ICMM - International Council on Mining & Metals

PROJECTS

Health Impact Assessment (HIA)

According to the World Health Organization, a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is:

"A combination of procedures, methods and tools by which a policy, program or project may be judged as to its potential effects on the health of a population, and the distribution of those effects within the population". (European Centre for Health Policy, WHO Regional Office for Europe, 1999)

HIAs help mining and metals managers and health and safety advisors address the public health impacts of their activities on the communities near their operations to better manage their responsibilities.

They are now recognized as an essential part of the overall impact assessment process by international stakeholders such as:

• The World Bank
• The International Finance Corporation
• Regional Development Banks
• Development NGOs

What is ICMM doing?

ICMM has developed a Good Practice Guidance on the Importance of Health Impact Assessments and how to carry them out.

Because of the complex nature of the mining and metals sectors, health and safety professionals and managers must take into account a myriad of factors in order to accurately assess the impact of their activities in a community.

This guide sets out an overview of how mining and metals operations can affect the health and wellbeing of local communities. It describes typical health impact assessment processes, outlines a methodology for undertaking a rapid assessment so that in-house practitioners are involved in the process from the start. Hence it encourages the need for integrating health assessments with environment and social assessments.

A summary version of ICMM’s Good Practice Guidance on Health Impact Assessment, is also available. The document introduces the concept of health impact assessment (HIA) and how mining companies can evaluate the health and well-being effects that mining operations have on the local communities in which they operate.

It presents an overview of the steps taken during the HIA process, including the integration of environmental and social impact assessments.

What will our work achieve?

The guidance is an excellent resource that will assist companies to improve their performance in community health issues. Companies which use HIAs should be able to:

• Identify and maximize the positive community health and wellbeing impacts and opportunities that a mining and metals project can bring.
• Identify, avoid and minimize, through changes to the project design and implementation, the unintended negative community health and wellbeing impacts that can arise.
• Identify existing community health problems, which could amplify the impact of a proposed project and affect its viability.
• Identify country-specific health regulations which may affect the proposed project.
• Provide a process through which the project can work in partnership with local health, social care, and welfare services to jointly alleviate these health problems.
• Form one part of a broader community and local stakeholder involvement and engagement process that can build trust, draw out any community concerns and generate a dialogue about the best ways that the project can benefit local communities.
• Help to make explicit the potential trade-offs between community health and wellbeing and other economic, environmental and social objectives of the proposed project.
• Provide an equitable, transparent and evidence-based approach to planning and funding community health infrastructure and development activities to protect and enhance sustainable local livelihoods.
• Help to jointly negotiate those aspects of community health and wellbeing which are the responsibility of the project and those aspects which are the responsibility of local government and local public services.
• Help to manage project sustainability and obtain a long term licence to operate.