Government Convenes Emergency Mining Safety Table Following Seven Fatalities

Following seven worker deaths in 21 days, the government has convened an emergency cross-sector table to address mining safety and enforce immediate preventive measures.

The national mining sector faces a critical situation following a series of severe workplace accidents that resulted in the deaths of seven workers over a 21-day period. In response to these fatalities, the government has convened a cross-sector table to address mining safety and establish urgent measures to prevent further incidents.

The initiative, led by the Ministry of Mining, is scheduled for Friday. Invitations have been extended to labor representatives, operating company executives, industry associations, lawmakers, and the National Geology and Mining Service (Sernageomin).

According to the ministry, headed by Daniel Mas, the meeting aims to drive concrete actions to strengthen mining safety and advance toward the goal of zero fatalities. Officials emphasized that effective prevention is built at the worksite, requiring an urgent reinforcement of safety culture across all levels, from executive boards down to field miners.

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Biminister of Economy and Mining Daniel Mas expressed deep concern regarding the chain of fatal accidents. “Each life lost in a mining operation strikes us all. We cannot normalize that a worker leaves home to contribute to the country’s development and does not return to their family,” Mas stated, adding that the accidents necessitate a transparent examination of failures and urgent measures.

Undersecretary Álvaro González stated that the meeting will focus on agreeing to preventive and operational actions rather than passive diagnoses. Meanwhile, Sernageomin acting director Mauricio Lorca announced that the agency will intensify inspections, increase regional deployment, and require all mining companies to submit concrete measures, defined responsibilities, and verifiable deadlines for risk control.

As part of these immediate steps, regional directorates will activate regional mining safety committees within seven business days. Sernageomin has also instructed that every work shift across the country begin with a dedicated security block focused on hazard identification and critical barrier verification.

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