ObjectivesWe aimed to describe how work exposure and occupational health is assessed for mine workers in Murmansk Oblast, Russia.Study designA descriptive study based on current practice, laws and available literature.MethodsThe information and data were obtained from scientific publications, reports, regional and federal statistics, legal documents, through personal visits and onsite inspections.ResultsSeveral institutions are involved in these assessments, but all mine workers have been examined by specialists at one institution, which helps to ensure that the work is of stable quality and adds reliability value to the numbers. Workplace risks are assigned hazard grades, which influence the frequency of periodic medical examinations and salary levels. The examinations are aimed to diagnose latent or manifest occupational disease. This may lead to relocation to a workplace with lower exposure levels, free medical treatment, compensation and a lower pension age.ConclusionsRegulations and systems to protect the health of mine workers have more emphasis on control and repair than on prevention. Since relocation can lower the salary, some workers may under-report medical problems. To what degree this happens is unknown. The mining enterprises pay the medical service provider for periodic medical examinations, which could potentially weaken their independent role. This framework is important to understand when studying and assessing the health of working populations in the circumpolar region.

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.

Introduction. Welding aerosol is one of the most common industrial fumes, and tobacco smoke is the most common behavioural risk factor for developing respiratory diseases. The aim of the study was to investigate the features of the structure and prevalence of respiratory diseases under separate and combined exposure to welding aerosol and tobacco smoke. Materials and methods. The results of periodic medical examinations of workers of underground mines in the Murmansk region and a special assessment of working conditions at these enterprises were studied. Results. Chronic respiratory diseases were detected in 176 (32.0%) of 550 surveyed electric and gas welders and more often in smokers than non-smokers: 39.8% and 19.9%, p <0.001. Compared with the control group, electric gas welders had a higher prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p = 0.033) and bronchial asthma (p = 0.043).Smoking increased the risk of nasal septum curvature with respiratory dysfunction (relative risk (RR) = 1.78; confidence interval (CI) 1.10-2.88; p = 0.016), chronic bronchitis (RR = 3.33; CI 1.51-7.34; p = 0.001) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (RR = 6.47; CI 0.83-50.2; p = 0.039). The prevalence of respiratory diseases among electric and gas welders depended on exposure to tobacco smoke. Differences with non-smokers appeared at a smoking index of 10-19.9 packs/years. The risk of developing respiratory pathology increased with an increase in the smoking index for every ten-pack / years. At the same time, the length of service did not significantly affect the development of respiratory diseases in non-smoking workers. Conclusion. The data obtained show that smoking cessation should be a mandatory and central element of programs to prevent the development of respiratory diseases in workers exposed to welding aerosols.

Background. Noise-induced hearing loss is one of the oldest problems of occupational medicine. The purpose of the study was to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of the development of noise-induced hearing loss in industrial workers of the Murmansk Region in 1988-2017. Materials and methods. We analyzed data on incident cases of occupational diseases in 1988-2017 and socio-hygienic monitoring forms in part of “Working Conditions and Occupational Morbidity” in the population of the Murmansk Region in 2007–2017. Results. We established that in 2007–2017 almost 20% of all workers affected by harmful or hazardous industrial factors were exposed to noise. Over eleven years, their percentage decreased by 5.3% (p < 0.001). In 1988–2017, noise-induced hearing loss was registered in 27.3% of new cases of occupational diseases among industrial workers and made up 16.9% in the general structure of occupational pathology. We observed an increasing tendency in the prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss, especially in combination with other occupational diseases of the musculoskeletal, nervous, and respiratory systems. The risk of developing noise-induced hearing loss for miners (RR = 4.50; CI: 4.04–5.01) and ship repair workers (RR = 6.73; CI: 5.54–8.18) was higher than that for other industrial workers of the Murmansk Region. Conclusions. The findings suggest the need for more efficient technical and medical measures aimed at preventing hearing impairment caused by occupational noise.

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.

Introduction: Despite the extreme environmental conditions, an extensive economic activity based on the extraction and processing of natural resources is ongoing in the Russian Arctic. The objective of the study was to investigate occupational health risk factors for workers engaged in lumbering and wood processing in the Russian Arctic. Materials and methods: The socio-hygienic monitoring data on working conditions and occupational diseases in the population of the Russian Arctic zone in 2007–2018 were analyzed. Results: In 2007–2018, 222 occupational diseases were identified including 180 cases in wood processing workers, 25 cases in loggers, and 17 cases in people employed in the production of pulp, paper, and paper products. The development of occupational pathology was mainly induced by the increased severity of labor (70.3%) related to imperfection of technological processes (76.1%) and structural limitations of equipment (22.1%). Musculoskeletal disorders prevailed with myofibrosis of the forearm ranking first. All health disorders were chronic with the exception of two cases of acute hydrogen sulfide poisoning. The largest number of diseases (n=117) was diagnosed in 2007-2010 while the smallest (n=14) in 2015–2018 (an 8.36-fold decrease). The risk of developing occupational pathology in 2007 was higher than in 2018, the relative risk being 9.60 (CI: 2.30–40.1; p=0.00014). Over a half (129 or 58.1%) of occupational diseases were diagnosed as a result of self-seeking of medical care while 93 (41.9%) cases were revealed in the course of planned medical examinations. Conclusions: Efficient prevention of occupational diseases in the industry can only be achieved by improving labor conditions and, above all, reducing the severity of labor processes. Reliability of official data on the number of incident cases of occupational diseases among workers involved in timber harvesting and processing in the Arctic raises doubts.

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.