scholarly journals Changes in working conditions and character of occupational pathology in enterprise workers in the Arctic

2020 ◽  
Vol 99 (6) ◽  
pp. 575-580
Author(s):  
S. A. Gorbanev ◽  
Sergei A. Syurin

Introduction. Labor in the Arctic is associated with an increased risk of developing occupational diseases.The purpose of the study was to identify changes in risk factors, structure, and prevalence of occupational pathology among employees of enterprises in the Arctic during 2007-2018.Material and methods. The analysis of the data of socio-hygienic monitoring “Working conditions and occupational morbidity” of the Russian Arctic zone population was carried out.Results. 72.6% of workers at enterprises in the Arctic were found to have contact with harmful occupational factors. Within 12 years, the proportion of individuals exposed to noise and chemical factors decreased (p <0.001), while the proportion of those exposed to whole-body vibration, fibrogenic aerosols, and having increased severity of labor increased (p<0.001). In 2007-2018, the number of occupational pathology cases among employees of mining enterprises increased significantly (from 38.8% to 62.8%, p <0.001), while in metallurgical plants-it decreased (from 33.2% to 7.3% (p <0.001). In the structure of occupational pathology, the shares of radiculopathy (p <0.001) and vibration disease (p <0.001) increased due to a decrease in the shares of chronic bronchitis (p <0.001) and mono-polyneuropathy (p <0.001). Also, characteristic features of occupational pathology were an increase in the number of diseases associated with the severity of labor (from 20.7% to 46.9%, p <0.001), diseases diagnosed in one employee (from 1.006 ± 0.004 to 1.396 ± 0.030 cases, p < 0.001) and the number of men among occupational patients (from 87.3% to 94.7%, p <0.001).Conclusion. It is necessary to continue both improve working conditions at enterprises in the Arctic, and study the reasons for the low efficiency of prevention of occupational diseases, caused primarily by increased severity of labor in the mining industry.

2020 ◽  
Vol 99 (6) ◽  
pp. 531-537
Author(s):  
Sergei A. Syurin ◽  
N. M. Frolova

Introduction. An interest in studying the gender characteristics of occupational pathology is determined by increasing economic activity in the Arctic and the upcoming expansion of women’s access to occupations with harmful working conditions.The purpose of the study was to carry out a comparative investigation of working conditions and occupational pathology among male and female workers at enterprises in the Arctic.Material and methods. The data of socio-hygienic monitoring “Working conditions and occupational morbidity” of the population of the Russian Arctic in 2007-2018 were studied.Results and discussion. 92.6% of occupational diseases have been established to occur in men due to more harmful working conditions (fibrogenic aerosols, noise, whole-body, and hand-arm vibration, the severity of labor). The risk of their occurrence in 2018 was higher than in 2007 (RR = 1.71; CI 1.51-1.93) and higher than in women (RR = 9.45; CI 7.19-12.4). Unlike men, 48.8% of women worked at facilities of the first group of sanitary and epidemiological welfare (satisfactory conditions) and they had in 2007-2018 a relatively stable number of newly diagnosed occupational diseases. The risk of occupational pathology in women in 2018 and 2007 did not change significantly (RR = 1.07; CI 0.73-1.59). In the structure of occupational diseases in men, the first places are occupied by vibration disease (24.2%), sensorineural hearing loss (20.3%) and radiculopathy (20.1%), and in women - myofibrosis of the forearms (21.2%), radiculopathy(13.7%) and chronic bronchitis (13.4%).Conclusion. Reducing exposure to physical overloads, fibrogenic aerosols, noise, vibration, and chemical factors should be a priority preventive direction at enterprises in the Arctic, especially among male workers whose occupational morbidity rate tends to increase.


