48th Mining Safety Week Concludes with Emphasis on Zero Accidents and Safe Mining Practices

"Safety and health are our top priorities": R.T. Mandekar
- 250 awards distributed based on safety standards across various mines
- Promoted awareness for zero accidents and safe mining practices

Udaipur, : The 48th Mining Safety Week concluded under the aegis of the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS). The ceremony, held at the Udaipur Cement Works in Dabok, saw the distribution of 250 awards based on excellence in safe work practices and quality standards among various mines.

The closing ceremony was graced by Chief Guest R.T. Mandekar (Deputy Director General, DGMS) and Jagdish Raj Shrimali (Union Patron, Rajasthan INTUC). The event was presided over by Naveen Kumar Sharma (Managing Director, Udaipur Cement Works). Other notable figures included Coordinator B. Dayasagar, Director (Mines Safety), Udaipur Region, Co-Coordinator Vishal Goyal, Deputy Director (Mines Safety), and Convenor K. P. Singh, Vice President, Mines, Udaipur Cement Works, along with Secretary C.S. Dadhich.

R.T. Mandekar spoke about casualties and innovations in mining, stating, "Our journey began in 1902, and today we have completed 125 years. Back then, the casualty rate was +1 per 1,000 workers, but now it has decreased to just 0.1. We are continuously working towards bringing it to zero. Our primary focus now is on digitization, and our trust is on technology. Safety and health are our core priorities. While safety and health are primarily a central government responsibility, we work together with the state government, as its network is larger and stronger."

Naveen Kumar Sharma, MD of Udaipur Cement Works, highlighted the participation of DGMS officials, including C. Palani Malai (Director, Electrical), Tom Mathew (Director, NWZD), J.P. Verma (Director, Mechanical), Niranjan Kumar (Deputy Director, Mines Safety), Sanket Kumar (Deputy Director, Mechanical), and S. Shankaraiya (Deputy Director, Electrical), along with the owners, agents, managers, and officials from 52 mines. The event also featured 30 product stalls showcasing the offerings of various companies, which were inaugurated by the chief guest.

The event was attended by over 1,000 officials and workers from cement companies in the Udaipur region, Hindustan Zinc, marble mines, soapstone mines, and other mining sectors. To promote safety in mining and recognize excellence, 250 awards were distributed across different categories. The primary goal of the event was to raise awareness about zero harm, zero accidents, and safe mining processes.

Coordinator B. Dayasagar, Director of Mines Safety, shared that the event included executive body meetings and conferences on safety standards in various fields.

It is noteworthy that the program began with the Flag-off Ceremony on 13th October, followed by inspections and trade tests on 11-12 November. Naveen Kumar Sharma, MD of Udaipur Cement Works, expressed gratitude and thanked everyone for their contribution to making the event a success.