Sanitary and hygienic assessment of working conditions of civil aviation pilots

Abstract

Introduction. The analysis of working conditions of pilots of civil aviation aircraft has been carried out according to the data of sanitary and hygienic characteristics (SHC). The non-compliances with hygiene standards for several factors have been established at the same time in all SHC. Materials and methods. The 220 SHC of pilots, who had been examined in the clinic of FSBSI RIOH due to suspicion of occupation disease from 2015 to 2019, conducting flights by plane (49%) and helicopter (51%) were analyzed. The methods of account of acoustic load, hygiene assessment and classification of working conditions, peer review methods, and statistical treatment methods have been used. Results. The working conditions, according to the criteria of the Guide R 2.2.2006-05, are assigned to the following classes: 3.2 - in 26%; 3.3 - in 41%; 3.4 - in 33%. Exceeding the permissible equivalent noise levels was recorded at 92% of workplaces. According to SHC, the exceedances were from 1.2 dB to 34.5 dB (class 3.1-3.4). In assessing the work intensity in 83% of cases from 5 to 11 indicators of class 3.2 were recorded. It has determined class 3.3 of work intensity. The levels of general vibration exceeded hygiene standards in 48% of cases (class 3.1- 3.2), local vibration - in 8% (class 3.1-3.2), microclimate parameters - in 67% (class 3.1-3.2), labour severity - in 22% (class 3.1-3.3), less often there were discrepancies in light (6%) and chemical factor (2%). Conclusion. According to a combination of factors, the overall assessment of working conditions of the pilots of civil aviation aircraft in 74% of cases is assigned to classes 3.3-3.4. However, the disadvantages and errors in filling out the SHC can underestimate the degree of harmfulness of the work. To improve the procedure of establishing the connection between the disease, and the profession it is necessary to amend the legislative framework to obtain objective information about the levels of factors affecting pilots, develop a separate form of SHC of working conditions of pilots, detailed instructions about the rules of filling out SHC.

Development of a new concept for assessing labor intensity of civil aviation pilots

“…It is very difficult to formalize and regulate quantitatively. The first criteria to assess WI were mentioned about 30 years ago in the Guide R 2.2.013-94 "Hygienic criteria for assessing working conditions as per adverse and hazardous occupational factors, work hardness and intensity" 1 and this was a theoretical breakthrough in occupational medicine. However, these criteria have never been revised since then whereas work process has undergone substantial changes.…”

“…However, even this limited list of WI indicators is not sufficient to assess flight burdens on a pilot objectively. We should state that at present noise levels tend to be lower in cabins of up-to-date AC and WI is becoming a leading factor that determines working conditions [1,2]. It is important to control WI since there is a substantial probability of developing fatigue among pilots, a growing number of errors in their work and, as a result, an elevated risk of aviation accidents.…”