Risk Factors for the Number of Sustained Injuries in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Operation

Occupational accidents in mining workers: scoping review of studies published in the last 13 years

OBJECTIVE

Mining activity represents one of the most hazardous occupations related to health, with 8% of fatal injuries concentrated in this sector worldwide. Thus, it is crucial to timely identify the factors involved in such injuries. We aimed to explore the sociodemographic and occupational/organisational factors associated with injuries, causative agents and subsequent disabilities and fatality of workers exposed to occupational injuries in the mining sector.

DESIGN

A secondary scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines.

DATA SOURCES

Scopus, Embase, Virtual Health Library, SciELO and PubMed databases were searched in February 2022 and updated in October 2023. The protocol was developed in April 2022.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES

We included observational studies published within the last 13 years (2010-2022) which provided information on injuries of the mining workers and reported associated factors as well as health consequences.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Two independent reviewers examined the eligibility criteria, screened and coded the extracted information using prevalidated data extraction tools, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-Extension for Scoping Reviews reporting guidelines.

RESULTS

A total of 123 studies were found, of which nine were selected for inclusion in this review. Participants were between 15 and 80 years old, and the rate of injuries ranged from 4.4% to 10.6% of reported cases. Among the total selected studies, mechanical agents were identified as the leading cause of injuries in six studies. The factors associated with injuries included age, gender (female) and biochemical characteristics. On the other hand, occupational and organisational factors encompassed work shift, outsourcing (contractors) and less than 2 years of experience in the sector.

CONCLUSION

This review emphasises that both work-related and individual characteristics are significantly related factors of injuries. Moreover, commonly reported health consequences of injuries encompass mortality, average days lost and permanent, partial or total disability.

Health Screening Strategies for Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners for Tuberculosis, Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Silicosis: A Case of the USAID-Supported Kunda Nqob'iTB Project in Zimbabwe

Artisanal and small-scale mining is characterized by excessive exposure to physical, chemical, ergonomic, psychosocial and biological hazards. There is a high burden of tuberculosis (TB), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections and silicosis among artisanal and small-scale miners (ASMs). The aim of this project report is to describe lessons learned from strategies implemented to reach ASMs with screening services for TB, HIV and silicosis in Zimbabwe through the Kunda-Nqob'i TB (KNTB) project supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The intervention package for screening ASMs for TB, HIV and silicosis included service provision through two occupational health clinics at two provincial hospitals and a mobile workplace-based screening (WBS) facility at the mining sites. From 1 October 2020 to 30 September 2023, 10,668 ASMs were screened, with a high number of cases of silicosis (21%) and TB (7.4%). There was a high burden of HIV (30%) in ASMs attending the occupational health clinics. The two occupational health clinics screened 3453 ASMs, while the mobile WBS activities screened 7215 ASMs during the period. A total of 370 healthcare workers (doctors/clinical officers, nurses, environmental health technicians and district tuberculosis and Leprosy control officers) were trained on TB and the fundamental diagnostic principles of silicosis. The KNTB project has been successful in reaching out to many ASMs operating in remote and hard-to-reach mining areas. The KNTB project has brought to light the positive health-seeking behavior of ASMs operating in remote areas. The project has brought to the fore the effectiveness of multi-stakeholder engagement and collaboration in reaching out to ASMs in remote areas with health screening services. There is a high burden of TB, HIV and silicosis in ASMs. Screening for TB, HIV and silicosis using workplace-based screening and occupational health clinics is an effective strategy and should be rolled out to all areas with high artisanal and small-scale mining activity.

Nonfatal Occupational Injuries Among Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining Workers in Ethiopia

Background

Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) is widely practiced in Ethiopia. Injuries are among the public health concerns in the mining sector. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of nonfatal occupational injuries and associated factors among workers in ASGM in Ethiopia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design was employed from April to June 2020. A total of 403 participants were selected with a simple random sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was utilized for the data collection. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the information and binary logistic regression was applied to test the association. Predictor variables with P-value < .05 with an Odds ratio of 95% CI in multivariable analysis were considered as associated factors.

Results

A total of 403 participants were interviewed with a response rate of 95.5%. The prevalence of nonfatal occupational injury was 25.1% in the past 12 months. About one-third of the injuries, 32 (31.7%), were on the upper extremity and feet, 18 (17.8%). Symptoms of mercury toxicity (AOR: 2.39, 95% CI [1.27-4.52]), 1 to 4 years of work experience (AOR: 4.50, 95% CI [1.57-12.9]), full work shift (AOR: 6.06, 95% CI [1.97-18.7]), and job in the task of mining activities (AOR: 4.83, 95% CI [1.48-15.7]) were associated with the injury.

Conclusion

A substantially high prevalence of injuries was observed. Work-related factors were found to be significantly associated with the occurrence of injury. The government body, mining sector, and workers are advised to apply interventions focusing on the improvement of working conditions and safety practices to minimize injury.

