Manufacturing-conditioned morbidity among non-ferrous workers in pyro-metallurgic way of nickel production

Introduction. Preserving and strengthening the health of the working population is one of the priority tasks in the Russian Federation.

According to the "Concept of the Demographic Policy of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2025", approved by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 135 of 09.10.2007, measures to reduce the mortality rate of the population, primarily citizens of working age, should include measures to reduce the mortality rate and injuries from industrial accidents and occupational diseases.

The study aims to assess the relationship of health disorders with work for certain classes of diseases and the indicator of loss of life years, adjusted for the disability of workers (DALY-disability-adjusted life years), shops of pyrometallurgical nickel refining.

Materials and methods. We performed a study on JSC "Kola Mining and Metallurgical Company" (JSC "Kola MMC"), which produces and processes copper-nickel ores located in the European part of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation (Murmansk Region), which makes and processes copper-nickel ores.

To assess the relationship of health disorders with work, we used the results of mandatory periodic medical examinations of 2113 employees engaged in pyrometallurgical refining of nickel and copper.

Results. In the context of individual classes of diseases, experts established a statistically significant decrease in the incidence of diseases of the nervous system, skin and subcutaneous tissue, musculoskeletal system, and conditions of the genitourinary system.

The conducted assessment of the connection of these health disorders with working conditions in workers of pyrometallurgical production of nickel and copper showed the presence of an average degree of contact with the impact on the body of a complex of harmful production factors of such health disorders as diseases of the nervous system, skin and subcutaneous tissue, musculoskeletal and genitourinary systems.

We evaluated the effectiveness of the measures carried out using the DALY-analysis method. As a result, the researchers found a reduction in this total indicator of health loss among workers of pyrometallurgical refined nickel from 218.8 to 184.6 years (by 17.8%).

Conclusions. A comprehensive assessment of health losses by the DALY analysis method indicates a significant reduction in the burden of diseases among workers of pyrometallurgical nickel refining by 15.6%, including among men — by 12.5%, among women — by 28.3%. The economic efficiency of the implemented wellness program in JSC "Kola MMC" showed that the total prevented economic damage due to reducing diseases associated with labor activity amounted to 119.3 thousand rubles per employee of metallurgical production on average for the year. The prevented economic damage resulting from the reduction of occupational diseases per employee amounted to 10.4 thousand rubles per year.

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