Report on mining safety in 2021

The report “Assessment of occupational safety, mine rescue and general safety in connection with mining and geological activities in 2021” has been published on the website of the State Mining Authority in the “Health and safety in mining” tab.

This periodic publication of the State Mining Authority provides the most important information on hazards in mining plants, accident trends, occupational diseases of miners and natural deaths during work, as well as on the use of liquidated mining plants for tourist, sanatorium and therapeutic purposes, preventive and repressive actions of mining supervision. This document implements Article 166(1)(8) of Act of 9 June 2011 - Geological and Mining Law (Journal of Laws of 2022, item 1072). 

Safety in 2021 was compared with data from 2017. The year 2021 was another year in a row when, in addition to the existing hazards, there was an epidemic threat in mining plants, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The countermeasures taken by mining supervision authorities have become a regular objective as part of ongoing supervision and operational control of mining facilities. 

An analysis of the total causes of accidents which occurred in 2017-2021 has shown that the percentage of accidents resulting from the so-called human factor (i.e. resulting from human errors, negligence and non-observance of basic OHS rules) per total accidents ranged from the lowest value of 83.8 per cent - recorded in 2017, to the highest value of 86.5 per cent - recorded in 2021. 

Compared to 2020, there was a slight increase in the total accident rate in 2021, as well as a significant decrease in lethal and major accident rate. The total number of accidents increased by 2.4 per cent, whereas the number of lethal accidents decreased by 18.8 per cent. The number of major accidents decreased by 30.8 per cent. 

The report can be downloaded on the website of the State Mining Authority: https://www.wug.gov.pl/bhp/stan_bhp_w_gornictwie.

Safety reports covering previous years can be also found there.