Occupational health risks in mining dump truck drivers

Abstract

Introduction. In recent years, the mining dump truck drivers have consistently reported high rates of occupational morbidity. The aim of the study was a retrospective study of occupational pathology development in the mining dump truck drivers at the apatite open pits in the Kola Peninsula. Material and methods. A retrospective analysis of occupational pathology was carried out in six hundred forty three truck drivers. Its starting point was the results of a medical examination in 2008, and in 2009-2020, newly detected occupational diseases were studied. Results. During 12 years, 172 occupational diseases including vibration disease (n=63), radiculopathy (n=54), reflex syndromes (n=36), and sensorineural hearing loss (n=19) were diagnosed for the first time in 105 (16.3%) drivers. The development of occupational pathology in 85 (49.4%) cases was due to the increased severity of work (class 3.1-3.2). In 66 (38.4%) cases, the cause was whole-body vibration (class 3.1-3.2), in 19 (11.0%) cases - noise and in 2 (1.2%) cases - hand-arm vibration (class 3.1). The risk of developing vibration disease and occupational musculoskeletal pathology was increased by vertebral osteochondrosis (RR=1.78; CI 1.21-2.60; p=0.004), deforming osteoarthritis (RR=2.35; CI 1.41-3, 91; p=0.001), arthralgia (RR = 3.12; CI 1.66-5.86; p<0.0001), cervicalgia (RR=3.29; CI 1.48-7.32 ; p = 0.002). Occupational noise exposure (Z57.0) increased the risk of occupational sensorineural hearing loss (RR=2.61; CI 1.31-5.19; p=0.005). Limitations. The impossibility of completely eliminating the diagnosis of an occupational disease in drivers who left the observation group for permanent residence in other regions of the country. Conclusion. The occupational health risk for dump truck drivers is determined by the length of service, severity of work, impact of whole-body vibration and noise, concomitant musculoskeletal and ear diseases, which must be taken into account in the prevention of occupational diseases.