Determinants of perceived risk among artisanal gold miners: A case study of Berber locality, Sudan. Issue 2 (April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fadlallah, Mahmoud Ali; Pal, Indrajit; Hoe, Victor Cw
• Is Part Of: Extractive industries and society. Volume 7:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 748
• Page End: 757
• Publication Date: 2020-04
• Subjects: Risk perception -- Artisanal gold miners -- Hazard experience -- Social communication -- Sudan; Mineral industries -- Periodicals; Gas industry -- Periodicals; Petroleum industry and trade -- Periodicals; 338.205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exis.2020.03.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-790X

Abstract

Highlights: Perceived risk is reasonably high among artisanal gold miners in Sudan. Multiple drivers contribute towards shaping miners' perception of risk. Personal hazard experience has the greatest impact on perceived risk. Social communication can share risk perception and promote a culture of safety. Conventional safety practices are determined by the level of perceived risk. Abstract: Artisanal gold mining poses significant threats to miners and to communities near mining sites. Risk perception can provide information to policy- and decision-makers for risk mitigation and prioritization of interventions. The present study applies hierarchical regression analysis to factors influencing perceived risk among artisanal gold miners in the Berber locality of Sudan. Following principal component analysis, ten indicators were used to compute a composite index for miners' perceived risk. Each assessment indicator was considered to make an equal contribution to perceived risk. The factors determining the perceived risk included education, unemployment, years of work, income, personal experience of natural hazards, distance to health facility, access to water and sanitation, experience of social communication, and hazard characteristics. The present study found that age, limited livelihoods options, household size, and self-rated health status were not statistically significant. Although miners' perception of risk was reasonably high, there was always a shortcoming in translating this perception into safer behavior. Thus, miners were persistently exposed to accidents and fatal injuries. As risk perception could be enhanced and shared through social communication, effective communal platforms are imperative for raising risk awareness and promoting a culture of safety, thereby reducing the gross health risks at various stages.