According to official reports, Iran experiences dozens of fatal mining accidents annually. The exact number of victims is unclear due to underreporting of incidents, but some estimates suggest that more than 100 serious accidents occur in Iran’s mines each year, many of which result in the death of workers (see Table 1). The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that the rate of fatal accidents in Iranian mines is significantly higher than the global average, particularly in coal mines, where risks such as collapses, methane gas explosions, and oxygen shortages are more prevalent. These statistics reveal that such incidents have become tragically common for Iran’s labor force. There are several additional factors that explain the heightened dangers and accidents in Iranian mines, which are summarized in Table 2.

On September 23, 2024 (1 Mehr 1403), one of the world’s largest mining disasters occurred at the Tabas coal mine, where 52 workers were killed, and many others were injured. Earlier, a worker at the Tazareh coal mine in Damghan was injured when trapped behind a wagon in the main tunnel and died after being transferred to the hospital. Despite the magnitude of the Tabas disaster, the reaction of Iranian society in general—and civil society organizations in particular—was not as significant as might have been expected. The limited reactions observed were largely confined to the sequence of events, and the entire incident was eventually buried in the bureaucratic machinery of the government. Even the response of civil society organizations and labor unions was insufficient to turn the disaster into a central issue for the country. This raises the question: what explains the limited response to the Tabas coal mine tragedy?

The Role of Civil Society in Preventing Workplace Accidents
Civil society organizations (CSOs) and labor unions can play a crucial role in preventing mining accidents and protecting workers’ lives. These organizations can also have a vital impact in reducing the number of accidents and safeguarding workers’ rights. This includes monitoring, education, support, and raising awareness about workers’ rights and safety issues. For example, labor unions and civil society organizations should act as independent watchdogs over the performance of mines and employers. By consistently monitoring the compliance of safety standards and working conditions, they can prevent safety violations and workplace inefficiencies and report them to relevant regulatory bodies or the media.

Furthermore, educating workers about their rights concerning workplace safety can significantly reduce accidents. Labor unions can organize training programs and awareness campaigns, encouraging workers to adhere to safety standards. Additionally, CSOs and unions should mobilize public opinion, launching protest campaigns and media coverage to pressure the government and officials to implement stricter safety laws and enforce heavier penalties for employer violations.

In many cases, workers hesitate to report unsafe conditions due to fear of losing their jobs. Labor unions must provide legal and practical support to protect workers from employer retaliation and encourage them to report safety violations. Civil society and labor unions must also pursue legal action following accidents and seek compensation for workers, ensuring that such incidents are not repeated. This assurance would give workers confidence that their rights will be upheld in the event of an accident.

Moreover, labor unions and civil society can influence legislative processes by participating in the drafting and reform of labor laws and mine safety regulations. They can represent workers in legislative sessions and propose improvements to existing laws or push for new regulations. Unions should also work to improve the insurance systems available to mine workers, ensuring better and more comprehensive coverage to protect them from injury, disability, or death resulting from accidents.

One of the most effective ways to improve safety is by involving workers directly in decision-making processes related to mine safety. Unions should advocate for the creation of safety committees where workers can share their views on improving workplace safety. Finally, by fostering a culture of transparency, CSOs can demand that mining companies regularly publish reports on safety measures, incidents, and accident prevention efforts. These reports should be made publicly available to keep the public and regulatory bodies informed about the safety status of mines. Another important role for labor unions and CSOs in preventing workplace accidents is the establishment of support funds to assist workers injured in mining accidents. These funds could provide financial assistance to injured workers and their families in times of need, alleviating the financial pressure after accidents occur.

Speculations on the Inadequate Response of Unions and Civil Society
The inadequate response of Iranian society to the Tabas coal mine disaster stems from a combination of social, political, and economic factors. The driving force behind any protest against unsafe working conditions and accidents is a powerful and independent labor union. When such unions do not exist, workers and civil society lack the tools to mount an adequate response or defend their rights in the face of accidents. Additionally, the lack of strong solidarity among workers and unions, internal divisions within labor unions, and a lack of cooperation between different labor groups weakens the collective power of workers. Without solidarity and cohesion, efforts to demand rights and protest accidents diminish significantly, leaving workers unable to defend their interests effectively.

Furthermore, the few existing labor unions in Iran operate under intense pressure and are often subject to repression by the government and even some employers. Independent labor unions and civil society in Iran frequently face severe restrictions and suppression. These limitations prevent labor organizations from freely protesting against injustices by the authorities or employers and from defending workers’ rights. As a result, their responses to workplace accidents are often inadequate and unsuccessful. Many workers and union activists refrain from protesting or demanding accountability for workplace accidents due to the fear of arrest, security crackdowns, and imprisonment. These fears are particularly heightened when accidents are linked to structural deficiencies or government corruption. Consequently, many labor unions prefer to operate discreetly or with minimal public reaction.

