Analysis of the comfort life and work in the assessment of the occupational group of employees in the energy sector on the basis of a mining company

There is a large number of jobs in Poland, the performance of which involves working in difficult, arduous conditions. Such jobs include probably the work of miners in hard coal mines. They often go to the mine several times a week for many years. They work several hundred meters underground in the dark, high temperature, humidity, dust and noise with loud machines. Such extreme working conditions cause many occupational diseases caused by these conditions and even life threatening. The total number of accidents in the whole mining has decreased at the turn of the last years, however, in the hard coal mining itself, it remains at a similar level. When performing work in such difficult conditions, the miner should know well and, above all, observe the work safety regulations. The appropriate organizational culture enables, among others shaping the level of safety culture and improving working conditions [2, 14, 19, 25, 26]. Therefore, miners should be constantly motivated to work safely, but also rewarded. The results of the literature analysis of the subject were supported by own research in the scope of the subject of comfort of life and work in the assessment of the professional group of energy sector employees on the example of a mining enterprise. The research was carried out among miners, in one of the Polish mines. They were intended to show the magnitude of the problem of discomfort in the work of a professional group of miners in hard coal mining, as well as comfort of life and motivation for a safe working mode.


Introduction
Polish hard coal mining remains a strategic branch of industry in Poland. The restructuring process going on in this industry, which involves the shutdowns and mergers of mines into coal companies, has brought about changes in their functioning and the working conditions of their employees [9,17,18]. Mine shutdowns have strongly contributed to a reduction in employment in an industry that has always been based on personnel as its most important organisational resource.
Considering the above, the industry should focus not only on tangible resources and financial results, or on finding ways to improve competitiveness, but also on intangible resources. It is social capital that is the major strategic resource for this industry [5]. Human resources contribute with knowledge, skills and dedication, and should be properly motivated to perform such difficult and dangerous work [14,30,32]. The appropriate range of incentives should be based on miners' current needs and expectations, which change over time, and depend on age and seniority [15]. Due to the specific conditions found in pits, the safety of miners' work represents a significant component of the social dimension of the strategies adopted by mining companies [7,8,20,27,28,29].
Empirical studies conducted in Polish mines were aimed at drawing attention to the extremely difficult and adverse working conditions faced by miners. The results may be used in human resources management in Polish hard coal mining.

Literature review
There are extensive descriptions of the working conditions of miners in literature. In fact, these conditions are highly unpredictable, mainly due to the unforeseeable geological and mining conditions. Working in underground mines and pits involves potential exposure to a number of dangerous events, which may include fires, methane ignitions and explosions, coal dust explosions, cave-ins, rockbursts, machine failures, blast-media-related events, gas breakouts and rock outbursts. Not only do these events pose a significant threat when they occur, when the work accident appears [31,34,35], but they also lead to the development of a variety of occupational diseases in mining. Among the natural threats present in hard coal mines, in addition to the disease-causing threats, W. Konopko listed non-disease-causing threats [10]. Among the latter, he mentioned hazards related to health (dust, gas), climate and radiation, and other hazards [1,6,11,12,33]. In particular, hazards related to dust and gas can play a role in the said occupational diseases. They result from being exposed to hazardous events, or from staying in a loud, dusty, humid and dark environment with high temperatures. E. J. Sobczyk wrote that "hazards caused by high temperature in the pit can reduce the comfort of work performed underground" [23]. High temperatures, combined with high humidity, contribute to adverse climate conditions, which in turn lead to reduced human performance (i.e. reduced perception, attention span etc.), as described by N. Szlązak, A. Tor and A. Jakubów [27]. The climate conditions are influenced, i.a., by the thermodynamic parameters of inlet air, the properties of rocks surrounding the pit, the period of operating the pit and other factors [29]. These factors cannot be changed, and they are part of the specific geological and mining conditions.
According to the data from the Institute of Occupational Medicine, in 2013-2017 the total number of cases of occupational diseases among all miners (both active and former) was over two thousand, with pneumoconiosis responsible for the highest percentage (over 80%) of all cases [37]. In 2017 a significant reduction in pneumoconiosis was observed among active hard coal mines. Fig. 1 presents specific incidence data. It should be noted that pneumoconiosis is more often diagnosed in former (retired) workers of hard coal mines than in professionally active miners (Fig. 2). This confirms that early preventive measures should be taken at work. In line with the concept adopted by Central Statistical Office Poland for measuring the quality of life, it is composed of multiple aspects. The report regarding the quality of life in Poland by thematic area, or the so-called domain indicative of the quality of life, in addition to financial conditions, education and personal safety, lists health [39]. Occupational diseases, such as pneumoconiosis, reduce the quality of life by adversely affecting physical performance and causing exercise-induced dyspnea, which lead to respiratory insufficiency [36]. However, a large number of cases are not diagnosed, as miners are not aware of the existence of this disease, are not covered by any screening programmes after leaving the job, or are not willing to pursue claims against their employer.

