DESIGNING THE ACCIDENT CAUSATION AND PREVENTION MODEL FOR ZAMBIAN MINES: A CASE STUDY OF MOPANI COPPER MINES (NKANA MINE)
Prof Hanseele Stanley
Abstract
This thesis designs an integrated accident causation and prevention model for Zambian
mines, using Mopani Copper Mines, Nkana Mine, as the principal case study. The study
responds to the persistent occurrence of occupational injuries, serious incidents and
fatalities in large-scale Zambian mining despite improvements in formal safety
management systems and lost-time injury frequency performance before 2014. The
research is grounded in a pragmatic philosophy and a retrospective case-study design
that combines accident statistics, regulatory documents, historical mine-safety
evidence, occupational safety and health theory, and qualitative interpretation of
incident causation. The literature review critically examines classical and systems
based accident causation models, including Heinrich's Domino model, Reason's Swiss
Cheese model, the Bowtie model, Rasmussen's Risk Management Framework,
STAMP, HFACS and Haddon's prevention strategies. It argues that no single imported
model adequately explains accidents in a developing-country mining environment
where production pressure, ageing infrastructure, contractor work, language diversity,
limited regulatory capacity and resource constraints shape work conditions. The thesis
develops the Zambian Mining Accident Prevention Model (ZAMPAM), a context
sensitive model integrating five causation layers: regulatory and socio-economic
pressures; organisational and management systems; technical and engineering controls;
task and workplace conditions; and human performance at the point of work. The
prevention component converts these layers into practical interventions involving
hazard identification, barrier management, ground control, ventilation assurance,
machinery safety, contractor management, training, worker consultation, emergency
preparedness, incident learning and regulatory strengthening. The study concludes that
sustainable mine safety in Zambia requires a shift from reactive compliance to
proactive, systems-based prevention supported by accountable leadership, empowered
workers, robust safety data, competent regulators and continuous learning from
incidents.