IHDNY research: 80 %s of miners exposed to serious workplace risks, 58 %s diagnosed with disease

According to research, 80 percent of miners are constantly exposed to serious workplace risks, while 58 percent have been diagnosed with disease during the last year.

IHDNY Executive Director Kaltrin Rexhepi said the initiative aims at improving the life and health of miners through legal changes and the creation of an official list of professional diseases, stressing the need for them to be recognised the right to retirement before the age of 65, reports Online Economy, broadcasting Periscope.

I don't want to talk about the miners' contribution today, even though we are at the conclusion of the miners' week, on the 37th anniversary of the closing of the miners' week and their contribution during that glorious period because it is a cornerstone of freedom that we enjoy and live in. But what I want to stop today is the health, life and work of miners nowadays and their contributions nowadays. This is a concrete initiative initiated by the Institute for Research and Human Rights for the realisation of a list of professional diseases, and also for legislative changes that must be undertaken for miners to be recognised by the work contribution and the need for early retirement, and not as there is so far until the age of 65-25x1>.

Rexhepi stressed that after research, the concrete step aimed at is to achieve the initiative of legal changes.

This research is just a small initiative. The next step and concrete step that we intend to reach further on this issue is to initiate legal changes, as well as to create a professional disease list that would contribute to improved life, health and work of miners”, she said.

Minister of Labour, Families and the Values of Liberation War Andy Hoti estimated that the research findings constitute the basis for institutional action, warning of strengthening monitoring mechanisms and continuing support for early retirement under legislation in force, as well as proceeding with the legal changes related to this area.

“The findings of this research that have been done for health and security at work, working conditions, and the treatment of professional diseases of miners provide a sufficient basis for institutional reflection and coordinated action. We will strengthen monitoring and inspection mechanisms as the minister, in order to ensure the highest standards of security and protection at work. At the same time through state-funded schemes, we will continue to ensure the realisation of the early pension rights for workers of the Trepca company, who meet the criteria under the legislation at power”, he said.

Hoti vowed that she would commit to improving working conditions.

As in any other area of my responsibility as minister, my commitment will be maximum for improving working conditions, for social support and for dignified treatment of workers. The Ministry of Labour, Family and War Values has already followed nine laws for completion and evaluation, and these laws naturally include what has been discussed and what has been found in the research of Mrs. Kaltrin and all her staff through the” institute, he said.

Sweden's Ambassador to Kosovo Jonas Western stressed that recognition of professional diseases is a matter of protecting human rights and strengthening trust in institutions, calling for transition from discussions to concrete results.

“The learning is simple. When institutions recognize professional diseases, they protect workers ' health. When health is protected, human rights are strengthened. And when rights are strengthened, trust in institutions increases. Sweden continues to protect human rights globally, including the right to safe and healthy working conditions. Work safety is not just technical or medical. It involves justice, respect, and simple principle that no one should pay for the day's work with his health. This conference is an opportunity to strengthen dialogue, improve the legal framework, improve health monitoring and co-ordinate actions more effectively. It is an opportunity to switch from discussions to real and measurable results”, he said.

Research analyst Anita Manly introduced findings under which more than 80% of miners are constantly exposed to serious risks at work, 58% have been diagnosed with diseases over the last year, while 70% have worked without protective equipment, naming the situation as alarming to their health and security.

The protection of miners ' health against dangerous factors in mines such as dust, noise, humidity, poor ventilation, the risk of collapse and toxic substances poses a serious and constant threat to their physical and psychological health. On this graph, it is noteworthy that over 80% of the surveyed miners claim they are exposed to these risks at all times or very often”, she stressed.

It has also shown the findings of extreme temperatures, where between 40 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit [40 - 45 ° C] in the southern areas of the mine.

Work environments are characterized by extreme temperatures. In the southern mining areas, temperatures, as you can see, reach 40 to 45 degrees Celsius, and ventilation is insufficient. As seen on chart three, 64.3% of respondents claim ventilation is insufficient. Poor ventilation in the mines is directly linked to the risk of respiratory diseases, exposure to mineral dust and dangerous gases. As far as health conditions, symptoms and job safety are concerned, during the past 12 months alone, 58% of miners interviewed have been diagnosed with diseases you can see. The most frequent ones are: Hard to breathe. Respiratory infections. Brockit. 81% of them have experienced muscle pain, headaches and dizziness. 38% report hearing loss, while 44% have experienced eye vision and frying problems”, she said.

Research has questioned 10-year-old miners.

A key aspect to reducing professional risks and preserving the health of miners at work is the use of protective equipment and implementation of safety standards at work. The results show that in practice this is not always respected. This graph shows that 70% of respondents have been asked to work without protective equipment in their experience. I remind you that this research was done for the interviewed miners who have work experience over 10 years as well as”, she said. /Periscope/