Perceived impact of rotating shift work on health and wellbeing among underground workers

Abstract

Workers in the mining industry are exposed to several risks and hazards in the underground environment. Shift work is a common working arrangement in the mining industry and is associated with many adverse health outcomes. In Canada, there is limited research between rotating shift work in the minerals industry and the effects on health and wellbeing of workers, especially utilizing a qualitative design. This thesis aimed to understand the impact of rotating shift work on perceived health and wellbeing among some underground workers in Sudbury, Ontario. This qualitative descriptive study utilized individual, semistructured interviews with a sample of underground workers (n = 12) employed in Sudbury, Ontario. Interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s 2006 version of thematic analysis. Participants in this study perceived both advantages and disadvantages of working on a rotating shift schedule in relation to their health and wellbeing. Final themes that emerged from the data included: strong preference for the night shift, challenges associated with impact on personal wellbeing, advantages and disadvantages on work environment wellbeing, benefits and challenges of wellbeing external to work, strategies for coping with shift work, family advantages, challenges with partner relationships, challenges and opportunities in relationships with children, and strategies used to protect family wellbeing. The findings of this study may influence future research studies using a quantitative or mixed-method design, and larger samples.