Comparison of parameters for likelihood and severities of injuries in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM)

Abstract

Workplace injuries cause lost workdays, performance disability, incessant medical care and fatalities. Therefore, determining their risk factors helps in not only injury prevention but also their consequences. Although most of the researches concentrate on the likelihood of injuries, little research has been done to investigate the causes of severities. This study is an attempt to investigate the factors causing likelihood and severities separately and compare them to interpret their role. The present study used a survey design in order to encapsulate information pertaining to the risk factors and injury history. The structured survey questionnaire was administered to 162 uninjured and 74 injured miners in the Osiri Gold Mine. In addition, the methodologies of descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to analyse the data. The results showed that the laceration, contusion and fractures were common injuries, with most of them inflicting the hands and wrists, and were largely caused by dropped objects or equipment. When the risk factors for the likelihood of injuries and severity of injuries were examined, the following contributors were inferred: Male miners, less experienced miners, long shift hours as well as poor management and supervision, job dissatisfaction and job stress. The age group, drug usage, and poor work conditions were associated with likelihood of injuries but not with severity of injuries. The study concludes that some risk factors for likelihood of injuries also influenced the severity of injuries. Therefore, it is advisable that sustained injury prevention mechanism must be instated to safeguard the welfare of miners.