The Global Union Federation for the mining industry, the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine & General Workers’ Unions (ICEM), acknowledges the measures taken by the Government of Chile to reform its antiquated workplace safety and health culture since the successful rescue of 33 miners at the San José mine in northern Region III in October 2010. But the ICEM remains adamant that Chile must ratify and implement procedures under International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 176, the Safety and Health in Mines Convention.

Recently, the Chilean government delivered instrument of ratification to the ILO on Convention 187, the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention. This is commendable, the ICEM believes, but Chile must go further by ratifying Convention 176.

“Chile is a nation of rich mineral resources, extracted and sold on global markets,” said ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda. “If the amazing story at San José taught us anything it is Chile must meet world-class mine safety standards regarding prevention and monitoring.”

Warda added that it primarily is at small- and mid-size enterprises, similar to Campañia Minera San Esteban Primera, the employer at San José, where standardized and current methods of safety compliance is woefully missing. Just as these enterprises grow and produce more to meet the soaring global minerals boom, so too must Chile keep pace by proving it can provide the necessary safeguards for mineworkers.

ILO Convention 187 is a general set of workplace safety standards that does commit Chile to establish a tripartite body to address overall occupational workplace health and safety practices. But it is not specific to mining.

Mine Safety Convention 176, and its accompanying Recommendation R-183, addresses a range of hazards and specific problems faced by miners. Most importantly, it sets forth responsibility to not only remove mine hazards, but to remove the root causes of those hazards.

The ICEM notes that since San José, Chile has made some progress on mine safety. The National Service of Geology and Mining (SERNAGEOMIN) has seen an increase in funding and a proposed new law would revise mine regulations, including safety. But only by ratifying and fully implementing Convention 176 will Chile be able to claim that it meets mineworker safety standards inherent to a world-class extractive resources nation.

For further information: ICEM Information Officer Dick Blin, dick.blin@icem.org, or +41 22 304 1842.