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Background: The relationship between risk factors and likelihood of occupational injury has been studied. However, what has been published has only provided a limited explanation of why some of the employees working in the same environment as other employees suffered a single-injury event, while other employees experienced multiple-injury events. This article reports on an investigation of whether artisanal and small-scale miners in Migori County of Kenya are susceptible to a single-injury or multiple-injury incidences, and if so, what underpinning parameters explain the differences between the single incident injured and the multiple incident injured group. Mine management commitment to safety in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) operations is also considered. Materials and methods: The research objectives were achieved by surveying 162 uninjured and 74 injured miners. A structured, closed-end questionnaire was administered to participants after the stratification of the study population and systematic selection of the representative samples. Results: The results showed that most injured miners suffer a single-injury incident rather than experiencing multiple-injury events, and laceration (28.40%) was the common injury suffered by the miners. The analysis showed that the risk factors for the single incident injured group were not similar to those in the multiple incident injured group. The research also found mine workers have low opinion about mine management/owners commitment to safety. Conclusion: The study concluded that mine management and miners need to be educated and sensitized on the dangers of this operation. Provision of safety gears and positive safety culture must be a top priority for management. Keywords: Incidence, Logistic model, Miners, Occupational injuries, Risk factors

As the frequency, intensity, and duration of heatwaves increases, emergency health serviceutilization, including ambulance service, has correspondingly increased across the world. The negative effects of air pollution on health complicate these adverse health effects. This research work is the first known study to analyze the joint effects of heatwaves and air quality on the ambulance service in Western Australia (WA). The main objective is to investigate the potential joint effects of heatwaves and air quality on the ambulance service for vulnerable populations in the Perth metropolitan area. A time series design was used. Daily data on ambulance callouts, temperature and air pollutants (CO, SO2, NO2, O3, PM10 and PM2.5) were collected for the Perth metropolitan area, WA from 2006 to 2015. Poisson regression modeling was used to assess the association between heatwaves, air quality, and ambulance callouts. Risk assessments on age, gender, socio-economic status (SES), and joint effects between heatwaves and air quality on ambulance callouts were conducted. The ambulance callout rate was higher during heatwave days (14.20/100,000/day) compared to non-heatwave days (13.95/100,000/day) with a rate ratio of 1.017 (95% confidence interval 1.012, 1.023). The ambulance callout rate was higher in males, people over 60 years old, people with low SES, and those living in coastal areas during period of heatwaves. Exposure to CO, SO2, O3 and PM2.5 increased risk on ambulance callouts and exposure to NO2 showed joint effect with heatwave and increased risk of ambulance callouts by 3% after adjustment of all other risk factors. Ambulance callouts are an important indicator for evaluating heatwave-related emergency morbidity in WA. As the median concentrations of air pollutants in WA were lower than the Australian National Standards, the interactive effects of heatwaves and air quality on ambulance service need to be further examined, especially when air pollutants exceed the standards.

The susceptibility of miners to severe injuries in Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) operations is significantly higher than in the larger-scale mining industry. However, the most prevalent and least studied safety aspects are the factors affecting the severe injuries and miners’ awareness of the state of their health and safety. Severe injuries are ASM-related injuries that have resulted in more than two weeks lost workdays. This paper aims to demonstrate that severe injuries in ASM industry do not occur simply due to individual personality but also because of other underlying factors like ignorance of illegality of the activity. The paper also reports on the injured miners’ perception of the nature of health and safety. Two hundred and thirty-six miners from Migori County of Western Kenya ASM site were administered closed-ended structured survey questionnaires, followed by face-to-face qualitative interview of thirty-three severely injured mineworkers identified from the quantitative survey respondents. The survey results were analysed using logistic regression. While the interview results were subjected to thematic analysis, the identified themes confirmed or complemented quantitative findings as well as demonstrated the state of occupational health and safety (OHS) in ASM industry. The results showed that alcohol and drug usage, inadequate earnings, safety training, lack of hazard identification and risk control measures, lack of safety equipment, poor management-miners interaction, poor communication of safety concerns, and government support were indicators of poor safety culture influenced the recurrence of severe injuries. Research outcomes will support decision-making processes and implementation of programs in this industry.

