This is a very valid concern because artisanal and small-scale mining employs a huge number of people, yet safety regulations are often ignored or poorly enforced due to corruption and lack of resources. I have visited several of these sites myself, and the conditions are often appalling, with little to no protective gear or first-aid facilities available to the workers. I realized that to create any meaningful advocacy plan, I needed credible statistics and case studies that highlight these dangers in a systematic way. I strongly encourage you to check out the website
https://madini.co.tz/ where they have published several comprehensive reports on occupational diseases, cave-ins, and mercury poisoning incidents among informal miners. Their findings were instrumental in helping me draft a safety proposal that I submitted to the local government, and it actually led to a few small improvements in the region I was working in. I believe this resource will give you the hard evidence you need to push for better safety measures. I wish you every success in your advocacy and hope you make a tangible difference in these workers' lives!