Author(s):  
Sergey A. Syurin

Mining in the Arctic is associated with an increased risk of developing occupational diseases. The aim of the study was to assess risks of developing occupational pathology over 10-year period of mining apatite ore in the Kola Arctic open-pit mines. We studied data on working conditions (certification of workplaces), health status (periodic medical examinations) and primary occupational pathology (monitoring "Working conditions and occupational morbidity of the population of the Murmansk region" in 2009-2018) of open-pit apatite miners. It was found that, according to an overall assessment, the working conditions of all 436 surveyed open-pit apatite miners corresponded to 3.2-3.3 hazard classes. During 10 years of employment (2009-2018), 88 (20.2%) miners were first diagnosed with 134 occupational diseases, which are 3.07 cases per 100 people per year. The main cause for their occurrence was the severity of work above the permissible level (39.6%), whole-body vibration (37.3%) and noise (17.9%), and their structure is dominated by vibration disease (35.8%) and musculoskeletal pathology (30.0%). The main factor in the occurrence of occupational diseases was recognized as imperfection of technological processes (58.2%). The risk of occupational pathology formation in the excavator drivers (RR=1.95; CI 1.33-2.86; p<0.001) and in the drilling rig drivers (RR=1.60; CI 1.04-2.47; p=0.031) was higher than that of bulldozer drivers. In 2009-2018, unlike the bulldozer and drilling rig drivers, the excavator drivers showed an increased risk of developing occupational diseases (RR=3.50; CI 1.90-6.43; p<0.001). In 2009-2018, the open-pit apatite miners of the Kola Peninsula retained a high level of occupational morbidity, and it tended to increase among excavator drivers.


2019 ◽  
Vol 98 (6) ◽  
pp. 625-630
Author(s):  
S. A. Gorbanev ◽  
Sergei A. Syurin

Introduction. Working conditions at mining enterprises, including iron ore mining, combined with the climatic conditions of the Arctic, create an increased risk of occupational diseases (OD) among miners. The aim of the study was to investigate the risks, circumstances of the development, structure, and prevalence of OD in miners engaged in the extraction of iron ore in the Kola Polar Region. Material and methods. The data of social and hygienic monitoring in the section “Working conditions and occupational morbidity” of the population of the Murmansk region in 2007-2017 were studied. Results. The development of the OD in this category of miners was established to be mainly associated with the whole-body vibration (42.5%) and the severity of labor (33.2%) due to the imperfection of workplaces (66.4%). In the structure of the OD, the largest share belongs to injuries, poisoning and some other consequences of external causes (46.9%), while diseases of the musculoskeletal system occupy the second place (27.0%). The most common nosological form of OD was vibration disease (38.5%). The annual number of workers diagnosed with OD varied over a wide range from 3 to 29 people. In 2007-2015, there was a tendency towards an increase in occupational morbidity rates, and in 2016-2017, there was a sharp decrease to 7.39 cases per 10,000 workers, which cannot be explained by improved working conditions and health promoting activities. Conclusion. To preserve the health of miners engaged in the extraction of iron ore in the Kola Arctic, it is necessary, first of all, to reduce the levels of whole-body vibration and severity of labor processes in combination with the introduction of medical methods to increase the body’s resistance to harmful industrial and climatic factors.


Author(s):  
S. A. Gorbanev ◽  
S. A. Syurin ◽  
N. M. Frolova

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.


Author(s):  
S. A. Syurin ◽  
S. A. Gorbanev

Introduction. Despite the improvement of mining technologies and personal protective equipment for employees, working conditions in the mining industry create an increased risk of occupational diseases.The aim of the study is to compare the working conditions and features of professional pathology of miners in the production of iron, apatite and copper — nickel ore in the Kola Polar region.Materials and methods. The data of social and hygienic monitoring on the section “Working conditions and occupational morbidity” of the population of the Murmansk region in 2007–2017 were studied.Results. It was found that in 2007–2017, there was no significant improvement in the working conditions of the studied groups of employees of mining enterprises. The structure of professional pathology of miners was still dominated by vibration disease (37.0%), radiculopathy (23.8%), mono-polyneuropathy (15.5%), sensorineural hearing loss (15.5%), and among the etiologically significant harmful industrial factors — the severity of labor (54.1%), general vibration (23.8%) and noise (13.1%). During the observation period, occupational morbidity in the mining of iron and copper-nickel ore decreased significantly, while in the mining of apatite ore it tended to increase. There is no causal relationship between changes in working conditions and the level of occupational morbidity of miners.Conclusions. It is necessary to improve the quality of hygienic and clinical research when conducting a special assessment of working conditions and periodic medical examinations to obtain an objective assessment of occupational health risks for miners in the Kola Polar region.


