A Critical Analysis on the Health Issues Affecting FIFO Using the Clarks Community Assessment Tools - Term Paper Example

RUNNING HEAD: PRIMARY HEALTH OF FIFO NAME COURSE INSTRUCTOR DATE Introduction The mining industry found in Western Australia is considered to be the largest with about 56,000 employees. FIFO (Fly In, fly out) is a common name referred to all kind of employment in which the specified work is isolated from the employees’ home and that accommodation and food are provided at the working site, and schedules are prepared where the employees spend a fixed numbers of days at the site followed by a fixed number at home (Anglicare, 2013). From the Chamber of Mineral and Energy of Western Australia indicate that 47% of the mining operations greatly use FIFI whereas 42% of the employees are FIFO (Solomon et al, 2008). Report further indicates that viability of continuing with remote mining largely depends on the operations carried out by FIFO. Until recently, there has been an astounding scantiness of research on the health impacts Of FIFO. This paper aims at providing a critical analysis on the health issues affecting FIFO using the Clarks community assessment tools. The discussion will focus on the various incidences and prevalence of specific health issues affecting FIFO. Finally, the paper will review the various social determinants that influences the specific health issued outlined. This paper explore the various factor that impact on FIFO mental health and well being. It is important to note that mental illness is a vital public health issue not only affecting an individual, their community, friends and families but also within their work places due to the considerable hours spent working. Health analysis on FIFO using Clarks Community Assessment Tool According to Anglicare (2013), barely does a week pass without the media covering on real or sometime perceived impacts of FIFO especially within the mining and resources sector. Often, there are cases of lack of affordable houses, mental illness, and relationship breakdown and over stretched local services (Skinner et al, 2000). FIFOs are normally suffers from mental health issues. Due to the long working schedules in strenuous conditions. From these conditions, these employees have disrupted normal routines which significantly contribute to poor physical health (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2007). Biophysical Research indicates that there are certain aspects in demographic of FIFO aligned with the cohortat risk mental health. Based on age, age group mental illness is considered as the leading cause of non-fatal disability in Australia with both anxiety and depression accounting for more than a half of this burden. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics (2007), the highest rate of mental disorders was among men between 16-24 years with the report revealing that 1 in 5 people between 25-44 years will experience mental disorder in any year. Further, the report indicated that men between the ages of 25 and 44 are more likely to experience depression symptoms. It is reported that the average age on a FIFO is 38 years old. The resources industry has a preference for more experienced workers and it employs higher percentage of employees aged 25 to 44 years (Bailey-Kruger, 2012). In the mining indutry which compises of more FIFO who are mainly between the age of 15 to 19 years old. The demographic of FIFI at risk of being suicidal due to mental health problem are male at the age of 15 to 44 years (Bailey-Kruger, 2012). Physical environment To critically understand how FIFO largely suffers from mental problems, it is important to review the physical environment exposed to them. According to Beach and Cliff (2003), one of the key issues that is more apparent with FIFO is that they are employed under a structure that removes them from their normal life as well as the normal support system required by an individual for a long and extend period (Taylor and Simmonds, 2009). Evidently, these normal support systems exist to every individual within a society such as access to basic health care, friends and families. Rosters or work schedules are one of the contentious issues surrounding FIFO. Those workers who work on what they term as “white collar” typically work lower compression schedule than those in traditionally “blue collar” (Beach and Cliff, 2003). The physical environment defined in their rosters has been a significant factor to stress resulting to mental health problems. The workers had to stay away from their family and most of the cases it would result to divorce. Further, travel time spent to and from the site occurs during the employee time off. This affects the time the worker spent with friends and family contributing to risk of social isolation and disconnection (Beach and Cliff, 2003). FIFO requires that employee caters for transport from his place of residence to their remote workplace. This is of mental health concern as there is potential for excel level of fatigue especially for employees living a considerable distance from the remote work place. Carrington and Pereira (2011) assert that, the disconnection from family and friends may increase the chances of these workers to become mentally ill as mental health commission indict those people experiences challenges need to have a close contact with his/her relations. Psychological In the parliamentary debates on FIFO workers mental health, suicidal cases have been discussed citing the need for inquiry on the psychological behavior of FIFO workers. Owing to the demographics and size of FIFO workers, the rate of suicide is not as high as compared to the general population of Western Australia (Sibbel et al, 2006). Statistic indicates there are nine FIFO workers suicide cases reported in a population of 61,000 indicating that the rate of suicide is 14.75 people in 100000 persons (Milia and Bowden, 2007). There is connection between the rates of suicides to the resulting rates of mental health problems. Due to the work schedules people in blue collar jobs are likely to have higher rate of suicidal cases as compared to workers in the white collar jobs. These rates of suicides are largely connected to psychological demands experienced by FIFO workers. The workers have reported on the roster called “4*1” as a suicidal roster since you work for 4 weeks then take an off duty for 1 week (Milia and Bowden, 2007). Socio-cultural It is quite evident that the prevalence of mental ill-health and a lack of resilience is common among FIFO workers. To understand the mental health issue it is important to understand FIFO workers social cultural features. In most cases, FIFO workers are considered to have lower levels of education especially those in blue collar jobs (Hutchins, Di Ciera and Shea, 2011). Cases of mental illness among FIFO are reported from people working as machine operators, laborers, cleaners and builders. The construction industry indicates the likelihood of suicide cases is twice in FIFO of low levels education as compared to other people in Australia (Hutchins, Di Ciera and Shea, 2011). . Behavioral Across most of the mining sites a heavy drinking culture has constantly been reported. FIFO workers drink at very risky levels with most drinking taking place at day time and a significant number of days a worker is drunk. These levels of alcohol consumption are higher in FIFO as compared to Australian average (Taylor et al, 1985). Due to the FIFO lifestyle, smoking and alcohol are at a higher state as compared to the national issue giving rise to mental health issues as these workers engages in these behaviors due to depression that emanates from isolation (Pini and Mayes, 2012). Stress among FIFO workers is the biggest influences on drug use and alcoholism as well as irregular and long hours of boredom. Research indicates that alcohol contributes to 5% of Australian workplace and 25% of workplace accidents. Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) expressed worry that longer work hours and better pay associated with FIFO has significantly increased methamphetamine use among FIFO construction workers (Torkington, Larkins and Gupta, 2011). It has further been noticed that, working under compressed rosters are using illegal drugs such as methamphetamines to keep them up and about during shift work (Commission for Occupational Safety and Health, 2008). Not only has the abuse of these type of drugs and alcohol has become a contentious mental illness problem but also an occupational health and safety issue (Watts, 2004). Health According to Watts (2004), in resources industry it has been reported that the high rate of stigmatization associated to mental illness is one of key barrier to FIFO worker to seek for help. Further, to this stigmatization, employees did not seek help for mental help for fear of losing their jobs. Fluctuating and transient populations can have an impact on demand, availability and provision of health services isolation (Pini and Mayes, 2012). Rapid growth of FIFO workers in Australia remote areas has been accompanied by claims that FIFO resources sectors and mining place a lot of burden to health services. Demand of health services among FIFO workers is similar compared to the average population although there is high demand on emergency health services Conclusion This paper explore the various factor that impact on FIFO mental health and well being. It is critical that the government, mental health practitioners and industries to work together so as to improve on the mental well being of FIFO workers. From the Clark Community Assessment tool, different groups require working collaboratively to reduce the stigma attached to mental illness and ensure that proper resources are put in place to help people to manage or avoid mental related illnesses. References Anglicare WA. (2013). The parenting perceptions report 2013: A survey of Western Australian parents of school age children. East Perth: Anglicare WA. 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