What 216 FIFO Workers Revealed in a Major Aussie Study
🧠 From the ORIEMS FIT RESEARCH DIGEST — where we turn real university research into plain language to help you live better, work stronger, and stay sharp.
This Aussie study looked at the daily habits of FIFO miners — including sleep, diet, weight, and stress — to see how it really impacts energy and well-being.
📎 Scroll to the bottom for the full research link — perfect if you like collecting PDFs or checking the facts yourself.
❓Who Did This Research and When?
This research was published by a team of Aussie experts including Samantha Matthews and colleagues.
🧭 Where Was This Done?
It was carried out in Australia, targeting FIFO workers from Western Australia, a major hub for mining.
The team worked out of Curtin University’s School of Population Health, one of the top public health research centres in the country.
💼 Who Funded This?
It was supported by a research grant from Curtin University, which means there was no company paying to influence the results.
🔍 What’s This Research About?
This study looked at the everyday health habits of FIFO mining workers. It explored:
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Diet
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Alcohol and smoking habits
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Sleep quality
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Mental health
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Physical activity
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Weight
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Work hours
The goal was to understand how common unhealthy habits are — and what it might mean for worker well-being.
🧑🔧 Who Took Part?
216 FIFO workers from mining or oil & gas industries participated. Most were men (89%), and all were over 18 years old.
📋 How Was the Research Done?
The team used an online survey — workers answered questions about their habits and health.
It was a cross-sectional study, meaning it captured data at one point in time rather than over months or years.
📊 What Did They Find?
Here’s where things get interesting — and a little worrying.
| Issue | % of FIFO Workers Affected |
|---|---|
| Poor diet | 96.3% |
| Overweight/obese | 74.5% |
| Poor sleep quality | 64.4% |
| High stress/distress | 33.4% |
| Risky alcohol use | 46.2% |
| Low physical activity | 37% |
| Current smokers | 16.7% |
These aren’t just numbers — they’re common problems that can drain energy, ruin sleep, and cause long-term health issues.
😩 Why This Matters for You
Poor health habits aren’t just about future sickness — they affect today:
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Your energy on-site
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Your ability to focus
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How you sleep after a 12-hour shift
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Your time off between swings
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Your long-term physical strength
Even more importantly, bad habits now may lead to missed promotions, more sick leave, and higher injury risk.
🦵 How This Connects to EMS
At Oriems Fit, we believe small daily actions can make a big difference. Tools like EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) can help support muscle engagement and recovery — especially when it’s tough to get regular workouts during swing shifts.
While this study didn’t test EMS directly, it clearly shows that:
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Fatigue
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Weight issues
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Lack of movement
...are common among FIFO workers. These are the exact areas where EMS can support healthy routines — by helping you stay active and feel good even when you're not in the gym.
📄 Research Paper Original Name:
Health and related behaviours of fly‑in fly‑out workers in the mining industry: a cross‑sectional study
Link to Study:
Read Full PDF or Source Here
This is a peer-reviewed, scientific journal article published in the journal Translational Behavioral Medicine, making it a trustworthy academic source.
💬 What About You?
Have you seen these issues in your crew?
Do you feel your body catching up with you after swing weeks?
👉 Leave a comment below and tell us what you'd fix first: Sleep? Diet? Stress?
About Oriems Fit Research Digest
ORIEMS FIT RESEARCH DIGEST brings you a new study every week — simplified, summarized, and backed by data from the world’s best universities and health institutions.
We believe learning more about your body makes you stronger — and that’s the first step to feeling better.
⚠️ Disclaimer
This blog post is for informational and recreational purposes only. It does not offer medical advice or treatment. Always speak with your doctor or healthcare provider before starting any new health routine.
🔗 For our full disclaimer, visit:
https://oriems.fit/blogs/research-digest/disclaimer
