The economic impact of psychological distress in the Australian coal mining industry
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Publisher
Lippincott Williams and Wilkins / Wolters Kluwer
School
Exercise Medicine Research Institute
RAS ID
24477
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the economic impact of psychological distress among employees of the Australian Coal Mining Industry. Methods: Sample data were gathered from 1456 coal mining staff across eight sites in two Australian states. Two measures were taken of work time lost over four weeks due to psychological distress: (1) full-day absences; (2) presenteeism. Lost work time was valued using hourly wages. Sample data was modeled to estimate annual monetary losses for the Australian Coal Mining Industry. Results: For the sample, estimated annual value of time lost due to psychological distress was $4.9 million ($AUS2015) ($0.61 million per mine), and for the Australian Coal Mining Industry, $153.8 million ($AUS2015). Conclusion: Psychological distress is a significant cost for the Australian Coal Mining Industry. Relevant intervention programs are potentially cost-effective. © 2016 American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
DOI
10.1097/JOM.0000000000000714
Access Rights
subscription content
Comments
Ling, R., Kelly, B., Considine, R., Tynan, R., Searles, A., & Doran, C. M. (2016). The economic impact of psychological distress in the Australian coal mining industry. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 58(5), e171-e176. Available here