The Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) on February 04, 2026, issued the Draft Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Metalliferous Mines) Regulations, 2026.
The draft Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Metalliferous Mines) Regulations, 2026 issued by the Ministry of Labour and Employment lays down a comprehensive framework to regulate safety, health, and working conditions in metalliferous mines across India (excluding coal and oil mines). Issued under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, the regulations define key mining terms, operational standards, and safety mechanisms to ensure systematic supervision, risk control, and worker protection in mining operations.
A major component of the regulations establishes a structured system of certification, training, and competency requirements for mine personnel. A Board of Mining Examination is constituted to conduct examinations and grant certificates for roles such as managers, surveyors, mining supervisors, blasters, and winding engine operators. The rules prescribe minimum educational qualifications, age limits, medical fitness standards, and mandatory practical experience for each role. Certificates may be suspended or cancelled in cases of negligence or misconduct, and strict fitness requirements apply to officials, especially those above certain age limits.
The regulations also define administrative and management responsibilities within mines. Mine owners must appoint qualified agents, managers, engineers, surveyors, ventilation officers, and supervisors based on mine size and operations. Detailed provisions govern supervision of machinery, electrical systems, ventilation, and workforce deployment across shifts. Authorities such as Inspectors-cum-Facilitators are empowered to oversee compliance, enforce safety standards, and ensure proper documentation of appointments and operational changes.
Additionally, the framework mandates formal procedures for mine operations, including notification requirements for opening, closing, abandoning, or reopening mines, submission of safety management plans, and reporting changes in ownership or management. These provisions aim to strengthen regulatory oversight, improve accountability, and ensure that mining activities are conducted with high standards of safety, operational control, and worker welfare.
Objections and suggestions, if any, may be addressed to Shri Ravishankar Nirala, Under Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Room No: 17, Shram Shakti Bhawan, Rafi Marg, New Delhi or by email ([email protected] and [email protected]) within a period of 45 days from the date of its publication.
[G.S.R. 109(E)]
