Occupational health and safety as a determinant of environmental sustainability in small-scale mining communities: a case study of Gadzema, Chegutu
- Author
- Memezi, Nokutenda S.
- Title
-
Occupational health and safety as a determinant of
environmental sustainability in small-scale mining
communities: a case study of Gadzema, Chegutu - Abstract
-
The study investigated the function of occupational health and safety (OHS) as a factor of environmental
sustainability in small-scale mining communities, utilizing Gadzema, Chegutu, as a case study. The
study looked into how the application or neglect of OHS practices affects environmental outcomes in
small-scale mining communities. A qualitative research design was used to gather data from 15
participants, comprising OHS Supervisors and environmental regulatory officers. Data Collection
utilized a combination of email survey, WhatsApp survey, and field observations. Thematic analysis
was used for data analysis. The findings showed that, while small-scale miners demonstrated commitment to OHS by using personal protective equipment (PPE), training workers, equipment inspection and hazard identification, and risk assessments (HIRA), implementation is inconsistent due to limited resources, weak enforcement, and lack of management commitment. These shortcomings frequently result in environmental damage, such as land degradation, water and soil pollution, deforestation, and waste mismanagement. The study established a clear relationship between strong OHS practices and better environmental results, concluding that incorporating OHS into environmental
governance can greatly improve sustainability in small-scale mining communities. The research highlighted the need for collaborative enforcement efforts to promote both worker safety and
environmental conservation. - Date
- June 2025
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- Occupational health and safety
- Small-scale mining
-
Environmental sustainability
- Supervisor
- Dr. V. Dudu
- Media
-
Memezi - ES.pdf