Shift workers’ health

NEED: Oceana Gold was concerned about the poor health of staff who worked 12 hour shifts, which they spent mainly sitting in a vehicle cab.

CAPABILITIES: NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION

SOLUTION: Nursing students researched the impacts of shift work and sedentary work, and hte beahviour of the workers. They developed a range of initiatives for the company to implement, including helping the workers to eat more healthily. See www.healthyminers.com .

IMPACT: The company is pleased with the uptake of the initiatives among the target group of staff, and expects to see improved health in their annual monitoring programme.