The role of working conditions in the formation of occupational morbidity of workers in metallurgical production

Introduction. The working population health is the basis of human capital, which is a factor in the country’s sustainable economic development. The conditions of occupational activity rank first in the structure of health factors of a working person. 

Materials and methods. The working conditions and the structure of the newly identified occupational morbidity at a metallurgical enterprise located in the territory of the Republic of Bashkortostan are analyzed based on statistical reporting documents on newly established occupational diseases for the period 2011–2019 and the hygienic characteristics of labour assessment presented by Rospotrebnadzor specialists with suspicion of an occupational aetiology of the diseases.

Results. Over the past number of years, workers in manufacturing industries of the Republic of Bashkortostan (RB) have been diagnosed annually from 2.16 to 6.76 cases of occupational diseases per 10 thousand workers, which makes it possible to attribute these industries to a high level of occupational risk. Over the past decade, 117 cases (11 to 26 cases per year) of occupational diseases were detected at the enterprise for the first time. In the structure of nosological forms, musculoskeletal system diseases and connective tissue rank first.

Limitations of the study. The limitation of this study is the lack of complete information about working conditions in the presented sanitary and hygienic characteristics. In recent years, there has been a decrease in registered occupational morbidity against the background of minor changes in working conditions. The identification of occupational diseases is often associated with the level of competence of employees of medical institutions who examine the relationship of the disease with the occupation and certain attitudes of the employee and employer.

Conclusion. The working conditions of metallurgical workers are characterized by the impact of a complex of occupational factors, the leading of which is the intensity of the work process. The working conditions of this process are considered to be harmful Class 3 (3.3). Between 2011 and 2019, the link between the disease and occupational activity was established in 117 cases, mainly in workers (wire drawers, wire winders, repairmen, metal sorters) experiencing significant physical dynamic loads.

Contribution:

Masyagutova L.M., Abdrakhmanova E.R. — writing a text;

Bakirov A.B., Gimranova G.G. — the concept and design of the study;

Akhmetshina V.T., Gabdulvaleeva E.F., Khafizova A.S., Volgareva A.D. — the collection and processing of the material;

Gizatullina L.G. — statistical analysis.

All co-authors — approval of the final version of the article, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article.

Conflict of interests. The authors declare the absence of conflict of interests.

Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsor support.

Received: September 1, 2021 / Accepted: November 25, 2021 / Published: February 09, 2022