Beneath the surface: An exploration of remoteness and work stress in the mines

Abstract

The aim of this ethnographic study was to explore the experience of stress and remoteness amongst miners. Nineteen mining employees participated in semi-structured interviews; 11 remote miners were interviewed at their place of work in a South Australian mining company operating a fly-in/fly-out (FIFO) roster structure. Comparative perspectives were obtained from an additional eight miners working in Australia and the Philippines also operating within a FIFO roster, and Canada and Sweden where miners lived in neighbouring mining communities. We used a grounded theory approach and the job demands resources framework to identify the job demands, job resources and outcomes unique to mining work. Our analysis revealed that work stress was a common experience amongst mining workers, with the potential to manifest into impaired psychological well-being and sleep. Work pressure and environmental exposure were identified as the most prominent job demands. Remote workers additionally experienced work-family and work-life conflict. In relation to resources, remote miners reported a unique experience of social support. Remote miners frequently work away from the family which strains familial relationships. Facilitated by increased proximity, co-workers assume an intensified supportive role than would typically be provided by friends and family at home. Safety culture was identified as an upstream organisational factor that may precede or mitigate work stress and poor health outcomes.