Background As global warming and the frequency and intensity of heatwaves increases, health service utilization, including emergency department attendances (EDA) have correspondingly increased across the world. The impact of air quality on health adds to the complexity of the effects. Potential joint effects between heatwaves and air quality on EDA have been rarely reported in the literature, prompting this study. Objectives To investigate the potential joint effect of heatwaves and air quality on the EDA for vulnerable populations in the Perth metropolitan area, Western Australia. Methods A time series design was used. Daily data on EDA, heatwaves (excess heat factor>0) and air pollutants (CO, SO2, NO2, O3, PM10 and PM2.5) were collected for Perth, Western Australia from 2006 to 2015. Poisson regression modelling was used to assess the associations between heatwaves, air quality, and EDA. Risk assessments on age, gender, Aboriginality, socio-economic status (SES), and joint effect between heatwaves and air quality on EDA were conducted. Results The EDA rate was higher in heatwave days (77.86/100,000/day) compared with non-heatwave days (73.90/100,000/day) with rate ratio of 1.053 (95% confidence interval 1.048, 1.058). The EDA rate was higher in males, people older than 60 years or younger than 15 years, Aboriginal people, and people with low SES. Exposure to CO, SO2, O3 and PM2.5 increased risk on EDA and exposure to PM2.5 showed joint effect with heatwave and increased risk of EDA by 6.6% after adjustment of all other risk factors. Conclusions EDA is an important indicator to evaluate heatwave related morbidity for emergency medical service as EDA rate increased during heatwaves with relative high concentrations of air pollutants. As all air pollutants measured in the study were lower than the Australian National Standards, the joint effect of heatwaves and air quality needs to be further examined when it exceeds the standards.

Theories and knowledge about sick building syndrome are summarized. Included here are the definition of sick building syndrome, commonly identified symptoms of sick building syndrome, a brief history of the development of sick building syndrome as a cause of ill-health, a newly developed model of factors that influence the occurrence of sick building syndrome, and factors that enhance the effects of sick building syndrome symptoms.

Ageist attitudes have been identified across different industries. The nursing profession has a high proportion of older workers. As this facilitates regular contact with, as well as exposure to, older nurses, it may be expected to show less ageism. This study investigated 163 Western Australian nursing recruiters' attitudes toward older nurses. Results showed clear evidence of both negative and positive stereotyping of older nurses. Nursing recruiters indicated that they would be more than likely to hire older nurses and that age was less relevant in making hiring decisions. These findings suggest that enhancing the employability of older workers does not necessarily change ageist attitudes. This is relevant to policy formulation, attitude change interventions, and the well-being of older workers.

Just as the application of technology in mining processes can cause pollution, it can also be harnessed to minimise, and sometimes eliminate, mine-related contaminants. Waste minimisation can be achieved through decreased waste production, waste collection, waste recycling, and the neutralisation of pollutants into detoxified forms. This article reviews examples of how technology can be used to minimise air, water, land and noise pollution in the mining industry. 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Research was conducted to identify some of the current pollution minimisation practices adopted in Australia's mining and mineral processing industries. Initially, 84 mining and mineral processing companies were approached for inclusion in the study, with request only made for information that was available to the company stakeholders and the wider general community. Among the responses received, BHP Billiton, BlueScope Steel, Newmont Australia Limited and AngloGold Australia provided the information requested and/or a substantial quantity of information through reports on their company website. Analysis of the data collected for these companies indicated that improvements were made, and that policies had been implemented over the previous few years. The pollution minimisation and policy practices adopted at the operations of these companies include environmental management systems, advanced pollution control technologies, environmental awareness training for employees, and requirement – from company stakeholders – for increased accountability of environmental impacts.

Introduction Published literature revealed that not only has occupational health and safety issues for women been neglected but studies of workers' compensation and workplace injuries and diseases have largely ignored women's experiences (Bale 1989; Cameron 1994; Cooper & Faulks 1999; Quinlan 1996; and Shackelford, Farley, & Vines 1998). A research study was completed in 2003 to seek to help redress this problem by focusing on women's experiences with the workers' compensation system. In addition to highlighting women's experiences, the research aimed to assist in making women visible to service providers, policy makers and the wider community. In Queensland, Australia the workers compensation system began in 1916. It was not until 1996 that the Kennedy Inquiry brought about the first comprehensive look at this system. The impetus for this inquiry was due to the workers' compensation system being in the red for two hundred and ninety million dollars (Kennedy, 1996). The major response to the inquiry was the introduction of the WorkCover Act 1996 and the tightening of the eligibility criteria. Examples of reductions in the availability of financial support to claimants included: The definition of a worker was narrowed to exclude non-PAYE employees (PAYE tax payers are those whose employer deducts PAYE tax from the amount paid under the Commonwealth Income Tax Assessment Act 1936) and journey claims were downscaled. This alone was estimated to save thirteen million dollars per year. Kennedy did recommend that negligent employers be made responsible for injuries (in terms of payments) and recommended an increase in the lump sum payment from one hundred thousand dollars to one hundred and thirty thousand dollars. The Legal and Accounting Management Seminars (1997) adopted the view that this narrowing of definitions was used to reduce the number of people who could claim workers' compensation. Glaser and Laster (1990) supported this view when they declared that individual worker's are scapegoats for the costs and rorts of the workers compensation scheme. The cost saving strategies throw into question whether reasonable levels of benefits for injured/ill workers can be maintained at the same time. To some degree this is also dependent upon what one believes the workers compensation role is. WorkCover provides financial support for injured workers (such as medical and treatment costs, hospitalization costs, traveling expenses and weekly compensation payments), lump sum payments for permanently injured workers, insurance for employers, oversees employers who self-insure and observes the 1997 Regulations for the WorkCover Act of 1996. Although WorkCover is the organisational body within Queensland it also operates within the workers compensation system or processes. This system includes such factors as the legislative framework, the organisation (WorkCover), the employees and agents of the organisation, and the processes established by the legislation (as interpreted by WorkCover). Inherent within the workers compensation system is values and assumptions. WorkCover is not a neutral institution. Under the Queensland system workers receive eighty-five percent of their normal weekly earnings for the first twenty-six weeks. After this time the rate decreases. Why are individual's compensated at a lower rate? The Industry Commission (1994) indicates that compensation is less than pre-injury earnings to provide an incentive for workers to return to work, to encourage rehabilitation and to encourage workers to behave in a safety conscious way at work. These assumptions demonstrate the belief that workers are responsible and in control of workplace accidents (rather than employers). WorkCover presupposes that individuals will eventually return to work. It acts as a safety net until such time as individuals can either resume work or pass onto welfare benefits. It does not cope well with individuals with permanent, long-term or multiple disabilities/illness. …

