The formulation of guidelines for an occupational health and safety program to address women’s health concerns of mineworkers at a selected coalmine in Mpumalanga South Africa

Abstract

English: The inclusion of women in mining and the growing number of women working underground in South Africa are by no means indicative of a woman-friendly and gender equal work environment. The impact of the hazardous underground mining environment on women’s health has been well documented. However, occupational health and safety legislation and regulations do not specifically address women’s health concerns, and guidelines to address and incorporate women’s health concerns into their onsite Occupational Health Services (OHS) do not exist. Consequently, women’s health concerns are often considered to be non-work related and are therefore excluded from the services offered by onsite OHS centres. Thus, this study aimed to: 1) explore and describe women’s health concerns of underground coalmine workers, and 2) formulate guidelines to address women mineworkers’ health concerns in the mine’s OHS programme. A case study research design was followed. The study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, the researcher explored the women’s health concerns of mineworkers, the perceptions of the professional nurses working at the OHS centre on women’s health at a selected mine, and the mine managers’ expectations regarding the implementation of the guidelines to address women’s health concerns. Primary data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews. Data analysis lead to the development of a set of initial statements that were further developed as guidelines in phase 2 of the study. In the second phase of the study, the researcher used an E-Delphi technique and an online platform with support from University of Pretoria’s Learning and Management system. The online platform was used to facilitate discussions among a sample of occupational health and safety experts on the draft guidelines. The E-Delphi process was implemented in four stages: preparatory, exploratory, consensus and verification phases. Eight guidelines were formulated to respond to the women’s health concerns at the coalmine. The guidelines related to the following aspects: 1) enabling a supportive organisational environment wherein women mineworkers can function to their full potential; 2) effective measures for controlling hazardous environments that could affect women mineworkers; 3) a ‘fit for work and fit for life’ work environment for women underground coalmine workers; 4) supportive structures that facilitate a conducive environment in which women underground coalmine workers can express their health concerns; 5) processes that uphold women underground mineworkers’ human dignity and adhere to the human rights framework for non-discrimination against women; 6) procedures needed to adhere to safety procedures in reporting accidents and injuries; 7) measures to enhance accessibility, availability and relevant on-site health care services to promote women mineworkers’ health and wellbeing, and 8) methods to capture the needs, inspiration of hope and resilience of women underground coalmine workers. Substantial effort is needed to improve the safety of and quality of healthcare for women mineworkers. Implementing the guidelines could advance attainment of this goal, both for women and men at the selected coalmine. When women’s human rights are upheld, women and men benefit, together with positive outcomes for productivity.

