Rules 60 and 61 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.
Rules 60 and 61 sit under the heading "Mines" in the Central Rules. Rule 60 requires every mine employer to get every employee, including contract labour, medically examined before employment and every year after. Rule 61 says that if the employer provides residential facilities, they must be at a safe distance from the dangerous parts of the mine.
Under rule 60, the employer of every mine must ensure a medical examination of every employee employed or to be employed, including contract labour, before employment and every year. Contract labour must get medical facilities at par with regular employees. A dispute may be referred to the appellate medical board constituted under the Rules. Under rule 61, any residential facility the employer provides must be at a safe distance from opencast workings, pits, shafts, dump yards, stock piles, unstable workings, wells and oil mine installations.
The parent provision in the Code
Section 24(1)(vi) of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (the OSH Code) lists among welfare facilities, "in case of mines, medical examination of the employees employed or to be employed in the mines, before their employment and at specific intervals". Rule 60 fixes the interval at every year. Our section 24 explainer covers the wider list of welfare facilities.
The Central Rules apply where the Central Government is the appropriate Government. Read the Code's definition and our section 2 article on appropriate Government to see who it is for your mine. Where the State Government is the appropriate Government, the State's own OSH rules apply. A labour law compliance review can confirm which regime covers each of your mines.
Rule 60: medical examination
Rule 60 has three clauses.
| Clause | What it requires |
|---|---|
| (i) | Medical examination of every employee employed or to be employed in a mine, including contract labour, before commencement of employment and subsequently every year |
| (ii) | Contract labour to be provided medical facilities at par with regular employees |
| (iii) | In a dispute under clause (i), the matter may be referred to the appellate medical board constituted under the Rules |
Before employment. The examination comes before a person starts. A mine employer cannot put a new entrant underground or on the surface and examine later. The rule says "employee employed or to be employed", so it covers those about to join.
Every year. Clause (i) says "subsequently every year". The rule does not say from which date the year runs. A sound practice is to tie the examination to the joining date or to a fixed calendar month and keep a schedule.
Contract labour. The phrase "including contract labour" makes plain that the mine employer, not only the contractor, carries this duty. Clause (ii) repeats the point for facilities: contract labour must be given medical facilities at par with regular employees. Our definitions article on contract labour explains the contractor and principal employer roles.
Disputes. Clause (iii) allows a dispute about the examination to go to the appellate medical board constituted under the Rules. The rule does not say who may refer, in what time, or in what form. If a worker disputes a finding, find the relevant provision of the Rules on the board before acting, and do not assume a limit.
Cost. Rule 60 is silent on cost. Section 6(1)(g) of the Code says no charge may be levied on an employee for anything done or provided for safety and health, including medical examination and investigation for detecting occupational diseases. See our section 6 explainer.
How rule 60 fits with rule 5 and the medical officer rules
Rule 5 of the Central Rules deals with annual health examination for dock work and construction employees who have completed forty years of age, and for mines it says additional tests and conditions of annual examination are governed by Rule 109. So for a mine, read rule 60 here together with Rule 109. Our rule 5 article explains the pointer. The Rules also deal with the appointment and duties of a medical officer; see our rules 81 and 82 article.
Rule 61: residential facilities
Rule 61 is one sentence. A residential facility, "if any", provided by the mine employer, must be at a safe distance from the active working area of opencast workings, pits, shafts, dump yards, stock piles, unstable workings, wells and other installations in oil mines, for workers including contract labour.
Three observations:
- The rule does not oblige the mine employer to provide residences. It says "if any". It controls where they may be.
- The rule does not fix a distance in metres. "Safe distance" is a standard to be met and, if challenged, shown. Record how you chose the location, for example a layout plan with hazard zones marked.
- Contract labour is expressly included, so contractor labour camps that the employer provides or controls need the same check.
Practical examples
Example 1. A mining company engages 80 contract workers through a contractor. The mine employer includes them in the pre-employment medical schedule, keeps the certificates, and schedules their annual re-examination in the joining month.
Example 2. A worker is found unfit at the pre-employment examination and disputes it. The employer does not engage him pending the outcome and checks the route to the appellate medical board in the Rules.
Example 3. A mine employer plans a colony near a dump yard. Because rule 61 requires a safe distance from dump yards and stock piles, the employer moves the plan upwind and away from the active area and files the layout.
Compliance checklist
- Maintain a list of every employee and contract worker with the date of last examination.
- Examine before engagement, then every year.
- Give contract labour the same medical facilities as regular employees.
- Document the safe distance for any residential facility.
- Read Rule 109 for additional annual tests for mine employees.
Need help with mine and contract labour compliance?
If you operate mines with a mix of direct and contract workers, tracking examinations, certificates and residential layouts can be difficult. Our team can review your records against the Code and the Central Rules. Start with our labour law compliance service.
Key takeaways
- Rule 60 requires medical examination of every mine employee, including contract labour, before employment and every year.
- Contract labour gets medical facilities at par with regular employees.
- Disputes may go to the appellate medical board constituted under the Rules.
- Rule 61 requires any residential facility to be at a safe distance from the listed hazard areas.
- Rule 109 governs additional tests for mine employees.
Read next
- Section 24 of the OSH Code: welfare facilities in the establishment
- Rule 5: annual health examination of employees
- Rules 62 and 63: living accommodation and medical facilities
- 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.