This article traces the history of health and safety practices in the Western Australian mining industry from the mining performed by the Aboriginal people to the mining industry work in 2012. It identifi es the success strategies that have made the Western Australian mining industry a world leader in having a high standard of workplace health and safety practices.

Diesel exhaust can pose a significant health risk on exposure populations and workplace can be a significant source of exposure to diesel exhaust. Because of its complex compositions and the delay of advanced technology in exposure assessment, diesel exhaust exposure assessment at workplace in relation to its health effects is understudied. More efforts are needed to clarify exposure levels that may result in adverse health effects, in particular, chronic health effects.

In 2005 I commenced work in the offshore oil and gas industry in the South East Asia region. The rig allocated was an old tender barge that was built in 1976. The decor had remained the same for many years until “refurbishment” in 2005. A majority of the upgrade was purely aesthetic without review of ceiling or wall panels. In fact, new wall panels were placed directly over the old ones. The installation of a new industrial ducted air-conditioning system was well received in the hot and humid region of the equator. However, little thought was given to any other requirements of the incoming air. After all, it was nice to be cool for once. In 2009, on the same tender barge, several of the catering and office crew started to contract some severe dermatological conditions that presented similar to anything from tinea corporis to eczema. Several crew members contracted severe upper and lower respiratory infections with two requiring hospitalisation onshore and the remainder retained and treated onboard. As the frequency of dermatological and respiratory conditions in crew members increased over approximately two to three months, I discussed the cases with the onboard Medic. Through investigation of the medical documents and identifying the specific personnel involved, it was realised that a majority of the patients were those with office/accommodation type appointments such as cleaners, catering staff, and supervisors to name af ew. Approximately two weeks later the beloved air-conditioning unit failed and required repair from a specialist tradesman. It was at this point the specialist identified that UV lighting had not been installed with the ducting system. This allowed an extraordinary amount of spores, moulds, and fungus to populate within the ducting system. It was during the inspection of the ducting system that several small leaks from piping were found within the ceiling panels with the water being directed down into the wall panelling. Small bulges had been noticed in the walls but had not been investigated. On removal of the wall panels, “friends” of those living in the air-conditioning duct had made quite a home within the walls. The identification of these two “fields” prompted the removal, cleaning, and reinstalment of all wall panels, cleaning, sterilising, and installation of UV lighting in the air-conditioning

For people who spend a large amount of time indoors, it is important that the air quality and other factors do not harm the health of the building occupants. This chapter includes information and a check list that can be used to include safety in the design stage to prevent, or at least minimise, the occurrence of sick building syndrome. There is a building occupants’ health survey that can be used to identify if there are factors in the building that can harm occupants’ health. Recommended risk control measures that can be used to minimise the occurrence of sick building syndrome occurring are documented. The chapter concludes with information on how to conduct a cost effectiveness analysis on allowing employees to suffer sick building syndrome.

Introduction: Gender differences is a question of major importance within workers’ compensation given the increased role of women in the workforce over the past several decades. This article reviews literature relating to women's experiences following work injury. Methods: An Australian study is used as background to exploring the broad issue of the question of gender equity in workers’ compensation. In doing so it takes account of historical, legal and medical issues. Results: Women's experience in the workers’ compensation system is different to that of men due to a range of factors. It is heavily influenced by the industrial environment in which they work. Women are paid less than men in many instances and work in gender-segregated circumstances, which often reduces their industrial bargaining power. Women also suffer different forms of injury and disease to men because of the different nature of their work. Conclusion: The Australian experience suggests that as a consequence of the combination of lesser industrial bargaining power, lower wages and differing forms of injury and disease women often receive less than men in compensation payments, struggle to obtain equity in the dispute resolution process and experience greater difficulties in returning to work following injury or disease.