Rules 144 to 147 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Rule 144 lists what a manager must do at once when an emergency may need a rescue team, and who directs the rescue. Rule 145 requires accommodation and water for rescue workers, rule 146 controls who may enter an unsafe mine, and rule 147 sets up a fresh air base with a defined list of people and equipment.
On receiving information of an emergency likely to need a rescue team, the manager (or the principal official at the surface) must immediately inform the rescue room or station, summon rescue trained persons, alert nearby mines, tell the station about the nature of the occurrence, summon medical assistance and inform the Inspector-cum-Facilitator. All rescue work is under the manager's control, direction and supervision. Only rescue trained persons may enter wearing self-contained breathing apparatus, and entry to an unsafe mine needs the manager's authority. A fresh air base must be set up in fresh air, near the irrespirable zone, before rescue persons go beyond it.
Context
These rules take the rescue arrangements of rules 123 to 143 into the live emergency. See our rules 140 to 143 article. They sit under section 72 of the Code, which allows the Central Government to prescribe rescue and recovery services; see our sections 71 to 73 article. A labour law compliance review can test your emergency plan against these steps.
The Central Rules apply where the Central Government is the appropriate Government. Where the State Government is the appropriate Government, the State's own OSH rules apply.
Rule 144: duties of the manager in an emergency
144(1). On receiving information of any emergency likely to require the services of a rescue team, the manager, "or in absence of manager, the principal official present at the surface", shall immediately:
| Clause | Action |
|---|---|
| (i) | Inform the rescue room or rescue stations serving the mine for necessary assistance |
| (ii) | Summon rescue trained persons employed in the mine |
| (iii) | Inform the owner, agent or manager of nearby mines to make available their rescue trained persons if required |
| (iv) | Inform the rescue station about the nature of the occurrence, stating whether assistance would be needed from the station |
| (v) | Summon medical assistance |
| (vi) | Send information of the occurrence to the Inspector-cum-Facilitator |
144(2). All rescue and recovery work at a below ground mine is conducted "under the control, direction and supervision of the manager of the mine or in absence of the manager, the principal official present at the surface".
Proviso: major emergency. In a major emergency "such as ignition, explosion, underground fire or an accident involving a number of persons", the manager or principal official shall, in taking decisions, take guidance from a group of:
- a senior official of the management;
- a representative of the Director General of Mines Safety;
- a representative of the concerned rescue station; and
- a representative of the recognised Union of the Workers.
The decision still rests with the manager: they "must take necessary decisions and direct the operations as the situation warrants, without waiting for the constitution or deliberations of the said group". So the group advises; it must not delay action.
The rules do not fix a time for "immediately", and they do not prescribe a form for the information to the Inspector-cum-Facilitator. Keep a log with times for each of the six actions.
Rule 145: accommodation and supplies for rescue workers
| Sub-rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 145(1) | Whenever rescue trained persons are engaged in rescue or recovery work at a below ground mine, suitable accommodation for storage and charging of apparatus shall be provided at the mine |
| 145(2) | The accommodation shall be at a convenient place near the entrance in use and shall be properly ventilated and lighted |
| 145(3) | Adequate quantity of cool and wholesome drinking water and food shall be provided for the rescue workers |
The rule does not say who bears the duty; by context it is the mine. Rescue operations may run long (see rule 124(iii) on "long lasting" operations), so food and water plans should be ready before an event.
Rule 146: entry into below ground mines
| Sub-rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 146(1) | No person shall be allowed to enter a below ground mine, or a part of it, which is unsafe, for rescue or recovery work, unless authorised by the manager or by the principal official of the mine present at the surface |
| 146(2) | Only rescue trained persons shall be permitted to enter the mine for the purpose of using self-contained breathing apparatus |
| 146(3) | During rescue or recovery work, a person shall be stationed at the entrance to the below ground mine and shall keep a written record of all persons entering and leaving and the time |
The entrance record is the tally that tells the control point who is underground. Put one person on it at each entrance in use and use pre-printed sheets.
Rule 147: fresh air bases
147(1). The base "shall be established in fresh air, as near to the irrespirable zone or zones based on safety consideration". Every base shall, if possible, be connected by telephone: (i) if the base is below ground, to the surface; (ii) if the base is on the surface, to the shaft bottom.
147(2). Except where delay may result in danger to life, rescue trained persons "shall not proceed beyond any place where a base is to be established until there have been provided at such base":
- two persons, one a qualified medical practitioner if practicable and the other a rescue trained person;
- a spare team with rescue apparatus, ready for immediate service;
- one or more reviving apparatus, oxygen revivers and like apparatus;
- a first aid box and stretcher;
- apparatus for testing carbon monoxide;
- a hygrometer; and
- two flame safety lamps.
147(3). Where persons are already at work beyond the fresh air base, the persons, apparatus and equipment in 147(2) must be provided at the base as soon as possible.
Drafting slip. Rule 147(1) begins "The base shall be established" and does not say which base; the heading "Fresh air bases" and the following sub-rules indicate that it means the fresh air base. Also, rule 147(1) refers to the irrespirable zone "based on safety consideration" without further explanation.
The base is the point where teams are staged, so the list is about readiness: a spare team, medical help, resuscitation kit and gas and humidity tests. It also works with rules 148 to 152 on team leaders, which we cover in our rules 148 to 152 article.
Practical examples
Example 1. A fire is reported at 3 am. The shift manager calls the rescue station, summons the mine's rescue trained persons, informs two nearby mines, summons an ambulance and informs the Inspector-cum-Facilitator, noting each time in a log, as rule 144(1) requires.
Example 2. A senior mine official, a DGMS representative, a rescue-station representative and a union representative are called to guide decisions after an explosion. The manager continues directing the rescue while the group assembles, as the proviso to rule 144(2) permits.
Example 3. A team is ready to go past the base in an irrespirable zone. The base has no spare team yet. Under rule 147(2) the team must wait unless delay risks life.
Need help with emergency response compliance?
An emergency plan that matches the rule list, with logs, rosters and equipment checks, is easier to defend. Our team can review yours against the Central Rules; start with our labour law compliance service.
Key takeaways
- Six immediate actions by the manager or the principal official at the surface, including summoning medical help and informing the Inspector-cum-Facilitator.
- Rescue is under the manager's control; in a major emergency a group advises but the manager must not wait for it.
- Accommodation near the entrance, plus water and food, for rescue workers.
- Entry to an unsafe mine needs authorisation; only rescue trained persons use self-contained breathing apparatus; an entrance record is kept.
- A fresh air base with listed people and equipment must be in place before teams go beyond it, unless delay endangers life.
Read next
- Rules 148 to 152: rescue team leader, apparatus tests and team members
- Rules 140 to 143: selection, training, medical examination and suspension of rescue trained persons
- Rules 153 to 156: second spell of work, employer obligations and power to relax
- Mines Act: safety provisions and DGMS framework
Disclaimer: Based on the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (as enacted) and, where noted, the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026 (G.S.R. 345(E), 8 May 2026), as on 30 September 2026. The Code is in force from 21 November 2025; some provisions may be notified later, and State Governments make their own rules for establishments where the State is the appropriate Government. Verify the current position before acting.