Silicosis Disease

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 1356
ANSWERED ON: 25.07.2022
Silicosis Disease
Dushyant Singh
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENTbe pleased to state:-

(a)whether the Government has any nationwide policy on prevention and treatment of Silicosis disease, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(b)the details of the protocols followed in identifying the persons with silicosis and deaths occurred due to silicosis especially in mining areas of the country;

(c)whether the Government has any proposal to notify silicosis as an epidemic, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d)the details of the States which have notified silicosis as an epidemic;

(e)whether the Government is providing any rehabilitation for the deceased person’s family, if so, the details thereof; and

(f)the details of the number of deaths occurred due to silicosis in the country till now, State-wise?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

(SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a): The Government has enacted the Factories Act, 1948 and the Mines Act, 1952 to ensure occupational safety, health and welfare of the workers employed in the factories and the mines respectively. The provisions of the Factories Act and rules framed thereunder are enforced by the respective State Governments / Union Territories. Measures taken by Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) to prevent silicosis and other dust related diseases to the persons employed at the mines are as follows:

Contd..2/-:: 2 ::

  • Wet drilling.
  • Periodic monitoring of dust levels at workplace.
  • Personal Dust Exposure profile using Personal Dust Samplers.
  • Use of Dust mask and Dust respirator as Personal Protective Equipment.
  • Initial Medical Examination before employment and Periodical Medical Examinations of persons employed in mines at an interval of 5 years.
  • Occupational health survey;
  • Regular Awareness Campaign among the mine owners and mine workers regarding causes and prevention of Silicosis and other dust related diseases.

(b): The details of protocols followed in identifying the person with silicosis and deaths occurred due to silicosis especially in mining areas of the country are as under:

(i) As per the section 9A of the Mines Act 1952, the Chief Inspector or an Inspector or other officer authorized in this behalf may undertake the safety and occupational health survey in a mine to identify the persons with silicosis or any other occupational diseases.

  1. ii) As per provisions of the Section 25 of the Mines Act 1952, if any person employed in the mines contracts any notified disease including Silicosis, the Owner, Agent or Manager of the Mine send Notice to Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) in appropriate form.

iii) Rule 29B of Mines Rules, 1955 provides for health status of workers employed in a mine to be checked at the time of first employment and periodical medical examination at every five years intervals. Periodic medical examination or the chest x- ray examination or both are conducted at more frequent intervals if the examining authority deems it necessary to confirm a suspected case of a dust related disease.

(c) & (d): Silicosis is specified/ notifiable disease in the Third Schedule of the Factories Act, 1948 and the notified disease in the Mines Act, 1952.

Contd..3/-:: 3 :(e): Compensation for silicosis affected person is given under Workmen Compensation Act, 1923 by the Mine Management. There also provisions to protect the interest of labourers affected by the notified diseases under the Mines Act, 1952. The mine owners are required to comply with provisions viz. to provide alternate employment in the mine for which the workmen is medically fit, disability allowance determined in accordance with the rates prescribed etc.

(f): The details of death occurred due to silicosis in the country are not maintained centrally in the Ministry of Labour & Employment.