Brazilian NR-22 Mining Safety Regulations for International Operators

Norma Regulamentadora 22 (NR-22) is one of more than 30 Normas Regulamentadoras issued by Brazil's Ministry of Labour. It covers mining safety and applies to all mining operations in Brazil, both surface and underground. For Australian and Canadian operators with Brazilian assets, NR-22 sits alongside whatever international standards (ICMM, GISTM) the parent company also follows.

NR-22 requires mining operators to implement a Risk Management Programme (Programa de Gerenciamento de Riscos, PGR), which is the umbrella document for hazard identification, risk assessment, and control measures. The PGR is required under NR-01 across all sectors, with NR-22 adding mining-specific content.

A CIPAMIN. Comissão Interna de Prevenção de Acidentes na Mineração, is mandatory at most mining operations. CIPAMIN is an internal accident prevention committee made up of worker and management representatives, and it has a meaningful role in inspection planning and incident investigation.

Documentation must generally be in Portuguese. Foreign operators sometimes assume English-language safety manuals will satisfy the inspector, they will not. Translation, training, and Portuguese-language record-keeping are non-negotiable for compliance.

The Ministry of Labour conducts unannounced inspections, and findings can trigger work stoppages. Investing in robust digital inspection records pays off when an inspector arrives.