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.
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