Working conditions and occupational pathology in the working population of the gas-producing region in the Arctic

2019 ◽  
pp. 989-994 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Syurin ◽  
A. A. Kovshov ◽  
S. A. Gorbanev
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
National Level ◽  
Air Transport ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Industrial Workers ◽  
Working Population ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Transport Workers ◽  
The Impact

Introduction. It is known that in industrial workers, working conditions and climatic features of the Arctic create an increased risk of occupational diseases. Th e purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of working conditions on the structure and prevalence of occupational pathology among the working population of the gas and oil producing region in the Arctic.The aim of the study is to explore working conditions, the structure and prevalence of PP in the working population of the gas-oil-producing region in the Arctic.Materials and methods. The data of social and hygienic monitoring in the section “Working conditions and occupational morbidity” of the population of the Nenets and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Districts from 2007 to 2017 were studied.Results. It was found that employees in the Arctic gas and oil producing region were most frequently exposed to noise (24.0%), poor microclimate parameters (10.1%), non-ionizing electromagnetic fields and radiation (9.7%). Th e combined effect of several factors was found in 24.8% of workers. Th ere were 285 patients with newly diagnosed OD, 67.0% of whom were air transport workers, and 14.4% were employed in the gas and oil industry. Th e structure of the occupational pathology was dominated by sensorineural hearing loss (77.9%). In 2017, the regional level of occupational morbidity exceeded the national level by 1.7 times, among air transport workers — by 1.9 times, while among employees of gas and oil producing enterprises it was 5.3 times less than the national industry indicator. Th e risk of OD development among air transport workers was higher than in the region as a whole (RR = 45,88; CI 38,3–54,9), in oil and gas companies workers (RR=141,0; CI 100,8–197,2) and in workers of all types of transport, except air transport (RR =68,3; CI 39,8–117,4).Conclusion. In the Arctic gas and oil producing region, most often occupational pathology is recorded among air transport workers, which necessitates the use of a comprehensive program for its prevention. It is necessary to explain the low levels of occupational morbidity in the gas and oil production and other economic activities in the region.

scholarly journals OCCUPATIONAL PATHOLOGY AT THE ENTERPRISES OF THE NENETS AUTONOMOUS DISTRICT: RISK FACTORS, STRUCTURE, PREVALENCE

2019 ◽  
Vol 98 (6) ◽  
pp. 652-656
Author(s):  
Sergey A. Syurin ◽  
S. A. Gorbanev
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing ◽  
Air Transport ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Autonomous District ◽  
Transport Workers ◽  
Nenets Autonomous

Background. Human labor in the Arctic area is carried out in extreme climatic conditions creating an increased risk of developing health problems, including occupational diseases (OD). The purpose of the study was to investigate the working conditions, the structure and prevalence of OD in the population of the Nenets Autonomous District (NAD), the basis of the which economy is oil and gas production. Material and methods. The data of social and hygienic monitoring in the section “Working conditions and occupational morbidity” of the population of the NAD in 2008-2017 was studied. Results. The most significant harmful production factors at NAD enterprises have been established to be non-ionizing electromagnetic fields and radiations, unfavorable microclimate of workplaces, noise, intensity, and the hardness of the labor process. More than half of all district employees are involved in enterprises with satisfactory working conditions. In the NAD working population, occupational pathology is diagnosed mainly in the flight personnel of civil aviation (88% of cases) in the form of sensorineural hearing loss (96% of cases). The risk of OD development among air transport workers was higher than that of the entire population of the district (RR = 4.42; CI 2.95-6.62) and those employed in oil and gas producing enterprises (RR = 23.2; CI 8.32 - 64.4). Additional occupational health risks associated with the extraction of hydrocarbons in Arctic have not been established. Conclusion. The priority direction in the prevention of occupational pathology (mainly sensorineural hearing loss) should be the reduction of the level of industrial noise among air transport workers.

Working conditions and occupational pathology of coal miners in the Arctic

2019 ◽  
pp. 452-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Gorbanev ◽  
S. A. Syurin ◽  
N. M. Frolova
Keyword(s):  
Coal Mining ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Occupational Diseases ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Coal Mines ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Morbidity Rate ◽  
Coal Miners ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Impact

