The Sembada Program has carried out a series of key activities aimed at improving occupational safety and health (OSH) in the nickel mining and processing industry in Indonesia. Throughout 2024, successful trainer training sessions and learning forums were held to strengthen knowledge and action regarding occupational diseases and hazards inherent to this sector.

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A trainer training session was held on key Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) issues and occupational diseases in the nickel mining and processing sectors, with a particular focus on the IMIP and IWIP locations, on the islands of Sulawesi and Halmahera.  “We held the training session back to back with the two-day workshop in Makassar. This training session also lasted two days. We referred to it as a 'network meeting' with unions and NGOs from nickel-producing regions.”

 

These events have been essential for building a shared commitment among unions, worker groups, and environmental organizations, laying the foundation for future initiatives in the field of OSH. Additionally, working teams were formed to develop educational modules on OSH in the nickel smelting industry.

 

In September 2024, a two-day workshop was organized in Makassar, South Sulawesi, to create a learning forum on OSH, with the participation of over 20 attendees from worker unions, women’s organizations, and environmental groups from Sulawesi and the Moluccas. During this workshop, the challenges related to health and safety at work, particularly concerning occupational diseases and the importance of a safe workplace, were deeply discussed.

 

The workshop included a reflection on the practice of the union education program, identifying the need to organize these activities more regularly to urgently address OSH issues. Since then, seven additional learning forums have been held in Morowali and Halmahera, reaching more than 50 workers from nickel smelting and mining operations.

 

Development of Educational Materials

 

Since September 2024, along with developing the modules, we have been conducting monthly learning forums on OSH at IMIP Morowali and IWIP Weda Bay. So far, the learning forums  have been held around 10 times.