Kömür Madenleri̇nde Psi̇kososyal Güvenli̇k Çalişmalari: Maden Mühendi̇sleri̇ Ve İş Güvenli̇ği̇ Uzmanlari Gözünden Ni̇tel Değerlendi̇rme

Abstract

Coal mining is among the most dangerous occupations known due to the physical working environment and numerous potential hazard sources. However, dangers and risks associated are not limited only to physical conditions. As the interaction of mine workers with psychosocial hazards and risks harms themselves, it adversely affects their colleagues, work processes, mining companies, workers' families, and society in general. Moreover, interaction with psychosocial hazard sources and risks can provide a ground for exposure to physical-biological-chemical hazard sources. This extensive effect of psychosocial hazards, which resembles growing circles in the water, necessitates the support of workers' psychological well-being. The project, which started on February 1, 2021, "Capacity Building of Occupational Physicians for the Assessment and Prevention of Psychosocial Risks in Mining Sector" project grew out of this need, which is conducted with the financial support of the European Union and the Republic of Turkey and aims to contribute to mineworkers' psychosocial safety. The purpose of this article is to present a cross-section of the qualitative research conducted in this project, reviewing the perceptions of mining engineers and occupational safety experts regarding the sources of psychosocial danger faced by mineworkers. Focus group meetings were conducted with 23 mining engineers and 20 occupational safety experts. Qualitative coding of the transcribed data from the focus group sessions was done using the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ-III) dimensions. The coding process revealed that these COPSOQ-III dimensions were relevant to mineworkers' psychosocial conditions in coal mining: interpersonal relationships and leadership, job insecurity, impact and development, and job demands. Examples of segments regarding these themes reveal the coal mine workers' high-risk condition in mining engineers' and occupational safety experts' perspectives.