Section 22 of Mines Act : Section 22: Powers Of Inspectors When Causes Of Danger Not Expressly Provided Against Exist Or When Employment Of Persons Is Dangerous

Explanation using Example

Imagine a scenario where an Inspector visits a coal mine and notices that the support beams in one of the tunnels are severely weakened, posing a significant risk of collapse. The Inspector, invoking Section 22(1) of The Mines Act, 1952, issues a written notice to the mine's manager, detailing the dangerous condition of the support beams and specifying a timeframe within which the issue must be addressed to prevent potential harm to the miners.

If the mine manager fails to act on this notice within the given time, the Inspector could then employ Section 22(1A) to prohibit the employment of any non-essential personnel in the affected area of the mine to ensure safety while the necessary corrective actions are taken.

In the event of an immediate danger, such as the discovery of a gas leak that could lead to an explosion, the Inspector could use Section 22(3) to issue an urgent order prohibiting work in the endangered section of the mine until the risk is mitigated.

During this period, as per Section 22(3A), the workers who are prohibited from working due to these safety concerns would still be entitled to their full wages, unless the mine manager can provide them with alternative employment at equivalent pay.

If the mine manager disagrees with the Inspector's assessment or the issued notice, he can appeal to the Chief Inspector under Section 22(4) within ten days, seeking a review of the decision.

While these actions are taken to ensure safety, the Inspector must report all notices and orders to the Central Government as per Section 22(5), maintaining transparency and accountability.