In the stope
Dr Thuthula Balfour talks about health
The health of underground workers is non-negotiable , Dr Thuthula Balfour tells Leon Louw .
What is the significance of the physical and mental health of underground workers ? How do mining companies ensure that their underground workers are in good health ?
The physical and mental health of underground workers are extremely important . Various aspects , such as challenging work environments and societal stressors like financial indebtedness — which is a problem across South African society — have an impact on the mental well-being of employees .
Given that these aspects can affect work satisfaction and concentration , a number of mining organisations have developed holistic programmes to manage lifestyle diseases and fatigue and include financial fitness education .
In many instances , assessments are carried out to determine the physical and psychological fitness of employees .
What effect does the underground mining environment have on workers ?
The physical health effects of workplace exposures have been well documented and managed over the past couple of decades . Occupational hygiene programmes and health monitoring regimes are well defined and have been proven to be effective in managing employee health and safety .
The psychological / mental effects of the work environment are often not as well understood as the physical effects . Some anecdotal evidence and research have shown that the challenges are similar to what employees would experience in other work environments . This varies , however , on several demographic and organisational factors . Women , for instance , have faced many challenges in the past , ranging from physical threats to functional difficulties , and various forms of discrimination . All of these aspects have been addressed more thoroughly over the past decade by individual companies and the industry at large through diversity programmes , research , and improved ergonomic solutions for female mine workers .
Which programmes are in place to monitor especially the mental health of underground workers ?
A number of mining companies have partnered with prominent academic institutions in developing assessment methodologies for psychological fitness to work . This has allowed employers to identify and intervene earlier on individual cases by providing the required assistance to individuals .
How are workers tested physically and mentally before they are sent underground ?
All mineworkers undergo tests to assess their fitness to work in any environment . The Department of Mineral Resources ( DMR ) has Minimum Standards of Fitness to Perform Work at a Mine as well as a Guideline for the Mandatory COP on Risk-based Fatigue Management on a mine . Assessments for fitness include taking the person ’ s history , clinical examinations , blood and radiological tests , as well as tests for physical and functional capacity to do the specific job that the person has applied for .
Are programmes in place to deal with the mental state of workers after an accident or fatalities ?
Most mining companies have in-house or outsourced clinical psychology services that help employees to work through trauma as a result of accidents or fatalities .
How do operations manage fatigue and the stress of underground workers ?
Fatigue risk management programmes are well integrated into occupational health and safety management plans and are aimed at reducing the impact of fatigue . The management of fatigue is a multidimensional risk strategy , which includes a number of proactive , monitoring , and reactive measures and may include education and awareness programmes . Available measures , especially on active monitoring , differ however between surface and underground applications . A typical strategy would include proactive measures ( shift rosters , nutrition , awareness ), active measures ( monitoring , counter measures ), and reactive measures ( consequence management and review ).
What effect can poor health of workers have on mining operations ?
Fatigue affects activities of high mental demand , and also activities with high physical requirements . Furthermore , fatigue often contributes to depression . In general , workers with depressive symptoms are more likely to be absent , to have reduced levels of productivity , and be more at risk for occupational injury . A healthy workforce is important to improve productivity and to reduce absenteeism , as well as ensuring the well-being of employees .
[ 30 ] MINING MIRROR JUNE 2018