Abstract
BackgroundThis study aims to examine miners’ working conditions and self-rated health status in copper mines in Zambia and to identify the conditions and factors necessary to improve the safety and health of mineworkers.MethodsA cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted anonymously among copper mineworkers in Zambia in 2015 and 2016. Five targeted mining companies among 33 were introduced by the Mineworkers’ Union of Zambia. Study participants were recruited at the waiting space for underground work, waiting rooms of company clinics/hospitals, and/or at training sessions, which were places permitted by the target companies to perform data collection via convenience sampling. Bivariate analyses (e.g., t tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, chi-square tests, or Cochran-Armitage tests) and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze differences in demographic characteristics and to compare their working conditions, health conditions, safety management at the workplace, and training opportunities by employment status.ResultsIn total, 338 responses were analyzed. Regular employees had better working conditions, including higher incomes (P = 0.001), more likely to be guaranteed sickness insurance by the company (P < 0.001), paid holidays (P = 0.094), and sick leave (P = 0.064), although the difference was not statistically significant. Mineworkers’ decreased self-rated health was determined by job category (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.21, 0.82; P = 0.012). Having experienced violence from the boss/manager (AOR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.32, 0.91; P = 0.020) was negatively associated with better self-rated health in the crude odds ratio.ConclusionsAmong mineworkers in Zambia, nonunderground work and not having experienced violence from their boss/manager contributed to increased self-rated health. From the perspective of psychological safety and human security, the management of safety and the working environment, including human resource management and preventing harassment/violence, should be assured, especially for underground mineworkers.
Highlights
This study aims to examine miners’ working conditions and self-rated health status in copper mines in Zambia and to identify the conditions and factors necessary to improve the safety and health of mineworkers
A cross-sectional study was conducted using a selfadministered questionnaire distributed to mineworkers in the Copperbelt and Northwestern Provinces, Zambia, and data collection was performed in 2105 and 2016, respectively
Among the mineworkers who were asked to participate in the study, none refused to complete the questionnaire after learning about the study procedures and ethical considerations
Summary
This study aims to examine miners’ working conditions and self-rated health status in copper mines in Zambia and to identify the conditions and factors necessary to improve the safety and health of mineworkers. The fatality rate is high in the mining industry, at Ohnishi et al Tropical Medicine and Health (2021) 49:11 industry, but there is insufficient evidence regarding mental health hazards [4]. Worldwide, working as a mineworker increases the risk of silicosis due to exposure to silica dust and pulmonary tuberculosis regardless of the type of mine, such as coal, copper, gold, or others [5,6,7]. Even in the USA, the prevalence of pneumoconiosis among coal mineworkers has been increasing [9], mineworkers who have high compliance with health regulations are less likely to report lung disease [10]. Mineworkers’ safety and health challenges include hearing loss/ problems [2, 11, 12], sleep deprivation [13], and heart strain [14]
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