The Implications Of Isolation For Remote Industrial Health Workers

18Citations
Citations of this article
123Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

Introduction: Recent literature has explored the health and social implications of industrial workers who are involved in a variety of long-distance commute (LDC) work arrangements including fly-in, fly-out; bus-in, bus-out; and drive-in, drive-out. However, the role of an industrial health worker in caring for this special population of workers is poorly understood and documented in current literature. In Australia, the health role has existed primarily to meet minimum standards of safety legislation and carry out compliance activities. The combination of low social risk tolerance, increasingly remote locations and changing health and safety legislation are driving changes to accountability for the health as well as the safety of remote industrial workers. Health staff are recruited from the ranks of registered nurses, paramedics and diploma-qualified medics. Often, they work in autonomous transdisciplinary roles with little connection to other health workers. The lack of a clear professional identity contributes to increased tension between the regulatory requirements of the role and organisations who don’t always value input from a specialist health role. The aim of this study was to understand the experience of isolation for health workers in industrial settings to better inform industry and education providers. Methods: A phenomenological methodology was chosen for this study owing to the paucity of qualitative literature that explored this role. This study utilised face-to-face or telephone interviews with nurses and paramedics working in remote offshore and onshore industrial health roles seeking to understand their experience of working in this context of health practice.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Adams, M. E., Lazarsfeld-Jensen, A., & Francis, K. (2019). The Implications Of Isolation For Remote Industrial Health Workers. Rural and Remote Health, 19(2). https://doi.org/10.22605/RRH5001

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free