Mining accidents in Tanzania: A lesson to why reducing hazards is paramount in mining safety.

For three days rescue personnel, including the mining company and regional authorities worked tirelessly to get the miners out, and finally on the third day all of the trapped miners were found alive. The mining company, and the country as a whole, breathed a sigh of relief, and kudos to the rescuers and all those involved in saving the miners.

What happened in Geita is not something new in the mining industry, but rather a continuation of mining tragedy like the one happened in November 2015 when another mine collapsed, trapping seven miners (one of whom died), who remained trapped for 41 days. Despite the fact that mining only accounting for one percent of the global workforce, mining is responsible for about eight percent of fatal accidents at work. In some countries, many more people are employed in small-scale, often informal mining than in the formal mining sector. Many of these jobs are precarious and are far from conforming to international and national labour standards.

The reality is that mining ranks amongst the most hazardous industries in the world today. Because of the hazardous nature of mining, the ILO has always been deeply concerned with improving the work and life of those in the mining sector, from the adoption of the Hours of Work (Coal Mines) Convention (No. 31) in 1931 to the Safety and Health in Mines Convention (No.176), which was adopted in 1995. It lays down standards that regulate the various aspects of safety and health characteristic for work in mines, including inspection, special working devices, and special protective equipment of workers. It also prescribes requirements relating to mine rescue.

Within the last decade East Africa – and especially Tanzania – has been experiencing a rapid expansion of exploration and extraction activities for minerals including oil and gas alike. In this context Tanzania may consider joining the ranks of the other countries in the SADC region that have a booming mining industry that have ratified the ILO’s Safety and Health in Mines Convention, 1995 (No. 176) Upon ratification not only will the provisions of the convention be weaved into the fabric of policy and regulatory framework but will also be a springboard for the government to access expert technical support in this area, which may include reappraising safety systems and rescue mechanisms in mining areas.

The importance of improving endeavours to improve mining disasters preparedness cannot be understated. To do so it is imperative to engage many partners: governments, workers and employers and their organizations, specialists and experts; engage in constructive dialogue among these groups promotes consensus building and democratic involvement of those with a vital stake in the world of work.