Estimation of risk perception of mine workers in underground metalliferous mines using multivariate structural equation modelling

India's legislative compliance-based present mine safety management system has perceptibly been responsible for some considerable up-gradation in mine safety scenarios over the last few decades. Although implementing long-established reactive safety management procedures has reduced substantial numbers of frequent and severe accidents, the outcomes reveal the prerequisite of more trustworthy and holistic approaches in mine safety management systems. In this paper, the synergic direct or indirect effects of all considered risk perception factors of mine workers working in an Indian underground metalliferous mine were approximated using Multivariate Structural Equation Modelling (MSEM). In this context, pertinent questionnaires with five-point Likert scale response options were designed to quantify the identified manifest and latent variables, including workplace risk perception as the final outcome parameter. Questionnaire surveys were conducted amongst two distinct mine workers' groups designated as 'Non-Accident Group (NAG) or control group' and 'Accident Group (AG) or case group' to examine the effects of numerous factors governing their acquired risk perception characteristics. In this study,150 numbers of mine workers participated from AG, and 170 numbers of mine workers participated from NAG, with an effectual response rate of 81.25%. Finally, the hypothesised risk perception path model was tested through the collected data using the designed MSEM. The study comprehensively revealed that the latent variable, 'Operational Safety Culture,' is the most significant aspect which has a major contribution towards upholding the mine workers' risk perception in the mines studied. 'Operational Safety Culture' indirectly influences the risk perception of mine workers at the workplace, mediating through 'Safety Motivation' and 'Emergency Responsiveness' as estimated by this risk perception path model.