Sepedi: Go akaretšwa ga basadi meepong le go oketšega ga palo ya basadi bao ba šomago ka tlase ga mobu ka Afrika Borwa ga go laetše tikologo ya mošomo ye e swanetšego basadi le ya tekatekano ya bong. Khuetšo ya tikologo ye kotsi ya meepo ya ka tlase ga mobu maphelong a basadi e ngwadilwe gabotse. Le ge go le bjalo, molao le melawana ya maphelo le polokego mošomong ga e rarolle kudukudu dipelaelo tša maphelo a basadi, gomme ga go na ditlhahli tša go rarolla le go akaretša dipelaelo tša maphelo a basadi Ditirelong tša bona tša Tlhokomelo ya Maphelo Mošomong (OHS). Ka gona, dipelaelo tša maphelo a basadi gantši di tšewa bjalo ka tšeo di sa amanago le mošomo gomme ka fao di akaretšwe ditirelong tšeo di fiwago ke disenthara tša OHS tša lefelong leo. Ka go realo, dinyakišišo tše di be di ikemišeditše go: 1) utolla le go hlaloša dipelaelo tša maphelo a basadi ba ba šomago meepong ya malahla ya ka tlase ga mobu, le 2) go hlama ditlhahli tša go rarolla dipelaelo tša maphelo a bašomi ba meepong ba basadi lenaneong la OHS la moepo. Dinyakišišo tša tshekatsheko ya maemo di ile tša latelwa. Dinyakišišo di dirilwe ka dikgato tše pedi. Mo kgatong ya mathomo, monyakišiši o ile a hlohlomiša matshwenyego a basadi a maphelo a bašomi ba meepong, dikgopolo tša baoki ba ditsebi bao ba šomago lefelong la OHS la maphelo a basadi moepong wo o kgethilwego, le ditebelelo tša balaodi ba moepo mabapi le go tsenywa tirišong ga ditlhahlo tša go rarolla dipelaelo tša maphelo a basadi. Datha ya mathomo e ile ya kgoboketšwa ka dipoledišano tšeo di sa rulaganywago ka botlalo. Tshekatsheko ya datha e lebiša go tlhabollo ya peakanyo ya ditatamente tša mathomo tšeo di tšweleditšwego gape bjalo ka ditlhahli kgatong ya 2 ya dinyakišišo. Mo kgatong ya bobedi ya dinyakišišo tše, monyakišiši o šomišitše thekniki ya E-Delphi le sefala sa inthanete ka thekgo go tšwa go tshepedišo ya Thuto le Taolo ya Yunibesithi ya Pretoria. Sefala sa inthanete se šomišitšwe go nolofatša dipoledišano gare ga sampole ya ditsebi tša maphelo le polokego mošomong ka ga ditlhahli tše di akantšwego. Tshepedišo ya E-Delphi e phethagaditšwe ka dikgato tše nne: dikgato tša boipeakanyetšo, tša go hlohlomiša, tša kwano le tša netefatšo. Ditlhahli tše seswai di hlamilwe go arabela matshwenyego a maphelo a basadi moepong wa malahla. Ditlhahli di amana le dikarolo tše di latelago: 1) go kgontšha tikologo ya mokgatlo ye e thekgago moo basadi bao ba šomago moepong ba basadi ba ka šomago ka bokgoni bja bona ka botlalo; 2) magato ao a šomago gabotse a go laola ditikologo tše kotsi tšeo di ka amago basadi bao ba šomago moepong; 3) tikologo ya mošomo ya ‘go swanela mošomong le go swanela bophelo’ go basadi bao ba šomago moepong wa malahla ka fase ga mobu; 4) dibopego tša thekgo tšeo di nolofatšago tikologo ye e loketšego yeo go yona basadi bao ba šomago ka moepong wa malahla ba ka tšweletšago dipelaelo tša bona tša maphelo; 5) ditshepedišo tšeo di thekgago seriti sa botho sa basadi ka sephiring sa bašomi ba meepong le go kgomarela tlhako ya ditokelo tša botho ya go se kgetholle basadi; 6) ditshepedišo tše di nyakegago go kgomarela ditshepedišo tša polokego go begeng dikotsi le dikgobalo; 7) magato a go godiša phihlelelo, go hwetšagala le ditirelo tša tlhokomelo ya maphelo tša maleba tša lefelong leo go tšwetša pele maphelo le bophelo bjo bobotse bja basadi ba bašomi ba meepong, le 8) mekgwa ya go swara dinyakwa, tlhohleletšo ya kholofelo le go kgotlelela ga bašomi ba basadi ba moepong wa malahla ka fase ga mobu. Go nyakega maitapišo a magolo go kaonafatša polokego le boleng bja tlhokomelo ya maphelo go basadi bao ba šomago meepong. Go phethagatša ditlhahlo go ka tšwetša pele phihlelelo ya nepo ye, bobedi go basadi le banna moepong wa malahla wo o kgethilwego. Ge ditokelo tša botho tša basadi di thekgwa, basadi le banna ba holega, gammogo le dipoelo tša maleba tša tšweletšo.

