Occupational Safety and Health in Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining: Quick Reference Guide

This guide focuses on occupational safety and health (OSH) issues related to artisanal and small-scale mining, with an emphasis on gold mining. Addressing OSH risks improves worker well-being, enhances productivity, and encourages responsible mining practices. However, challenges such as insufficient data, lack of infrastructure, and the need for gender-responsive interventions, mean that OSH measures are usually not fully implemented in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector.

This quick reference guide is intended for managers of projects working with mine operations, as well as mine operators themselves, who want to improve OSH, in the context of professionalizing ASGM operations. The guide offers practical information about ways to manage on-the-ground challenges in OSH and provides a general understanding of OSH risk management approaches. 

Three additional related materials on OSH and ASGM are available at the bottom of the page.