The president of the Chilean Mining Chamber, Manuel Viera, said the increase in fatal mining accidents this year stems from failures in oversight and supervision, and rejected the suggestion that the industry has lowered its safety standards.
According to El Mostrador, reporting on an interview Viera gave to ADN Radio, the industry leader pointed directly to the National Geology and Mining Service (Sernageomin), the state agency that oversees safety at mining sites. "Making systems more bureaucratic is not the solution; supervision is needed and training is needed," he said.
His remarks come after 13 workers have died in mining accidents this year. The most recent victim died on October 15 in Taltal, a day after another fatal accident in Illapel. That succession of accidents led the government to convene an emergency meeting with officials and industry representatives.
Viera compared the figures with those of the past decade. "10 years ago, we had more than 45 fatal accidents and had brought that down to a level of 11. Today, we are already practically at 13, so everything we had done well is slipping away from us," he said. In his view, "oversight and monitoring of projects have become somewhat lax."
The industry leader questioned Sernageomin's ability to maintain a presence at mine sites. He argued that a supervisor cannot be responsible for between a thousand and 1,900 people and called for that standard to be corrected. He also proposed that the service incorporate digital tools and artificial intelligence into its inspections.
Another focus was the situation of contractors. Viera demanded that they receive the same training as companies' own employees. "There are no first-class or second-class workers. These are lives that must be protected," he said.
The chamber president linked part of the problem to high prices for copper, gold and other minerals. He said this situation attracts untrained people who enter mining sites to make money. He also recalled the hazardous conditions high in the mountains, such as changes in weather, mountain roads, tunnels and mine shafts.
Asked about companies' responsibility, he acknowledged that "when an accident occurs, what we need to be clear about is that all the control systems failed." He added that "we all really share the blame in that respect" and said he felt ashamed because colleagues from other countries, who had seen Chile as a model, were asking him what was happening.
At Sernageomin, the head of the Emergency Unit, Pedro Berríos, placed the emphasis on companies. He warned that "it is unacceptable for this many deaths to be occurring in large-scale mining," where resources are available for emergency plans, protocols and personal protective equipment.
Viera welcomed the meeting convened by the government to "reduce fatal accidents once and for all" and called for reinforcing the 10 golden rules the industry has applied for years. His specific request to Sernageomin was to avoid adding regulations or procedures and increase its presence at mining sites.
