Abstract

RUPPRECHT, S.M.. Safety aspects and recommendations for surface artisanal mining. J. S. Afr. Inst. Min. Metall. [online]. 2015, vol.115, n.11, pp.1007-1012. ISSN 2411-9717.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2411-9717/2015/v115n11a4.

Artisanal mining is a significant industry in sub-Saharan Africa, accounting anywhere from 2% to 20% of a country's gross domestic products (GDP). Safety concerns in artisanal mining are often overlooked due to the nature of the business, which is largely a subsistence occupation. This paper presents some of the basic risks observed in surface artisanal mining operations and provides basic safety recommendations for artisanal mining operators to follow to prevent serious accidents or fatalities. The most frequently cited causes of serious accidents are subsidence of highwalls, misuse of explosives, lack of knowledge and training, and obsolete and poorly maintained equipment.

Keywords : surface mining; safety; artisanal mining; small-scale mining.

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