Occupational pathology in the Vorkuta industrial area

Abstract

Labor activity in the Arctic, especially mining, is associated with an increased risk of developing occupational pathology. The aim of the study was to investigate working conditions, structure and prevalence of occupational pathology among workers of the Vorkuta industrial region (IR) in 2007–2018. The results of social and hygienic monitoring «Working conditions and occupational morbidity» of the population of the municipal urban district of Vorkuta and the Arctic zone of Russia in 2007–2018 were studied. It was found that in 2007–2018, 99 % of occupational diseases in Vorkuta IR were detected in coal mine workers. Only 1 % of diseases were diagnosed in workers engaged in health care, transport, construction, household services, electricity production and distribution, and industrial production. Over 12 years, the share of increased labor severity in the development of occupational diseases rose from 20.3 % to 74.0 % (p < 0.001), and the share of fibrogenic aerosols decreased from 33.0 % to 13.2 % (p < 0.001). During the same period of time, in the structure of occupational pathology the share of musculoskeletal diseases increased from 20.7 % to 56.9 % (p < 0.001), and the share of respiratory diseases decreased from 31.8 % to 13.4 % (p < 0.001). In 2007–2018, the number of occupational pathology cases tended to grow, and the risk of their development in 2016–2018 was higher than in 2007–2009 (RR = 1.90; CI 1.69–2.12; p < 0.001). The results of the study indicate the need to update programs to improve working conditions and prevent occupational pathology at the Vorkuta coal mines, taking into account the new data obtained.