The impact of occupation factors on the health of employees of thermal power plants

Abstract

Aim is to assess working conditions and risks of the general pathological syndromes (RGPS) in employees of the leading occupations of Thermal Power Plants. Materials and methods. Hygienic studies of working conditions were carried out at the workplaces of employees of the main professions of the Thermal Power Plants (TPP) of the Republic of Buryatia. The state of health was assessed using an Automated System of Quantitative Risk Assessment of the main general pathological syndromes (ASQRAS). Results. Study results indicate the predominant noise pollution and dustiness of the air at the workplaces of the TPP. According to the results of ASQRAS, the share of employees of the main professions with a high level of RGPS was 20.83%, which is 2.92 times higher compared to the control group. In the main group, higher levels of risk of developing functional disorders of the respiratory organs and borderline mental disorders were revealed. In the main group the total risks are 1.76 times higher than in the control group. Limitations. Our study had limited options as the acquisition of information on the health status of workers was carried out based on the results of their self-assessment, which may be subject to subjective errors. Conclusion. Thus, the study results indicate the adverse impact of working conditions on the state of health of TPP employees which is confirmed by the results of ASQRAS.