MCL CMD asks to bringing Mining to ‘Zero Harm Level’

Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, Mr Animesh Nandan Sahay has asked the employees of the company to put in consistent efforts to bring coal mining to ‘zero harm level’, as he looks forward from the zero fatality the company recorded in calendar year 2014.  ‘’We have registered zero fatality in 2014, but the accidents in mines are still a cause of concern,’’ Mr Sahay said in his presidential address at the closing ceremony of Safety Fortnight 2014-15 in Talcher coalfields late last evening.

‘’Zero accident is our target,’’ the CMD told officers and the employees of the company, which contribute a quarter of the total production by Coal India. While asking miners to remain always alert to avoid accidents, Mr Sahay also mooted an idea of recording even minor accidents happening in the mines by the miners and sharing same in their social media, so that no mishap goes unnoticed and preventive actions are taken.

The CMD also informed that company is paying special attention for skill development of its workforce, larger part of which includes employees from agrarian background who recruited in lieu of land.

Referring to zero fatality achieved by MCL in 2014, the Chief Guest on the occasion, DGMS Dhanbad Mr Rahul Guha, said it is time to move forward to improve further. Emphasizing on creating general awareness about safety, Mr Guha said self-regulation is the only key to reduce accidents to level zero.

The DGMS stressed on conducting regular training programmes for mine workers, saying that competent workers will be required in view of bigger targets of coal production ahead. Trade Union representatives Mr Sriballav Panigrahi, OCMS (INTUC), Mr A C Patra, OCMLF (HMS), Mr Anit Chakravorty, AITUC, Mr Ajay Biswal, BKKMS (BMS), Mr Suresh Mallick, CISTEA, and President CMOAI Mr Sahad Singh also shared their observations.  The dignitaries also presented annual safety awards to the winners under different categories. Earlier, Mr S RoyChoudhary, General Manager (S&R), MCL, gave the details about activities undertaken by the department.