Scientific Staff of Indian Railways

SCIENTIFIC STAFFSCIENTIFIC STAFFOFOF

INDIAN RAILWAYSINDIAN RAILWAYS

RAILWAY BOARD DEFINES IN THE

INDIAN RAILWAY CODE FOR THE MECHANICAL DEPARTMENT WORKSHOPS 1991VIDE CHAPTER-I

OF PARA-113 ABOUT C&M STAFF

RESPONSIBILITIES

CHEMIST & METALLURGISTA CHEMIST & METALLURGIST IS USUALLY ATTACHED TO

THE MAJOR WORKSHOPS WITH A TECHNICAL LABORATORY, EQUIPPED TO CARRY OUT ALL THE NECESSARY CHEMICAL & METALLURGICAL TESTS. HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR QUALITY CONTROL ON MANUFACTURING AND OTHER OPERATIONS IN THE WORKSHOPS AND SHEDS INVOLVING SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE OF MODERN CHEMICAL AND METALLURGICAL TECHNIQUES KEEPINGIN VIEW THE MAXIMUM OUT TURN OF WORKSHOPS.

• MOST OF THE ANALYTICAL WORK REQUIRED BY THE RAILWAYS IS CARRIED OUT BY HIM IN ADDITION TO HIS NORMAL DUTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE WORKS IN THE SHOPS TO WHICH HE IS ATTACHED

• They are carrying out failure analysis of components used in Rolling stock and advising the necessary correction and prevention action to avoid such premature failure.

• They are also involved in standardisation of new materials used for rolling stock manufacture extending their helping hand in QMS & EMS etc.,

ADDITIONAL DUTIES PERFORMED

• Chemical & Metallurgical staff of production units & Zonal Rlys are engaged mainly in quality control activities in raw material stage, Process stage and finished stage.

• Apart from this their work involves in passenger safety adoption of new technology and trouble shooting activities in production units.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES PERFORMED

ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ISO-14001/2004.Measuring and Monitoring environment around the factory as per the stipulations of Pollution control BoardMeasuring & monitoring of Ambient Air QualityMeasuring & Monitoring of Quality of stack GasesMeasuring & Monitoring of ambient Noise levelMeasuring & Monitoring of Water quality.Testing of Sewage water.Identification of Hazardous wastes, segregate, keep under lock & key. Operation & Maintenance of Trade Effluents generated, as per the stipulations of Pollution Control Board.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES PERFORMED

ADDITIONAL DUTIES PERFORMED

• In the present scenario, to cope up with the recent Globalization changes, the C & M Staff are carrying out additional duties in the field of

• QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM-ISO-9000Preparation of Quality manuals and all the related

documents.PQR Process Qualification ReportProcess ValidationConduct Periodical Internal auditsSubjecting all the related works for External audits.Ensure nil Non- Conformities in the field of work

ADDITIONAL DUTIES PERFORMED

OHSAS - Occupational Health & Safety Assessment BS-18001/2007Work place measurement of Sound level, Reduce sound level in the high noise zone by Engineering methods, advise wearing of PPEs, Send the employees for a periodical medical checkup.Welding fumes analysis Heat stress monitoringIntensity of LightChecking of Paint fumes - VOC - Volatile Organic Compounds. Monitoring of Air quality inside the workshops.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES PERFORMED

Testing of Welders performance.Drafting of Paint specifications and conducting of numerous trials.Assessing of Paint firm’s for Zonal Railways and Production units.Testing of safety items like AXLES, WHEELS, SPRINGS, DRAW GEAR ITEMS Etc.Testing of Plastics, Rubbers, Nylon, Glasses,

compreg ply wood, Fire retardant properties of various materials.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES PERFORMEDPROCESS CONTROL ACTIVITIES

Testing of 100% spring Steel bars & Springs for sub-surface cracks.Testing of 100% Axles, Wheels, by MPI method.Testing of 100% Bogie frames welding joints by Radiography.Testing of high speed diesel oil and releasing of Diesel engine in time.Involved in the production of BIO-DIESEL in certain Railways.Usage of Bio-diesel in many Railway vehicles.The safety vital and passenger amenity components are being tested as required by the Railway Board. It has been identified in Mechanical and Electrical put together 333 nos. of safety components, 308 nos. of vital components and 45 nos. of passenger amenity components are being tested periodically by C&M staff.

