A Presentation SOEHPON 2014 Annual Conference, BestWestern A Presentation SOEHPON 2014 Annual Conference, BestWestern Hotel VI,20-22 November .Hotel VI,20-22 November .

Dr Okon AkibaDr Okon Akiba Manager, Health Services NNPC/OKLNG Manager, Health Services NNPC/OKLNG

National Secretary, SOEHPON/ICOHNational Secretary, SOEHPON/ICOH

Artisanal Mining & Occupational Health Artisanal Mining & Occupational Health Challenges in Nigeria; the way forward Challenges in Nigeria; the way forward

OutlineOutline

IntroductionIntroduction

HSE Burden of ASMHSE Burden of ASM

Artisanal Mining in other CountriesArtisanal Mining in other Countries

Challenges of Artisanal Mining in NigeriaChallenges of Artisanal Mining in Nigeria

Occupational HSE Improvement & Optimization RequirementsOccupational HSE Improvement & Optimization Requirements Conclusion& RecommendationConclusion& Recommendation

IntroductionIntroduction

Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, ore-body, iode, vein, geological materials from the earth, ore-body, iode, vein, (coal) scam or reef which forms miralized horizon and (coal) scam or reef which forms miralized horizon and package of economic interest to the minerpackage of economic interest to the miner

Normally carried out with high end equipment to achieve Normally carried out with high end equipment to achieve expected goal when done in formal, organized, legal and expected goal when done in formal, organized, legal and large scale mannerlarge scale manner

Introduction-2Introduction-2 Artisanal or small scale and informal sector mining on the Artisanal or small scale and informal sector mining on the

other hand is carried out with little or no equipment and other hand is carried out with little or no equipment and mainly manualmainly manual

Process is usually ineffective, due to near absence of formal Process is usually ineffective, due to near absence of formal training and output not optimal training and output not optimal

Usually no consideration as regards protecting and Usually no consideration as regards protecting and promoting Health ,Safety and the Environmentpromoting Health ,Safety and the Environment

Introduction-3Introduction-3

Key Features of Artisanal& Small scale Mining(ASM) due to Key Features of Artisanal& Small scale Mining(ASM) due to absence of its common definition include the following:absence of its common definition include the following:Minimal machinery or technology but uses simple techniques Minimal machinery or technology but uses simple techniques and physical labourand physical labour

Operates without legal mining titles (concession, claim) or Operates without legal mining titles (concession, claim) or with a valid contract with title holderwith a valid contract with title holder

Low productivity because operation is limited to small and Low productivity because operation is limited to small and marginal plots, surface or alluvial mining with inefficient marginal plots, surface or alluvial mining with inefficient techniques being deployed.techniques being deployed.

Introduction-4Introduction-4 Total recovery however, improved with repetitive Total recovery however, improved with repetitive

scavenging & reprocessing scavenging & reprocessing

Lack of safety measures, health care or environmental Lack of safety measures, health care or environmental protectionsprotections

Main Health risk being from excessive physical labour, dust Main Health risk being from excessive physical labour, dust & poor operational hygiene & poor operational hygiene

May be considered seasonal practice to supplement May be considered seasonal practice to supplement farming or response to high price of commodity and farming or response to high price of commodity and economic insecurity( the Push and pull factor)economic insecurity( the Push and pull factor)

Summarized Issues of ASMSummarized Issues of ASM

Environment, health and safetyEnvironment, health and safety

Labour and genderLabour and gender

Technical and financial Technical and financial

Regulatory and legal.Regulatory and legal.

Miners receiving legal titles to their claimsMiners receiving legal titles to their claims.

