Workplace Hazards and Occupational Risk Assessment for Automotive Industry Workers

Abstract

Introduction: The automotive industry is characterized by a complex and combined workers’ exposure to occupational risk factors. The problem of early detection, course and development of prognostic criteria for modern forms of occupational pathology remains relevant. Objective: To assess the main workplace hazards in the automotive industry and the risk of occupational diseases in its workers. Materials and methods: We conducted our own occupational health studies, examined production control data (348 units) and results of special evaluation of working conditions (97 units) at an automobile manufacturing enterprise of the Republic of Bashkortostan in 2020–2023. In total, we took 554 measurements of noise, 554 – of hand-arm vibration, 448 – of chemicals, and 554 – of work heaviness. To assess occupational risk, we used an integral indicator of the frequency and severity of occupational diseases, the index of occupational diseases (IOD), as the inverse value of the categories of risk (Cr) and severity (Cs), a single-digit indicator (IOD), combining Cr and Cs. Calculations were done in Microsoft Excel. Results: In the course of work, employees are exposed to a combination of physical factors, such as noise (Class 3.2) and hand-arm vibration (Class 3.1); chemical factors, including fibrogenic aerosols, metal dusts, toxicants from welding fumes, paints and varnishes (Class 3.1), and physical overload (Class 3.1). The overall working conditions correspond to Hazard Class 3, degrees 1–2. We assessed risks of developing the following occupational diseases (IOD = 0.16, total IOD = 0.32): vibration disease from exposure to hand-arm vibration and sensorineural hearing loss from noise exposure; chronic poisoning with manifestations of disorders of the pulmonary system (toxic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) related to chemical exposures. Occupational diseases had a mild course with minor functional grade 1 manifestations and no progression of the pathological process. Conclusions: The complex and combined exposure to industrial safety hazards in the automotive industry determines the moderate risk of developing occupational diseases in its workers.