Kazakhstan pilots regional training on occupational safety and health in mining

KARAGANDA, Kazakhstan (ILO News) - The International Labour Organization (ILO), together with its tripartite constituents, piloted a regional training on occupational safety and health (OSH) in the mining sector in Karaganda on 26-27 March 2026, bringing together labour inspectors, employers and workers to strengthen safety practices and apply international labour standards.

The training focuses on building core competencies of staff responsible for safety in mining workplaces and aims to improve the effectiveness of OSH management systems, address sector-specific risks and promote international labour standards, including the Safety and Health in Mines Convention, 1995 (No. 176).

This training is based on the online course developed by the ILO as part of the digital E-Collab.OSH platform, which has been integrated into Kazakhstan's unified digital ecosystem ENBEK and is available free of charge.

In collaboration with the Republican Scientific Research Institute on Occupational Safety and Health of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the ILO is adapting the online training for interactive in-person delivery and piloting it in three key mining regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan: Karaganda, Ekibastuz and Ust-Kamenogorsk.

The course combines theoretical learning with practical exercises, including team tasks, independent work on case studies and a post-training assessment. Participants developed knowledge and skills in areas such as OSH management processes, risk assessment and investigation of work-related accidents and their root causes. The training also covered criteria for assessing harmful working conditions, social protection system and best practices for strengthening a safety culture across companies of all sizes.

"Regional events like this play an important role in promoting and applying international labour standards, including Convention No. 176 on safety and health in mines," said Mukhtar Tinikeev, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Sholpan Abikenova, Deputy General Director of the Confederation of Employers "PARYZ", noted that the training is highly relevant for mining industry leaders, helping improve leadership and production processes from a safety perspective.

Participants also welcomed the E-Collab.OSH portal as a tool offering practical and industry-specific solutions to support continuous improvement in OSH in the country.

The two-day training was organized within the ILO RBSA-funded intervention Enhancing Occupational Safety and Health through social dialogue in mining sector in Kazakhstan.