Workplace mortality at coal industry enterprises of Russia

Introduction. The coal industry, being one of the leading sectors of the Russian economy, occupies a leading position in terms of the share of workers employed in harmful and dangerous working conditions (79.1% in 2021). Unfavorable working conditions and overwork make a significant contribution to the formation of mortality rates in the workplace of employees engaged in coal mining, both due to industrial injuries, and from common diseases.

The study аims to research the causes and mortality rates in the workplace at coal mining enterprises in Russia.

Materials and methods. According to Rosugleprof, the authors have carried out an analysis of the mortality of workers engaged in coal mining in the workplace due to occupational injuries and general diseases for the period 2020–2022 . The researchers calculated the rates of fatal injuries per million tons of coal mining and per one thousand employees, as well as mortality from general diseases per one thousand employees, also conducted an analysis within the industry and compared with the country as a whole. An in-depth analysis of fatal injuries in 2022 was carried out.

Results. In 2020, the level of fatal injuries in coal mining amounted to 0.13 per thousand workers, including 0.28 per thousand employees in mines, which is three and six times higher, respectively, compared with the country as a whole (0.045 per one thousand employees). In 2021, injury rates increased, amounting to 0.51, 1.72 and 0.06 per one thousand employees, respectively. The reason for the sharp increase in injury rates in 2021 was an accident with a methane explosion in a mine, which claimed the lives of 51 people. In-depth analysis of injuries in 2022 He showed that the main causes of fatal accidents in the conduct of coal mining operations are violation of safety rules and personal carelessness. Almost 95% of cases of acute diseases are closely related to cardiovascular diseases. Five to six cases of general illnesses requiring urgent medical care accounted for one death at the workplace, while seven to eight cases of occupational injuries accounted for one death.

Conclusion. Despite ongoing measures to improve working conditions, the coal industry continues to have an extremely high rate of workplace mortality, both due to injuries and due to death from natural causes. The most unfavorable situation is observed in the mines. This is due to the presence of a complex of harmful and dangerous production factors and a high risk of accidents. Of particular importance is the nervous and stressful nature of work and overwork of workers, which leads to a significant number of potentially preventable injuries due to personal negligence and cases of acute cardiovascular diseases. This indicates the need to develop and implement measures to reduce mortality, including through the use of forecasting and risk assessment, as well as strengthening therapeutic and preventive measures, including the optimization of work and rest regimes of employees.

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

Contribution:
Mokhnachuk I.I. — research concept and design, data collection;
Piktushanskaya T.E. — data analysis and interpretation;
Bryleva M.S. — data analysis and interpretation, writing the article, editing of the article;
Betts K.V. — data analysis and interpretation, writing the article, editing of the article.

Funding. The study had no funding.

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

Received: 20.01.2023 / Accepted: 02.02.2023 / Published: 25.02.2023

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