Mine accidents worrying
THE spectre of another devastating mine accident
looms large as seven miners are confirmed trapped
at a Chinese mine on the Copperbelt. This comes barely two months after we suffered the loss of more than 30 “illegal” miners trapped in tunnels at Sensele open pit mine in Chingola.
The nation is waiting with baited breath for a positive outcome from the Chinese owned Macro Link Mine on the Ndola-Mufulira road.
What is worrying however is the fact that to date mystery still shrouds the Sensele disaster. The number of those buried remains unknown because the mines were deemed illegal and yet operated without any restraint.
The authorities including Konkola Copper Mine (KCM) were fully aware of the activities which yielded
significant amounts of ore that was traded openly in
legitimate off take institutions.
At the same time, we are aware that there was an incorporated institution running the illegal mine whose culpability has never been brought to the fore.
Clearly however, there was no authoritative over
sight both in terms of mine safety, certification and
indeed the application of standard mining practices. Sensele was simply an accident that was waiting to happen.
The enforcement of safety measures in mining operations is crucial to prevent accidents and protect the well-being of workers.
Governments, mining companies, and regulatory bodies play key roles in enforcing and promoting safety standards in the mining industry and yet neither the Government nor KCM, the owners of the mine who did not exercised any form of control.
The illegal miners seemingly operated with the blessing of both the Government and the mine owners. Culpability for the accident has not been claimed by either.
Ordinarily, the cause and circumstances of death are the subject of forensic and legal investigation. No such investigation has been undertaken in Sensele where the illegal miners operated with “impunity” and recorded their activities which were posted on social media.
It is not farfetched to assume that a major cover-up with political implication is underway because the health and safety of mines is under the aegis of Government which has developed and implemented exhaustive rules and regulations to govern the industry.
Compliance with safety, health and environmental
regulations is compulsory and specific regulatory
bodies have been established to ensure compliance.
However even for the large scale mine compliance was more in breach than observance as seen from pollution. The mines belched huge amounts of Sulphur dioxide.
Key to any safety measures is risk assessment. While Sensele operated outside any framework of organized mining, we expect the case to be different at the Microlink Mine where risk assessment as a safety management tool compelling managers to be proactive in managing risks in circumstances where operational.
It has been proved that the major causes of accidents, include negligence by management to make safe work places, failure of management systems, and miners’ non-adherence to laid down procedures.
Sadly Sensele and the Micro Link mine accident
bear similarities, having been caused by flooding. We
hope Mine safety authorities will explain what measures were in place to avoid such an eventuality.
PURSUING JUSTICE AND EQUITY WITH INTERGRITY