Author(s):  
Sergey Alekseevich Syurin

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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 251-260
Author(s):  
Sergei A. Syurin ◽  
Sergei A. Gorbanev

The purpose of the study was a comparative investigation of working conditions, prevalence and structure of occupational pathology in the subjects of the Russian Arctic in 2007-2018. Material and methods. The analysis of data on socio-hygienic monitoring in the section “Working conditions and occupational morbidity” of the population in the Russian Arctic in 2007-2018 was carried out. Results. The development risks, prevalence and structure of occupational pathology in the subjects of the Russian Arctic were established to have significant differences. The most common factor causing the development of occupational pathology (32.8% of all cases) was the increased severity of labour. In three regions of the Russian Arctic, the seriousness of work was a leading risk factor: Arctic zones of the Republics of Komi and Karelia, the Murmansk region. The most unfavourable working conditions and a high level of occupational morbidity are observed in Arctic zones of the Republic of Komi (207.44 per 10,000 employees) and Krasnoyarsk Territory (20.65), the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug (12.69). The basis of the economy of these entities is formed by the mining and metallurgical industries. On the contrary, the least harmful working conditions and a low level of occupational pathology are characteristic of the gas and oil producers of the Yamalo-Nenets (1.29) and the Nenets Autonomous Okrugs (3.45). Over the analyzed period, the level of occupational morbidity in five subjects of the Russian Arctic (Arctic zones of the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Republic of Komi, the Nenets and Chukotka Autonomous Okrugs, the Murmansk Region) tended to increase, while in other three (Arctic zones of the Arkhangelsk Region and the Republic of Yakutia, the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug) - to decrease. Conclusion. Modern targeted programs for the prevention of occupational pathology should consider the characteristics of the formation of health disorders both in general in the Russian Arctic and in its subjects.


Author(s):  
S. A. Syurin ◽  
A. A. Kovshov ◽  
S. A. Gorbanev

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.


Author(s):  
S.A. Syurin ◽  
A.A. Kovshov

Introduction. The mining and metallurgical industries form the basis of the economy of the Murmansk Region. Working conditions at industrial enterprises, combined with extreme climatic conditions of the Arctic, pose an increased risk of occupational diseases. The purpose of the study was to investigate working conditions and occupational disease rates among industrial workers of the Murmansk Region in 2007–2017. Materials and methods. We studies socio-hygienic monitoring data on working conditions and occupational diseases in the population of the Murmansk Region in 2007-2017 provided by the Federal Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare, Moscow. Results. In 2008-2017, the most common occupational risk factors in the Murmansk Region included noise (25.8%), job strain (17.8%), and chemical factor (12.6%) while 39.2% of workers were exposed to a combination of occupational hazards. Over 10 years, the absolute number of workers exposed to dangerous and hazardous industrial factors decreased by 1.8 times. In the Murmansk Region, 84.3% of occupational disease cases were registered among workers of mining and metallurgical enterprises. In 2007-2017, the region experienced a significant decrease in occupational disease incidence mainly related to job cuts. The role of other factors (improvement of working conditions, health promotion) needs to be clarified; yet, it is possible to predict their positive influence on occupational morbidity in the next few years. Conclusion. To achieve a substantial decrease in occupational disease incidence rates, it is essential to keep improving comprehensive measures aimed at preserving workers’ health in the Murmansk Region.


Author(s):  
N.M. Frolova ◽  
S.A. Syurin ◽  
V.P. Chashchin

Drivers of mining dump trucks are a group of highly qualified specialists whose training requires considerable time and financial costs. We investigate the working conditions, general and occupational pathology of the dump truck drivers of the open apatite mines in the Arctic. We carried out the analysis of working conditions and health status of 475 dump truck drivers and 534 miners of other occupations of open apatite mines, as well as the information on the occupational pathology of that workers group in 2007–2017. It has been established that the typical feature of health disorders in the dump truck drivers is the frequent development of obesity (22.9 % of workers), and occupational pathology which is in most cases due to imperfect technological processes (67.3 %), leading to an increased severity of labor and exposure to whole-body vibration. The most prevalent occupational diseases of drivers are vibration disease (36.5 %), radiculopathy (25.8 %) and mono-polyneuropathy (20.1 %). The risk of occupational pathology among truckers is higher than that one for miners of other specialties: RR = 1.35; DI 1.04-1.74. Measures aimed at health preservation of dump truck drivers should include the correction of food and work regimes, the improvement of technological processes during the transportation of ore raw materials targeted at reducing the severity of labor and harmful effects of whole-body vibration.


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