While diseases and general health
issues are not within the scope of normal occupational hygiene audits that
concentrates on the effects to health of exposure conditions at the
mine.
The
scale of HIV and other infections has in recent years transgressed the
boundaries of definition and requires comment.
HIV Program
Most
undertakings should, if not already instituting programmes, have a good idea of
the infection rate at the mine.
Most
programmes focus on the need to educate a worker population on the prevention of
infection from a sexual transmission viewpoint.
We
see no problem with this at all, but point out that a worker population with
definite and far-reaching cultural objections to the use of safe sex methods are
not about to change overnight.
Similarly
the provision of condom dispensers at all the ablution facilities is also
pointless and if anywhere, the only place where these may be of use is at the
change rooms or workers exits.
Our
view is based on the premise that sexual contact does not take place at work and
infection in this way is not a potential hazard.
Condoms,
we believe actually increase promiscuity.
Where
large companies can make a direct contribution to cutting the infection rate and
promote awareness is by increasing the awareness within the works.
This, we suggest, should take the form of rather providing dispensers
throughout potentially hand injury areas and supplying these with disposable
gloves and swab materials in sealed packs.
It is also pointless having disposable gloves with each first aid pack;
fellow workers cannot then render immediate assistance to an injury for fear of
“getting aids”.
Gloves should
never be far from the site where an injury could occur.
The disposable packs do also have a shelf life, which is exceeded in a
couple of years and regular replenishment or checking is certainly required.
The health inspectors of the DME offices at the various centres support
our inclusion of a section covering HIV/Aids in the audit reports.
We suggest
that dispensers or caches be located as follows:
·
In each company vehicle
·
In each control room or plant room
·
Throughout workshops
·
Recreation areas
·
The corporate and any other offices
We often
quiz workers on training procedures, first aid and attitude to HIV infection and
find a lack of awareness of any matter other than the issue of safe sex.
In an occupational context we consider that companies should be more
pro-active in promoting the body fluid contact scenario, and once this becomes
second nature the normal activities can be pursued if this is considered a
priority by management.
Hepatitis A
The
infection rate of hepatitis is also reaching alarming proportions and infections
are more as a result of contact with body fluids.
As
both infections are viral in nature they appear symbiotic and the suggested
programme for HIV would be effective in both situations.
Tuberculosis
With the
alarm at the increasing symbiosis evident between HIV and TB, health authorities
are increasingly perturbed at the high infection and resurgence of tuberculosis
of an increasing tolerance to existing medication.
The potential of cross infection in under ventilated cabins and confined
areas is high.
The Health
Inspectorate of the Department of Minerals and Energy has access to advanced
information and can organise courses for mine health officials.
We suggest that such offers be pursued.
Constitutional rights
We note
that much national debate is currently underway promoting the rights of fellow
workers now, and not only the worker who has perhaps been infected.
This right by fellow workers to be permitted to protect themselves from
infection must be welcomed, even if this does infringe the right of a sufferer
to maintain his silence.
A
precedent in this regard already exists and mining companies could face claims
by workers who are infected during the course of their duties or by accident.
This effectively places HIV infection within the definition
of an occupational hazard and unless the mine provides enough first line defense
to permit the worker to protect himself, litigation could follow.
