Risk Factors Of Occupational Fatigue Among Workers At Anglogold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, Tarkwa
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Date
2022-05
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University Of Ghana
Abstract
Background: The implementation of effective safety management systems and the promotion of a safety culture in industries have significantly reduced the number of incidents and injuries among workers. Notwithstanding this, some reported incidents and injuries have been attributed to the impact of occupational fatigue combined with insufficient time for workers to recuperate. The prevalence of occupational fatigue and its associated risk factors varies across industries, particularly in the mining industry, which is characterized by multiple risk factors exposure. Identifying the prevalence of fatigue and its associated risk factors is thus a critical issue for occupational health and safety of mine workers and industrial property, especially in Tarkwa, which has a relatively higher concentration of mining industries, including AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem mine
Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors of occupational fatigue among mine workers at AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine in Tarkwa.
Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 252 participants in AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem mine Limites (AAIL) was conducted using a questionnaire to collect data on socio-demographics, work environmental stress, general health, and lifestyle factors. The Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFQ) was used to determine the prevalence of occupational fatigue. Descriptive analysis was used to demonstrate the characteristics of the study population. Chi-squared test was used to test for significant associations between socio-demographic, work environmental stress, health-related and lifestyle-related variables, and the summary occupational fatigue variables using bivariate analysis. The level of statistical significance was set at 95% (p <0.05). To determine the factors that influence occupational fatigue, a multivariate logistics regression model was created.
Results: The study included 252 workers, of whom 223 (88.49%) were males and 29 (11.51%) were females, with a mean age of 41 years (SD ± 8.9). Among the respondents, 9.1% had experienced occupational fatigue in the past week. Exposure to poor lighting (OR = 3.78), poor air circulation (OR = 3.23), not engaged in any form of exercise (OR = 3.06), sleep deprivation (OR = 4.01) and experience of psychological symptoms (OR = 3.11) were found to be related to occupational fatigue.
Conclusion: Risk factors of occupational fatigue among workers at AAIL were exposure to poor lighting, poor air circulation, not engaging in any form of exercise, sleep deprivation and experience of psychological symptoms, particularly depression.
Key words: Risk factors; occupational fatigue; mine workers
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Keywords
Risk factors, occupational fatigue, mine workers