Rule 151: Duties of leader below ground
Reviewed by Finin2min Editorial Desk · Last reviewed 30 August 2026
Rule 151 — Governs duties of leader below ground and the rights, duties, powers or procedure expressly stated in this rule. Key operative text: (1) The leader (i) shall not be engage in manual work.
Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026 were finally notified under G.S.R. 345(E), 8 May 2026. The Central Rules must be read with the Code and any later amendment/corrigendum.
Finin2min analysis — operative rule mechanics
Operative clauses
- (1) The leader (i) shall not be engage in manual work.
- (ii) shall give attention solely to directing the team and to maintaining its safety.
- (iii) shall examine the roof and supports during the journey and if there is any likelihood of fall at any place along the roadway, then, the leader shall not proceed further until the team has made the place secure.
- (2) The leader shall keep the team together and shall not allow any member of the team to stray.
- (4) If the atmosphere is obscure, the leader shall see that a lifeline is laid in from the fresh air base and shall not allow any member of the team to move out of reach of that lifeline or if that course is impracticable, the leader shall not proceed until every roadway branching of from the route is fenced across the whole opening.
Provisos / explanations
- No proviso/explanation was separately extracted from this rule.
Thresholds & timelines
- (7) The leader shall not permit any member of the team using breathing apparatus in a mine to remain at work at any one time for a period longer than one and half hours or such other period as may be specified by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator in respect of the breathing apparatus being used.
Mapped Code sections
Full notified text — Rule 151
151. Duties of leader below ground.- (1) The leader
(i) shall not be engage in manual work.
(ii) shall give attention solely to directing the team and to maintaining its safety.
(iii) shall examine the roof and supports during the journey and if there is any likelihood of
fall at any place along the roadway, then, the leader shall not proceed further until the
team has made the place secure.
(2) The leader shall keep the team together and shall not allow any member of the team to stray.
(3) If the atmosphere is clear, the leader shall, when passing the junction of two or more roadways,
clearly indicate the route by means of arrow marks in chalk.
(4) If the atmosphere is obscure, the leader shall see that a lifeline is laid in from the fresh air base and
shall not allow any member of the team to move out of reach of that lifeline or if that course is
impracticable, the leader shall not proceed until every roadway branching of from the route is fenced
across the whole opening.
(5) When using rescue apparatus, the leader shall carry a watch, shall record the pressure of the
compressed oxygen at every intervals of twenty minutes and shall commence the return journey in
ample time.
(6) During travelling the leader shall adopt the pace of slowest member and if any member of the
team is in distress, shall immediately return to the fresh air base with the whole team.
(7) The leader shall not permit any member of the team using breathing apparatus in a mine to remain
at work at any one time for a period longer than one and half hours or such other period as may be
specified by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator in respect of the breathing apparatus being used.Application and evidence
- Primary statutory test — (1) The leader (i) shall not be engage in manual work.
- Additional operative limb — (ii) shall give attention solely to directing the team and to maintaining its safety.
- Numerical or timing control — (7) The leader shall not permit any member of the team using breathing apparatus in a mine to remain at work at any one time for a period longer than one and half hours or such other period as may be specified by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator in respect of the breathing apparatus being used.
- Code Section mapping — 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73. Read the mapped provision together with this text rather than treating the concordance as a substitute for it.
- Evidence file — retain facts and records proving the role/status of: Inspector-cum-Facilitator.
Cross-references & prescribed forms
Sections cited/mapped
Forms
No form is directly mapped in the current rule register.
Worked example
For an establishment affected by duties of leader below ground, the compliance owner should identify the applicable sector and authority, document the prescribed control/notice/record and retain inspection or training evidence. A text point to test is: “(7) The leader shall not permit any member of the team using breathing apparatus in a mine to remain at work at any one time for a period longer than one and half hours or such other period as may be specified by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator in respect of the breathing app” Reconcile the mapped Code Section(s) 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73.
Illustrative only. Use the exact notified rule, prescribed form and competent authority.
Q&A — Rule 151
What is Rule 151 of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026?
Rule 151 — Governs duties of leader below ground and the rights, duties, powers or procedure expressly stated in this rule. Key operative text: (1) The leader (i) shall not be engage in manual work.
What does Rule 151 require or permit?
A principal operative clause extracted from the notified rule is: “(1) The leader (i) shall not be engage in manual work.” Read it with all sub-rules and provisos below.
Does Rule 151 contain a proviso or explanation?
No standalone proviso or explanation was extracted from this rule text. Check the complete rule below for clause-level conditions.
What deadline, period, percentage or amount appears in Rule 151?
The rule contains this numerical/time expression: “(7) The leader shall not permit any member of the team using breathing apparatus in a mine to remain at work at any one time for a period longer than one and half hours or such other period as may be specified by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator in respect of the breathing apparatus being used.” Apply it only in its notified context.
Which Code sections are linked to Rule 151?
The current concordance maps Rule 151 to Section(s) 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73.
When did Rule 151 come into force?
The final Central Rules were notified as G.S.R. 345(E), 8 May 2026; Rule 1 states that the Rules come into force on publication. Check any later amendment or corrigendum before reliance.