In many workplaces, the culture of organized protest and demand for rights is not widespread or strong. A lack of sufficient education about workers’ rights and poor awareness of the importance of supporting victims of workplace accidents means that society and civil organizations do not react strongly or widely to such incidents.

Independent media play a key role in covering labor accidents and raising public awareness. However, when media outlets are controlled by the government or show little interest in labor issues, reports and news about these incidents are not widely disseminated, limiting public reaction. Furthermore, censorship or downplaying the importance of such accidents in official media can also lead to a reduced public response.

In the specific context of Iran, where social and economic crises such as high unemployment, inflation, and severe inequality have darkened the societal outlook, labor issues and workplace accidents are often overshadowed by larger economic and social concerns. In such situations, society tends to focus more on immediate problems like livelihood struggles or economic instability, pushing workplace safety and mining accidents to secondary or tertiary concerns.

Another explanation for the limited response of unions to the Tabas disaster could be the unsuccessful and repressed history of past labor protests. When workers have faced security crackdowns, dismissals, or even imprisonment with no results, many become reluctant to repeat such experiences. These negative experiences can foster a sense of hopelessness and distrust in the possibility of change through protests, causing workers to prefer silence and adapt to the current situation. Studies have shown that the repression of independent labor unions in modern Iranian history has restricted the growth and sustainability of organized protest and demand for rights. A lack of sufficient education on labor rights and poor awareness of the importance of supporting victims of workplace accidents explains why society and civil organizations cannot mount a widespread and strong response to labor accidents.

Speculations on the Inadequate Societal Response to the Tabas Coal Mine Disaster
As mentioned, the Tabas mine disaster failed to become a central issue for Iranian society. Although no detailed and precise empirical study is available yet, based on past experiences in Iran and other societies, some explanations can be formulated. For example, the Collective Inefficacy Theory helps explain why society does not respond to accidents like those in mines, which result in worker deaths. In Iran, due to social, political, and economic limitations, workers and their families may feel that they are unable to bring about changes in their working conditions or safety. The lack of independent labor organizations and the absence of legal protections can explain this sense of powerlessness.

This theory, grounded in urban sociology research, can partially explain why Iranian society fails to respond adequately to workplace accidents and mining disasters. It examines the inability of a community or group to take collective action to address shared problems or secure common interests. Collective inefficacy in this context means that society or social groups lack the organized capacity to cooperate and take joint action to achieve collective goals. Several factors, such as weak social bonds, a lack of social trust, and limited institutional and structural resources, contribute to this inefficacy.

When members of a society have weak social connections and lack the skills for collective action, they cannot effectively cooperate or plan and act together to achieve common goals. Moreover, collective inefficacy often arises from a lack of social trust among community members. Trust acts as a key factor in fostering cooperation and social cohesion. If individuals do not trust each other or feel that others are not participating in social matters, social apathy increases, and collective action is hindered.

In addition, a society that is incapable of coordinating and organizing individuals within institutional frameworks to promote institutional capital will experience collective inefficacy. Institutional capital refers to the ability of a society to build institutions, systems, and structures that ensure stability and security. In a developed society, composed of functioning institutions, individuals and groups fulfill specific roles. In societies where institutional capital is limited, individuals exist atomistically, or they can only organize within primary groups like families or clans. The transition from a traditional society to an organized or institutionalized society is often met with resistance from traditional structures.

If modern societies can protest against government and employer injustices, it is due to the strength of their institutional capital. In Iran, due to the lack of widespread institutional capacity, civil society is unable to coordinate individual efforts to achieve common goals. Structural capital, which complements social and institutional capital, refers to a society’s ability to resolve internal and external conflicts. It includes cultural infrastructures, organizational culture, information networks, and the effective management of internal and external challenges. Without this capital, labor unions, CSOs, and civil society are unable to resolve internal tensions, limiting cooperation among them.

Civil Society Organizations as a Solution to Collective Inefficacy
CSOs, by creating spaces for participation and collaboration, can help individuals engage in collective activities and react appropriately in the aftermath of incidents like workplace accidents. Such participation can reduce feelings of isolation and increase a sense of belonging within society. These organizations can also raise public awareness by providing necessary education and information. This training can cover various topics such as labor rights, workplace safety, human rights, democracy, sustainable development, and social issues, empowering individuals to take action.

CSOs also help strengthen social ties by fostering networks that allow people to connect with others. These networks facilitate the sharing of experiences, ideas, and resources. This approach can help build trust in civil society organizations and promote collective values like cooperation, solidarity, accountability, and justice.