The impact of physical and psychosocial risks on employee well-being and quality of life: The case of the mining industry in Ghana

Abstract

While in recent years there has been a growing awareness among mining companies of the need to address physical injuries and environmental issues, there remains a lack of knowledge about how psychosocial risks independently and in conjunction with physical risks affect the health, general well-being and quality of life of mine workers. A cross sectional survey was administered to 330 employees of five large scale mining companies producing three different mineral products (gold, manganese and bauxite) to examine physical and psychosocial hazards in the Ghanaian mining industry and their consequences for the quality of life and general well-being of employees. Responses from 307 participants showed mining equipment, ambient conditions, and work demands and control as being significant predictors of quality of life and general well-being after controlling for demographics. Age as a demographic variable also had important implications, with older workers experiencing better well-being and quality of life. Implications of findings for the mining sector in Ghana and other developing countries are further discussed which may serve as a starting point towards developing further initiatives in this area.

A Systematic Review on the Research Progress and Evolving Trends of Occupational Health and Safety Management: A Bibliometric Analysis of Mapping Knowledge Domains

“…In term of coping with mental health difficulties, Luthans et al extended the concept of psychological capital to the field of organization and management, with the potential to lead to a positive organizational behavior psychological state in employees, using interventional measures such as cultivating hope and optimism and promoting self-efficacy to improve the mental health and job performance of employees (81). In addition, some studies have focused on the relationship between mental health and QOL; for example, Amponsah-Tawiah et al conducted a case study of the mining industry in Ghana, finding that mining equipment, environmental conditions, and work requirements and control were important predictors of QOL and happiness (82). In recent years, with the continuous acceleration of economic globalization, urbanization and informatization, and the increasing work intensity experienced by employees, "white-collar depression, " and other psychological problems seen in developed countries are also emerging in developing countries such as China and India.…”

Strategies for psychosocial risk management in manufacturing

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Ocular conditions among singed–hide butchers at The Kumasi abattoir

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