Automation expected to help reduce mining fatalities

The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) registered more fatalities in 2023, but growing automation could help bring the figure back down.

ICMM’s 25 members reported 36 fatalities, up from 33 in 2022, according to the organization’s latest report.

Nevertheless, last year’s figure was still the second lowest in the last decade, especially when taking 2019 into account, when 287 people died due to mining activities.

The 2019 figure was pushed up by the collapse of a tailings dam operated by iron ore giant Vale in Brumadinho, in Brazil’s Minas Gerais state, which caused more than 250 deaths and had severe environmental impacts.

"The long-term trend is for a decrease in the number of fatal incidents as companies in the sector are increasingly investing in automation, removing workers from more hazardous operations, for example using autonomous equipment for underground operations," Valdir Farias, CEO of mining consultancy Fioito, told BNamericas.

"However, more automation alone is not enough. There are two other important elements that also need to be reinforced to reduce fatal accidents: raising awareness among all mining companies to provide the best working conditions and improving the supervision of competent departments in each country," added Farias.

Of the total last year, 16 fatalities were recorded in Africa, eight in South America, five in Oceania, four in North America and three in Asia.

Of the five countries with most fatalities, two are in South America: Chile reported five and Brazil three. South Africa recorded 13 fatalities. Sibanye Stillwater lost 11 employees, Barrick five and Glencore four.

Investors and global authorities are pushing toward implementation of ESG practices in the sector.

As in 2022, mobile equipment activities were the most dangerous, accounting for 10 of last year’s deaths. Seven of these fatalities occurred underground, according to the ICMM report.