GENEVA (ILO News) - Experts representing workers, employers and governments, meeting at the International Labour Organization (ILO), adopted a new Code of Practice on Safety and Health in Underground Coalmines designed to improve the safety and health of those who are involved in one of the world's highest risk activities.
The new Code was adopted by 23 government, employer and worker experts on Saturday, following a six-day meeting here. The Code is to be submitted to the ILO Governing Body in November 2006 for endorsement.
The Code takes into account changes in the underground coalmining sector that have revolutionized working conditions over the past 20 years. Coalmining is a significant activity in some 50 countries, providing fuel to allow economies to industrialize, and to permit energy and steel production.
The new code of practice will replace an existing code, adopted in 1986. The new code reflects the many changes in the industry and its workforce, as well as the development of new ILO instruments on occupational safety and health.
The code sets out a national framework that specifies the roles of the competent authorities, employers, workers and their organizations. It also comprises a methodology for identifying hazards preventing and minimising risks, as well as specific provisions for safe underground coalmining operations. These specific provisions address most of the currently-identified hazards and risks associated with underground coalmining.
The importance of coal is witnessed by unprecedented growth rates in its consumption and production, particularly in Asia. This positive trend is further strengthened by recent developments in the coal industry, including technologies such as coal liquification or gasification and clean coal technologies that will contribute to further and sustainable demand for coal.
Historically, underground coalmining is one of the highest risk activities for workers' safety and health. Highlighting the seriousness of safety and health issues in underground coalmining, the tripartite experts observed a minute of silence in memory of the victims of an accident in China, which occurred during the course of the deliberations.
Significant, sustained improvements in coalmining occupational safety and health have been achieved as a result of new technologies, capital investment, continuous training and changes in attitudes to safety and health among the competent authorities, employers, workers and their representatives. Nonetheless, if a safety net, which includes a number of critical checks and balances, is not in place to assess and control the hazards, accidents and occupational diseases can and do occur.
When used in conjunction with the code's methodology for hazard identification, risk assessment and control process, these up-to-date, detailed provisions represent current best practice. At the same time, the code is drafted in a way to not inhibit the development of new technologies, better practice or the adoption of alternative measures that provide effective protection to all persons involved in underground coalmining.
Thus, it provides important practical guidance in support of the provisions of the Safety and Health in Mines Convention, 1995 (No.176) and its accompanying Recommendation, (No.183).
The recommendations of the new ILO code of practice are intended for the use of all those, both in the public and private sectors, who have responsibility for safety and health management in underground coalmines. The code is not intended to replace national laws or regulations or accepted standards.
In their recommendations for follow-up action the experts stressed the need to disseminate and promote the code of practice. In addition, all experts manifested their support for the ILO's work on occupational safety and health, an issue on the agenda of the International Labour Conference in June 2006, and called for issues related to small mines, the impact of coalmines on communities and a systems-based approach to health and safety to be further investigated.
For further information, please refer to the following website: www.ilo.org/public/english/dialogue/sector/techmeet/meshcm06/index.htm.