Ukraine has catastrophically cut spending on the safety of miners: Mortality has increased sharply
Despite the fact that the decline in coal production in Ukraine continues, injuries in mines are growing significantly. Mikhail Volynets, Chairman of the Independent Trade Union of Miners of Ukraine, stated this at a round table on safety at coal enterprises in Ukraine.
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According to him, over 9 months of 2016, 11 people died at coal enterprises, while during the same period last year - only 6.
“Fatal injuries have almost doubled,” says Mikhail Volynets.
The state pays insufficient attention to ensuring healthy and high-quality working conditions for miners.
“The miners are not provided with the most necessary and irreplaceable personal protective equipment, such as self-rescuers. In recent months, they have not actually been purchased,” says Mikhail Volynets.
At some enterprises, the level of provision with them is slightly more than 50%. Miners are not provided with simple dust respirators, which, in conditions of increased dust, leads to occupational diseases.
“In six months, a miner can get dusty lungs and become disabled. He can get anthracosis, silicosis and other diseases,” says Mikhail Volynets.
Ukraine has drastically cut spending on miners' safety: Mortality has increased sharply.