2001, Manfred Walle, Norman Jennings / International Labour Organization (ILO)
Objectives
The objectives of this handbook are:
• To protect workers in small-scale surface (open-pit) mines from safety and health hazards and risks in their work.
• To prevent or reduce the incidence and severity of illness and injury in small-scale surface mines.
• To promote training and consultation in improving safety and health in small-scale surface mines.
The following guidelines apply to any situation or operation that affects the safety and health of those involved in small-scale surface mines. They are for mining operators, supervisors and mineworkers. The guidelines set out the basic requirements for protecting workers’ safety and health and contain recommendations on good mining practices to be followed in order to protect safety and health.
The ILO’s Convention on Safety and Health in Mines, 1995 (No. 1 7 6 ) covers all mines. It provides a floor — the minimum safety requirement against which all changes to mine operations should be measured. The accompanying Recommendation (No. 183) — which is advisory — provides more specific guidance on the diff e rent sections of the Convention. The Convention sets out procedures for reporting and investigating accidents and dangerous occurrences in mines. Governments that ratify it undertake to adopt legislation for its implementation, including the designation of the competent authority to monitor and regulate the various aspects of safety and health in mines. More specific guidelines on safety and health in surface mines, mainly for larger scale operations, can be found in the ILO’s Code of practice on safety and health in opencast mines.
