Safety, Compliance, and Productivity in Indonesian Coal Mines: A Regulatory Assessment

International Journal of Economics and Management Studies
© 2025 by SSRG - IJEMS Journal
Volume 12 Issue 7
Year of Publication : 2025
Authors : Anant Yash Sharda
pdf
How to Cite?

Anant Yash Sharda, "Safety, Compliance, and Productivity in Indonesian Coal Mines: A Regulatory Assessment," SSRG International Journal of Economics and Management Studies, vol. 12,  no. 7, pp. 50-61, 2025. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23939125/IJEMS-V12I7P107

Abstract:

This study explores the safety measures that have been put in place in Indonesia’s coal mining industry and how well they work to make workers safer and more productive. Since Indonesia relies heavily on coal exports and mining is dangerous, the research aims to find out how strict government rules are, how well they are followed by both public and private operators, and how well they are enforced. The study shows how training, using new technology, and government audits can help lower the number of accidents at work. Even though Indonesia has a lot of rules and regulations, they are not always followed in the same way in every part of the country. This paper stresses the need for specific changes to make sure that all workers are equally protected, especially in informal mining, where safety compliance is low. This paper aims to investigate how far and how well safety measures have been put in place in Indonesia’s coal mining industry, focusing on how these measures have affected the health and safety of workers and the productivity of the mines. It explores whether following safety rules has made working conditions better, lowered the risks of getting hurt on the job, and helped the company make more money and produce more. It also traces the rules and regulations the Indonesian government sets, checking how thorough these safety laws are and how well they are followed in public and private mining operations. The study also compares Indonesia’s safety standards to those of highly developed coal-mining countries to see how well Indonesia is doing and where it can improve. The paper’s goal with this analysis is to answer important questions about worker safety, following the rules, and the bigger effects of safety on the mining industry’s operational efficiency and economic outcomes. The primary data was collected through structured interviews with government officials and mine managers, and a survey of 47 mine workers was conducted. The results show that big mines follow strict safety rules that are in line with national and international standards. However, smaller and illegal operations still have problems because there is not enough oversight.

Keywords:

Coal mining safety, Informal mining, International standards, Mining regulations, Safety training, Worker protection.

References:

[1] Rina Andriani, and Sulaiman Kurdi, “Regional Government Authority Regarding Mineral and Coal Mining Business Licenses in Indonesia based on Law Number 3 of 2020,” Interdisciplinary Explorations in Research Journal, vol. 2, no. 1, 2024.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[2] Ahmad Redi, Luthfi Marfungah, and Ibnu Sina Chandranegara, “Policies of Mineral and Coal Governance: Comparative Perspective How Indonesia and Most of African Countries Set their Policies on Mineral and Coal,” AIP Conference Proceedings, vol. 2680, no. 1, 2023.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[3] Pandu Adi Cakranegara, Dedi Rianto Rahadi, and Etty Susilowati, “Distribution of Authority for Mining Business Permits between the Central Government and Regional Governments After the Enactment of the Minerba Law Number 4 of 2009,” Journal of Progressive Law and Legal Studies, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 88–96, 2023.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[4] Wahyudi Siswanto, “Mining Business Permit (IUP) Regulations & Policies That Provide Legal Certainty and Ease of Investing in the Mining Sector in Indonesia,” JURNAL AKTA, vol. 11, no. 2, 2024.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[5] Indria Wahyuni, “In the Light of Asean Economic Community: The Protection of Mining Resources in Indonesia, Decentralization System and the Role of Government Policy,” Indonesian Journal of International Law, vol. 13, no. 3, 2016.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[6] Giuseppe Grossi, Ulf Papenfub, and Marie-Soleil Tremblay, “Corporate Governance and Accountability of State-owned Enterprises,” International Journal of Public Sector Management, vol. 28, no. 4/5, pp. 274–285, 2015.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[7] Rizki Santi, Wahyuni Purbudi, and Sugandhini Dyah, “The Effect of Safety Training and Workers Involvement on Safety Compliance with Safety Knowledge as a Mediation Variables,” Russian Journal of Agricultural and Socio-Economic Sciences, vol. 11, no. 107, 2020.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[8] Chandra Singgih Pitoyo et al., “Peningkatan Kompetensi Karyawan Dan Safety Culture Melalui Learning Management System ‘Sintesis+’ Sebagai Kontrol Operasional,” Indonesian Mining Professionals Journal, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 67–75, 2019.
[Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[9] Guntur Suryaning Hadi, Dyah Santhi Dewi, and Ratna Sari Dewi, “Analyses of Critical Success Factors and Barriers to the Implementation of Indonesian Mining Safety Management System: Case Study of a Nickel Mine & Processing Company,” Jurnal Multidisiplin Madani, vol. 3, no. 6, pp. 1321–1343, 2023.
[CrossRef] [Publisher Link]
[10] Moshood Onifade, Khadija Omar Said, and Amtenge Penda Shivute, “Safe Mining Operations through Technological Advancement,” Process Safety and Environmental Protection, vol. 175, pp. 251–258, 2023.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[11] Anay Majee, “IoT Based Automation of Safety and Monitoring System Operations of Mines,” International Journal of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, vol. 3, no. 9, pp. 17–21, 2016.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[12] Sanaz Sadeghi, Nazi Soltanmohammadlou, and Farnad Nasirzadeh, “Applications of Wireless Sensor Networks to Improve Occupational Safety and Health in Underground Mines,” Journal of Safety Research, vol. 83, pp. 8–25, 2022.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]