Mining and miners

All workers at a mine are potentially at risk from exposure to dust. This includes surface workers as well as underground workers.

Mining is considered the world’s most dangerous occupation. A combination of lack of resources, lack or non-application of safety regulations, lack of awareness, illiteracy, lack of training, inadequate equipment, and remoteness of locations point to the likelihood of more accidents in small-scale mining operations than in larger, more formal, mines.

According to ILO there are five major health risks in small-scale mining and processing:

• Exposure to dust
• Exposure to mercury and other chemicals
• Noise and vibration
• Effects of poor ventilation (heat, humidity, lack of oxygen)
• Effects of over-exertion, inadequate work space and inappropriate equipment

Additionally, hygiene is normally a problem. Since most small-scale mines are located in remote areas, they often lack adequate sanitation services thus making the miners vulnerable to waterborne diseases such as malaria, dysentery and typhoid fever.

As dr William Howlett pointed out in the video, miners are at risk of developing silicosis. Workers who suffer from silicosis are even more susceptible to infections such as tuberculosis. Miners are also at risk of developing other lung diseases such as chronic obstructive lung disease, coal workers pneumoconiosis and even cancer, due to their exposure to stone dust.

View the stories of workers engaged in various sectors of the mining industry within these videos: