Women in small-scale mining: Type and management of occupational health hazards

• Main Author: Banega, Reiza Ayla Murro
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2007
• Subjects: Small-scale mining > Philippines > Zamboanga; Artisanal mining; Occupational health and safety; Industrial hygiene; Industrial safety; Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/3482; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_masteral/article/10320/viewcontent/CDTG004229_P.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

Small-scale mining has long been practiced in the Philippines. While there were local studies made on this subject, a majority of did not emphasize women's participation in the sector. Moreover, there was hardly any empirical data focusing on the type of health hazards encountered by women miners and the type of strategies they employ to manage these hazards. This study responds to this gap as it explores the experiences of 15 women working in a small scale mining community in Zamboanga Sibugay. The women were selected through nonprobability sampling and qualitative in-depth interviews were utilized to look into the socio demographic characteristics of women miners, their reasons for joining the small-scale mining sector, the mining activities they perform, the types of occupational hazards they encounter, and the management of these health hazards. In general, the key informants were rural, middle-aged, married women with very little formal education. All of them came from a mining household and a majority had spouses previously or presently working at the mines. Generally, women point to economic reasons, especially the lack of opportunities in other employment sectors and the need to augment their household income, as their main reasons for working at the mines. Due to the informal nature of their occupation, women found it easy to enter the small-scale mining sector regardless of their age, educational attainment, and gender. The study further revealed that gendered roles exist in small-scale mining for men are tasked to do heavier work such as mineral extraction and transportation of ore while women are more involved in mineral processing which is perceived to be less physically strenuous. The women miners experienced a variety of health hazards depending on the type of mining activities performed. Because they usually undertake mineral processing activities such as the crushing and washing of ore, the majority suffer from ergonomic problems followed by minor physical injuries. Relatively few had problems concerning chemical poisoning and reproductive heath risks. The management of these health hazards usually came in the form of self-care practices including self-medication, taking time off work to rest or recuperate, and using improvised protective gears at work. Rarely do the women miners seek professional health assistance and this was primarily due to financial constraints. The factors that influenced the type of management strategies used were age, income, membership in a mining household, and perception of the severity and nature of the health hazard. Health assistance in the forms of medicines and vitamins was desired from the local government or the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DWSD).