Work Accidents in the Russian and Norwegian Coal Mines in Spitsbergen

Arctic Medical Research vol. 53: Suppl. 2, pp. 432-433, 1994

Anatolij FominI and Tormod Risholt2 IBarentsburg, Spitzbergen. 2Longyearbyen, Spitzbergen.

Abstract: In the 10 year period 1983 to 1992 a total of 169 occupational accidents occurred in Jhe Barentsburg (Russia) colliery. The corresponding figures for the Longyearbyen (Norway) mines are 524. Of these, fatal accidents were 8 in Barentsburg and 5 in Longyearbyen. The curve representing the number of casualties in Longyearbyen showed a marked decline from 1985 onwards, whereas the Barentsburg figures, although much lower at the outset increased during the last 4 years.

The Russian and Norwegian collieries in Spitsbergen The annual number of accidents has been re· are the northernmost in the world, being situated at corded in Barentsburg and Longyearbyen through 78 degrees latitude. The two communities are sepa the 10 year period 1983 -92. In both places an occu· rated by approximately 60 km of roadless wilder pational accident is defined as one that ~auses I day ness. Barentsburg numbers some 1200 inhabitants, sick leave or more. The cases are retneved by the Longyearbyen close to 1000 people. staff department of the companies and co~rrmed by The Russian mines are nm below the pennafrost the files of the local hospital in the two villages. and below the sea level. The Longyearbyen mines are well above sea level and within the permafrost Results layer. The mines in Barentsburg have been operated From the beginning of I 983 to the end of I 992 there by the Russians for about 65 years. The Norwegians were 169 occupational injuries in the Barentsburg have run their mines 10 years longer. colliery. Eight of them were fatal. During the same In Barentsburg an accident free period of 3 months time lapse 524 injuries, 5 of them fatal, were re· is rewarded with a 100% pay rise. Conversely indif ported from the Norwegian mines. The dea~ were ference leading to serious coosequ.ences is punished caused by fire (1), falling rock (2), wagon tnunJ~ after a scale where loss of job. tcpatriation or even transport (2). In the Barentsburg mine 5 ~ere e jail may be the result simultaneously in a coal dust explosion, I m anoth~ The Norwegian system is more centered around blast, 2 in coal transport (rail going and tranSpo an attitude towards the wiacceptabillty of a high beh'lbe). her f . . . per year in the Russian accident rate. No bonus is banded Qtlt, but a generous num 0 IDJUOCS . 'th an amount of acknowledgement from the leaders fol mine is fairly stable through the penod wi e lows a casualty free period. increase during the last 3 years. The yearly ave~g Legal action may be taken against serious tres- is 16,9. 1be number of accidents in the Norw~~ mines declines markedly from 1985 onwards. a passers. It is attempted to tear apart the image of the 1985 "tough guy". ing teaebed a maximum of 95 casualties in .;:: 1992 accident number fell to its lowest (12) in · Material and methods yearly average is 52,4. The material consists of the underground wort.force in the two mining communities. The Russian work Discussion · the ers are selected from experienced minen, mainly 1be results indicate a higher level of safety :Cely from Ukmina, the majority of the Norw~ come Russian colliery. In the recent years, how~ve~berea.s from Northern Norway and have a mixed profes seems to deteriorate in the Barentsburg mine Tue in sional background (consttuctioo workers, fisbennen, safety in the Longy~ye~ bas im~e~ concern farmers, heavy industries). crease in Barentsburg ts attnbuted to o. mines An average of 450 workers, with a slight increase among employees and staff. In_the N~e~an abOve during the last 3 years, have been employed in the accident prevention is given hi~st pnonty ' have 5 Barentsburg mines during the studied period. In economics. The safety promouon P~ great Longyearbyen the average number of workers have been accepted and are highly valued by e been 300 with a decline to 200 in 1992. majority of workers.

Circumpolar Health 1993 Fomin and Risholt: Work Accidents in the Russian and Norwegian Coal Mines 433

Barentsburg and Longyearbyen represent differ The present work is to be considered a pilot study. ent social and cultural traditions. The study of acci The need for further collection of information is dents and the safety promotion programs developed evident. IO prevent them may provide a useful path to im proved communication and understanding between Correspondence: !be two representatives of eastern and western Euro Dr. Tonnod Risholt pean labour life. This may lay the foundation for Yrkesmedisinsk avdeling closer cooperation and coexistence in the northern Telemark sentralsykehus areas where the two nations have common interests. 3750 Skien Norge

CiTcumpolar Health 1993