Introduction. Due to the impact of adverse working conditions and climate, workers in coal-mining enterprises in the Arctic are at increased risk of occupational diseases (OD).The aim of the study was to study the working conditions, causes, structure and prevalence of occupational diseases in miners of coal mines in the Arctic.Materials and methods. Th e data of social and hygienic monitoring “Working conditions and occupational morbidity” of the population of Vorkuta and Chukotka Autonomous District in 2007–2017 are studied.Results. It was established that in 2007–2017 years, 2,296 ODs were diagnosed for the first time in 1851 coal mines, mainly in the drifters, clearing face miners, repairmen and machinists of mining excavating machines. Most often, the ODs occurred when exposed to the severity of labor, fibrogenic aerosols and hand-arm vibration. The development of professional pathology in 98% of cases was due to design flaws of machines and mechanisms, as well as imperfections of workplaces and technological processes. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system (36.2%), respiratory organs (28.9%) and nervous system (22.5%) prevailed in the structure of professional pathology of miners of coal mines. Among the three most common nosological forms of OD were radiculopathy (32.1%), chronic bronchitis (27.7%) and mono-polyneuropathy (15.4%). In 2017, coal miners in the Arctic had a professional morbidity rate of 2.82 times higher than the national rates for coal mining.Conclusions. To preserve the health of miners of coal mining enterprises, technical measures to improve working conditions and medical interventions aimed at increasing the body’s resistance to the effects of harmful production and climatic factors are necessary.

Consideration of Geopolitical Challenges within the Analysis of Geoenvironmental Risks for Oil and Gas Development of the Russian Arctic

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 50-59
Author(s):  
O. P. Trubitsina ◽  
V. N. Bashkin
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Optimal Operation ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Stage Model ◽  
Oil And Gas Development ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Further Development ◽  
Geopolitical Risks

The article is devoted to the consideration of geopolitical challenges for the analysis of geoenvironmental risks (GERs) in the hydrocarbon development of the Arctic territory. Geopolitical risks (GPRs), like GERs, can be transformed into opposite external environment factors of oil and gas industry facilities in the form of additional opportunities or threats, which the authors identify in detail for each type of risk. This is necessary for further development of methodological base of expert methods for GER management in the context of the implementational proposed two-stage model of the GER analysis taking to account GPR for the improvement of effectiveness making decisions to ensure optimal operation of the facility oil and gas industry and minimize the impact on the environment in the geopolitical conditions of the Arctic.The authors declare no conflict of interest

Backbone for Escape, Evacuation and Rescue From Arctic Facilities: A Systematic Approach

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Longrée ◽  
Sven Hoog
Keyword(s):  
Energy Demand ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Joint Research ◽  
Operating Personnel ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
Joint Research Project ◽  
Arctic Ice ◽  
The Impact

In turn of the global warming and driven by the constant need for resources an increasing number of commercial and scientific activities conquer the Arctic in order to benefit from almost untouched resources like oil and gas but also from the overwhelming nature. These activities are accompanied by a steadily increasing number of vessels transporting goods but also operating personnel, scientists or tourists. Especially the number of tourists visiting the Arctic can reach far more than 1000 per vessel, resulting in growing headaches for the responsible safety and security authorities in the Arctic surrounding countries. Up to now no suitable Escape, Evacuation and Rescue (EER) concept is in place to cope with these challenges when it comes to hazardous situations. In this context IMPaC ([1]) developed a new and appropriate EER concept for the Arctic, exceeding the currently dominant small and isolated settlements along the coastlines in Denmark (Greenland), Norway, Russia, Canada and the US. One question seems to be central: Is there any requirement and benefit beyond the currently used small rescue station? Yes, we strongly believe that there is a growing demand for suitable infrastructure coming from various industries. Beyond rescue objectives there is a demand for people working and living in this area all year long, for a few days, weeks or months using these settlements for their specific needs. This led us to the idea of the provision of a common-use infrastructure for multiple industries. The commonly used infrastructure maximizes the use of the remote and very expensive infrastructure and minimizes the impact on the environment in this part of the world. Potential users of this infrastructure would be: • Oil & Gas Industry, driven by the increased world energy demand • Marine Transport & Tourism Industry, driven by declined arctic ice and new sea routes via the Arctic sea • Fishery Industry • Scientific community Any EER concept for the Arctic has to cope with several specific environmental and spatial challenges as addressed by the EU joint research project ACCESS ([2]), where IMPaC participates. The paper introduces the new EER concept and focuses especially on its beneficial, efficient and safe operability in the Arctic recording an increasing number of commercial and scientific activities.

The influence of chick production on territory retention in Arctic-breeding Pacific and Yellow-billed loons

