It is the first light of dawn in Potosi, Bolivia, but for independent miners like Pedro, it is the last daylight he will see before entering the eternal night of a small-scale mine. Centuries ago, Spanish rulers built an empire from the silver that slaves carted to the surface under barbaric conditions. Today, the carts are emptier, but the conditions have not changed.

Another thing that hasn't changed is the ritual stop to honour El Tio, the devil guardian of the cave. The miners give him offerings of alcohol and cigarettes and pause to chew coca leaves. The coca is a narcotic that numbs the senses and staves off hunger and exhaustion.

Another thing that hasn't changed is the ritual stop to honour El Tio, the devil guardian of the cave. The miners give him offerings of alcohol and cigarettes and pause to chew coca leaves. The coca is a narcotic that numbs the senses and staves off hunger and exhaustion.

Pedro, miner

Inside the mine, El Tio is like a god. We all believe in him. Now we are paying tribute to him and asking for more protection, more production, and no accidents.

Pedro has been working these mines since the age of 10. He has learned to make do with outdated equipment and unreliable makeshift explosives.

Pedro, miner

Inside the mine, El Tio is like a god. We all believe in him. Now we are paying tribute to him and asking for more protection, more production, and no accidents.

Pedro has been working these mines since the age of 10. He has learned to make do with outdated equipment and unreliable makeshift explosives.

Pedro has been working these mines since the age of 10. He has learned to make do with outdated equipment and unreliable makeshift explosives.

Bolivian small scale miners suffer as many as 3 fatalities and 15 serious injuries each month. Worldwide, these workers face a fatality rate 90 percent higher than miners in industrialized countries. The dangers from dust, noise and inexperience are explained in a new manual from the International Labour Organization.

Bolivian small scale miners suffer as many as 3 fatalities and 15 serious injuries each month. Worldwide, these workers face a fatality rate 90 percent higher than miners in industrialized countries. The dangers from dust, noise and inexperience are explained in a new manual from the International Labour Organization.

Norman Jennings, ILO Mining expert

In small scale mining, much of which takes place without ever being inspected or controlled in any way, the risks are 2-fold. One is the risk from actually working, being injured at work, and the other sorts of risks are the health ones associated with processing minerals or in working in damp, dangerous and dirty conditions.

The extreme temperatures and poor ventilation exact a heavy toll. Silicosis or black lung disease is caused by years of breathing dust-filled air. It will end a man's life in 10 years. The hospital in Potosi is filled with miners whose only lifeline is a tube attached to an oxygen tank. Marcelino knows his time is limited.

Norman Jennings, ILO Mining expert

In small scale mining, much of which takes place without ever being inspected or controlled in any way, the risks are 2-fold. One is the risk from actually working, being injured at work, and the other sorts of risks are the health ones associated with processing minerals or in working in damp, dangerous and dirty conditions.

The extreme temperatures and poor ventilation exact a heavy toll. Silicosis or black lung disease is caused by years of breathing dust-filled air. It will end a man's life in 10 years. The hospital in Potosi is filled with miners whose only lifeline is a tube attached to an oxygen tank. Marcelino knows his time is limited.

The extreme temperatures and poor ventilation exact a heavy toll. Silicosis or black lung disease is caused by years of breathing dust-filled air. It will end a man's life in 10 years. The hospital in Potosi is filled with miners whose only lifeline is a tube attached to an oxygen tank. Marcelino knows his time is limited.

Marcelino, black lung patient

Three months after you start working in the mines, you come down with silicosis, black-lung disease. Workers, engineers, it doesn't matter. There is no escaping it. The disease will kill you slowly but surely.

As surely as the sun rises, men will return to these mines. The challenge is to make that journey a safe one.

Marcelino, black lung patient

Three months after you start working in the mines, you come down with silicosis, black-lung disease. Workers, engineers, it doesn't matter. There is no escaping it. The disease will kill you slowly but surely.

As surely as the sun rises, men will return to these mines. The challenge is to make that journey a safe one.