Health and Safety in Mining

The men and women employed in mining must be in good health. Although mechanization has reduced the amount of physical work required, the individual must still have reason able strength and good hearing and eyesight. A physical examination is required by law upon starting employment in the mining industry and medical check-ups are carried out on a regular basis.

The development of safe job procedures, combined with common sense, has always been a high priority for mining companies. Accident prevention is the responsibility of everyone involved — management, workers, unions and governments.

Each mine also has a rescue team. These actually consist of six to eight miners specially trained to find and assist trapped miners in the event of cave-in, fire or some other accident.

Powerful modem ventilation systems have greatly reduced the risks once associated with mining, but mining companies, unions and governments continue to work with research organizations in order to ensure that working conditions are always improving.