Health and Safety Risk Mitigation among Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners in Zimbabwe

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is often associated with no or compromised attention to health and safety. Although headlines of fatal accidents in Zimbabwe characterise ASGM, little attention is paid to prevention strategies. This study, therefore, explores health and safety risk mitigation in ASGM in Zimbabwe to inform prevention strategies. A qualitative design was used with focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. Data were analysed using thematic analysis, coding, and descriptive statistics. Reported factors contributing to compromised health and safety included immediate causes, workplace factors, ASM related factors, and contextual factors, with interconnectedness between the causal factors. In addition, factors related to ASGM were significant. For risk mitigation, formalisation, organisation of risk reduction, behaviour change, and enforcement of prevention strategies is proposed. A multi-causal analysis is recommended for risk assessment and accident investigation. A multi-stakeholder approach could be considered for risk mitigation including community and public health interventions. However, risk mitigation has been characterised by gaps and weaknesses such as lacking ASM policy, lack of capital, poor enforcement, negative perceptions, and non-compliance. Therefore, we recommend addressing the threats associated with health and safety mitigation to ensure health and safety protection in ASGM.

Miners’ experiences and perceptions of environmental and safety regulations: Statistical evidence from Ebonyi State, Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Concerns have been raised about compliance with environmental and safety regulations during mining activities. OBJECTIVE: The study assessed miners’ experiences and perceptions of environmental and safety regulations, in addition to comparing their experiences and regulatory perceptions. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design was adopted for data collection from field miners in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. RESULTS: Findings show that miners still experience environmental pollution and serious injuries during mining activities, notwithstanding regulatory visits. Miners’ perceptions of environmental regulatory requirements and their perceptions of safety regulatory requirements had more non-significant correlations, while miners’ environmental and safety experiences had significant relationships with their perceptions of environmental and safety regulatory requirements. Nonetheless, environmental and safety regulations were perceived in different ways by miners based on important regulatory requirements. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates the importance of using a practical approach in managing environmental and safety issues during mining activities in a developing country like Nigeria.

Contributing effects of individual characteristics, behavioural and job-related factors on occurrence of mining-related injuries: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Occupational health and safety (OHS) is a complex system due to its three components, namely human, technological and organizational factors. The interplay between the three systems causes workplace accidents and, subsequently, injuries. The body of research currently available demonstrates a disparity in the focus on contributors that cause mining-related injuries beyond the presence of hazards.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this paper was to systematically review and synthesise peer-reviewed published studies that have investigated whether certain individual characteristics, behavioural factors and job-related factors predict mining-related injuries.

METHODS

Databases were searched and peer-reviewed publications from 2004 to 2020 were retrieved and analysed. Only 24 from 3073 identified articles were retained for review and synthesis following careful screening. Most identified studies were either cross-sectional or case-control studies, and they were rated as moderate-to-good quality.

RESULTS

The review results showed that there is a diverging view in relation to risk factors that cause mining-related injuries. Some publications suggested that old age, male miners, married miners, less educated miners, less experienced miners, alcohol and drug usage, poor working conditions, poor management or supervision, job dissatisfaction and job stress predict injury events while other studies found contradictory relationships or insignificant statistical associations.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the fact that studied risk factors have been well-established in other industries, there is a significant gap in mining that needs further examination. It is imperative that health and safety intervention strategies are devised and implemented for vulnerable groups.

Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Hospital Midwives in Chenzhou, Hunan Province, China and Associations with Job Stress and Working Conditions

Background

Midwives have a high risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), which are the leading cause of pain and disability. However, the association between job stress and WMSDs among midwives has not been studied. The aim of this project was to specifically describe relationships between the job stress and WMSDs among a sample of hospital midwives in Chenzhou, Hunan Province, China.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study among a sample of 769 eligible midwives in the city of Chenzhou in Hunan Province, China from May 2018 to January 2019. All participants completed a questionnaire regarding the presence and severity of different pain symptoms and job stress assessed by the Korean occupational stress scale.

Results

A total of 597 participants responded (77.6%), and 491 (82.2%) reported that they had experienced WMSDs at some time over a 12-month period. The most common pain site was low back (72.7%), followed by the neck (52.8%) and shoulders (42.7%). We revealed that various aspects of job stress were associated with WMSDs in the current study, namely “Owing to my workload, I always feel time pressure” (OR, 2.05; 95% CI: 1.28–3.28), “My job has become increasingly overbearing” (OR, 2.34; 95% CI: 1.46–3.77), “My work requires long lasting concentration” (OR, 3.50; 95% CI: 2.13–5.74), “I have to do various jobs simultaneously”, (OR, 3.15; 95% CI: 1.93–5.14)), “My work requires creativity” (OR, 2.15; 95% CI: 1.31–3.54), “My work requires a high level of skill or knowledge” (OR, 2.83; 95% CI: 1.67–4.80), “My supervisor is helpful in getting the job done” (OR, 0.53; 95% CI: 0.33–0.84), “I have someone who understands my difficulties at work” (OR, 0.53; 95% CI: 0.34–0.85), “Undesirable changes (ie, downsizing) will come to my job” (OR, 3.28; 95% CI: 2.01–5.77), “My company provides me with sufficient organizational support” (OR, 0.47; 95% CI: 0.29–0.74), “Departments cooperate each other without conflicts” (OR, 0.50; 95% CI: 0.32–0.80), “I am provided with the opportunity to develop my capacity” (OR, 0.57; 95% CI: 0.36–0.91) and “My company climate is authoritative and hierarchical” (OR: 3.21; 95% CI: 1.97-5.23).

Conclusion

Overall, this study suggests that job stress has an important influence on WMSDs among a sample of hospital midwives in Chenzhou, Hunan Province, China. Given the multifaceted nature of identified risk, a comprehensive approach to reduce this risk is clearly required and a job stress management program will be essential.