The mining industry has long had a negative reputation in the public’s perception when it comes to its impact on the health of its workers. While this is mainly due to insufficient health and safety standards in the past, mining can still be a risky job when it comes to your health if specific precautions aren’t taken. Whether you’re working in a mining job or managing others in the industry, it’s crucial that workers are encouraged to pursue and maintain a healthy lifestyle to reduce any potential health problems.
Eat Well
Healthy eating is important for everyone, but it’s particularly essential for those who work a vigorous, active job, like miners. With the nature of shift work in the mines and the potentially long hours spent doing active physical labour, adequate nutrition is extremely important. Wherever possible, mining catering companies should be used to supply nutritious, balanced meals to workers that have the energy and vitamins necessary to fuel a hard day’s work. Miners should also be sure to maintain a healthy eating routine outside of working hours to maintain their energy levels and to support a strong immune system.
Stay Fit
Having a physically fit body will make the work done in the mining industry much less strenuous. Miners are often required to spend long hours doing quite tough physical exercise, including operating heavy machinery and working hard in hot conditions. This can be difficult if you’re not in good physical condition. Miners can build up their fitness levels by doing regular strength training exercises to boost muscle power, as well as some cardiovascular activity to build endurance.
Get Plenty Of Rest
While activity will help keep your body strong during your mining career, adequate sleep will also go a long way to improving your overall health. The unpredictability of mining shifts and the irregular timings of these shifts can make a healthy sleeping pattern harder than usual. Because of the potential lack of sleep that can come while working mining shifts, it’s important to get truly restful sleep when you go to bed at night. This can be achieved by using sleep hygiene strategies, creating a comfortable and relaxing bedroom space, and by speaking to your doctor if sleep is an ongoing issue.
Utilise Protective Equipment
A good employer will always have the necessary safety equipment to protect mining workers from potential dangers in the workplace. This can include ear protection to shield the ears from loud machinery noises, respiratory protective equipment, and clothing made with fabrics that help regulate body temperature, such as cooling vests or breathable materials. Every mining site should be assessed for health and safety concerns, and all relevant equipment should always be supplied to workers before any mining begins.
Protect Skin From The Sun
Skin cancer is a major concern for many Australians, but miners working in open-pit environments are at higher risk than the average person. This is because they’re working under persistent UV radiation exposure, leaving their skin at risk for developing skin cancer. Because of this risk, workers should seek out shade frequently throughout the day, avoid shift work during the times of the day when UV rays are at their strongest, and apply plenty of high SPF sunscreen throughout the workday.
