Ethical management of Gold mine workers with early and mild silicosis in South Africa

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorMojakwana, Angeline
dc.date.accessioned2024-02-16T09:40:25Z
dc.date.available2024-02-16T09:40:25Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.descriptionA research report submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science in Medicine (Bioethics and Health Law) to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, School of Anatomical Sciences, Johannesburg, 2023
dc.description.abstractThe South African Gold Mining industry is an inherently risky working environment, with frequent accidents and crystalline silica dust exposure that causes silicosis and other cardiorespiratory and autoimmune complications. These diseases can considerably impact the gold mining industry and potentially lead to public health disasters by exacerbating existing tuberculosis (TB) burden in communities and the public health sector. It is of utmost importance to control silica dust exposure and to protect mineworkers from the impact of silicosis. In this study, I interrogate the morality of issuing certificates of fitness to already affected mineworkers to continue risk work underground where they are further exposed to silica dust, which leads to accelerated progression of their illness and its complications. Specifically, the study defends the thesis statement that mineworkers with early and mild silicosis ought not to be certified to continue risk work underground in the gold mining environment where they are further exposed to silica dust. A normative principle derived from the combination of key principles in welfarism and Afro -communitarian solidarity was used to defend the claim. This mostly evaluative study – that draws on desktop-based research – outlines many recommendations, including a revision of Occupational Diseases of Mines and Works Act ODMWA (given that the Act is insufficient and not adequately inclusive), continuous evaluation, monitoring and improvement of control processes to mitigate the impact of silica dust exposure and silicosis and alternative reasonable accommodation of mineworkers with silicosis to protect them from further exposure to silica dust.
dc.description.librarianTL (2024)
dc.facultyFaculty of Health Sciences
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10539/37631
dc.language.isoen
dc.schoolSchool of Anatomical Sciences
dc.subjectEthical management
dc.subjectGold mines
dc.subjectMild silicosis
dc.subjectSouth Africa
dc.subject.otherSDG-3: Good health and well-being
dc.titleEthical management of Gold mine workers with early and mild silicosis in South Africa
dc.typeDissertation
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Abstract Angeline Mojakwana 2023.pdf
Size:
73.54 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
Research Report - Marked (1)_.pdf
Size:
626.46 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
2.43 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
ETD Collection