Journal of Ergonomics
Open Access

Abstract

Associations of Some Individual Occupational Factors with Accidents of Dumper Operators in Coal Mines in India

Bhattacherjee A

It is well known that individual and environment factors influence occupational accidents. This study assessed the associations of education level, family size, job experience, smoking habit, alcohol consumption, presence of disease, negative job involvement, job dissatisfaction, poor safety environment, job stress, risk-taking behavior, and fatigue, poor perception of rules and regulation, and emotional instability to occupational accidents of dumper operators in coal mines. The random sample included 135 dumper operators from two opencast coal mines in India. A questionnaire was completed by the personnel interviews. The data were analyzed using the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) which were computed with the logistic regression model using the SPSS package. The factors with significant adjusted odds ratios (ORs) found were: no formal education (OR 3.70; 95% CI 1.10–12.50), less experience (2.73, 1.01-7.39), negative job involvement (3.11, 1.10-8.79), poor safety environment (3.19, 1.15–8.83), job stress (4.08, 1.27-13.10) and emotional instability (4.97, 1.42-17.49). This information would help in implementing prevention programs to improve working conditions and to help dumper operators to develop positive psychological traits.