With projects in the resource sector expected to ramp up this year, Griffith University social and organisational psychology research unit professor Paula Brough said despite demand for lucrative mining jobs, those considering FIFO work might not be aware of the potential psychological risk to their health.

“The financial rewards of working in these environments are a strong draw for many but we have heard of many cases of people who, after a period of time, have found that the disadvantages can outweigh the benefits,” Brough said.

“Often employers on the traditional fly-in, fly-out rosters can suffer from feelings of isolation in being so far from their family and everyday community.

“They often lack the support of their usual networks, daily routines and daily contact with their families.

“Likewise, the partners and families of mining sector workers can have similar negative feelings, with wives often having to care for children alone and children missing out on frequent contact with one of their parents.”

Brough said at the end of the day, quality of life won out for stressed workers.

“It seems that the two-year mark is a significant benchmark when the situation starts to wear on employees and they decide the financial gain is not worth the emotional strain,” she said.

Brough told MiningNewsPremium.net her research focused on the occupational stress and wellbeing of high-risk, emergency services workers but she would like to conduct research into the area of FIFO work.

“We’re certainly aware that it’s a viable research issue and I’m sure we will get around to conducting research into it,” Brough said.

She said her research with public agencies revealed many workers left to work in the mines when local job opportunities became scarce.

“People then tend to come back to their communities in significant numbers when the local employment options improve,” she said.

“We can therefore clearly see that the financial benefits of mining jobs are often only a short-term incentive for many workers.

“I was just making a point that more and more workers nowadays are looking for quality of life which include a stable, home family life as well as a good working life.

“That is taking more and more priority over choice about work life.”

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released on February 6 showed demand for workers in the mining sector was on the rise.

According to the ABS data, total job positions had fallen by more than 180,000 last year, despite mining jobs being in high demand.

It found job vacancies in November 2011 had dipped 182,200 or 0.8% since last August.

There were 164,900 job vacancies in the private sector in November, down 0.7% from August while vacancies in the public sector were down 17,200 or 1.2% for the same period.

The ABS found job vacancies in both sectors had dipped 3.2% year-on-year from November 2011.

FIFO Families director Nicole Ashby told MNP that besides people who chose the lifestyle, such as geologists and certain engineers, most people were drawn to the higher income of FIFO work.

FIFO Families is an independent support organisation which helps workers and their families cope with the pressures of FIFO or drive-in, drive-out work by connecting them with people in similar situations nearby in the FIFO community.

Ashby said despite the increased pay packet, FIFO workers were at a much higher risk of experiencing forms of mental illness.

“The average Australian has a one-in-five chance of experiencing mental health [issues] but if you are in the mining industry that jumps up to three-in-five,” she said.

“The suicide rate of male miners is four times greater than the general male suicide rate.

“When you start FIFO work you can be prone to high levels of disconnect from family and loved ones, you can feel lonely and isolated and [then] you couple that with what they call the golden handcuff.

“If you get into FIFO or DIDO work you get a much higher income so the more you earn, the more you spend and you can end up getting yourself into a lot of debt and then you are trapped.”

Ashby said people could find themselves stuck in FIFO work if they overspent on their increased pay packet.

“Some people might find they can’t exit it [FIFO work] if they want to,” Ashby said.

“Maybe after a while you want to get out because you find you always miss Christmas and birthdays and special events and you can’t get home for it especially for some of the harsh rosters, such as four weeks on, one week off.”

She said all types of workers were prone to increased mental pressures but FIFO work was suited to some people whereas others would just not be cut out for it.

This story first appeared on ILN's sister publication MiningNews.net.