Every safety programme at a mine is measured against one simple standard: everyone who comes to work should go home the same way. "Zero harm" is the name for treating that as a design requirement rather than an aspiration.
Who regulates mine safety in India
Mine safety in India is overseen by the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), under the Ministry of Labour and Employment. DGMS administers the Mines Act, 1952, and the regulations made under it, including the Metalliferous Mines Regulations that apply to mines such as bauxite and iron ore. It inspects mines, investigates accidents, approves equipment and sets requirements for training and competent persons.
DGMS norms are the minimum. A zero-harm practice treats them as the floor and builds on top.
The main hazards at an open-cast mine
| Hazard | Typical controls |
|---|---|
| Slope and bench failure | Designed bench heights and slopes, regular inspection, extra checks during the monsoon |
| Vehicle interactions | Haul-road rules, separation of people and heavy vehicles, speed limits, berms on road edges |
| Falls from edges | Safety berms and barriers along bench edges and stockpiles |
| Dust | Water sprays on haul roads and stockpiles, protective equipment where needed |
| Machinery | Guarding, lock-out before maintenance, trained and authorised operators |
| Heat and monsoon | Work planning around weather, drainage, rest and water |
Everyday practices that make the difference
- Training before work. Every person on site is trained for their role and the site's hazards, with refreshers over time.
- Daily pre-start checks on machines and work areas, with authority to stop if something is wrong.
- Clear authority on the ground, through supervisors and competent persons as required by regulation.
- Near-miss reporting without blame, so problems are fixed before they hurt someone.
- Personal protective equipment: helmets, safety footwear, high-visibility clothing and others as tasks require.
- Housekeeping, because tidy benches and roads are safer benches and roads.
Safety is part of the mine plan
Many of the biggest safety decisions are made before the first shift: bench heights, road gradients, where people and vehicles cross, where water will drain in the monsoon. Planning these into the mine design, rather than managing them afterwards, is what makes zero harm achievable. See how the bench method works.
What it means at Minequor
Safety is part of how our mine is planned, not an afterthought. We follow a zero-harm workplace practice in full compliance with DGMS norms. You can read more on our sustainability and safety page.
Why buyers care
A safe mine is a reliable mine. Incidents stop production, delay shipments and damage the reputation of everyone in the supply chain. For buyers with their own responsible-sourcing commitments, a supplier's safety culture is part of what they are buying.