Working in a Risky Environment: Coping and Risk Handling Strategies Among Small-scale Miners in Ghana

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Mining Safety
• Public Health

Background:

• Artisanal and small-scale miners (ASMs) operate in hazardous conditions, with limited understanding of their personal protective equipment (PPE) usage and risk navigation.
• Millions of ASMs worldwide face precarious work environments, necessitating research into safety practices and hazard mitigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the extent of PPE utilization among ASMs for hazard prevention.
• To examine the coping mechanisms ASMs employ in response to occupational injuries and risks.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey utilizing mixed methods was conducted in six communities in Ghana, West Africa.
• 148 small-scale miners participated, with data collected through surveys, six focus group discussions (FGDs), and analysis of open-ended questions.

Main Results:

• 78% of miners reported not using appropriate PPE, citing cost and discomfort as primary barriers.
• No significant association was found between socio-demographic characteristics (sex, age, education) and PPE usage.
• Miners utilized four main coping strategies: rest, unprescribed medication/hard drugs, health insurance, and savings/investments.

Conclusions:

• A significant gap exists in PPE use among artisanal miners, despite high exposure to occupational hazards.
• The study recommends government intervention to enforce health and safety regulations, linking safety plans and PPE use to the mining license acquisition process.