The Condor ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian D Uher-Koch ◽  
Kenneth G Wright ◽  
Joel A Schmutz
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Plain ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Retention Rates ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Oil And Gas Development ◽  
Brood Rearing ◽  
Site Familiarity ◽  
Northern Alaska ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Adult birds may use the production of offspring as a measure of habitat quality when prospecting for territories, increasing competition for productive territories. We evaluated the impact of breeding success on territory retention of Pacific (Gavia pacifica) and Yellow-billed (G. adamsii) loons in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska on the Arctic Coastal Plain of northern Alaska using mark–resight data and multi-state modeling. We also used behavioral observations of brood-rearing adult loons to quantify the frequency of visits by prospecting loons. We hypothesized that increased competition for productive territories would result in a decrease in territory retention rates. Territory retention rates the year following successful breeding attempts were only slightly lower (0.90) than after failed breeding attempts (0.93), and few territories were consistently successful across years. Overall territory retention rates were high (0.92) and similar for both species, suggesting that adults were able to defend their territories successfully. Males had higher territory retention rates than females, but we found no influence of mass (a possible proxy for fighting ability) on territory retention. These observations, coupled with the high frequency of visits by prospecting loons, provide additional evidence that site familiarity may provide advantages to territory holders. Quantifying territory retention behaviors may also inform land management decisions for oil and gas development in areas where loons are present. High territory retention rates, frequency of visits by prospectors, and limited habitat where new territories can be established suggest that breeding habitat in northern Alaska is saturated and may be limiting Yellow-billed Loon populations. In contrast, Pacific Loons attempting to acquire a territory may be able to form new territories on smaller, unoccupied lakes.

On Maintainability of Winterised Plants Operating in Arctic Regions

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masoud Naseri
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Mathematical Framework ◽  
Arctic Regions ◽  
Polar Low ◽  
Maintainability Analysis ◽  
Operation Risk ◽  
The Impact

In Arctic regions, oil and gas (O&G) operations are adversely affected by harsh weather conditions and severe meteorological phenomena such as icing storms and, in certain regions, polar low pressures. Potential solutions, such as implementing winterisation concepts, are explored in the design and even operation phases in order to overcome such obstacles. Simply, the main aim of winterisation is to provide the crew and equipment units with a range of normal environmental and working conditions through, for instance, insulating equipment units, installing heat tracers, enclosing working areas, providing the crew with adequate clothing, etc. There are, however, some concerns about the efficiency of such winterisation measures and potential changes in operation risk level, of which the changes in plant downtime, production loss, and plant maintainability are the focus of present study. The issue of complex effects of winterisation measures on maintainability analysis of O&G plants operating in the Arctic offshore has gained little attention in the literature. In this study, different aspects of winterisation from the viewpoint of equipment maintainability are discussed. Further, a mathematical framework for maintainability analysis of equipment units subjected to winterisation measures is proposed. The impact of winterisation-related downtimes on plant downtime is analysed as well by employing a Monte Carlo system simulation technique. The application of the proposed framework is illustrated by a case study. The results are further compared with those for a non-winterised system designed for normal-climate regions.

The Political Legacy of Lázaro Cárdenas

1983 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 383-405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles H. Weston
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
National Level ◽  
Decisive Role ◽  
The Political ◽  
Reform Process ◽  
Industrial Workers ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Lazaro Cardenas ◽  
The Revolution

The political legacy of Lázaro Cárdenas is marked by a striking paradox. On the one hand, Cárdenas as president of Mexico from 1934 to 1940 presided over the most radical phase of the Mexican Revolution or what some historians call the “Second Revolution.” He was instrumental in organizing industrial workers and peasants at the national level and incorporating both groups into the reorganized government party, the Partido de la Revolutión Mexicana (PRM), that had as its declared purpose the establishment of a “workers' democracy” in Mexico. Under his leadership the government supported the demands of industrial workers for higher wages and improved working conditions, greatly expanded the distribution of land to the peasantry, established new welfare programs, nationalized the railroad and petroleum industries and inaugurated a program of socialist education in the public schools. The prestige of Cárdenas as the foremost leader of the radical phase of the Revolution was enhanced by the fact that he, unlike many of his contemporaries, never attempted to use political office for personal financial gain; he was not a rich man when he completed his term of office as president. At the time of his death in 1970, Cárdenas was eulogized as “the greatest figure produced by the Revolution… an authentic revolutionary who aspired to the greatness of his country, not personal aggrandizement.” On the other hand, Cárdenas was the architect of the corporatist system of interest representation, including labor, peasant and business organizations, that provided the institutional framework of what Crane Brinton has called the “Thermidor,” i.e., the conservative reaction to the radical phase of the revolutionary process, that began in Mexico in approximately 1940. The institutions developed by Cárdenas were utilized by his successors to curtail the very reforms, such as agrarian and labor reform and socialist education, that had been central to his reform program. Moreover Cárdenas facilitated the transition to a more conservative era by naming as his successor Manuel Ávila Camacho, who was known to favor a moderation of the reform process, rather than Francisco Múgica, the preferred candidate of the radicals in the government. In short, Cárdenas played a decisive role both in presiding over the radical phase of the Revolution and in launching and shaping the relatively conservative post-1940 era. The paradox of the political legacy of Cárdenas is that though the seemingly radical reforms he carried out had a lasting impact upon Mexican politics, the impact was predominantly conservative rather than radical. This essay will endeavor to explain the paradoxical political legacy of Lázaro Cárdenas by focusing upon his ideology, the institutional reforms he carried out while president, and the impact of those reforms after 1940.

