Implementation of the provisions of the methodological platform standards for the assessment and management of occupational health risk for employees

Introduction. To substantiate and practical use of optimal management solutions to reduce risk levels, it is necessary to continue research on solving the main tasks of the scientific medical platform "Preventive Environment", aimed at creating technologies for early diagnosis of occupational and production-related diseases, an objective assessment of modern working conditions and the labor process, the development of biological monitoring system and risk management.

The study aims to scientifically substantiate the model of interaction of individual elements of the working condition system and health of employees based on the risk level assessment of risk depending on the complex of harmful and/or dangerous factors of the production environment and the labor process in the main types of economic activity.

Materials and methods. We have analyzed the results of a special assessment of working conditions at the workplaces of mining and coal industry enterprises, ferrous metallurgy plants and aluminum production. Experts have summarized the materials of occupational morbidity and its structure. To assess the risk of developing chronic general somatic diseases in workers the researchers have performed a cross-sectional epidemiological study. We have studied changes in biomarkers of exposure and effect in the conditions of professional exposure to mercury on the employee's body.

Results. The analysis of modern working conditions of workers employed in mining (underground and open-pit mining), metallurgical enterprises (ferrous metallurgy plants, aluminum production), coal industry enterprises indicates that working conditions were and remain difficult and harmful, especially when performing underground mining operations. The assessment of occupational risk to the health of employees of mining and processing plants showed that the constant exposure to high levels of harmful factors — vibration, the severity of labor and the intensity of the labor process. This contributes to an increased risk of development and high spread of diseases of the circulatory system and diseases of the musculoskeletal system, as well as a significant increase in these indicators with an increase in work experience in harmful working conditions, which allows us to consider these diseases as production-related. Occupational morbidity at enterprises of the leading sectors of the economy decreased in 2020, most significantly at ferrous metallurgy plants. A comprehensive analysis of changes in biomarkers of exposure and effect in the conditions of professional exposure to mercury on the employee's body made it possible to identify groups at increased risk of developing health disorders. The analysis of a special assessment of working conditions, occupational and production-related morbidity of workers in certain sectors of the economy, as elements of the health risk assessment system, allowed us to develop Standards for enterprises in the mining and coal sectors of the economy, ensuring the preservation of workers' lives and health.

Limitations. The studies have certain limitations, since they do not concern all sectors of the economy, but only the mining, coal industry, ferrous metallurgy plants and aluminum production. The period for which occupational morbidity was analyzed is 5 years (2016–2020). These limitations open the way for further research.

Conclusion. The implementation of the developed provisions of the standards provides a risk-oriented approach in occupational health, being an important and necessary element of the formation of a preventive and preventive model of occupational risk management.

Ethics. This study did not require the conclusion of the Ethics Committee.

Contribution:
Bukhtiyarov I.V. — concept and design of the study, editing;
Kuzmina L.P. — concept and design of the study, editing;
Golovkova N.P. — concept and design of the study, editing;
Chebotarev A.G. — material collection and processing, statistical data processing, text writing;
Leskina L.M. — material collection and processing, statistical data processing, text writing;
Kotova N.I. — material collection and processing, statistical data processing, text writing;
Khelkovsky-Sergeev N.A. — collection and processing of material, statistical data processing, writing text.

Funding. The study had no funding.

Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Received: 28.04.2022 / Accepted: 19.05.2022 / Published: 25.06.2022

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