**Executive Summary**
The Directorate General of Mines Safety issued notification G.S.R. 575(E) on July 1, 2026, to establish a standardized code of signals for rescue team communication. This notification applies to rescue-trained personnel using breathing apparatus in belowground mines as required under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026. The document mandates immediate compliance with specific hoot-based signals to ensure safety and coordination during rescue operations.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Legal Authority and Scope**
* **Regulatory Basis:** The standards are issued under the powers conferred by sub-rule (3) of rule 152 of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026.
* **Applicability:** These rules apply strictly to rescue-trained persons operating in belowground mines while utilizing breathing apparatus.
* **Purpose:** To provide a clear, standardized communication framework (Code of Signals) for rescue team members during missions.
**Standardized Code of Signals**
* **One Hoot:** Signifies "Distress" or "Help Wanted." If a call receives no answer, it is to be understood as a "Distress" signal.
* **Two Hoots:** Signifies "Halt."
* **Three Hoots:** Signifies "Retire."
* **Four Hoots:** Signifies "Advance."
**Impact Analysis**
**Rescue Trained Persons / Rescue Teams**
**Impact**
Team members are now required to use a specific number of "hoots" to communicate critical movements and emergency status while wearing breathing apparatus.
**Action Required**
Personnel must memorize and strictly adhere to the designated hoot signals (1 for distress, 2 for halt, 3 for retire, 4 for advance) during all belowground operations.
**Mine Management and Facilitators**
**Impact**
Responsible for ensuring that rescue operations and training under their jurisdiction comply with the statutory communication standards.
**Action Required**
Management must incorporate these standardized signals into their safety protocols and ensure all rescue teams are trained in their application as per the 2026 Rules.
Key Entities Referenced
Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026: The primary legal framework under which the specific code of signals for mine rescue teams is mandated.
Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS): The regulatory authority under the Ministry of Labour and Employment responsible for issuing safety standards and notifications for mines.
Ujjwal Tah: The Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator of Mines who exercised powers to specify communication signals for rescue operations.
Belowground mines: The specific operational environment where the rescue team signals and breathing apparatus protocols are applicable.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-जे.एच.-अ.-07072026-274233
CG-JHxx-xEG-0ID7H07xx2x0 26-274233
xxxGIDExxx
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (i)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 517] नई कदल्ली, सोमवार, िलु ाई 6, 2026/आषाढ 15, 1948
No. 517] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, JULY 6, 2026/ASHADHA 15, 1948
श्रम एव ं रोिगार मत्रं ालय
(खान सरु क्षा महाजनदेिालय)
अजधसचू ना
धनबाद, 1 िुलाई, 2026
सा.का.जन. 575(अ).— उपिीजवकािन्य सुरक्षा, स्ट्वास्ट््य और काययदिाए ं (केन्रीय) जनयम, 2026 के जनयम 152
के उप-जनयम (3) के तहत मझु े प्रदत्त िजियों का प्रयोग करते हुए, म,ैं उज्ज्वल ताह, खानों का मुख्य जनरीक्षक-सह-
सुजवधाप्रदाता, जिसे खान सुरक्षा महाजनदेिक के रूप म ें भी नाजमत ककया गया ह,ै एतद्द्वारा बचाव दल के सदस्ट्यों द्वारा
संचार के जलए उपयोग ककए िाने वाल े संकेतों को जनम्नानुसार जनर्ददष्ट करता/करती ह:ूँ
दायरा: ये मानक उपिीजवकािन्य सुरक्षा, स्ट्वास्ट््य और काययदिाए ं (केन्रीय) जनयम, 2026 के जनयम 152 के उप-जनयम
(3) के तहत आवश्यक श्वसन यत्रं का उपयोग करते समय बचाव प्रजिजक्षत व्यजियों द्वारा संचार के जलए उपयोग ककए िान े
वाले संकेतों के कोड को जनर्ददष्ट करते ह।ैं
प्रयोज्यता: य े मानक भूजमगत खानों म ें श्वसन यंत्र का उपयोग करत े समय संचार के जलए सभी बचाव प्रजिजक्षत व्यजियों
पर लाग ू होंगे।
अनुपालन आवश्यकता:
संकेतों की संजहता
5044 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
क. बचाव दल के सदस्ट्यों के बीच
1. एक बार हॉनय बिाना: "संकट" या "मदद चाजहए" (यकद कोई उत्तर न जमल,े तो "संकट" समझा िाना चाजहए)।
2. दो बार हॉनय बिाना: रुकना
3. तीन बार हॉन य बिाना: पीछे हटना
4. चार बार हॉन य बिाना: आगे बढ़ना
[फा. सं. डीिीएमएस/01-5/2026/सोमा (मुख्यालय)]
उज्ज्वल ताह, मुख्य जनरीक्षक-सह-सुजवधाप्रदाता
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(Directorate General Of Mines Safety)
NOTIFICATION
Dhanbad, the 1st July, 2026
G.S.R. 575(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred on me under sub-rule (3) of rule 152 of the
Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026, I, Ujjwal Tah, Chief Inspector-cum-
Facilitator of Mines, also designated as the Director General of Mines Safety, hereby, specify the signals to be used by
members of a rescue team for communication, as follows:
Scope: These standards specify the code of signals to be used by rescue trained persons for communication
while using breathing apparatus, as required under sub-rule (3) of rule 152 of the Occupational
Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026.
Applicability: These standards shall be applicable to all persons rescue trained persons for communication while
using breathing apparatus in belowground mines.
Compliance Requirement:
Code of Signals
A. Between members of rescue team
1. One hoot : “Distress” or “Help Wanted” (if no answer given to call, “Distress” to be understood.
2. Two hoots : Halt
3. Three hoots : Retire
4. Four hoots : Advance
[F. No. DGMS/01-5/2026/SOMA(HQ)]
UJJWAL TAH, Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator of Mines
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.