Mine health and safety: influence of psychosocial factors on musculoskeletal disorders among miners in Pakistan

Mine health and safety is considered to be one of the fundamental determinants of sustainable mining. The purpose of this study was to analyse the severity of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and to investigate the influence of psychosocial factors on its development. The data from 252 coal miners were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. Ordinal logistic regression modelling was performed to examine the association between MSDs and psychosocial factors. The results showed that miners face moderate to severe risks of MSDs. The elbow, lower back, and knee were the most commonly reported complaints. Job demands and control at work were the psychosocial factors that increase the risk of developing MSDs. Whereas, monotonous work and commitment to the organisation reduce the chance of developing MSDs. The findings of this study will be a significant endeavour to formulate preventive management programs to promote miners' health and safety.