The implications of isolation for remote industrial health workers

Abstract

Introduction: Recent literature has explored the health and social implications of industrial workers who are involved in a variety of long-distance commute (LDC) work arrangements including fly-in, fly-out; bus-in, bus-out; and drive-in, drive-out. However, the role of an industrial health worker in caring for this special population of workers is poorly understood and documented in current literature. In Australia, the health role has existed primarily to meet minimum standards of safety legislation and carry out compliance activities. The combination of low social risk tolerance, increasingly remote locations and changing health and safety legislation are driving changes to accountability for the health as well as the safety of remote industrial workers. Health staff are recruited from the ranks of registered nurses, paramedics and diploma-qualified medics. Often, they work in autonomous transdisciplinary roles with little connection to other health workers. The lack of a clear professional identity contributes to increased tension between the regulatory requirements of the role and organisations who don't always value input from a specialist health role. The aim of this study was to understand the experience of isolation for health workers in industrial settings to better inform industry and education providers. Methods: A phenomenological methodology was chosen for this study owing to the paucity of qualitative literature that explored this role. This study utilised face-to-face or telephone interviews with nurses and paramedics working in remote offshore and onshore industrial health roles seeking to understand their experience of working in this context of health practice.Results: Three thematically significant experiences of the role related to role dissonance, isolation, and gaining and maintaining skills. The second theme, isolation, will be presented to provide context for nurses' and paramedics' experiences of geographical, personal and professional isolation. Conclusions: Nurses and paramedics working in remote industrial roles are not prepared for the broad scope of practice of the role, and the physical and profession isolation presents barriers to obtaining skills and confidence necessary to meet the needs of the role. Limited resources in rural and remote areas combined with the isolation of many industrial sites pose challenges for industrial staff in accessing primary healthcare services, yet industrial organisations are resisting attempts to make them responsible for the health as well as the safety of their onsite workers, particularly in off-duty hours. Health workers in remote locations have to cope with their own experience of isolation but also have to treat and counsel other industrial workers experiencing chronic illness complications, separation from family and other consequences of the fly-in, fly-out 'workstyle'. In addition to the tyranny presented by distance and the emotional isolation common to all remote industrial workers, health workers are isolated from professional networks,...

Workforce safety in the remote health sector of Australia: a scoping review

“…4 17 23 This can adversely affect staff well-being by increasing psychological distress and emotional exhaustion, with the attendant implications for staff turnover and quality of care. 16 20 Remote health professionals working in an industrial setting can be particularly vulnerable, as the hazards of geographical isolation and working alone are compounded by their isolation from the professional supports and regulation of the mainstream health system. 16 …”

“… 16 20 Remote health professionals working in an industrial setting can be particularly vulnerable, as the hazards of geographical isolation and working alone are compounded by their isolation from the professional supports and regulation of the mainstream health system. 16 …”

“…16 20 Remote health professionals working in an industrial setting can be particularly vulnerable, as the hazards of geographical isolation and working alone are compounded by their isolation from the professional supports and regulation of the mainstream health system. 16 With regard to geographical isolation, driving on remote roads can be a significant risk to staff safety. 3 25 Driving long distances, often on unsealed roads, day or night, in all weather conditions, and under pressure of clinical urgency, is often a requirement of the job.…”

Differential Analysis of Adaptation Strategies of Fly-In-Fly-Out Personnel

“…Previous studies have established that the professional activities of fly-in-fly-out workers in the Far North and the Arctic require the creation of conditions for physiological, psychological and sociopsychological adaptation (Adams et al, 2019;Albrecht & Anglim, 2018;Khasnulin & Khasnulina, 2012;Korneeva et al, 2017;Korneeva & Simonova, 2018;Mette et al, 2019;Miller et al, 2019;Vojnovic & Bahn, 2015). Activities in extreme conditions impose special requirements on the professional adaptation of workers, which is due to a combination of many adverse environmental factors and the unpredictability of stressful or emergency situations (Velasco Garrido et al, 2018;Mette et al, 2018;Gardner et al, 2018;Rebar et al, 2018;Sibbel et al, 2016).…”

Job Stress and Working Capacity among Fly-In-Fly-Out Workers in the Oil and Gas Extraction Industries in the Arctic

“…The consequence of the complex influence of the factors on fly-in-fly-out personal is the development of workers’ unfavorable functional states, a decrease in their health levels, a decrease in the duration of active life and the onset of occupational diseases [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 14 , 17 , 18 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. In our earlier works we studied the states dynamics (stress, working capacity, etc.)…”