Working conditions and occupational pathology in the working population of the gas-producing region in the Arctic

Abstract

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.