FRANCISTOWN - Mining is said to be a high risk industry that has to keep up with the demands that will at all times ensure that human life is secure.

Speaking at the annual inter mine first aid competitions in Francistown on Saturday, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Phandu Skelemani said the basic principle of first aid training is to make people know that if one is first on the scene thay may be the only link between the victim and the emergency medical care and therefore the only hope for the victims chance of survival.

Mr Skelemani said even though they were taking part in an exercise that thay hopefully will never play in real life, they may come a time when the skill they have learned will need to be summoned.

He also said the principal legal instrument of regulating mining industry in Botswana is the Mines, Quarries, Works and Machinery Act of 1978.

The Act provides for safety, health and welfare of persons engaged in prospecting, mining and quarrying operations, including any works which are part of and ancillary to mining and quarrying operations.

This, he said bestows a great deal of responsibility on the mining companies in the country to ensure that their activities are carried out under the safest possible conditions.

This therefore extends that responsibility not only to the employees but to the communities in which the mines operate.

However, Mr Skelemani said when the Act was introduced then, it was difficult for the mining industry to comply with its provisions.

He said the games then started in 1980 with the objective to promote the application of First Aid in the mining industry through sharing of knowledge and skills, as well as taking the application of First Aid techniques to the general public.

This, he said improved the prospects of compliance with the Act and today most, if not all mining companies in Botswana are doing their best in catering for the health, safety and welfare of their employees as well as communities they are located in.

Mr Skelemani further encouraged upcoming mining companies to be part of the competitions as it will test their strength and knowledge on First Aid, which is all geared toward saving human life during challenging times.

The contest is important because it pits your skills against the toughest and most realistic training scenarios and it assists you to sharpen those skills in grueling competition.

I therefore urge all mines participating in this event to continue doing so as this interaction is not only social, but also educational for the broader public he said.

For his part, the general manager of Tati Nickel Mining Company, Mr Sebetlela Sebetlela said mining is a hazardous profession with many of its activities carrying some risk to life and limb.

The primary focus of mining companies, he said is to prevent accidents at work and despite all the best efforts that are made to this end, occasionally accidents that result in injuries do happen and First Aid then becomes the last resort to save life and limb while awaiting professional medical assistance.

He also said accidents and injuries do not only happen at work and this makes First Aid an important life skill for all people including children The Selebi Phikwe based BCL emerged this years winner, taking the trophy from last years winner, Orapa/Letlhakane Mines.

Five mining companies of BCL, Tati Nickel, Morupule Colliery, Debswana Orapa/Letlhakane and Jwaneng participated in this years competitions.

However, Orapa was disqualified after it was found to have violated one of the rules. BOPA