Ranchi, Oct. 4: Attention to small details and seemingly simple steps mean safety of life and limb in underground mines.

This piece of advice came from deputy director general of mines safety Arvind Kumar, who inaugurated a three-day workshop on Safety Awareness, Crisis Management and Mock Drill at Sawang in Kathara mining area of Central Coalfields Limited today.

Citing the example of a model slipping on the ramp during a fashion show recently, Kumar explained, “That model slipped as she was not careful about her footstep. Just like that, while working in an underground mine one has to be very particular about small safety measures, which if ignored can result in disaster.”

Some small measures include properly fitting the miner’s cap, being alert to unusual sounds and keeping a track on water seeping from coal seams.

He added, accidents like the one in which a labourer Manglu Mahto died of asphyxiation when he entered a fenced off sump area and got stuck in silt at Ray Bachra underground mine on April 3, 2004 could well have been avoided.

Since 2005, CCL mines have not recorded any serious mining accident, particularly fatal accidents.

Motivated by already reduced incidents of mining accidents, the management has been organising workshops on safety in mines to remind the miners and mining officers of the need to be careful of small details and the importance of preventive measures while operating in underground mines, the company spokesman Deepak Kumar said.

Experts advised the 60 mining personnel attending this workshop to imbibe the lessons and pass it on to their colleagues as it will spread awareness of the safety measures among the mining community.

Senior CCL officials, including chief general manager (safety) T.B. Mitra attended the opening day of the workshop, which will conclude on October 6 with mock drills in safety measures and rescue operations.