Understanding the lived occupational experience of mine workers:  Challenges and consequences

Parvin, Sattar; Kourdi Borojeni, Mofid; Haghdin, Mohammad Ali

doi:10.22054/qjss.2026.90505.2950

Understanding the lived occupational experience of mine workers: Challenges and consequences

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Sattar Parvin ¹

Mofid Kourdi Borojeni ²

Mohammad Ali Haghdin ³

¹ Department of Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran

² Ph.D. Student in Social Welfare, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran

³ Ph.D. Student in Social Work, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22054/qjss.2026.90505.2950

Abstract

This article employs a critical-empathetic approach to examine the pain and suffering of mine workers. The adverse conditions in iron ore mines are shown to disrupt workers' lives across physical, psychological, social, and economic dimensions. Using a qualitative phenomenological methodology, this study explores the lived work experiences of 30 workers from a mine in eastern Iran, selected through purposive sampling and interviewed via semi-structured interviews.The findings indicate that workers' experiences consist of both negative aspects (relating to the individual, family, social, and workplace spheres) and positive aspects (at the individual and social levels). Additionally, the social consequences of work life are categorized into both positive and negative outcomes across these same dimensions. The research further reveals that mine workers experience social alienation and a low quality of work life. Therefore, the insights from this study can inform the development of support programs aimed at improving quality of work life indicators for mining workers in Iran.

Keywords

Lived experience

workers

iron ore mine

occupational life

social harms

Subjects

Sociology

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