Sifanu, M.; Taylor, T.K.; Kalebaila, K.K.; Hayumbu, P.; Nabiwa, L.; Linde, S.J.L. Knowledge, Attitude, Behavior Practices and Compliance of Workers Exposed to Respirable Dust in a Zambian Copper Mine. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health2023, 20, 6785.
Sifanu, M.; Taylor, T.K.; Kalebaila, K.K.; Hayumbu, P.; Nabiwa, L.; Linde, S.J.L. Knowledge, Attitude, Behavior Practices and Compliance of Workers Exposed to Respirable Dust in a Zambian Copper Mine. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20, 6785.
Sifanu, M.; Taylor, T.K.; Kalebaila, K.K.; Hayumbu, P.; Nabiwa, L.; Linde, S.J.L. Knowledge, Attitude, Behavior Practices and Compliance of Workers Exposed to Respirable Dust in a Zambian Copper Mine. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health2023, 20, 6785.
Sifanu, M.; Taylor, T.K.; Kalebaila, K.K.; Hayumbu, P.; Nabiwa, L.; Linde, S.J.L. Knowledge, Attitude, Behavior Practices and Compliance of Workers Exposed to Respirable Dust in a Zambian Copper Mine. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20, 6785.
Abstract
Work in the copper mining industry is often associated with exposure to respirable dust and respirable crystalline silica. This exposure has the potential to cause silicosis, a non-curable occupational respiratory lung disease. This study aimed at establishing the relationship between knowledge, attitudes, work behaviour and practice, compliance with safety standards and exposure to respirable dust. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted on 528 mine workers. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) was used for descriptives. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with latent variables and partial least-squares (LVPLS) analysis was employed to determine the relationship among these variables. The results indicated that of the four (4) hypotheses, two (2) were supported and two (2) were rejected showing that there is a significant relationship between exposure to respirable dust and work behaviour and practice, as well as compliance with safety standards. Knowledge and attitudes towards respirable dust exposure did not significantly influence exposure. According to the results from the survey, positive work behaviour and practice as well as compliance with safety standards was significantly associated with exposure to respirable dust. It is recommended that the mine should focus on the miners’ work behaviour and practice and compliance with safety standards.
Keywords
attitudes; compliance and safety standards; copper mine; knowledge; respirable dust; work behaviour and practices
Subject
Public Health and Healthcare, Public, Environmental and Occupational Health
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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