Objectives
The effects of Covid-19 on the mining sector can compromise the domestic economy of countries such as Chile, where this sector is fundamental. Currently, there is no history of management systems to prevent the transmission of Covid-19 in this specific context. This report describes a multimodal occupational health and safety management strategy to prevent Covid-19 cases in mining.
Methods
Cross-sectional study. This work was carried out in a large mining company in northern Chile (n= 12356 workers). The multimodal strategy considered different administrative measures, environmental measures, risk screening, and risk case management. This strategy used health authority recommendations, available scientific evidence, and international experience.
Results
4240 workers (34%) were suspended from work (suspension of projects and workers with chronic diseases), and 8116 kept their work in rotating shifts. There was an average of 4400 workers entered the mining site weekly. As part of the measures, an initial screening survey was implemented, which enabled the detection and isolation of 415 workers suspected of Covid-19. Another 239 possible cases were detected inside the company. They were monitored using a case management system. Of these, 95% constituted low-risk contacts. The remaining 5% met internationally established criteria for people at high risk of Covid-19. No positive Covid-19 cases were detected inside the mining site between March and May 2020.
Conclusions
These results support the effectiveness of a multimodal strategy in preventing the spread of Covid-19 during the mining task in a mining site.