...
PME for 60+	Periodic Examination of Employees Above 60 Years
Health Surveillance	Occupational Health Surveillance Guide
Medical Appeal	Medical Re-examination (Rule 29K)
Dust Diseases	Dust Diseases: Silicosis & Pneumoconiosis

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