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Health and related behaviours of fly-in fly-out workers in the mining industry in Australia: a cross-sectional study
journal contribution
posted on 2023-02-10, 04:23 authored by BYA Asare, Suzanne RobinsonSuzanne Robinson, D Powell, D KwasnickaAbstract
Background
Fly-In Fly-Out (FIFO), which entails travelling mostly from the urban areas to stay and work in remote areas for designated periods and travel back home to spend designated days of leave, has become a common work arrangement in the mining sector globally. This study examined the mental and physical health of FIFO workers and described their health-related behaviours during on-and off-shift periods.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted with FIFO workers (N = 216) in the mining industry in Australia who completed an online survey. Paired t-test and McNemer’s analysis examined the differences in health-related behaviours during workers’ on-and off-shift days. Logistic regression examined the predictors of physical health and psychological distress status of FIFO workers.
Results
Workers reported longer sleep duration (7.5 ± 1.5 h vs 6.3 ± 1.2 h, p < 0.001) and better sleep quality (78.2% vs 46.3%, p < 0.001) during off-shift nights than on on-shift nights. Smoking prevalence was 26.4%, and workers reported smoking a similar number of cigarettes per day during on-and off-shift days. Most workers reported drinking alcohol (86.1%) and more often at risky levels during off-shift than on-shift days (57.9% vs 34.3%, p < 0.001). Fruits and vegetable consumption was low but with higher vegetable intake during off-shift days (2.8 ± 1.4 vs 2.3 ± 1.3 serves, p < 0.001). Workers had good physical health status (91.2%), but 71.4% were overweight/obese and 33.4% indicated high levels of psychological distress. Working on long shifts (OR 6.63, 95% CI 1.84–23.91) and smoking (OR 7.17, 95% CI 2.67–19.26) were linked to high psychological distress.
Conclusions
The prevalence of psychological distress and risky health behaviours was high. Interventions should aim to reduce psychological distress and support multiple behaviour changes, considering FIFO work-related characteristics including long shift hours.
History
Journal
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental HealthVolume
96Pagination
105-120Location
GermanyPublisher DOI
ISSN
0340-0131eISSN
1432-1246Language
EnglishPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalIssue
1Publisher
SPRINGERUsage metrics
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Keywords
Science & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicinePublic, Environmental & Occupational HealthPsychological distressPhysical healthFIFOMiningHealth behavioursAustraliaPSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESSSCREENING SCALESMENTAL-HEALTHSHIFT WORKERSIN/FLY-OUTSLEEPSAFETYPERFORMANCEOPERATIONIMPACTSHumansAnimalsCross-Sectional StudiesDipteraHealth BehaviorClinical ResearchBehavioral and Social ScienceBasic Behavioral and Social Science2.3 Psychological, social and economic factors2 AetiologyCancer3 Good Health and Well BeingPublic Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified
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