AM/NS India hosts final day of 42nd Annual Metalliferous Mines Safety Week

By Subrat Sarangi

Barbil, July 15 : ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) hosted the final day of the 42nd Annual Metalliferous Mines Safety Week in Barbil. Organised under the aegis of the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), Bhubaneswar region, the event focused on spreading awareness and enhancing safety standards in the mining sector through inspections, awareness programs, and competitions aimed at promoting safety practices.

With the theme “Viksit Khadan, Viksit Bharat”, the event emphasised the importance of cultivating a safety culture as an essential component of sustainable mining and recognised best practices to encourage continued excellence.

On the final day, the safety flag was hoisted, and balloons bearing safety messages were released by the Chief Guest, Shri Awanish Kumar Mishra, Director of Mines Safety (DMS), Bhubaneswar, Region 1, in the presence of Shri NasinaBalasubrahmanyam, DMS, Bhubaneswar, Region 2, along with Directors and Deputy Directors of DGMS, Shri Alok Kumar Mehta, Director – Mining and Strategic Projects, AM/NS India, Shri Sharnappa Kambalii, Chief of Mining, AM/NS India, and officials from other participating companies. The dignitaries also inaugurated exhibition stalls set up by various mining companies and unveiled a digital souvenir to mark the occasion.

A total of 113 mines including thoseofAM/NS India, OMC, SAIL, Tata Steel, JSW, JSPL, and Vedanta participated in various competitions organised over the past year. The mines were evaluated across categories such as General Working, Mechanical Maintenance, Electrical Maintenance, Drilling, Safety & Statutory Compliance, Training, Health & Welfare, Emergency Preparedness, Mock Drills & Accident Statistics, Innovation & Digitisation, Publicity & Propaganda, and First Aid.

Thakurani Mineof AM/NS India bagged four awards in Mechanical Maintenance, Training, Health & Welfare, Publicity & Propaganda, and Electrical Maintenance. Sagasahi Mine of AM/NS India secured fourawards for General Working, Innovation & Digitisation, Training, Health & Welfare and Publicity & Propaganda. Additionally, Sagasahi Mine also received two awards on the final day – the coveted Overall Performance Award for Safety and for the Best Stall.

Shri Awanish Kumar Mishra, said, “Mining industry has many challenges. To address the challenges, a continuous development in mining operations should prioritize a systematic, modern approach that integrates sustainability. This involves enhancing efficiency and minimizing environmental impact”.

Shri Alok Kumar Mehta, said, “At AM/NS India, we have built a strong safety culture that we are proud of. We continue to implement best practices to ensure the well-being of everyone involved in our operations including associates and contractors. I also commend the guidelines and monitoring systems established by the Directorate General of Mines Safety. They have played a crucial role in reducing mining accidents, across the country.”

Shri Sharanappa Kambalii said, “Safety is a foundational value in AM/NS India. I commend the teams at Thakurani and Sagasahi Mines for their exceptional performance and well-deserved recognition. These achievements reflect our steadfast commitment to creating a culture where safety is deeply embedded in every aspect of our operations.”

While delivering the vote of thanks, Dr. Debabrata Dash, Head – HR (East), AM/NS India, said, “The implementation of robust safety management and comprehensive training are crucial aspects for establishing a strong safety culture in mining.”

The event concluded with Shri Alok Kumar Mehta handing over the Mines Safety Flag to Shri Abanikanta Pradhan, OMC, for hosting the Annual Metalliferous Mines Safety Week in 2025.