Assessing the safety and health practices in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector of Ghana: A case of Ntotroso

Mensah, Samuel Kofi; Siabi, Ebenezer K.; Donkor, Peter; Kuranti, Napoleon

doi:10.1016/j.envc.2022.100443

Cited by 14 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…However, with a rise in foreign mining investments in Ghana's mining lands such as Obuasi, following Ghana's Economic Recovery Programme (ERP), these land covers were drastically affected as they had to make way for mining operations; Obuasi was not exempted in this pursuit [9]. Therefore, from small indigenous mining operations into the situation and operation of an MNC which has continent-wide representation in gold-endowed lands, Obuasi (Adanse) has come a long way [10,11]. Despite mining communities sometimes deriving some benefits from mining operations by these MNCs, Awudi [1] argues that the tradeoff is generally more costly to these communities, and UNECA [12] claims that the changes that occur as a result of mining make people living within and/or around mining communities like Obuasi more vulnerable to social, health, and environmental impacts [3,4,9].…”

Section: Review Articlementioning

confidence: 99%

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Review on Effects of Mining in Ghana: The Case of Obuasi Municipality

Kwaning

Atteh²

2022

ARJASS

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The mining industry has been crucial to the development of Ghana. As with all industries, mining has both advantages and disadvantages for the inhabitants of mineral-rich communities. The manner in which these environmental and health effects are managed by the government, neighboring communities, and mining companies can either worsen or improve the quality of life for community residents. It appears that land degradation, environmental pollution, and numerous socioeconomic issues have been major concerns for Ghanaian communities practicing small-scale mining. The majority of these negative effects are the result of regulatory agencies' failure to adequately oversee the mining industry. This paper looks at the effects of mining in Ghana, especially in the Obuasi Municipality. It does this by looking at the history of mining in Ghana (Obuasi), the regulatory actors along the mining value chain, and some important lessons about mining.

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Section: Review Articlementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Patients at the AGC hospital in Obuasi were found to have signs of arsenic poisoning. This was traced back to the company's mineral processing operations, which released pollution into the air [10].…”

Section: Health Effects Of Mining In Ghana (Obuasi)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Review on Effects of Mining in Ghana: The Case of Obuasi Municipality

Kwaning

Atteh²

2022

ARJASS

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“…However, ASGM is a poverty-driven, informal, and undercapitalised sector with a low degree of professionalism [ 5 ]. Research has indicated the lack of comprehensive occupational health and safety management in ASGM which is correlated to occurrences of accidents and injuries [ 19 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. Smith, therefore, argues that ASM (which includes ASGM) should be prioritized as a high-risk sector requiring public health interventions including initiatives on occupational health and safety [ 30 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accidents, Injuries, and Safety among Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners in Zimbabwe

Singo

Isunju

Moyo

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) employs 14–19 million people globally. There is limited research on accidents, injuries, and safety in Zimbabwe’s ASGM. This study investigates the prevalence of accidents and injuries, as well as the associated risks and existing safety practices. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among artisanal and small-scale gold miners. Data from 401 participants were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The prevalence of accidents and injuries was 35.0% and 25.7%. Accidents associated with experiencing injuries included mine collapses and underground trappings. The major injury risk factors were digging, blasting, being male, being 18–35 years old, crushing, and the underground transportation of workers and materials. Injuries were reported highest among the miners working 16 to 24 h per day. Participants had heard about personal protective equipment (PPE). There was training and routine inspections mainly on PPE use. Mine owners and supervisors were reported as responsible for OSH, which was mainly PPE use. Practices including the use of wire winch ropes and escape routes were rare. There was ignorance on underground mine shaft support. The mining regulations that had the potential to introduce comprehensive safety controls were not adaptable. We recommend applicable health and safety regulations for Zimbabwe’s ASGM.

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“…It is estimated to employ 13 million people globally, and an additional 80 -100 million people are directly reliant upon or impacted by ASGM [19] [20]. This concerns most of the West African countries [21]. A recent investigation conducted in West Africa suggested in general that artisanal-mining activities are a source of trace metals to wetlands, with negative consequences on human health [22] [23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Côte d'Ivoire, ASGM has been increasingly developed since the outbreak of the sociopolitical crisis of September 19, 2002. Although ASGM attracts rural populations through the incomes it provides, however, documentation of its environmental consequences remains more fragmented. A few studies have investigated metal contaminations in lagoons during gold-mining activities [21] [23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure of Mercury from Gold Ming Area: A Case Study in Tendo and Aby Lagoon in Côte d’Ivoire

Claon¹,

Kouassi²,

M’bassidje³

et al. 2022

JEP

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Lagoons of West African countries are seriously threatened by rapid artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) that exposes lagoons to mercury pollution. In this study, the mercury level in the sediments of the Tendo and Aby lagoons in Côte d'Ivoire had been evaluated. A total of 87 samples from 25 stations located on Tendo and Aby lagoons were analyzed by atomic fluorescence spectrometry. The mean Hg concentrations obtained in the sediments of Tendo and Aby lagoons were 0.89 ± 0.26 mg•kg −1 and 0.70 ± 0.18 mg•kg −1 , respectively. Hg concentrations evaluated in the bays of Tendo and Aby during the dry season were 1.38 ± 0.45 mg•kg −1 and 1.07 ± 0.31 mg•kg −1 , respectively. The minimum and maximum total Hg concentrations in the sediments from 25 stations were 0.04 and 3.56 mg•kg −1 , respectively. Mercury contamination in lagoons during ASGM poses risks of pollution for the lagoon ecosystem and also poses health risks for the population living near these lagoons.

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Assessing the safety and health practices in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector of Ghana: A case of Ntotroso

Cited by 14 publications

References 22 publications

Review on Effects of Mining in Ghana: The Case of Obuasi Municipality

Review on Effects of Mining in Ghana: The Case of Obuasi Municipality

Accidents, Injuries, and Safety among Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners in Zimbabwe

Exposure of Mercury from Gold Ming Area: A Case Study in Tendo and Aby Lagoon in Côte d’Ivoire

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Assessing the safety and health practices in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector of Ghana: A case of Ntotroso

Cited by 14 publications

References 22 publications

Review on Effects of Mining in Ghana: The Case of Obuasi Municipality

Review on Effects of Mining in Ghana: The Case of Obuasi Municipality

Accidents, Injuries, and Safety among Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners in Zimbabwe

Exposure of Mercury from Gold Ming Area: A Case Study in Tendo and Aby Lagoon in C&#244;te d’Ivoire

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Exposure of Mercury from Gold Ming Area: A Case Study in Tendo and Aby Lagoon in Côte d’Ivoire