Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Kent Street, Perth, WA, 6102, Australia.
Health Psychology, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2023 Jan;96(1):105-120. doi: 10.1007/s00420-022-01908-x. Epub 2022 Jul 25.
Fly-In Fly-Out (FIFO), which entails travelling mostly from the urban areas to stay and work in remote areas for designated periods and travel back home to spend designated days of leave, has become a common work arrangement in the mining sector globally. This study examined the mental and physical health of FIFO workers and described their health-related behaviours during on-and off-shift periods.
A cross-sectional study was conducted with FIFO workers (N = 216) in the mining industry in Australia who completed an online survey. Paired t-test and McNemer's analysis examined the differences in health-related behaviours during workers' on-and off-shift days. Logistic regression examined the predictors of physical health and psychological distress status of FIFO workers.
Workers reported longer sleep duration (7.5 ± 1.5 h vs 6.3 ± 1.2 h, p < 0.001) and better sleep quality (78.2% vs 46.3%, p < 0.001) during off-shift nights than on on-shift nights. Smoking prevalence was 26.4%, and workers reported smoking a similar number of cigarettes per day during on-and off-shift days. Most workers reported drinking alcohol (86.1%) and more often at risky levels during off-shift than on-shift days (57.9% vs 34.3%, p < 0.001). Fruits and vegetable consumption was low but with higher vegetable intake during off-shift days (2.8 ± 1.4 vs 2.3 ± 1.3 serves, p < 0.001). Workers had good physical health status (91.2%), but 71.4% were overweight/obese and 33.4% indicated high levels of psychological distress. Working on long shifts (OR 6.63, 95% CI 1.84-23.91) and smoking (OR 7.17, 95% CI 2.67-19.26) were linked to high psychological distress.
The prevalence of psychological distress and risky health behaviours was high. Interventions should aim to reduce psychological distress and support multiple behaviour changes, considering FIFO work-related characteristics including long shift hours.
飞进飞出（FIFO）是一种常见的工作安排，矿工从城市地区飞来，在偏远地区工作和生活一段时间，然后飞回家里休假几天。本研究调查了 FIFO 工人的身心健康，并描述了他们在轮班期间和轮班之外的健康相关行为。
采用横断面研究方法，对澳大利亚采矿业的 216 名 FIFO 工人进行在线调查。采用配对 t 检验和 McNemer 分析比较工人在轮班和轮班之外的健康相关行为差异。采用逻辑回归分析 FIFO 工人身体健康和心理困扰状况的预测因素。
工人在轮班之外的晚上报告睡眠时间更长（7.5±1.5 小时比 6.3±1.2 小时，p<0.001）和睡眠质量更好（78.2%比 46.3%，p<0.001）。吸烟率为 26.4%，工人在轮班和轮班之外的日子里报告每天吸烟的数量相似。大多数工人报告饮酒（86.1%），在轮班之外的日子里饮酒频率更高（57.9%比 34.3%，p<0.001）。水果和蔬菜的摄入量较低，但在轮班之外的日子里蔬菜摄入量较高（2.8±1.4 份比 2.3±1.3 份，p<0.001）。工人身体健康状况良好（91.2%），但 71.4%超重/肥胖，33.4%表示心理困扰程度较高。长时间轮班工作（OR 6.63，95%CI 1.84-23.91）和吸烟（OR 7.17，95%CI 2.67-19.26）与较高的心理困扰有关。
心理困扰和危险健康行为的发生率较高。干预措施应旨在减少心理困扰，并支持多种行为改变，同时考虑到 FIFO 工作相关的特点，包括长时间轮班。
