Centre for International Health, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Leopoldstrasse 5, D-80802 Munich, Germany.
Devsol Consulting, P. O. Box 73201 Clock Tower Kampala, Uganda.
Ann Glob Health. 2022 Mar 15;88(1):21. doi: 10.5334/aogh.3621. eCollection 2022.
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.
This study explores the interaction between hazards, control measures, and health and safety in Zimbabwe's ASGM.
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.
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.
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.
2017 年，约有 1400 万至 1900 万矿工在个体和小规模采金业（ASGM）中面临多种危害。ASGM 的特点是采用基本且有缺陷的采矿方法，对危害的控制非常有限，甚至根本没有控制。津巴布韦的个体和小规模采金矿工对健康和安全知之甚少。
本研究探讨了津巴布韦 ASGM 中危害、控制措施与健康和安全之间的相互作用。
采用标准化问卷、危害识别与风险评估（HIRA）、焦点小组讨论（FGD）和深入访谈（IDI）的总结笔记进行三角测量和混合方法。使用描述性统计、回归分析和主题分析对数据进行分析。
通过对 34 个采矿场进行的 HIRA 收集了定量数据。通过多阶段抽样选择了 401 名参与者，并通过标准化问卷对其进行评估。通过 6 次 FGD 和现有的 84 次 IDI 总结笔记收集了定性数据。问卷中最受关注的危害是二氧化硅粉尘、噪音和工作场所暴力，分别有 238（62.0%）、107（26.8%）和 104（26.7%）名受访者表示关注。HIRA 确定了噪音、粉尘、不安全的竖井、暴力、恶劣的卫生条件和不良的卫生习惯是需要紧急关注的关键危害。这项研究的一个重要发现是，在管理工作场所危害时，控制层次结构的应用很差。在调整混杂因素后，与经历健康和安全挑战相关的因素包括在地下工作（AOR = 2.0，p = 0.03）、工作场所暴力（AOR = 3.3，p = 0.002）和工作时间长（AOR = 2.8，p = 0.019）。没有采取缓解策略，受伤和死亡很常见。
津巴布韦的 ASGM 以地下采矿、工作时间长和工作场所暴力为特征。控制层次结构应用较差的特点是工作场所受伤和死亡增加。我们建议在 ASGM 中遵循控制措施的层次结构：消除、替代、工程、行政和个人防护设备。
