Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) mining involves the manual extraction of minerals, often using basic tools and techniques, and artisanal mines can present a wide range of physical hazards to miners which compromise their safety and wellbeing. One component of our project Ushimbaji kwa Kanuni, heshima na Haki (Supporting Responsible and Inclusive Mining Governance) funded by ITSCI Associate Member TPV Technology, focuses on improving occupational health and safety practices in artisanal mining. Field teams carry out multiple trainings on OHS standards for artisanal miners, mining cooperatives, and state services who then work jointly to support risk monitoring and mitigation at ITSCI monitored sites.
The project has proven successful in the identification of particularly problematic sites and practices, and in the promotion of behaviour changes which are essential for sustainable improvements.
Olivier Musimamzi Baguma, artisanal miner since 2009 and team leader of mining cooperative Combecka, works at an ITSCI monitored mine in Nyabibwe, Kalehe Territory, South Kivu Province, where our projet Ushimbaji kwa Kanuni, heshima na Haki is ongoing:
“Before the training, my colleagues and I didn’t pay enough attention to safety in our activities. We faced recurring problems, such as asphyxiation due to poor aeration of wells and risks linked to difficult or unsecured access to wells. These challenges weighed heavily on me as team leader, as the cooperative could not always cover the costs of care in the event of an accident.
After this training, I organised a feedback session with my team and took concrete steps to improve our working conditions. We initiated regular shovelling operations to remove the mining waste responsible for the poor air quality in our shaft. We have also worked with other team leaders to interconnect our shafts, allowing better air circulation and reducing our dependence on hoovers and fuel use.
In addition, we have laid out the paths around the shaft, making access easier and reducing the risk of slipping for miners and transporters. These efforts have not only improved safety but also saved our team money.”
Olivier, now an active member of the Kalimbi mine OHS Committee, still highlighted the persistent challenges posed by the lack of personal protective equipment, particularly helmets, but added that while advocating for safety equipment, they are now doing their best for workstations to be safe.
The ITSCI-TPV OHS project has also brought about significant changes in the management of health, hygiene and safety in Nyabibwe. Olivier Ombeni Bitaneshwa, SAEMAPE (Service d’assistance et d’encadrement des mines artisanales et de petite échelle / Service for Assistance and Supervision of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining organisation) agent explains how OHS training has transformed their working practices.
“Since our training on health, hygiene and safety, we have acquired essential skills and practical tools that facilitate awareness-raising and technical control
activities on sites. Previously, our department lacked the specific knowledge to protect miners, but today we are better equipped to identify and mitigate the risks associated with each workstation. We have learned about risk analysis, personal protection, prevention of asphyxiation in underground galleries, support techniques to prevent rockfalls and landslides, stabilisation of levels in open-cast mining, hygiene in the workplace and first aid procedures, to name a few.
Thanks to the visual aids provided by the project, such as wall posters and simplified pictures, awareness-raising sessions are now more accessible, even for miners with low literacy and reading skills. This visual approach makes it easier to understand the risks and protective measures.”
Risk prevention at mine sites include the signposting at flooded pits to prevent the risk of drowning, the laying of warning tape around wells susceptible of collapse, retaining walls using timber, or stabilising steep slopes through the building of terraces.
From May to October 2024, ITSCI field teams carried out 46 OHS training benefitting 1,280 people including miners, state services, and mining communities. The trainings follow twelve key modules with each module focusing on essential aspects of maintaining health, safety, and hygiene in the mines, including:
General Introduction to Health, Hygiene, and Safety at Work
This module introduces health, safety, and hygiene at work, explaining various terms and definitions used in the field of OHS, ensuring that artisanal miners understand key safe working practices.
Legal Aspects of OHS Regulations
This module covers the legal framework for health and safety in mining, focusing on the Congolese Mining Code and relevant regulations. It emphasises the importance of complying with national and international standards and regulations for safe working conditions.
Risk Analysis
Risk analysis involves identifying and assessing potential hazards in the mines. This module teaches miners how to recognise risks, evaluate their potential impact, and appropriate actions for mitigation.
Risk Register and Assessment
Building on the previous module, this section focuses on the creation of a risk register. It explains how to document identified risks and assess their likelihood and severity, ensuring that proper safety measures are implemented and monitored to reduce hazards effectively.
Communication Strategy
Effective communication is critical for safety in the workplace. This module emphasises the importance of clear and efficient communication among miners, supervisors, and other stakeholders to report risks, share information, and respond to emergencies.
Personal Protection
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential to safeguarding miners’ health. This module looks at the proper selection, use, and maintenance of PPE, such as helmets, gloves, boots, and respiratory protection, to prevent injuries and illnesses.
First Aid
First aid training is vital for responding to accidents. This module covers basic first aid techniques, including how to treat common mining-related injuries and how to provide immediate care until medical help arrives.
Underground Ventilation
Proper ventilation is crucial for maintaining air quality and preventing health risks or accidents such as respiratory illnesses and asphyxiation in underground mines. This module discusses the importance of adequate ventilation systems and how to ensure they are functioning properly.
Underground Woodwork
This module addresses the safety practices related to woodwork, such as timbering and support structures used in tunnels and shafts. It provides guidelines for maintaining safe and stable environments to prevent collapses and other structural hazards.
Hygiene at Work
Hygiene is a fundamental aspect of occupational health. This module teaches miners the importance of maintaining personal and environmental hygiene to prevent diseases and infections, including practices such as hand washing and maintaining clean work areas.
Sterile Management
This module focuses on managing waste and materials in a way that prevents contamination and maintains a sterile working environment. Proper disposal of tailings and maintaining cleanliness are key components to reducing the risk of infections, illnesses or accidents.
Landslides and Other Mass Movements
Landslides and other geological hazards can pose significant risks to artisanal miners. This module covers the causes of mass movements, how to identify potential risks, and the safety measures needed to minimise the impact of these natural hazards in mining areas.
Thanks to TPV Technology’s commitment to enhancing artisanal mining practices, our OHS project shows that health and safety training can have a sustainable impact, not just for individual miners, but for entire mining communities.
Other components of the Ushimbaji kwa Kanuni, heshima na Haki project include raising awareness of the DRC Mining Code, supporting women-owned businesses and raising awareness on gender equality, and research on disabilities within the ASM sector.