Under the provisions of Mines act 1952 and rules/ regulations made there under, the officers of The Directorate General of Mines Safety periodically inspect the mines under their jurisdiction to assess the safety standards and to create self auditing of safety practices as per the recommendations of conferences. As per recommendations of these conferences, Safety Weeks were to be celebrated in all the mines once in a year which will promote safety awareness at different levels and improve standards.
In Karnataka celebrating the safety week started around 1968-69. The mines in Karnataka decided to have a permanent body to organize safety weeks instead to temporary committees being formed every year, thus Mines Safety Association got formed under the leader ship of Late Shri. Mohanty the then Manager of Hutti Gold Mines. The name of Mines Safety Association was later renamed as Mines Safety Association Karnataka known as MSAK. Initially Mines Safety Association Karnataka had 5 Zones namely Bellary-Hospet Zone, Gulbarga Zone, Central Zone and Kudremukh -Donimalai Zone & Hutti-KGF Zone.

Officials of Directorate General of Mines Safety having the jurisdiction of the mines in Karnataka, guide MSAK in organizing inter mines competitions and conducting final day function. Performance is rated and honoured with rolling trophy and mementoes. Such valuation is done topic wise and then on aggregate. Simultaneously, workers were tested for their skill and safety awareness in their category of function and awarded prizes.
The main aim of establishing such a professional body (MSAK) is to spread the safety awareness among the professionals & workers working in mines situated in Karnataka and part of Andhra Pradesh(coming under the purview of official of DGMS having their office inside Karnataka

Initially Mines Safety Association Karnataka had 5 Zones namely Bellary-Hospet Zone, Gulbarga Zone, Central Zone and Kudremukh-Donimalai Zone & Hutti-KGF Zone.
Later the zones has been re-organized during 1982 under the guidance of Mr. P. Dharma Rao, than DMS of Oorgaom. Mr. Agarwal of NMDC was Chairman of MSAK.

Zone – I (Bellary – Hospet Mines)
Zone – II (Gulbarga, KIOCL/NMDC & Hutti Mines)
Zone – III (All Central Zones Mines – Chitradurga, Tumkur, Bangalore)

40 years of Service to Mining community: The Mines Safety Association Karnataka is an apex association in spreading the safety awareness to the professionals & workers working in Mining and its related industries scattered in Karnataka and part of Andhra Pradesh. The association is stepped into the 40 year of its continuous service to the mining fraternity with great zeal and enthusiasm in strengthening the industry which is the backbone for the nation’s industrial growth.
On completion of 40 years of service to the mining fraternity MSAK organized Second National Seminar on “Challenges in the changed scenario of Mining” on 12th & 13th September 2009 at J.N. Tata Auditorium, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore under the chairmanship of Sri. Ajay Saraf, Managing Partner, RBSSN, Hospet.
MSAK leaves no stone unturned in spreading the safety awareness among the mining fraternity along with the latest technology, equipment etc., through Seminars, Workshops, Safety week celebrations, Training programmes to the different cadres in the mining industry. Translation of MMR 1961 in Kannada language and Producing Safety films in Kannada and Hindi languages was undertaken under the chairmanship of Mr. Narendrakumar A. Baldota. The production of Safety films got good response from the mine workers because it impacted live examples happened in the mining industry and it has also appreciated by the mining professionals. MSAK has also encouraging the best talents in the mining industry by conducting trade tests and awarding them in the final day function of safety week every year.

Change in Jurisdiction of DGMS
Due to New Zone (Southern Zone) of DGMS is created at Bangalore with more districts of Karnataka & Kerala State. However, Gulbarga district is excluded. Under guidance of Mr. Sen Gupta, DDG, Southern Zone, revised the zones of MSAK as follows:.

Zone-1 : Bellary District.
Zone-2 : Bagalkot, Raichur, Koppal, Gadag, Haveri & Davanageri districts.
Zone-3 : Chitradurga, Shimoga, Tumkur, Udupi, Chikmagalore, Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Hassan, Kolar, Bangalore – Urban, Bangalore – Rural, Mandya, Mysore, Chamarajnagar & Ramanagar districts.
Zone-4 : Kurnool & Ananthapur District of A.P.,

Subsequently, the zones are redefined as under,
MSAK Zonal Jurisdiction
Zone-I Zone-II Zone-III Zone-IV
1 Bellary 1 Raichur 1 Chitradurga 1 Bidar
2 Davanagere 2 Bagalkot 2 Tumkur 2 Gulbarga
3 Haveri 3 Koppala 3 Shimoga 3 Yadgir
4 Dharwad 4 Chikkamagalur 4 Kurnool
5 Gadag 5 Hassan 5 Ananthapur
6 Dakshina Kannada
7 Udapi
8 Kodagu
9 Mandya
10 Mysore
11 Chamarajanagar
12 Ramnagara
13 Chikkaballapura
14 Kolar
15 Bangalore Urban
16 Bangalore Rural
17 Krishnagiri TN

Achievements:
First National Seminar on “Scientific & Safe Mining Emerging Challenges”
Production of Safety Film: Surakshita Ganigaarikeya Haadiyalli (Kannada Version) &
Translation & Publication of MMR 1961 in Kannada language:
Second National Seminar on “Challenges in the changed scenario of Mining”

ORGANIZATION SET UP
The association is working under the guidance of DGMS. The Chief Patron is the DDG, Patron is the DMS and the coordinator is DDMS.
The election is conducting for every 2 years of term for the working body consists of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Jt. Secretary & Treasurer and Executive Members for the period of two years.