Published in the February 2015 Australia’s Mining Monthly

AccessEAP works with a number of mining organisations and has compiled data to reveal the top five causes of stress for Australian miners. Those five triggers are job insecurity; conflict with colleagues and managers; bullying and harassment; job isolation; and long working hours.

AccessEAP clinical services manager Marcela Slepica said job insecurity was the top trigger for workplace stress.

“A recent report found that job insecurity rose from 26% to 31% during the second half of 2013,” she said.

“An Australian Bureau of Statistics report from August this year places unemployment at 6.4%, the highest rate since 2002.

“The mining industry is experiencing a lot of uncertainty with as many as 75,000 mining-related jobs expected to be lost over the next couple of years as Australia enters phase three of the mining boom.

“This amounts to about one third of all mining-related jobs so it’s no surprise that job insecurity is a stress trigger.”

Due to the high risk and high pressure environment surrounding the industry, conflict with colleagues and managers is also considerably higher than in other industries.

Slepica said miners often worked long hours, which could itself be a source of stress.

“The high risk of injury and accident has huge mental health implications,” she said.

“There is a need to change the culture within the industry to be more inclusive and promote good mental health for all.

“When people feel under pressure to achieve or feel there are high expectations related to long hours, high volumes or perceived pressure from management, tensions may run high and the result is increased conflict in the workplace.

“This may lead to bullying and harassment and our data shows that mining employees are requesting support for conflict, bullying and harassment.”

There is a major lifestyle adjustment required when working in a fly-in, fly-out based working environment.

People are taken out of their comfort zone and kept away from family and friends for a period of time.

This has always been a factor and a trigger of stress within the mining industry.

“Whereas many workers cope with the unique set of circumstances that living in a FIFO regime or living in a remote mining town represents, it is not a lifestyle that suits everybody and the impact of this change on individuals and families can be far reaching and creates its own unique stressors,” Slepica said.

“The nature of the industry means that miners are working long hours often with rotating rosters including night and 12-hour shifts and are often away from family and loved ones for long periods of time.

“The pressure and strain of long hours can lead to stress and impact on relationships and wellbeing if not managed correctly.”

With workers in the mining industry spending long hours at work and away from their families and support systems, being mentally healthy in the workplace is more important than ever.

So what to do about it?

Here are AccessEAP’s top five ways to handle stress in the mining industry.

1. Connect with family and friends. Miners are away from family and friends for long periods of time. Therefore, they should spend more time with them when at home and call them frequently when away. Trying to connect every day to hear about their daily lives is a way to feel part of them and to avoid feelings of isolation.

2. Do not take things personally. With the uncertainty in the mining industry, stress can make people more sensitive and more prone to taking things personally. Stress in others can also make them behave atypically or unkindly. Learn to defuse situations rather than bottle things up and try to let go of grudges.

3. Prioritise relaxation and exercise. Set aside time each day because these are not optional extras for handling stress, they are essentials. Each individual needs to find what works for them. Hobbies that focus attention are also good stress relievers. Even a daily walk can help.

4. Identify stressful situations. Make a list of events that cause emotional distress and one or two ways of reducing the stress for each. Knowing there is a plan can help with stress. Then take action, because doing nothing contributes to stress.

5. Appreciate yourself and others. Write down one positive characteristic about yourself and one positive characteristic of someone you regularly interact with. Stress can lead to a cycle of negative thinking. Focusing on the positive helps break that cycle.

AccessEAP runs toolbox talks on building resilience, conflict management skills and building relationships for a large number of mining companies to help their employees understand and effectively manage stress.