Relationships of Physical Job Tasks and Living Conditions with Occupational Injuries in Coal Miners

Abstract

This study assessed the relationships of job tasks and living conditions with occupational injuries among coal miners. The sample included randomly selected 516 underground workers. They completed a standardized self-administred questionnaire. The data were analyzed via logistic regression method. The rate of injuries in the past two years was 29.8%. The job tasks with significant crude relative risks were: power hammer, vibrating hand tools, pneumatic tools, bent trunk, awkward work posture, heat, standing about and walking, job tasks for trunk and upper/lower limbs, pain caused by work, and muscular tiredness. Logistic model shows a strong relationship between the number of job tasks (JT) and injuries (adjusted ORs vs. JT 0-1: 2.21, 95%CI 1.27-3.86 for JT 2-6 and 3.82, 2.14-6.82 for JT>or=7), and significant ORs>or=1.71 for face work, not-good-health-status, and psychotropic drug use. Musculoskeletal disorders and certain personality traits were also significant in univariate analysis. Therefore job tasks and living conditions strongly increase the injuries, and occupational physicians could help workers to find remedial measures.

Association of Physical Job Demands, Smoking and Alcohol Abuse with Subsequent Premature Mortality: A 9‐year Follow‐up Population‐based Study

“…As previously mentioned all factors studied have been validated and used in other studies 2,3,5,33,38,42) . The physical job demands were those reported as demanding by the subjects.…”

“…The physical job demands were those reported as demanding by the subjects. They have been used elsewhere 2,3,5) . The calculation of the score PJD was valid because the physical job demands considered were unidimensional 44) .…”

“…The questionnaire included: demographical characteristics, smoking habit, alcohol abuse, job (in the past for the retired people; coded according to the Insee classification, Paris, 1983), and physical job demands during working life. Alcohol abuse was defined using the Deta questionnaire (at least two positive responses to four items: (i) consumption considered excessive by the subject; (ii) consumption considered excessive by people around the subject, (iii) subject wishes to reduce consumption, and (iv) consumption on waking) 2,6,33) . Concerning the physical job demands (PJD), 12 items were selected, with the following question "Please indicate the high job demands for your work": hammer, vibrating platform, pneumatic tools, other vibrating hand tools, screwdriver, handling objects, awkward posture, tasks at heights, machine tools, pace, working on a production line, standing about and walking 2,3,5) .…”

“…fatigue, stress, substance use, occupational injuries, disabilities 2,3,5,9,10,12,18,19) , and death 20) . The role of physical job demands is little documented.…”

Burnout, Depression and Proactive Coping in Underground Coal Miners in Serbia - Pilot Project

“…Coal miners are exposed to a number of demanding daily job tasks and are among the workers with the highest incidence rate of occupational injury (1). Coal miners perform drilling and blasting operations; use chain and belt conveyors for coal hauling; work in confined spaces with narrow corridors, high ground pressures, and the potential for roof caveing; and work in the presence of the methane and oxidation processes in coal.…”