Considered the most primitive form of small scale Mining Considered the most primitive form of small scale Mining ( World Bank 1995 Round table Conference on death from ( World Bank 1995 Round table Conference on death from lead poisoning from soil contamination in Zamfaralead poisoning from soil contamination in Zamfara

HSE Burden of ASMHSE Burden of ASM

Artisanal and Small scale Mining(ASM) carries enormous Artisanal and Small scale Mining(ASM) carries enormous HSE risks HSE risks

Responsible for up to 6000 deaths yearly in small illegal Responsible for up to 6000 deaths yearly in small illegal coal mine in China and about 500 deaths in Zamfara state coal mine in China and about 500 deaths in Zamfara state in 2010 lead poisoning epidemicin 2010 lead poisoning epidemic

NEITI materiality assessment identified 19 companies NEITI materiality assessment identified 19 companies involved in solid mineral mining in a formal and large scale involved in solid mineral mining in a formal and large scale level in Nigeria but non are involved in Metalliferous LSMlevel in Nigeria but non are involved in Metalliferous LSM

Artisanal mining in the DRC

Artisanal Gold Mining- SA Artisanal Gold Mining- SA

Artisanal Miners- Zamfara Artisanal Miners- Zamfara

HSE Burden of ASM-2HSE Burden of ASM-2

The NEITI identified LSM E&P companies are for Limestone , The NEITI identified LSM E&P companies are for Limestone , Quarries, Stone aggregates and Granites mining Quarries, Stone aggregates and Granites mining

The question is why are the formal and large scale solid The question is why are the formal and large scale solid mineral E&P companies not involved in high end production mineral E&P companies not involved in high end production of metalliferous solid minerals in-spite of the apparently of metalliferous solid minerals in-spite of the apparently obvious good return on investment (ROI) and the great obvious good return on investment (ROI) and the great potentials of this business in Nigeria ?potentials of this business in Nigeria ?

HSE Burden of ASM--3HSE Burden of ASM--3

ASM & illegal small scale mining carries many HSE, Social, ASM & illegal small scale mining carries many HSE, Social, Security, Reputational and Economic challenges Security, Reputational and Economic challenges

Child labour, environmental degradation. lead , mercury Child labour, environmental degradation. lead , mercury poisoning, injuries, excessive manual labour with poisoning, injuries, excessive manual labour with associated MSDs remain major HSE burden of ASM in associated MSDs remain major HSE burden of ASM in Nigeria Nigeria

Artisanal Mining in other CountriesArtisanal Mining in other Countries

ASM is in practice in many countries of the world, especially ASM is in practice in many countries of the world, especially the developing onesthe developing ones

In most of these countries the ASM are formed into In most of these countries the ASM are formed into cooperatives for a more organized and legal businesscooperatives for a more organized and legal business

In Ghana 9% of gold produced in year 2000 and 23 % in In Ghana 9% of gold produced in year 2000 and 23 % in year 2010 respectively came from artisanal miningyear 2010 respectively came from artisanal mining

Artisanal Mining in other CountriesArtisanal Mining in other Countries

LSM are involve in metalliferous mining of gold and LSM are involve in metalliferous mining of gold and diamond in Ghana with its attendant challenges of rivalry diamond in Ghana with its attendant challenges of rivalry and suspicions with ASMsand suspicions with ASMs

In some instances there is collaboration and synergy In some instances there is collaboration and synergy between ASM &LSM, especially in the management of between ASM &LSM, especially in the management of abandoned and marginal LSM mine fields with attendant abandoned and marginal LSM mine fields with attendant high outputhigh output

In Africa about 8 million people are involved in ASM with In Africa about 8 million people are involved in ASM with 45million as their dependants 45million as their dependants

Challenges of Artisanal Mining in NigeriaChallenges of Artisanal Mining in Nigeria

Major Challenge of ASM in Nigeria is that it is predominantly Major Challenge of ASM in Nigeria is that it is predominantly carried out by untrained people carried out by untrained people

Main driver being to earn relatively higher income when Main driver being to earn relatively higher income when

compared to farming and without any consideration to the compared to farming and without any consideration to the relatively higher HSE risks of the operations relatively higher HSE risks of the operations

