Hazards and Control Measures among Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners in Zimbabwe
Background: In 2017 around 14–19 million miners were exposed to multiple hazards in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). ASGM is characterized by basic and compromised mining methods with either very limited control of hazards or none at all. There is little knowledge about health and safet...
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Ubiquity Press
2022
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| author | Singo, Josephine Isunju, John Bosco Moyo, Dingani Steckling-Muschack, Nadine Bose-O’Reilly, Stephan Mamuse, Antony |
| author_facet | Singo, Josephine Isunju, John Bosco Moyo, Dingani Steckling-Muschack, Nadine Bose-O’Reilly, Stephan Mamuse, Antony |
| author_sort | Singo, Josephine |
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| description | Background: In 2017 around 14–19 million miners were exposed to multiple hazards in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). ASGM is characterized by basic and compromised mining methods with either very limited control of hazards or none at all. There is little knowledge about health and safety among artisanal and small-scale gold miners in Zimbabwe.
Objective: This study explores the interaction between hazards, control measures, and health and safety in Zimbabwe’s ASGM.
Methods: Triangulation and mixed methods were applied using standardized questionnaires, Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA), focus group discussions (FGDs), and summary notes from in-depth interviews (IDIs). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, regression analysis, and thematic analysis.
Findings: Quantitative data were collected through HIRA, which was conducted on 34 mining sites. 401 participants, selected through multi-stage sampling, were assessed through standardized questionnaires. Qualitative data was collected through six FGDs, and existing summary notes from 84 IDIs. The most prioritized hazards from the questionnaires were silica dust, noise, and workplace violence as indicated by 238 (62.0%), 107 (26.8%), and 104 (26.7%) respondents (respectively). HIRA identified noise, dust, unsafe shafts, violence, poor sanitation, and poor hygiene as key hazards requiring urgent attention. A key finding of this study was the poor application of the hierarchy of controls in managing workplace hazards. After adjusting for confounders, association with experiencing health and safety challenges was working underground (AOR = 2.0, p = 0.03), workplace violence (AOR = 3.3, p = 0.002), and long working hours (AOR = 2.8, p = 0.019). Injuries and fatalities were common without mitigation strategies.
Conclusions: ASGM in Zimbabwe is characterized by underground mining, long working hours, and workplace violence. The poor application of the hierarchy of controls is characterized by increased workplace injuries and fatalities. We recommend following the hierarchy of control measures in ASGM: elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, and personal protective equipment. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | My University |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publisher | Ubiquity Press |
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| spelling | ir-11408-49702022-07-15T13:02:28Z Hazards and Control Measures among Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners in Zimbabwe Singo, Josephine Isunju, John Bosco Moyo, Dingani Steckling-Muschack, Nadine Bose-O’Reilly, Stephan Mamuse, Antony Artisanal and small-scale gold mining Health and safety Hazards Control measures Health and safety in Zimbabwe’s ASGM Background: In 2017 around 14–19 million miners were exposed to multiple hazards in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). ASGM is characterized by basic and compromised mining methods with either very limited control of hazards or none at all. There is little knowledge about health and safety among artisanal and small-scale gold miners in Zimbabwe. Objective: This study explores the interaction between hazards, control measures, and health and safety in Zimbabwe’s ASGM. Methods: Triangulation and mixed methods were applied using standardized questionnaires, Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA), focus group discussions (FGDs), and summary notes from in-depth interviews (IDIs). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, regression analysis, and thematic analysis. Findings: Quantitative data were collected through HIRA, which was conducted on 34 mining sites. 401 participants, selected through multi-stage sampling, were assessed through standardized questionnaires. Qualitative data was collected through six FGDs, and existing summary notes from 84 IDIs. The most prioritized hazards from the questionnaires were silica dust, noise, and workplace violence as indicated by 238 (62.0%), 107 (26.8%), and 104 (26.7%) respondents (respectively). HIRA identified noise, dust, unsafe shafts, violence, poor sanitation, and poor hygiene as key hazards requiring urgent attention. A key finding of this study was the poor application of the hierarchy of controls in managing workplace hazards. After adjusting for confounders, association with experiencing health and safety challenges was working underground (AOR = 2.0, p = 0.03), workplace violence (AOR = 3.3, p = 0.002), and long working hours (AOR = 2.8, p = 0.019). Injuries and fatalities were common without mitigation strategies. Conclusions: ASGM in Zimbabwe is characterized by underground mining, long working hours, and workplace violence. The poor application of the hierarchy of controls is characterized by increased workplace injuries and fatalities. We recommend following the hierarchy of control measures in ASGM: elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, and personal protective equipment. 2022-07-15T13:02:28Z 2022-07-15T13:02:28Z 2022 Article Singo, J., Isunju, J.B., Moyo, D., Steckling-Muschack, N., Bose-O’Reilly, S. and Mamuse, A., 2022. Hazards and Control Measures among Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners in Zimbabwe. Annals of Global Health, 88(1), p.21. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5334/aogh.3621 2214-9996 DOI: https://doi. org/10.5334/aogh.3621 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4970 en Annals of Global Health;88(1): 21, pages 1–18 open Ubiquity Press |
| spellingShingle | Artisanal and small-scale gold mining Health and safety Hazards Control measures Health and safety in Zimbabwe’s ASGM Singo, Josephine Isunju, John Bosco Moyo, Dingani Steckling-Muschack, Nadine Bose-O’Reilly, Stephan Mamuse, Antony Hazards and Control Measures among Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners in Zimbabwe |
| title | Hazards and Control Measures among Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners in Zimbabwe |
| title_full | Hazards and Control Measures among Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners in Zimbabwe |
| title_fullStr | Hazards and Control Measures among Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners in Zimbabwe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hazards and Control Measures among Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners in Zimbabwe |
| title_short | Hazards and Control Measures among Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners in Zimbabwe |
| title_sort | hazards and control measures among artisanal and small-scale gold miners in zimbabwe |
| topic | Artisanal and small-scale gold mining Health and safety Hazards Control measures Health and safety in Zimbabwe’s ASGM |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4970 |
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