Nutrition and occupational health and safety in the South African mining industry, part 1

Abstract

Housing and nutrition have been used as indicators of poverty, and as common targets for intervention to improve public health and reduce health inequalities (Gauldie 1974). The relationship between health, nutrition and housing is well established. The basic human need for shelter and food would appear to make the relationship between poor housing and food, and poor health self evident (Burridge and Omangy, 1993). At the Mine Health and Safety Council meeting in 2001, Mining Occupational Health Advisory Committee (MOHAC) was required to consider the potential impact housing and nutrition has on occupational health and safety in the South African Mining Industry