Occupational Health and Safety of Artisanal Miners in Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of Congo: A Problem for Goals 3 and 8 of Sustainable Development

In recent years artisanal mining has become more prevalent compared to several other mining activities in the City of Kolwezi, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A cross-sectional study was conducted among 546 workers, selected using simple random sampling from five different artisanal mines—namely Kasulo, Mutoshi, Kamilombe, Uck Drain, and Tilwezembe et Intermediaires. A closed-ended questionnaire was administered to collect the data. The data were analysed using both the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25, and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) program EPINFO 7.2. The results revealed a significant relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and possessing professional mining cards, and that an artisanal miner who possesses a professional mining card has a better understanding of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and the DRC safety and mining regulations. Knowledge of the artisanal mining bank can play a role in promoting safer and more sustainable practices, which can contribute to achieving SDG 3 and SDG 8.