Men’s Health Status in the Mining Industry Research Project

Goldfields Men's Health Inc released to the public on Monday 21 November the results of its recent two year Research, which found that the quality of health and lifestyle of mine workers is, in part, determined by their work practices. The "Digging Deep for Better Health" Overview Report was funded by the Department of Health WA through GMH to investigate the impact of extended work practices on the health and social wellbeing on men and their families.


Author, Nicholas Keown was employed by GMH (a project auspiced and managed by EGMDGP), as a Research Officer, finishing his role 31 August 2005. Subsequent editing and formatting of the report has resulted in a high quality result which will guide future direction for GMH in their support of men and their families in the Goldfields.


744 male mine workers form 29 mining organizations within the Goldfields participated in qualitative and quantitative surveys to determine the current health status of those participants. Results indicated that about two thirds of the 510 respondents to the survey reported no problems with work or other activities as a result of physical health problems, although few of these men reported maintaining a healthy lifestyle. One third of participants were really struggling to manage the relationship between work practices and good health.


The author has proposed several recommendations for consideration of both the employer and worker, and to guide Health Professionals to assist the improvement of the overall health of this population group.

Copies of the executive summary can be obtained by downloading the PDF.

If you would like a more detailed copy of the findings then we are able to mail you a copy of the Overview Report in a hard copy or on a CD. Please call (08) 9021 6610.