An international cooperation project to improve health and safety in the coal mines: the Sino-Italian cooperation experience

Introduction Mining activities are included in the high risk sector and actually demonstrate to have a high disability / death toll resulting from work accidents and occupational diseases. Coal mining is an important item of Popular Republic of China’ economy, with a great number of employees and a very high production rate. Still, working in the coal mines is one of the first causes of work disability, hill health or death due to work accidents and occupational diseases.  Methods In view of the PRC’s sanitary reform, which foresees stronger regulations in the field of occupational health and safety, a grant cooperation project between the Health Coordination Unit based in the Italian Embassy of Beijing with the expertise of former ISPESL (now INAIL), and the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, the Fuxin City Mining Area Social Security Administration Bureau and the state-owned industrial company Fuxin Mining Group was started.  Chinese professionals involved in coal mines’ OSH management and Italian experts in Occupational Medicine and Safety Engineering participated in reciprocal field visits to collate and conduct studies of each other’s health and safety and social security systems and to evaluate local working conditions inside the mines. Results Results of the surveys have been presented through meetings, seminars and a study report, with highlights on the outcomes of field evaluations and advice on effective measures to implement OSH, social security and medical assistance for the coal miners. Discussion Popular Republic of China is one of the fastest growing economies in the world; on the other side, the analysis of human development’s indicators gives the picture of a Country affected by relevant environmental issues, low health assistance accessibility, unhomogeneous wealth distribution and growing social inequities. International cooperation projects can contribute to a much more fair development, supporting sustainable growth processes that meet the international standards.