Following the International Labour Organisation's (ILO's) six day meeting in Geneva on May 8 -13 this year, attended by 24 Government experts, they have chosen to adopt a new Code of Practice on the safety and health for underground coalmines.
The ILO deemed a new Code of Practice to be necessary, due to changes in technology such as, coal liquification or gasification and clean coal technologies, resulting in future sustainable demands for coal becoming greater.
Underground coalmining has one of the highest safety and health risk factors Worldwide, which highlights the necessity for a new National Framework to improve the safety and health of those involved in the coalmining industry.
Some of the features of the new Code of Practice are as follows:
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It takes into account changes in the underground coalmining industry within the past 20 years.
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It will replace the existing code, adopted in 1986.
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It will reflect the many changes in the industry and its workforce, as well as the development of new ILO instruments on occupational safety and health.
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It sets out a National Framework, specifying the roles of competent authorities, employers, workers and their organisations.
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It comprises a methodology for identifying hazards preventing and minimising risks, as well as specific provisions for safe underground coalmining operations.
These updated provisions within the new code, when used with the code's methodology for the identification of hazards, risk assessments and control processes, represent current best practice, without inhibiting the development of new technologies, or the adoption of even better measures, to ensure effective safety and health protection within the coalmining industry.
The code will provide practical guidance supporting the Safety and Health in Mines Convention, 1995 (No. 176) and accompanying Recommendation, (No. 183) and will be submitted to the ILO's Governing Body in November 2006 for endorsement.
Further information on the ILO meeting and Draft of the New Code of Practice can be accessed from the ILO Website by clicking the following:
Meeting of Experts on Safety and Health in Coal Mines
Article by Alexandra Johnston
