Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Trabalho 20(4), pp. 591-598.
ISSN/ISBN: Not available at this time. DOI: 10.47626/1679-4435-2022-799
Abstract: Introduction: Mining injuries have decreased in a number of developed countries in recent decades. Although mining has become a very important sector of Colombia’s economy, no analyses of mining injuries and fatalities have been conducted. Objectives:This study describes the occurrence of mining emergencies in Colombia between 2005 and 2018 and their principal characteristics. Methods: is retrospective ecological study analyzed mining emergencies registered by the National Mining Agency between 2005 and 2018. e study described the place, event type, legal status, mine type, extracted mineral, and number of injuries and fatalities. Benford’s law was used to explore data quality. Results: A total of 1,235 emergencies occurred, with 751 injured workers and 1,364 fatalities. e majority of emergencies were from collapses, polluted air, and explosions, most of which occurred in coal (77.41%), gold (18.06%), and emerald (1.38%) mines. Many emergencies occurred in illegal mines (27.21%), most of which were for gold, construction materials, emeralds, and coal. Illegal mines had a higher relative proportion of injuries and fatalities than legal mines (p < 0.05). Mining disasters are likely to be underreported given that Benford’s Law was not satisfied. Conclusions: As mining increases in Colombia, so are mining emergencies, injuries, and fatalities. Itis is the first full description of mining emergencies in Colombia based on the few available data.
Bibtex:
@article{,
author = {Gloria Catalina Gheorghe and Edgar F. Manrique-Hernández and Alvaro J. Idrovo},
title = {Injuries and fatalities in Colombian mining emergencies (2005-2018): a retrospective ecological study},
year = {2022},
journal = {Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Trabalho},
volume = {20},
number = {4},
pages = {591--598},
doi = {10.47626/1679-4435-2022-799},
}
Reference Type: Journal Article
Subject Area(s): Medical Sciences