Health and safety is one of the highest priorities in the mining industry. Mines can be tough workplaces, which places high demands on the work environment. To make the work safer, the development has led to automation and remote control of vehicles, digital positioning systems for people and machines and regular safety exercises. Many tasks that were previously performed in underground machines are now remotely controlled by above-ground operators.

A close collaboration between employers and unions for a long time is also a success factor in creating safe workplaces.

Accident development in the mining industry

Legend

X: Frequency of accidents with absence, 1981-2020
(All employees, excl. contractors)

Y: Number of accidents per 1 million working hours