Title: Mine health and safety: influence of psychosocial factors on musculoskeletal disorders among miners in Pakistan

Authors: Izhar Mithal Jiskani; Jonhatan Magno Norte Da Silva; Saleem Raza Chalgri; Paras Behrani; Xiang Lu; Ebelia Manda

Addresses: School of Mines, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China; State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China ' Department of Industrial Engineering, Federal University of Alagoas, Delmiro Gouveia, Alagoas, 57480-000, Brazil ' Department of Mining Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro, 76062, Pakistan ' Faculty of Management Sciences, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology, Karachi, 75600, Pakistan ' School of Mines, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China; State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China ' School of Mines, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China; State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China

Abstract: Mine health and safety is considered to be one of the fundamental determinants of sustainable mining. The purpose of this study was to analyse the severity of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and to investigate the influence of psychosocial factors on its development. The data from 252 coal miners were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. Ordinal logistic regression modelling was performed to examine the association between MSDs and psychosocial factors. The results showed that miners face moderate to severe risks of MSDs. The elbow, lower back, and knee were the most commonly reported complaints. Job demands and control at work were the psychosocial factors that increase the risk of developing MSDs. Whereas, monotonous work and commitment to the organisation reduce the chance of developing MSDs. The findings of this study will be a significant endeavour to formulate preventive management programs to promote miners' health and safety.

Keywords: mine health and safety; musculoskeletal disorders; MSDs; psychosocial factors; sustainable mining.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMME.2020.108646

International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering, 2020 Vol.11 No.2, pp.152 - 167

Received: 18 Jul 2019
Accepted: 08 Jan 2020

Published online: 23 Jul 2020 *

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