Occupational health and safety among artisanal miners in La Libertad – Santo Domingo, 2023–2024

Abstract

In La Libertad–Santo Domingo mining district, there is an interaction between the mining industry and artisanal mining, with the latter being a growing sector that drives the local economy and contributes to the national gross domestic product, but exposes workers to constant occupational hazards. The research aimed to assess the level of knowledge that mining cooperative leaders have regarding occupational safety and health, as well as to identify and implement preventive measures to ensure the safety of artisanal miners. To achieve the expected results, qualitative and quantitative methods were applied thru focus group interviews and direct observation in a study population of 377 artisanal miners, in order to identify the safety conditions of the mining sites, the use of personal protective equipment, and access to life and/or social security insurance. The results of the interviews and direct observation indicate that 100% agree that safety measures should be implemented at mining sites; they also concur on the need for formalization, training, and requirements related to social security. Likewise, promote the use of personal protective equipment and seek and implement measures to enrolll workers—both those employed directly and indirectly on the various mining sites—in Social Security. It is important to recognize the work carried out by the Ministry of Energy and Mines, which, in coordination with other institutions, implements prevention and early warning measures to mitigate physical, biological, and ergonomic risks