School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Copperbelt University, Kitwe P.O. Box 21692, Zambia.
School of Built Environment, Copperbelt University, Kitwe P.O. Box 21692, Zambia.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Sep 20;20(18):6785. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20186785.
Work in the copper mining industry is often associated with exposure to respirable dust and respirable crystalline silica. This exposure has the potential to cause silicosis, an incurable occupational respiratory lung disease. This study aimed at establishing the relationship between knowledge, attitudes, work behavioral practices and compliance with safety standards and workers' exposure to respirable dust. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted on 528 mine workers. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for the descriptives. Structural equation modeling (SEM) with latent variables and partial least squares (LVPLS) analysis were employed to determine the relationship among these variables. The results indicated that of the four hypotheses, two were supported, and two were rejected, showing that there is a significant relationship between exposure to respirable dust and work behavioral practices, as well as compliance with safety standards. Knowledge and attitudes toward respirable dust exposure did not significantly influence exposure. According to the results from the survey, positive work behavioral practices as well as compliance with safety standards were significantly associated with exposure to respirable dust. It is recommended that mines should focus on the miners' work behavioral practices and compliance with safety standards.
在铜矿开采行业工作通常会接触到可吸入粉尘和可吸入结晶硅。这种接触有导致矽肺的可能性，矽肺是一种无法治愈的职业性呼吸肺部疾病。本研究旨在确定知识、态度、工作行为实践以及对安全标准的遵守与工人接触可吸入粉尘之间的关系。在 528 名矿工中进行了横断面描述性调查。采用社会科学统计软件包（SPSS）进行描述性分析。采用潜变量结构方程模型（SEM）和偏最小二乘法（LVPLS）分析来确定这些变量之间的关系。结果表明，在四个假设中，有两个得到了支持，有两个被拒绝，这表明接触可吸入粉尘与工作行为实践以及对安全标准的遵守之间存在显著关系。对可吸入粉尘接触的知识和态度并不能显著影响接触程度。根据调查结果，积极的工作行为实践以及对安全标准的遵守与接触可吸入粉尘显著相关。建议矿山应注重矿工的工作行为实践和对安全标准的遵守。