Methods
The survey sample consisted of people working in the energy sector, and in particular in the mining sector. The statistical sample of 115 people consisted of blue-collar workers from a Polish mine. In terms of seniority, the most numerous group of respondents was made up of people who have worked in the sector for up to 5 years (nearly 30%), and from 5 to 10 years (27%). The least numerous group was composed of people who have worked in the sector over thirty years (slightly more than 5%). The survey included: -qualitative methods involving IDI -in-depth interviews with representatives of mines and mining companies, and with industry experts, -quantitative methods.
The research objective of the survey was to obtain information on the quality of life and comfort at work of miners, and also to demonstrate the discomfort experienced at work by miners in hard coal mining, and the amounts of the bonuses and allowances due for work performed under harmful conditions.

Results and discussion
The study was divided into two parts: the first focuses on the quality of miners life, the second on their comfort at work.
The quality of life is mainly identified with relative employment stability, which provides sufficient funds. This is especially important when a miner provides for his family -his wife and children. This was the answer given by respondents when asked about what quality of life meant for them (Fig. 3) and why they started working in the mining sector (Fig. 4). Over 80% chose the following answer: "having stable employment and guaranteed salary" as a determinant of the quality of life. This group comprised 93 people from the whole survey sample. Seven respondents (6%) declared that this response did not reflect the quality of life for them, and ten people (almost 9%) were unsure about that. There were also 5 questionnaires (over 4%) returned without any answer. Over 64% of respondents (74 people) declared that they had chosen mining due to the appropriate level of remuneration that could be earned in that sector. Only 4 respondents argued that it was not the most important factor. 23 could not answer that question (20% respondents) and 14 refused to respond.
The appropriate level of remuneration in mining is connected with a number of bonuses (in addition to the base salary) offered to miners. The bonuses assume the form of so-called privileges, which are reserved only for members of this profession and can be seen as indicative of belonging to this professional group [16,21,22]. Such bonuses (connected with the subject matter of this article) include overtime bonus and allowance for work under harmful, onerous and hazardous conditions. Miners receive additional remuneration for working overtime, which is "work performed in addition to the standard working time" [3]. Its amount is 50% of the hourly rate (depending on the position classification) for work during the two first overtime hours in a day -on weekdays, and 100% of the hourly rate during the next overtime hours and for working all overtime hours at night, on Sundays, holidays and other days off. Despite receiving additional remuneration for working overtime, not many miners decide to work overtime (Fig. 5) -only 21 respondents, i.e. a little over 18% of the miners, are willing to work overtime. As shown, the majority, i.e. 48 respondents, work overtime only when they can (about 42% of the survey sample), which means they would rather avoid it, and over 36% (as many as 42 respondents) tend to avoid overtime work completely. The height of the second additional remuneration for work under harmful, onerous and hazardous conditions might seem a little surprising, especially when we take into consideration the working conditions of miners, which are often highly unpredictable and hazardous to both their health and life. A lot of miners lost their colleagues or found themselves close to death when dangerous events occurred underground. It is even more understandable when we compare it with the amount of the second allowance mentioned, i.e. the allowance for work performed under harmful, onerous or dangerous conditions. For every hour worked under such conditions, miners are entitled to an allowance the amount of which is presented in Table 1. It is divided into four levels.
Tab.1. The amount of allowance for working under harmful, onerous and hazardous conditions. Source: [3].
Due to the fact that every mine in Poland has its own Collective Labour Agreement, data regarding this allowance are presented in a number of different ways [3]. Such allowance is paid on the basis of lists of posts and department supervision records in relevant documents, which define the number of days (hours) worked under such conditions, along with the daily (hourly) rates. Although miners working underground are exposed to "noise, darkness, humidity, high temperatures, dust and constant awareness that this could be their last day at work," the amount of the allowance, which is meant to be a kind of compensation for "fatigue, dirt, sweat and constant risk," is difficult to ignore [36].
