Effect of mining safety risks on human security in Rwanda: A case of mining industry in Muhanga District

Abstract

Mineworkers experience different mining related risks that put their live on a threat throughout their mining activities. Thus, becomes the main purpose of the researcher to conduct a study to examine the effect of mining related safety risks to human security in Muhanga District. This researcher was guided by theoretical framework of normal accident theory, high reliability theory and safety control cost theory. This study has also used descriptive research design with both qualitative and quantitative approach that applied purposive sampling techniques on 69 respondents. The findings of the study have revealed that 52 (75.4%) of respondents agreed that they use safety materials provided by their companies during activities of mining, and 57 (82.6%) of total respondents have seen nobody experiencing fatality related to mining. The results have also shown that there is a relationship between mining fatalities and personal security (p=.438 and sig=.000), between mining fatalities and health security (p=470 and sig=.000), and between mining diseases and economic security (p=.468 and sig=.000) because all calculated p-values are under 0.01 level of significance. In conclusion, basing on the findings of the study it was recommended that there should be periodic review of mining safety, protecting environment and closing abandoned sites, provision of life insurance, use of technology in mining industry, provision of safety notices in all mine sites, adoption of latest standards of mining safety provision of PPE to all mineworkers, mining companies and government should give professional training to the mineworkers.