In their mission to educate and inform mineworkers on issues concerning health and safety in their working environments, the Mine Health and Safety Council (MHSC) have established an innovative and refreshing means to achieve just that, through entertainment. The “Knowledge is power” comic strips are an innovative communication tool that the Council has started implementing to spread their message on creating a safe and healthy working environment. The comics are available in four languages, namely English, Zulu, Sotho and Xhosa, to ensure that the message reaches as many people as possible. The first issue focuses on “Understanding and preventing silicosis in mines”. Silicosis is an occupational lung disease caused by the inhalation of crystalline silica dust. In simple terms, the disease is caused by dust trapped in the lungs and causing scarring to the lungs. The disease occurs typically amongst mineworkers in coal, gold, platinum, diamonds, gemstone, sand and quarry mines. The disease is characterized by shortness of breath, fever and other symptoms and can often be misdiagnosed as pneumonia or TB. The disease is incurable and has to prevented. The MHSC silicosis comics deal with issues relating to the disease, such as its causes, and solutions to prevent the disease. The aim is to educate mineworkers on ways to prevent the disease and to instill a personal responsibility in mineworkers to develop a safe and healthy working environment by applying the knowledge provided through this medium.
The MHSC silicosis comic was developed as part of a five-year, R 30 million research programme to eliminate the disease of silicosis by 2013. In addition to the comic, the Council is also planning Silicosis Roadshows during 2009 to three mining regions, as part of an extensive programme to ensure a face-to-face learning experience for mineworkers. The programme has three parts: • Improving dust measurement - The National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH) is researching the effectiveness of South African Mines at detecting silica dust • Improving engineering controls – the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is examining practical and cost-effective dust-control technologies. • Informing workers about Silicosis – The NIOH is developing awareness materials such as DVDs and easy-to-read manuals for management and for workers. They say “A picture is worth a thousand words” which rings true with the MHSC silicosis comics. The comic delivers the message concisely and clearly in pictures and with few words.
For more information, contact the MHSC: Tel: +27 (0)11 358 9180 Fax: +27 (0)11 403 1821 E-mail: info@mhsc.org.za Website: www.mhsc.org.za ◊