Afrikaans: Die insluiting van vroue in mynbou en die toenemdende aantal vroue wat ondergronds in Suid-Afrika werk, is geensins aanduidend van ’n vrouevriendelike en geslagsgelyke werksomgewing nie. Die impak van die gevaarlike ondergrondse mynbou-omgewing op vroue se gesondheid is goed gedokumenteer. Wetgewing en regulasies oor beroepsgesondheid en -veiligheid spreek egter nie spesifiek vroue se gesondheidskwessies aan nie, en daar bestaan geen riglyne om vroue se gesondheidskwessies aan te spreek en in hul beroepsgesondheidsdienste (BGD) op die perseel in te sluit nie. Vroue se gesondheidskwessies word daarom dikwels as niewerkverwant beskou en dus uitgesluit van die dienste wat deur BGD-sentrums op die perseel aangebied word. Hierdie studie het dus ten doel gehad om: 1) die gesondheidskwessies van vroue wat ondergrondse steenkoolmynwerkers is, te ondersoek en te beskryf, en 2) riglyne te formuleer om vroulike mynwerkers se gesondheidskwessies in die myn se BGD-program aan te spreek. ’n Gevallestudienavorsingsontwerp is gevolg. Die studie is in twee fases uitgevoer. In die eerste fase het die navorser ondersoek ingestel na mynwerkers se kwellinge oor vrouegesondheid; professionele verpleegkundiges wat by die BGD-sentrum van ’n gekose myn werk se persepsies oor vrouegesondheid; en die mynbestuurders se verwagtinge rakende die implementering van die riglyne om vrouegesondheidskwessies aan te spreek. Primêre data is by wyse van semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude ingesamel. Dataontleding het gelei tot die ontwikkeling van ’n stel aanvanklike stellings, wat in die tweede fase van die studie verder ontwikkel is om as riglyne te dien. In die tweede fase van die studie het die navorser 'n e-Delphi-tegniek en ’n aanlyn platform met ondersteuning van die Universiteit van Pretoria se Leer- en Bestuurstelsel gebruik. Die aanlyn platform is gebruik vir besprekings van die konsepriglyne deur ’n steekproef van beroepsgesondheids- en veiligheidskundiges. Die e-Delphi-proses is in vier fases geïmplementeer: die voorbereidende, verkennende, konsensus- en verifikasiefases. Agt riglyne is opgestel vir die hantering van die vroue op die steenkoolmyn se gesondheidskwessies. Die riglyne het betrekking op die volgende aspekte: 1) die daarstel van ’n ondersteunende organisatoriese omgewing waarin vroulike mynwerkers volgens hul volle potensiaal kan funksioneer; 2) doeltreffende maatreëls vir die beheer van gevaarlike omgewings wat vroulike mynwerkers kan affekteer; 3) ’n "geskik vir werk en geskik vir die lewe"-werksomgewing vir vroulike ondergrondse steenkoolmynwerkers; 4) ondersteunende strukture wat ’n omgewing skep waarin vroulike ondergrondse steenkoolmynwerkers hul gesondheidskwellinge kan uitspreek; 5) prosesse wat die menswaardigheid van vroulike ondergrondse mynwerkers handhaaf en voldoen aan die menseregte-raamwerk vir niediskriminasie teen vroue; 6) prosedures wat nodig is om veiligheidsprosedures te volg in die aanmeld van ongelukke en beserings; 7) maatreëls om toeganklikheid, beskikbaarheid en toepaslike gesondheidsorgdienste op die perseel te verbeter ter bevordering van die gesondheid en welstand van vroulike mynwerkers; en 8) metodes om die behoeftes, inspirasie van hoop en veerkragtigheid van vroulike ondergrondse steenkoolmynwerkers vas te lê. Groot pogings is nodig om die veiligheid van, en die gehalte van gesondheidsorg vir vroulike mynwerkers te verbeter. Die implementering van die riglyne kan die bereiking van hierdie doelwit bevorder vir sowel vroue as mans by die gekose steenkoolmyn. Wanneer vroue se menseregte gehandhaaf word, trek vroue en mans daaruit voordeel, met positiewe gevolge vir produktiwiteit.

