The effectiveness of occupational safety and health management systems of contractors in accident prevention in the gold mining sector of the Midlands province of Zimbabwe: paper presented at the GIRAF Conference in Maputo 6-9 October 2015

Abstract

Introduction: There has been an increase in the contracting our of mining activities in undertaking specialised tasks in underground and above ground operations which are of high risk. Subcontracting provides gains in specialisation to the operator and also in terms of economic efficiency. However, contracting has been used as a means of shifting liability for pension and safety and health obligations of union mine operators to other entities. Stakeholders, however, are concerned with the occupational safety and health (OSH) implications of contractors as noted by the ILO in 2012.