This and other allowances, or privileges, are meant to increase the attractiveness of this profession [16,21,22]. To quote an article published on the online portal wp.pl, "You either love or hate this job." With such small allowance per hour for working under hazardous conditions, it would seem that miners decide to take up such work only because of the basic salary offered by the industry. However, 73% of respondents in the survey said that they liked their job (Fig. 6). To compare with the remaining answers, 4 respondents did not like their job and 9 could not state whether they liked it or not, while 18 refused to answer (it would be interesting to find out why). It can thus be concluded that those 84 miners are really fond of their job. This is confirmed in another question: "Are you attached to your workplace?" (responses shown in Fig. 7). Out of the said 115 respondents who declared that they liked their job, as many as 79 (nearly 69% of all) feel a strong attachment to their workplace (Fig. 7). They "feel that it is their mine" that means they identify with the mine and feel attached to it. The remaining respondents, over 25%, declared that they had no feelings in relation to the mine, and 6% said they did not like their job.
In fact, in the case of the mining industry and the work of miners in underground mines, at development and working faces, their comfort at work (and particularly the working conditions) are connected with the quality of life, especially in terms of health. In the surveyed group of 115 respondents, 33% (38 respondents) declared that they needed regular, and even additional, medical care (Fig. 8). Due to performing work underground, in temperatures of up to 30 centigrade, in dusty and humid conditions, and in the presence of vibrating and loud machines, miners are prone to numerous diseases, as mentioned before. Miners realise that some of those diseases are only discovered after many years and carry certain risks. For this reason, the vast majority of the surveyed group, i.e. 70% (81 respondents) reported the need for rehabilitation to be refunded. These respondents are aware of the potential consequences of working in mining industry. Perhaps they were among those who got injured at work and would like to take part in preventive exercise programmes, rehabilitation procedures and massages.
Furthermore, it should be pointed out that they also need and expect changes to the current working time regulations for miners. This was pointed out by 26 people, i.e. 33% of the survey sample.
In summarising and comparing the quality of life of miners with their comfort at work, it should be noted that theirs occupation is a high-risked. Due to the difficult conditions at work, coupled with a variety of related inconveniences and health problems, as injuries to lower limbs caused by uncomfortable work shoes [4,24], as well as the eventual onset of occupational diseases and, most importantly, the unpredictable nature of geological and mining conditions, it should be concluded that miners experience discomfort, rather than comfort, at work. The survey shows that the respondents are aware of this situation, but they also value employment stability and higher salaries which help them ensure a decent quality of life.

Conclusion
Miners, who work in such difficult conditions, should know well the all principles of Occupational Safety and Hygiene and always follow their rules [8,13]. For this reason, miners should be constantly motivated to perform their work in a safe manner. Various privileges, which increase the attractiveness of this occupation, may serve as an incentive.
These include the allowance for work performed under harmful, onerous and dangerous conditions.
The purpose of demonstrating the scale of the problem, that is the discomfort experienced at work by miners in hard coal mining, was to point out that the height of the additional remuneration for work under harmful, onerous and hazardous conditions as component of remuneration is rather low. Social capital is a strategic resource of mining companies [5]. Given the fact that the concentration of mining operations, which involves working at greater depths, has become the industry's goal, a solution should be sought to motivate miners to perform their work in a safe manner. This is even more important when we consider the significantly more adverse climate conditions found in lower layers.
The results of the studies may be used in human resources management in Polish hard coal mining. It is impossible to hide that the wage is the main element shaping the life of miners, which is why changes in the remuneration and incentive systems should be considered, e.g. in the form of special rates for working under harmful conditions. This paper was prepared as a part of research studies conducted the AGH University of Science and Technology [No. 11.11.100.693].