IsiZulu: Ukufakwa kwabesifazane ezimayini kanye nenani elandayo labesifazane abasebenza ngaphansi komhlaba eNingizimu Afrika akusona neze isibonakaliso sendawo yokusebenzela evumelana nabesifazane kanye nokulingana ngokobulili. Ubhalwe ngokwanele umthelela wemvelo eyingozi yezimayini engaphansi komhlaba empilweni yabesifazane. Kodwa-ke, awukho umthetho nemithethonqubo yezempilo nokuphepha emsebenzini ayikusingathi ngokuqondile ukukhathazeka kwempilo yabesifazane, futhi imihlahlandlela yokubhekana nokufaka ukukhathazeka kwempilo yabesifazane emisebenzini yabo ye-Occupational Health Services (OHS). Ngenxa yalokho, ukukhathazeka kwempilo yabesifazane kuvame ukubhekwa njengokungahlobene nomsebenzi futhi ngenxa yalokho akukhishwa kumasevisi anikezwa izikhungo ze-OHS ezisendaweni. Ngakho, lolu cwaningo luhlose: 1) ukuhlola nokuchaza ukukhathazeka kwempilo yabesifazane kwabasebenzi bamalahle angaphansi komhlaba, kanye no-2) ukwakha imihlahlandlela yokubhekana nokukhathazeka kwempilo yabasebenzi basezimayini abesifazane ohlelweni lwe-OHS lwasezimayini. Kwalandelwa idizayini yokucwaninga ngesimo. Ucwaningo lwenziwe ezigabeni ezimbili. Esigabeni sokuqala, umcwaningi uhlolisise ukukhathazeka kwezempilo yabesifazane kwabasebenzi basezimayini, imibono yabahlengikazi abangochwepheshe abasebenza esikhungweni se-OHS ngempilo yabesifazane emayini ekhethiwe, kanye nokulindelwe ngabaphathi bezimayini ngokuqondene nokuqaliswa kwemihlahlandlela yokubhekana nokukhathazeka kwezempilo yabesifazane. Idatha eyinhloko yaqoqwa ngezingxoxo ezihlelwe kancane. Ukuhlaziywa kwedatha kuholela ekusungulweni kwesethi yezitatimende zokuqala ezakhiwe ngokwengeziwe njengeziqondiso esigabeni 2 socwaningo. Esigabeni sesibili socwaningo, umcwaningi wasebenzisa inqubo ye-E-Delphi kanye nenkundla ye-inthanethi ngosizo oluvela ohlelweni lwe-Learning and Management lweNyuvesi yasePitoli. Inkundla ye-inthanethi yasetshenziselwa ukusiza izingxoxo phakathi kwesampula lochwepheshe bezempilo nokuphepha emsebenzini eziqondisweni zokusungula. Inqubo ye-E-Delphi yasetshenziswa ngezigaba ezine: izigaba zokulungiselela, zokuhlola, zokuvumelana nokuqinisekisa. Imihlahlandlela eyisishiyagalombili yasungulwa ukuze kusabele ekukhathazekeni kwempilo yabesifazane emayini yamalahle. Iziqondiso ezihlobene nalezi zici ezilandelayo: 1) ukuvumela isimo senhlangano esisekelayo lapho izisebenzi zasemayini zabesifazane zingasebenza khona ngokugcwele; 2) izinyathelo eziphumelelayo zokulawula izindawo ezinobungozi ezingathinta izisebenzi zasemayini zabesifazane; 3) 'kufaneleka emsebenzini futhi kulungele isimo sokusebenza kwabesifazane abasebenza ngaphansi komhlaba; 4) izinqubo ezisekelayo ezenza kube nesimo esikahle lapho izisebenzi zasemayini ezingaphansi komhlaba zingaveza khona ukukhathazeka kwazo kwezempilo; 5) izinqubo ezisekela isithunzi sabesifazane abasebenza ngaphansi komhlaba futhi zinamathele ohlelweni lwamalungelo abantu lokungabandlululi kwabesifazane; 6) izinqubo ezidingekayo ukuze zinamathele ezinqubweni zokuphepha ekubikeni izingozi nokulimala; 7) izinyathelo zokuthuthukisa ukufinyeleleka, ukutholakala kanye namasevisi ezempilo afanele esizeni ukukhuthaza izisebenzi zasemayini' impilo nenhlalakahle, kanye nezindlela ezingu-8) zokuthola izidingo, ugqozi lokungabandlululwa nokumelana nabesifazane abasebenza ngaphansi komhlaba. Kudingeka umzamo omkhulu ukuze kuthuthukiswe ukuphepha nekhwalithi yezempilo kwabesifazane abasebenza ezimayini. Ukusebenzisa iziqondiso kungaqhubekela phambili ekufinyeleleni lo mgomo, kokubili kwabesifazane nabesilisa emayini yamalahle ekhethiwe. Lapho amalungelo abantu besifazane eqhakanjiswa, abesifazane kanye nabesilisa bayazuza, kanye nemiphumela emihle yokukhiqiza.