Occupational Health
The mining and metals sector presents a range of occupational health risks, arising from both the physical environment and exposure to hazardous substances. These risks can significantly affect the health and wellbeing of workers.
Globally, occupational diseases are the leading cause of work-related fatalities, contributing to 2.4 million of the estimated 2.78 million annual deaths from occupational injury and illness—over 86%.
Protecting workers’ health is fundamental to responsible mining. ICMM and its members are committed to a vision of zero occupational fatalities.
Health risks from the physical environment
The environments where exploration, extraction, and processing occur can cause or contribute to:
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Injuries involving moving machinery, transported materials, and the use of explosives.
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Musculoskeletal disorders from manual handling, repetitive tasks, and whole-body vibration.
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Noise-induced hearing loss from excessive occupational noise exposure.
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Hand-arm vibration syndrome and other related musculoskeletal effects.
- Skin cancer from prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
- Eye conditions such as cataracts from ionising and non-ionising radiation.
- Heat exhaustion, hypothermia, and other impacts from temperature extremes.
Health Risks from Hazardous Substances
Exposure to toxic substances in mining can lead to acute and chronic health issues, including:
- Skin disorders such as burns, contact dermatitis, and cancer from chemicals including acids, solvents, fuels, and resins.
- Respiratory failure or death from inhaling toxic gases such as hydrogen sulphide, carbon monoxide, and sulphur dioxide.
- Acute pneumonia linked to exposure to blasting fumes.
- Chronic respiratory diseases such as silicosis, pneumoconiosis, asbestosis, and cancers from airborne dusts and mists.
- Systemic organ damage affecting lungs, liver, kidneys, bone marrow, and brain via skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion of hazardous materials.
Understanding exposure
- Acute effects appear shortly after exposure—within hours—and are often easier to identify. Symptoms might include irritation, coughing, or in extreme cases, respiratory distress.
- Chronic effects develop over extended periods of exposure. Conditions such as hearing loss and vibration syndromes often emerge after weeks or months, making attribution and early detection more complex.
- Latency is common in many occupational diseases, where symptoms surface years after exposure has ended. For example, mesothelioma may develop decades after initial asbestos contact. Similarly, lung cancers and pneumoconiosis can manifest long after exposure ceases.
External and contextual factors
As in other industries, the mining and metals sector is affected by external and lifestyle factors that can exacerbate occupational health risks:
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Employment patterns such as long or irregular shifts and an ageing workforce – may contribute to fatigue, stress, and mental health issues.
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Lifestyle factors including inactivity, smoking, and substance use – can increase susceptibility to illness.
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Communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria – can interact with workplace exposures to heighten risk.
A vision for zero occupational fatalities
To realise this vision, companies must:
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Foster a culture that recognises all occupational diseases are preventable.
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Maintain vigilance to prevent recurrence of known conditions across all sites.
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Implement clear, consistent, and non-negotiable health standards throughout their operations.
Real-time particulate monitoring (RTPM)
ICMM has published a research paper exploring the role of real-time particulate monitoring in advancing this vision. RTPM enables early detection of hazardous airborne particulates, improves risk mitigation, and validates control measures in real-time. It is a proactive, collaborative tool that supports innovation and accelerates progress toward eliminating occupational health hazards.
