On the Margins of the Mining Economy: Occupational Health and Safety in Artisanal Scale Gemstone Mining in the Mwatate-Voi Area, Taita Taveta County, Kenya

Artisanal gemstone mining in Kenya provides income and livelihoods to many locals in Taita Taveta County. However, little is known about the occupational safety and health issues encountered in this activity. This study investigated major occupational health and safety issues associated with artisanal gemstone mining using a variety of methods including key informant interviews, administration of questionnaires to mineworkers and direct observations at mining sites. Out of ninety-five (95) miners surveyed at ten (10) mining sites, sixty-eight (68) (71.6 %) had suffered injuries resulting in absence from work for days up to over a month. The major injury type was contusions (73.5 %). The main cause of injuries was tools/machinery handling (92.6 %). Only about twenty-seven (27) miners (28.4 %) used safety gear at work while twenty-nine (29) (30.5 %) had received any form of safety training. This study suggests that miners generally lack basic knowledge and education on the mitigation of occupational hazards associated with their work and basic tools/equipment for use in gemstone mining. Provision of education on and/or adequate enforcement of occupational health and safety regulations by relevant government agencies would improve the knowledge of miners on how to minimize occupational hazards