Who Reports Low Interactive Psychology Status? An Investigation Based on Chinese Coal Miners.

Shuai Han,Hong Chen,Ruyin Long

doi:10.3390/ijerph17103446

Abstract

In mine safety and health research, psychological issues have always been neglected. This paper aims to identify the psychological perceptions of workers with respect to the mine environment and interpersonal environment across the whole production system. A survey was designed that measured the miners’ demographic details and perceptions of two affect-based interactions; three resource-based interactions for the manager, supervisor, co-worker; and three actual environment interactions. A total of 642 frontline coal miners from six mines located in six provinces in China completed the survey. The main results indicated that that miners reported low psychology status, especially those over 51 years old, with a monthly income of 2000–4000 and junior school education. Second, there was a high proportion of inferior value in environmental interactions. Meanwhile, the miners’ interactions with their co-workers were perceived as the most positive and those with their managers as the least in interpersonal interactions. Third, there were significant differences in sub-dimension interactions (actual environment, resource-based, affect-based interactions) that certainly existed in these interactive roles. Additionally, the dissociated type of miners with manager and supervisor (low resource and affect-based interaction) reached 23.99~24.45%. This study revealed the inner psychological risk factors for safety and health work in coal mines and provides an essential guideline for mining industries.

Highlights

Safety and health in the mining industry is a global concern
This study explored the psychological interactions of frontline coal mine workers in China and extent to which they satisfy their resource-based and affect-based needs
This paper explored the psychological interaction perception of miners based on the basic component elements in the coal mine production system, for example, the environment and staff

Summary

Introduction

Safety and health in the mining industry is a global concern. In China, coal accounts for about60 per cent of total energy production and consumption. Safety and health in the mining industry is a global concern. Considering the significant role of coal in the energy structure, safety, and health have been key considerations of the national strategy in recent years [1]. Safety behaviors or the inability to act safely (e.g., behavioral ability, safety knowledge, consciousness, habits, attitudes, and commitments [2,3,4]) and physical health (e.g., physical function, body pain, and chronic disease) [5,6,7]. The psychological health of miners is still ignored. Psychological perception is at the root of individual behavior rather than the superficial causes of the loss of knowledge, ability, and so on [8,9]

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