Occupational Safety, Best Practices, and Legislative Review on Small-scale Mining in the Philippines

Abstract

Introduction. Small-scale mining (SSM) has been in the Philippines since the early 1900s and significant contributor to the local economy. SSM has contributed 14% of the country's total Gross Domestic Product and has a revenue share of about 19 billion pesos (380 million USD). Objectives. This study aims to document mining occupational safety and health in SSM in the Philippines and identify best practices among miners and communities to reduce toxic chemical use in mining. It also aims to evolve laws and legislative measures on mining in the country as the basis for more aggressive policies and programs for SSM in the Philippines. Methods. The data were based on gray literature, peer-reviewed journals, databases, government statistics, and secondary literature. Data were analyzed through critical appraisal on the impacts of mining in terms of occupational safety, mining issues, hazards, and disasters, environmental and health impact, as well as documentation of best practices in mining to reduce the use of toxic chemicals, and the current laws and legislations on mining in the Philippines. Results. SSM or artisanal mining is categorized as part of the informal sector of the market economy. In the Philippines, the leading types of accidents in the mines are being hit by falling objects, suffocation from chemical fumes, and crushing injuries, exposure to intense heat, poor ventilation, vibration, dust, fumes, repetitive stress injury, intense noise, manual handling (e.g., lifting) of heavy machinery, and biological and chemical hazard. Occupational illnesses include skin diseases, emphysema, chronic obstructive lung disease, and hearing loss. Due to these risks, the Philippines has adopted mercury-free mining, cyanide reduction, and green and climate-smart mining. The use of borax in recovering gold from ore instead of mercury originated in the Philippines, which is now widely known as the mercury-free gravity-borax method adopted in Africa and Asia. The Philippines also has a plethora of laws covering mining as a whole. Developmental directives include enacting specific SSM laws and regulations, including a separate set of safety rules, and decentralizing the issue and control of SSM permits and licenses through local government units. Some noted legislative measures, Presidential Decrees, and Administrative Orders have been crafted to cover the safety net, equity, safety, and health for small-scale miners, among the most vulnerable working populations. Discussion. Hazards and risks have been documented in SSM in the Philippines. However, the policies, legislation, and protective measures on SSM warrant more comprehensive coverage, implementation, and provision of social safety nets. Conclusion. The study concludes that mining in the Philippines continues to be a problem as it produces adverse effects on workers' health, the community, and the environment. It is crucial to ensure the health and safety of mining workers, and all players and stakeholders must fulfill their respective roles. Governments and communities need to perform their regulatory and monitoring functions dutifully to build up their capacities to benefit mining communities that contribute much to the local economy.