No consideration for appropriate mining technique and No consideration for appropriate mining technique and processesprocesses

HSE and legality of the operations are not of concernHSE and legality of the operations are not of concern

LSM reluctance to participate in Metalliferous solid mineral LSM reluctance to participate in Metalliferous solid mineral mining is a unique challenge in Nigeria, requiring further probemining is a unique challenge in Nigeria, requiring further probe

Occupational HSE ImprovementOccupational HSE Improvement &Optimization Requirements &Optimization Requirements

Governments and relevant MDAs in the Federal and State Governments and relevant MDAs in the Federal and State

levels should ensure the following:levels should ensure the following: Document and deliver as SOP to ASM operators the Health Document and deliver as SOP to ASM operators the Health & safety Risk Assessment of ASM in Nigeria & safety Risk Assessment of ASM in Nigeria

Create sufficient awareness on the Health risk of Mercury Create sufficient awareness on the Health risk of Mercury and Lead exposure/poisoning as encountered in Gold mining and Lead exposure/poisoning as encountered in Gold mining and processing and processing Recommend safer methods of refining goldRecommend safer methods of refining gold

Artisanal Miners to be trained on the Occupational HSE risks Artisanal Miners to be trained on the Occupational HSE risks of their operations/ activities of their operations/ activities

Occupational HSE ImprovementOccupational HSE Improvement &Optimization Requirements-2 &Optimization Requirements-2

All ASM to operate as cooperative bodies in NigeriaAll ASM to operate as cooperative bodies in Nigeria

Relevant MDAs to attest that the Artisanal cooperatives are Relevant MDAs to attest that the Artisanal cooperatives are properly formed and are functionalproperly formed and are functional

Regular compliance monitoring and audit of ASM Regular compliance monitoring and audit of ASM operations in Nigeria with some reward and consequence operations in Nigeria with some reward and consequence management mechanism in place as promotional tool management mechanism in place as promotional tool

Occupational HSE Improvement & Occupational HSE Improvement & optimization Requirements-3optimization Requirements-3

Relevant OEH&S laws, regulations, standards and policies Relevant OEH&S laws, regulations, standards and policies as regards ASM to be emplaced and made implementableas regards ASM to be emplaced and made implementable

Enact/enforce appropriate Law on Child labour in ASM with Enact/enforce appropriate Law on Child labour in ASM with the goal to out rightly ban it and with contravention the goal to out rightly ban it and with contravention attracting commensurate punishment. attracting commensurate punishment.

LSM of Metalliferous solid minerals to be promoted and LSM of Metalliferous solid minerals to be promoted and encouraged by Federal and State governmentsencouraged by Federal and State governments

To start as PPPs in order to generate enough confidence of To start as PPPs in order to generate enough confidence of private investors nationally and internationallyprivate investors nationally and internationally

Occupational HSE Improvement & Occupational HSE Improvement & optimization Requirements-4optimization Requirements-4

Professional OEH&S bodies like ( SOEHPON,Professional OEH&S bodies like ( SOEHPON, APHPN, APHPN, ISPON, ISPON, PHFN, PUHSON, etc)PHFN, PUHSON, etc) to promote sustained advocacy and to promote sustained advocacy and create sufficient awareness on the OEH&S hazards and risk create sufficient awareness on the OEH&S hazards and risk of ASM activities in Nigeria of ASM activities in Nigeria

To ensure that relevant Government MDAs are doing the To ensure that relevant Government MDAs are doing the needful in promoting and protecting Health and Safety in needful in promoting and protecting Health and Safety in ASM activities in Nigeria ASM activities in Nigeria

And that the operational environment is not irredeemably And that the operational environment is not irredeemably damaged and degradeddamaged and degraded

Minamata Convention obligations-ASGM

To be adopted as National Action Plans : To be adopted as National Action Plans : 

  Strategize for promoting the reduction of emissions and releases of, Strategize for promoting the reduction of emissions and releases of, and exposure to, mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining and and exposure to, mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining and processing, including mercury-free methods.processing, including mercury-free methods.

