Standards

What Is NR 22? Occupational Safety and Health in Mining

Safety technician in an orange helmet, safety glasses, a respirator mask around her neck and a high-visibility vest holds a tablet at the top of an open-pit mine, watching a haul truck and a water truck spraying the road to control dust.

Understand NR 22, the rules for mining in Brazil, how the CIPAMIN works and the requirements of the sector's Risk Management Programme (PGR).

By: Vitória Willemann

From a safety engineering perspective, mining is one of the most critical economic activities in the world. Underground and open-pit operations involve moving heavy machinery, using explosives, the risk of collapse and continuous exposure to mineral dust.

To regulate this extremely complex and high-severity environment, Brazil's Ministry of Labour and Employment sets out NR 22. This article details the requirements of this sector standard, the mandatory environmental controls and the structured risk management needed to ensure safe operations in Brazilian mines.

What does NR 22 establish and what does it cover?

The purpose of Regulatory Standard 22 (NR-22) is to set the principles to be followed in the organisation and working environment of the mineral extraction industry, so that the planning and development of mining activity are compatible with the ongoing pursuit of workers' safety and health.

The scope of the standard is broad: it applies to underground and open-pit mining, small-scale mining (garimpos), mineral processing and mineral exploration. Given the specific nature of the sector, NR 22 takes precedence over the guidelines of general standards where they differ, acting as the main compliance manual for mining companies.

The mining-specific PGR and Critical Controls

While ordinary companies prepare their PGR (Programa de Gerenciamento de Riscos, the Risk Management Programme) under NR 1, mining follows its own, far more in-depth procedure required by NR 22. The mining PGR must include rigorous surveys, including:

  • Rock Mass Stability: Continuous topographic and geotechnical monitoring to prevent collapses in underground mines and landslides in open pits.
  • Dust and Silica Control: Implementing wetting, exhaust and ventilation systems to prevent the inhalation of crystalline free silica and other dusts that cause pneumoconiosis (such as silicosis).
  • Ventilation Systems: In underground mines, mechanical ventilation is permanent and non-negotiable, and must ensure breathable air, dilution of toxic/explosive gases and thermal comfort.
  • Emergency Plan: Detailed procedures for underground rescue, fire-fighting and evacuation in the event of a dam failure.

The exclusive role of the CIPAMIN

Because of the inherent risks, worker representation is also specialised. The standard requires the creation of the Internal Commission for Accident Prevention in Mining (CIPAMIN, from the Portuguese Comissão Interna de Prevenção de Acidentes na Mineração).

The CIPAMIN has duties similar to those of the conventional CIPA, but requires longer training with a direct focus on basic geology, ventilation and gas control. The CIPAMIN is sized based on the risk level of the mining activity and the number of employees at the site.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about NR 22

To clarify the technical and operational requirements, we answer the most common questions about the mining sector:

1. What is the difference between the CIPA (NR 5) and the CIPAMIN (NR 22)?

The CIPAMIN is a commission exclusive to the mining sector. While the general CIPA is governed by NR 5, the CIPAMIN follows the sizing table and training rules of NR 22. Training for CIPAMIN members is more extensive (up to 40 hours, depending on the risk) and includes technical content such as rock mass stability, explosives and rescue, which are not part of the ordinary CIPA curriculum.

2. Do small-scale mining operations (garimpos) also need to comply with NR 22?

Yes. NR 22 dedicates a specific chapter (item 22.37) to small-scale mining. Although it recognises the differences in structural scale, the standard requires mandatory preventive measures for these operations, such as a ban on lone working, rules for excavation and protection against direct contact with mercury.

3. Does the NR 1 PGR replace the NR 22 PGR?

No. Mining is regulated by a sector standard (NR 22). The PGR prepared for the mine must fully meet the requirements detailed in item 22.3 of NR 22. NR 1 applies only on a supplementary basis — that is, where NR 22 is silent — but the backbone of the mining company's risk management must strictly follow the model of the mining standard.

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