TRAINING

Owing to the nature of work, this is the Owing to the nature of work, this is the only department , where all the staff are only department , where all the staff are sent for training /refresher Courses at sent for training /refresher Courses at RDSO/ LKO & IRIMEE/ JAMALPURRDSO/ LKO & IRIMEE/ JAMALPUR

Specialised training in the field of Specialised training in the field of welding, industrial radiography, paint, welding, industrial radiography, paint, ISO 9000/14000/18000 were taken ISO 9000/14000/18000 were taken from BARC/Mumbai, BHEL/Trichy , TUV from BARC/Mumbai, BHEL/Trichy , TUV etc.,etc.,

• “The metallurgical & chemical organisation of Indian Railways functions as a back bone of entire quality control and preventive maintenance exercise of all the Engineering departments. “ ( Railway Board’s Management service letter Dec/2000)

• The total staff strength is approximately 1700 only in the entire Indian Railways, distributed in 15 major Zonal Railways, 7 production units, 30 Diesel sheds and 10 Electric loco sheds across the country.

• Since this organization is placed under Non-technical/miscellaneous category, the benefits given to the other mechanical department counter parts has been deprived. (e.g.: Railway boards letter No. E (GP) 2003/2/22 Dt: 16.06.2003 up gradation of 80% of group ‘B’ post of all major departments, procedure for allotment of higher scales

QUALIFICATION & POSTS IN THE C & M Organization Entry Grade for Chemical & Metallurgical Asst Gr-IIin the revised SCPC is Rs9300-34,800/- with the Grade pay of 4200/- is Degree in Science.Lateral entry for Engineering Degree in Chemical / Metallurgy OR M.Sc in Chemistry as Chemical & Metallurgical Asst Gr-I are also placed in 9300-34,800/- in the grade pay of 4200. ( Other Engineering Degree holders are placed in the Grade pay of 4600)Chemical & Metallurgical Supdt Gr-II and CMS-Gr-I

are placed in 9300-34,800/with Grade pay of 4600 only.

Income to Railways• By testing the above mentioned

safety, vital and passenger amenity items the C&M organisation certifies crores of Rupees worth of materials every year for ensuring safety of passengers, and also Lakhs of rupees every year revenue is generated by way of test charges on rejected materials

TOTAL STAFF STRENGTH

Total supervisory strength is 1700 only in the entire Indian RailwaysCMA Gr-II -10% ---- 170 NosCMA Gr –I -20% ---- 340 Nos CMS Gr-II - 33% --- 561 Nos CMS Gr-I - 37% --- 629 NosAssistant Chemist & Metallurgist Group-B- 56(In zonal Rlys& Production units)Group-B officer’s in RDSO - 46

• Even materials tested & certified by agencies like RITES are retested by C&M staff and there have been number of cases where such materials have been rejected which proves precision in testing by C&Mstaff

PERFORMING TENSILE TEST

•

OPERATING BAIRD’S SPECTROMETER

Chemical Analysis under acid & alkali fumes Environment

OPERATING WEATHER-O-METER

Ash content testing

EVALUATION OF WELDING

SETTING OF BOGIE FRAME FOR RADIOGRAPHY (Gamma Ray)

MPI TESTING OF SPRING STEEL BARScarrying out 100% tests

Fire retardant test

Income to Railways• By testing the above mentioned

safety, vital and passenger amenity items the C&M organisation certifies crores of Rupees worth of materials every year for ensuring safety of passengers, and also Lakhs of rupees revenue is generated by way of test charges on rejected materials

Since this department is placed in the unorganized sector, i.e. “NON-TECHNICAL / MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY” the primary importance to be given for an Organization has been deprived. Placing the technical person in the unorganized sector is unjustified. Hence it is demanded that the C&M Staff should be declared as Quality Assurance wing of Mechanical department

DEMANDSCMA Gr-II & CMA Gr-I ARE TO BE PLACED IN THE SCALE OF Rs 9300-34,800/- WITH THE GRADE PAY OF Rs 4600/.CMS Gr-II & CMS Gr-I ARE TO BE PLACED IN THE SCALE OF Rs 15,600- 39,100 WITH THE GRADE PAY OF Rs 5400 Gazetted.The designations of C&M staff shall be redesignated as SE(C&M), SSE(C&M) similar to that of production/design staffThe C&M Organization should be declared as Quality Assurance Wing of Mechanical Department, under Organized Category.This C&M Organization should be expanded at the top level.

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