125th Foundation Day of DGMS: Ensuring Safety in Mines

Context

The Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) celebrated its 125th Foundation Day in 2026, reaffirming its commitment to the safety, health, and welfare of mine workers across India.

About the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS)

Introduction: DGMS is the statutory regulatory authority under the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India, responsible for safeguarding the occupational safety, health, and welfare of personnel employed in coal, metalliferous, and oil mines.

Year of Establishment: 1902 – one of India’s oldest institutions dedicated to labour safety.

Head Office: Dhanbad, Jharkhand

Objective: To ensure risk-free and safe working conditions in mines while protecting the health, safety, and welfare of mine workers, guided by the motto “First Safety”.

Primary Roles

• Legal Enforcement: Implements the Mines Act, 1952, and associated rules and regulations; also oversees related legislation such as the Indian Electricity Act as applicable in mining.
• Safety Monitoring: Conducts inspections, audits, and approvals to enforce consistent safety standards in mining operations.
• Hazard Management: Detects workplace hazards, investigates accidents, and recommends preventive and corrective actions.
• Health Supervision: Tracks mine workers’ health, prevents occupational diseases, and manages workplace exposure risks through medical standards and surveillance.
• Training & Awareness: Encourages a culture of safety through training programs, sharing best practices, and integrating modern technologies in mining operations.

Importance

• Worker Protection: Safeguards the lives and livelihoods of workers in a critical and high-risk sector.
• Government Responsibility: Operates under the Central Government as per Entry 55 of the Union List (Article 246).
• Institutional Excellence: Recognised as a Science & Technology institution in 1987, with specialist staff and laboratories for advanced safety oversight.

Source : PIB