What does humanitarian work have in common with underground mining? More than you might think.
For Loti Biyagila, Safety Specialist, experience with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) offered lessons that would later prove invaluable in mining: managing uncertainty, engaging people and staying composed when lives are at risk.
“Both fields demand calm, structured responses since lives are at risk when there are no critical controls,” Loti says.
Today, he believes the next generation of Tanzanian HSE professionals must get close to the work. They need to learn alongside miners, engineers, geologists and technicians, experiencing everything from drilling and load-and-haul to processing and emergency response.
Why? Because confidence begins with competence.
“Knowledge is the backbone of confidence,” he says.
And when it is time to challenge a decision, regardless of seniority, Loti’s advice is simple: bring evidence, communicate respectfully and “frame safety as a shared responsibility.”
Because ultimately, speaking up is about protecting one another.