scholarly journals EFFICIENCY OF USING REMOTE METHODS OF ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING IN THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC (ON THE EXAMPLE OF OIL AND GAS COMPANIES)

2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (4/2020) ◽  
pp. 126-139
Author(s):  
A. E. Cherepovitsyn ◽  
◽  
D. M. Metkin ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Monitoring ◽  
Remote Monitoring ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Ecological Situation ◽  
Industrial Facilities ◽  
The Impact

The Arctic zone of the Russian Federation (AZRF) is characterized by the fragility of the ecosystem, the slightest violation of which can lead to catastrophic negative consequences on a global scale. Due to the availability of production facilities of various scales and environmental safety classes within the territorial and aquatic Arctic, the risk of negative impact on the environment is very significant. In order to prevent possible environmental damage within the AZRF, it is advisable to carry out activities related to the implementation of continuous monitoring of the environment aimed at detecting sources that pose a potential threat to the ecosystem. Taking into account the harsh Arctic climate, the lack of the possibility of year-round land access to industrial facilities located in the Russian Arctic, the scale and peculiarities of the implementation of Arctic offshore projects for the extraction and processing of hydrocarbons, the length and congestion of the used logistic artery - the Northern Sea Route, the choice of means, which are used for monitoring the ecological situation is justified by their mobility and efficiency. In particular, such means include technologies that allow remote monitoring of the environmental situation of industrial facilities. The article outlines the role of remote methods of environmental monitoring and control in the system of environmental protection measures of the Russian Arctic, presents methods for assessing the impact of industrial facilities of the oil and gas complex (OGC) on the environment of the Russian Arctic, presents the results of assessing the effectiveness of using remote methods of environmental monitoring of industrial facilities for the production and processing of hydrocarbons (HC) in the AZRF. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the substantiation of the ecological and economic feasibility of using the methods of remote monitoring of the ecological situation in the Arctic.

Occupational pathology in the Vorkuta industrial area

2021 ◽  
pp. 47-57
Author(s):  
Sergey Alekseevich Syurin
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Occupational Diseases ◽  
Respiratory Diseases ◽  
Musculoskeletal Diseases ◽  
Industrial Area ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Urban District ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Production And Distribution

Labor activity in the Arctic, especially mining, is associated with an increased risk of developing occupational pathology. The aim of the study was to investigate working conditions, structure and prevalence of occupational pathology among workers of the Vorkuta industrial region (IR) in 2007–2018. The results of social and hygienic monitoring «Working conditions and occupational morbidity» of the population of the municipal urban district of Vorkuta and the Arctic zone of Russia in 2007–2018 were studied. It was found that in 2007–2018, 99 % of occupational diseases in Vorkuta IR were detected in coal mine workers. Only 1 % of diseases were diagnosed in workers engaged in health care, transport, construction, household services, electricity production and distribution, and industrial production. Over 12 years, the share of increased labor severity in the development of occupational diseases rose from 20.3 % to 74.0 % (p < 0.001), and the share of fibrogenic aerosols decreased from 33.0 % to 13.2 % (p < 0.001). During the same period of time, in the structure of occupational pathology the share of musculoskeletal diseases increased from 20.7 % to 56.9 % (p < 0.001), and the share of respiratory diseases decreased from 31.8 % to 13.4 % (p < 0.001). In 2007–2018, the number of occupational pathology cases tended to grow, and the risk of their development in 2016–2018 was higher than in 2007–2009 (RR = 1.90; CI 1.69–2.12; p < 0.001). The results of the study indicate the need to update programs to improve working conditions and prevent occupational pathology at the Vorkuta coal mines, taking into account the new data obtained.

Indigenous Self-Government in the Arctic, and their Right to Land and Natural Resources

2009 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 245-281
Author(s):  
Asbjørn Eide
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
International Law ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
National Level ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Full Independence ◽  
The One ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Economic Globalisation

Abstract The article examines the evolution in international law of indigenous self-government and their control over their land and resources, and explores the extent to which this is being followed up at the national level with particular emphasis on Arctic and other Northern indigenous peoples. It starts by discussing the concept of ‘indigenous peoples’, noting that most of them live in areas that have until recently been considered to be marginal by the dominant parts of society, and observes that two contradictory trends can presently be observed: On the one hand a growing pressure, in the context of expanding economic globalisation and intensification of consumption, for access to the natural resources in the areas where they live, but on the other hand a growing resistance through improved organisation by the indigenous peoples themselves and by a growing recognition of their rights under international law. The impact of this general evolution at the global level on specific cases are examined with regards to the Inuit-controlled self-government of Nunavut in Canada, the move towards full independence of Inuit-controlled Greenland, and the evolution of Sámi self-management in Sámi land of Fenno-Scandinavia.

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