Enhancing the health, safety, livelihoods, and general well-being of those who work and reside in these mining communities is the goal of the project, which is led by the International Occupational Medicine Society Collaborative (IOMSC) and funded by the Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM).
According to World Bank estimates, 100 million people (1) labor in the industry globally, extracting minerals and metals using simple instruments frequently without the necessary safety precautions or equipment. Additionally, miners and their families are exposed to pollutants and toxic risks due to the lack of separation between living and working areas, which can result in fatalities as well as significant illnesses such as silicosis, TB, and chronic respiratory and cardiovascular ailments.
Professor Dingani Moyo, FRCP; FFOM; MFOM; MOHS; MAppMgnt. President of the Zimbabwe Society of Occupational Medicine (ZISOM) and IOMSC member said: “Uncontrolled mercury use and exposures are a common feature. I have dealt with many ASMs with mercury poisoning who have excessive memory loss, aggressive behaviors, and tremors. There is also a very high burden of silicosis due to poor knowledge, prevention of exposures, and lack of adequate and effective respiratory protection. I have seen many young ASMs with very advanced stages of silicosis and the level of suffering is intense in this population”.
The number of miners is unknown and probably greater than estimates because ASM is distant and frequently illegal. Premature death, injury, and illness patterns are also not well documented. This data gap must be closed to design and implement health and safety initiatives.
NEBOSH’s investment will fund the project’s initial phase, during which members of occupational medical societies from Brazil, Columbia, Zimbabwe, and Uganda will conduct research to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the situation. A worldwide steering group will use the results to help determine important concerns and regions that require attention.
Andy Shenstone, NEBOSH Chief Executive, added: “By investing in this crucial project, we are helping to lay the groundwork for long-term improvements in the health, safety, and livelihoods of artisanal and small-scale miners. This initiative highlights our dedication to supporting some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.”