A public health strategy on the exposure of artisanal and small-scale A public health strategy on the exposure of artisanal and small-scale gold miners and their communities to mercury. Such a strategy should gold miners and their communities to mercury. Such a strategy should include, inter alia, the gathering of health data, training for health-care include, inter alia, the gathering of health data, training for health-care workers and awareness-raising through health facilitiesworkers and awareness-raising through health facilities

  Strategize to prevent the exposure of vulnerable populations, Strategize to prevent the exposure of vulnerable populations, particularly children and women of child-bearing age, especially particularly children and women of child-bearing age, especially pregnant women, to mercury used in artisanal and small-scale gold pregnant women, to mercury used in artisanal and small-scale gold mining;mining;

ConclusionConclusion

Artisanal mining(ASM) is the predominant metalliferous Artisanal mining(ASM) is the predominant metalliferous solid mineral mining in Nigeria solid mineral mining in Nigeria

ASM is the most primitive form of mining and currently ASM is the most primitive form of mining and currently being carried out in very disorganized , illegal and informal being carried out in very disorganized , illegal and informal way with suboptimal output and insignificant impact on way with suboptimal output and insignificant impact on the national GDPthe national GDP

There is apparent absence of the NEITI Materiality listed There is apparent absence of the NEITI Materiality listed solid minerals E&P mining companies in the metalliferous solid minerals E&P mining companies in the metalliferous solid minerals business in Nigeria solid minerals business in Nigeria

ConclusionConclusion ASM activities appears seasonal and complimentary to ASM activities appears seasonal and complimentary to

farming though more profitable and with attendant high farming though more profitable and with attendant high OEH&S hazards and risksOEH&S hazards and risks

Children and women are usually involved in ASM/ Children and women are usually involved in ASM/ processing, even with the known health risks of lead and processing, even with the known health risks of lead and mercury poisoning as was widely reported in Zamfara state, mercury poisoning as was widely reported in Zamfara state, North west of Nigeria in 2010North west of Nigeria in 2010

Map of Nigeria showing Zamfara StateMap of Nigeria showing Zamfara State

Recommendation Recommendation

As done in other countries with ASM challenges the As done in other countries with ASM challenges the activities should be made more organized and legalized to activities should be made more organized and legalized to achieve mutually beneficial outcomeachieve mutually beneficial outcome

Occupational health and safety risks of the operators, their Occupational health and safety risks of the operators, their families and the public should be appraised, evaluated and families and the public should be appraised, evaluated and mitigated mitigated

Great socioeconomic , trado-technological collaboration Great socioeconomic , trado-technological collaboration and optimizing opportunities exist if the LSM operators are and optimizing opportunities exist if the LSM operators are made to absorb some of the ASM operators when they made to absorb some of the ASM operators when they eventually come on boardeventually come on board

A Zamfara Artisanal MinerA Zamfara Artisanal Miner

Recommendation -2Recommendation -2

The Nigerian government and relevant MDAs at all levels The Nigerian government and relevant MDAs at all levels should ensure that they tap into the full socioeconomic should ensure that they tap into the full socioeconomic benefits available in solid mineral mining of metalliferous benefits available in solid mineral mining of metalliferous solid minerals like gold and iron for high end economic solid minerals like gold and iron for high end economic benefits and for the iron and steel development in Nigeria benefits and for the iron and steel development in Nigeria

Relevant Occupational, Environmental, Public Health & Relevant Occupational, Environmental, Public Health & Safety ( OEPH&S) professionals to play aggressive Safety ( OEPH&S) professionals to play aggressive advocacy and awareness creation role to ensure HSE is not advocacy and awareness creation role to ensure HSE is not compromised in ASM activities in Nigeria compromised in ASM activities in Nigeria

EndEnd

Thank youThank you