RESEARCH PAPER
Factors of work environment hazardous for health in opinions of employees working
underground in the ‘Bogdanka’ coal mine
1
Pope John Paul II State School of Higher Education in Biala Podlaska, Poland
2
Department of Medical Anthropology, Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland
3
Department of Foreign Languages,Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport in Biała Podlaska, Poland
4
Department of Biological Health Hazards and Parasitology, Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland
5
Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Lublin, Poland
Corresponding author
Małgorzata Goździewska
Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland, Jaczewskiego, 20-090, Lublin, Poland
Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland, Jaczewskiego, 20-090, Lublin, Poland
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2019;26(3):409-414
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
Biological agents posing occupational risk in agriculture, forestry, food industry and wood industry and diseases caused by these agents (zoonoses, allergic and immunotoxic diseases)Exposure to physical hazards associated with the use of machinery in agriculture and forestry: noise, vibration, dust
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Employees performing work underground in coal mines are exposed to the effect of many hazardous factors in their work environment which negatively affect their health.
Objective:
The objective of the study was to recognize the opinions of employes working underground in one of the coal mines concerning the occurrence of factors hazardous for health in their work environment.
Material and methods:
The study was conducted in a group of 700 persons working underground in the ‘Bogdanka’ coal mine in Łęczna (Eastern Poland). The study was carried out using a questionnaire. The results were statistically analyzed using software STATISTICA v. 7.1.
Results:
The vast majority of respondents (approximately 80%) reported that noise and dustiness at their workplace create risk for their health. More than a half of them mentioned that the microclimate in the mine threatens their health (high humidity and high temperature), and a half of respondents indicated vibration and poor lighting. The greatest differences of opinions concerning the effect of hazardous factors on health of persons employed in the mine were observed in the sub-groups distinguished according to the work position. Health risk at a workplace was most often identified by those employed as miners.
Conclusions:
Among actions reducing the negative effect of the work environment on health is the introduction of new, safer technologies of coal mining. Also, the human factor is very important for work safety in mining, including the proper preparation of employees who undertake work in a mine. It is recommended that new, more effective educational programmes are implemented in the area of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) at workplaces.
Employees performing work underground in coal mines are exposed to the effect of many hazardous factors in their work environment which negatively affect their health.
Objective:
The objective of the study was to recognize the opinions of employes working underground in one of the coal mines concerning the occurrence of factors hazardous for health in their work environment.
Material and methods:
The study was conducted in a group of 700 persons working underground in the ‘Bogdanka’ coal mine in Łęczna (Eastern Poland). The study was carried out using a questionnaire. The results were statistically analyzed using software STATISTICA v. 7.1.
Results:
The vast majority of respondents (approximately 80%) reported that noise and dustiness at their workplace create risk for their health. More than a half of them mentioned that the microclimate in the mine threatens their health (high humidity and high temperature), and a half of respondents indicated vibration and poor lighting. The greatest differences of opinions concerning the effect of hazardous factors on health of persons employed in the mine were observed in the sub-groups distinguished according to the work position. Health risk at a workplace was most often identified by those employed as miners.
Conclusions:
Among actions reducing the negative effect of the work environment on health is the introduction of new, safer technologies of coal mining. Also, the human factor is very important for work safety in mining, including the proper preparation of employees who undertake work in a mine. It is recommended that new, more effective educational programmes are implemented in the area of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) at workplaces.
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