DGMS(Tech)/Circular No.11                              /Dhanbad, Dated the 8^th November, 2001.

To

Owners of All

Coal and Metal Mines.

Sub:     Safe practice of repairing Hydraulic System in boom of Side

            Discharge loader.

            A fatal accident took place in a below ground coal mine using side discharge loader under the following circumstances.

            While a mechanical fitter was engaged in repairing the spring loaded cartridge valve of lift cylinder of a side discharge loader by working underneath it without locking  the same but resting it on a single vertical wooden sleeper, the load cartridge valve flew off causing sudden lowering of the bucket breaking the sleeper and inflicting serious bodily injuries which proved fatal.

            The enquiry revealed that had the bucket boom been kept secured in lift position by locking arrangement so provided and had the unsafe method of using wooden sleeper to support the bucket in lift position not been followed, this accident could have been averted.

            The practice of supporting the bucket in lift position by wooden sleeper is in vogue in many mines and is within the knowledge of many supervisors and engineers and yet this practice is allowed to continue against the interest of safety, therefore it is necessary to stop this practice forthwith.

            It is requested that while repairing the hydraulic system in the boom or nearby area care shall be taken to keep the bucket in the floor as far as practicable or otherwise the boom shall be locked by the locking arrangements provided by the manufacturer and such arrangements all be kept readily available in the machine at all times. These steps will help in preventing recurrence of such accidents in future.

                                                                                                 ( A. K. RUDRA )

                                                                                    Director-General of Mines Safety