FIFO, FIFO, and off to work we woe

Ao, Gordon B Parker

doi:10.5694/mja18.00075

Cited by 6 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…These common health-related behaviours comprising alcohol intake, smoking and physical activity, contribute substantially to morbidities and mortalities from NCDs [ 1 ]. The prevalence of current daily smoking (17.7%) among FIFO workers in our study was slightly higher than the 16% noted in a pre-pandemic study [ 44 ]. Our current finding was also higher than the pandemic rate of 10.7–13.4% [ 49 , 50 ] and pre-pandemic rates (regular smokers: 13% and current smokers: 14.7%) [ 51 ] reported in the Australian adult general population.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 84%

“…A high proportion of the participants (43.6%) reported consuming alcohol at a rate associated with long-term risk of harm, and about 18% of the workers consumed alcohol at a level exceeding the guideline for short-time risk of harm. While some studies did show an increase in levels of alcohol consumption during the pandemic in the adult general population in Australia [ 16 , 62 ] with 25.8% of adults exceeding the Australian Adult Alcohol Guideline during the pandemic [ 63 ], previous studies have shown comparable higher consumption levels among FIFO and general mining workers during pre-pandemic periods [ 34 , 39 , 44 ]. This is supported by other pre-pandemic studies that have shown that mining workers consume alcohol at a higher rate than other professional industries [ 39 ], highlighting a need for further investigation into the cause of the behaviour that appears specific to the mining population [ 64 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A structured online questionnaire, drawing on validated scales, e.g., [ 42 , 43 ] and previous literature, e.g., [ 34 , 44 ], was formulated by the authors and pre-tested. Participants anonymously completed the online questionnaire (set up in Redcap data capture tool), from May and November 2020.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Multiple health-related behaviours among Fly-In Fly-Out workers in the mining industry in Australia: A cross-sectional survey during the COVID-19 pandemic

Asare

Thomas²,

Affandi³

et al. 2022

PLoS ONE

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Background Fly-In-Fly-Out (FIFO) workers travel to work at isolated locations, and rotate continuous workdays with leave periods at home, and such work practice is common in the offshore oil and gas and onshore mining industry worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying public health actions appear to have had a negative impact on several health-related behaviours among the general population. However, little is known about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health behaviours of FIFO workers, who have shown higher pre-pandemic rates of risky behaviours than the general population in Australia. This study examined the health-related behaviours of FIFO workers in the mining industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. FIFO workers from an Australian mining company who underwent COVID-19 screening between May and November 2020 completed an online survey about their regular health-related behaviours. The independent sample t-test and Pearson’s chi-square test where appropriate were conducted to examine the differences between males and females for the behavioural outcomes. Results A total of 768 FIFO workers (633 males and 135 females) participated in the study. Prevalence of smoking was high (32%). Males smoked more cigarettes per day than females (15.2±7.0 vs 13.1±7.1, p = .174). Most participants (74.7%) drank alcohol on more than two days per week. Compared to females, more males (20.2% vs 8.0%) consumed alcohol at short-term harmful levels (p = .010). About a third (34.4%) of the workers (33.5% of males and 38.5% of females, p = .264) engaged in inadequate moderate-vigorous exercises/physical activity. About a third (33.1%) of workers (33.7% of males and 30.4% of females; p = .699) had multiple risk behaviours. Conclusions Prevalence of multiple risk behaviours was high. Interventions aimed at the prevention of risky health-related behaviours should target the different behavioural patterns and may require emphasis on gender-informed techniques particularly when addressing alcohol consumption.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 84%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Multiple health-related behaviours among Fly-In Fly-Out workers in the mining industry in Australia: A cross-sectional survey during the COVID-19 pandemic

Asare

Thomas²,

Affandi³

et al. 2022

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The study also included a convenient small sample size. However, our study sample was reflective of the profile of the FIFO work population in Australia as mostly males, middle-aged and on a roster of 8 days at work, similar to that reported in a large sample study [ 45 ]. We found no significant work-related characteristics associated with presenteeism and total productivity loss, and using a larger sample size may suggest otherwise [ 1 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 56%

“…Sociodemographic and work characteristics assessed included: age, sex, ethnicity, marital status, number of children, educational status, FIFO role, shift pattern, normal shift hours per day, number of consecutive days at work and at home, and the duration of working as a FIFO worker consistent with previous studies [ 44 , 45 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cost of Health-Related Work Productivity Loss among Fly-In Fly-Out Mining Workers in Australia

Asare

Makate

Powell

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Sufficient knowledge on the work productivity impact of the health of fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workers in the mining sector in Australia is lacking. This study examined the impact of health and lifestyle behaviours on the work productivity of FIFO workers in the mining industry in Australia. FIFO workers completed an online questionnaire on health and work productivity loss measures. Linear regressions were used to model annual work productivity losses through absenteeism, presenteeism and total productivity loss. Workers with a high risk for health conditions were, on average, associated with 3.87% more productivity loss (absenteeism: 1.27% and presenteeism: 2.88%) than those with low risk. Workers who had multiple health risks classified as medium (3–4 health conditions) and high (5 or more health conditions) reported 1.75% and 7.46% more total productivity loss, respectively, than those with fewer multiple health risks (0–2 health conditions). Health conditions were estimated to account for an annual additional productivity cost due to absenteeism of AUD 8.82 million, presenteeism of AUD 14.08 million and a total productivity loss of AUD 20.96 million per 1000 workers. FIFO workers with high health risks experience more absenteeism, presenteeism and overall productivity loss. These measures provide strong economic justifications that could support the need for targeted workplace health interventions.

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Direct, indirect, and moderated paths linking work schedules to psychological distress among fly-in, fly-out workers

2022

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Fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) workers are exposed to demanding work schedules (including extended rosters, long shifts, and night work) which may contribute to the high levels of psychological distress they report. However, existing evidence is inconsistent. To address these issues, we developed a model of FIFO work schedules and formulated three hypotheses linking objective schedule attributes to psychological distress through direct and indirect paths. We tested these hypotheses in survey data from FIFO workers (N = 2595). Objective schedule attributes (work/ leave ratio, cycle duration, hours per shift, and night work) jointly accounted for significant variance in psychological distress; work/ leave ratio and hours per shift contributed unique variance. Tests of indirect paths from schedule attributes to psychological distress through two subjective measures (roster satisfaction and lifestyle adaptation) showed that one or both of these paths was significant for each attribute. Moreover, parental status acted as a moderator; having children (relative to no children) interacted with work/leave ratio to predict poorer lifestyle adaptation, and hence higher distress. These findings offer new insights into the complex paths linking FIFO work schedules and psychological distress. The discussion highlights the need for interventions focusing on the design of roster/shift patterns to improve the mental health of FIFO workers.

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FIFO, FIFO, and off to work we woe

Cited by 6 publications

References 2 publications

Multiple health-related behaviours among Fly-In Fly-Out workers in the mining industry in Australia: A cross-sectional survey during the COVID-19 pandemic

Multiple health-related behaviours among Fly-In Fly-Out workers in the mining industry in Australia: A cross-sectional survey during the COVID-19 pandemic

Cost of Health-Related Work Productivity Loss among Fly-In Fly-Out Mining Workers in Australia

Direct, indirect, and moderated paths linking work schedules to psychological distress among fly-in, fly-out workers

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