Identification of hazards in the workplaces of Artisanal mining in Katanga

Abstract

Objective: While artisanal mining takes place in casual framework and with total ignorance of good practices, few studies have focused on the origin of hazards specific to each workplace constitutive of this exploitation facility. Nevertheless, this study is a condition of an efficient occupational health and safety control in this sector. Materials and Method: We took the effort to identify different workplaces, as well as hazards specific to each of them, through the observation and analysis of the tasks, tools and the processes related to their use applied in the Ruashi artisanal mine. Results: The investigated exploitation facility consists of five workplaces: diggers (60% -in charge of mineralized gangue recovery); crushers; washers; hand-made furnace workers (in charge of various treatment processes); and loaders (in charge of packing the obtained material). Beside the risks common to these various workplaces and ensuing notably from the lack of hygiene and working in bad positions, operating in underground galleries, in particular, exposes diggers to the risks connected with collapsing parts of the mine, suffocation, dehydration or fine particles in the breathed air. Crushers are especially exposed to traumatism risks, notably ocular, and loaders are exposed to risks related to handling heavy loads. These risks are connected with the mining processes because, in spite of the similarity of tools, they appear less often in other forms of artisanal exploitation described in literature. It is notable in the case of crushing in sawed gas bottles where ocular trauma risk is decreased. It was also shown that humidification of work surface reduces dust particles emission into the air. Conclusions: Hazards identification, through a tools and processes description, has the advantage of providing information on reducing the occurrence of these risks. It shows that this reduction is not necessarily a consequence of the activity mechanization degree.

Environmental Health and Safety Hazards of Indigenous Small-Scale Gold Mining Using Cyanidation in the Philippines

“…These are exposure to dust (silicosis); exposure to mercury and other chemicals; effects of noise and vibration; effects of poor ventilation (heat, humidity, lack of oxygen); and effects of overexertion, inadequate work space, and inappropriate equipment. 14 In Congo, miners who were involved in crushing were exposed to trauma and injury risks, whereas those who were involved in loading were exposed to handling heavy loads. 14 In South Africa, mining took place in very restricted places with low ceiling heights and high thermal heat loads and required large physical work.…”

Saúde do trabalhador e riscos ocupacionais na mineração

“…Analisar o impacto que o tamanho e tipos de empresas de mineração tem sobre os acidentes laborais, esforçando-se para criaruma estrutura reflexiva sobre os acidentesorganizacionaisem uma perspectivaestrutural Conforme os autores 20,23,27,31, , são muitos os riscos presentes no processo de trabalho na mineração.…”

“…Considerando os fatores de riscos na mineração, que são variáveis e presentes nas mais distintas atividades do setor 20,23,27,31, , os autores destacam os químicos, físicos, biológicos, ergonômicos, de acidentes e até os psicossociais. Outros estudos [5][6][8][9][10][11][12][13] corroboram com a assertiva ao considerarem que a mineração é uma atividade marcada pela exposição a diversos agentes causadores de enfermidades.…”

Fatores ergonômicos, psicossociais e riscos no trabalho na mineração informal

“…Contemplando os riscos ergonômicos, autores (COSTA et al, 2014;SOUSA et al, 2014;APUD, 2012;ELENGE;BROUWER, 2011;NERY;ALVES, 2011;SOUSA; ALCHIERI, 2011; DÍAZ; ABRIL; GARZÓN, 2010) destacam que sua presença na mineração parece inevitável, pois são comuns: exagerado esforço físico, uso continuado de escadas, quebra manual de pedras, elevação e carregamento de peso, utilização e transporte de ferramentas pesadas, posturas inapropriadas ao desempenhar o trabalho, tarefas desenvolvidas sobre máquinas e bancos inadequados, ritmos excessivos, trabalho monótono e repetitivo, jornadas prolongadas e trabalho em turnos. Tais peculiaridades corroboram com o surgimento de lesões, como as doenças osteomioarticulares relacionadas ao trabalho.…”

“…Em relação aos demais fatores de riscos, tem-se os de acidentes (pelas operações com veículos e máquinas, ambiente físico e processos organizacionais), os físicos (iluminação e ventilação inadequadas, temperaturas elevadas, umidade e ruído permanente), os químicos (exposição a poeira e contato com diversas substâncias químicas) e os biológicos (ambiente higiênico-sanitário deficiente e o manejo de águas não tratadas) (LENNÉ et al, 2012;ELENGE;BROUWER, 2011;NERY;ALVES, 2011; DÍAZ; ABRIL; GARZÓN , 2010; MOULIN; MORAES, 2010; PATTERSON; SHAPPELL, 2010).…”