Occupational risk assessment of the impact of a heating microclimate in conditions of modernization of a metallurgical enterprise

Abstract

Introduction. A controlled environment is the most significant industrial conditions factor, which predominantly affects the well-being, working capacity, and employees’ health. The objective of this research was the scientific justification of the need for prevention of the upgraded sections of the metallurgical enterprise related to the impact of the heating-controlled environment by results of an estimation of the occupational risk. Results. The workplaces of the occupations under study were characterized by a heating-controlled environment. Under hygienic criteria, working conditions in most workplaces corresponded to hazardous ones and formed the pathology risk from low to very high (Classes 3.1-3.4). Overall, the enterprise usually registered a small degree of the relationship between the identified health disorders and the heating-controlled environment. Still, the morbidity of diseases of the ear, skin, and urogenital apparatus fulfilled the criteria of industrial conditionality, with an average degree with its influence. Male patients with high blood pressure and females with diseases of the digestive system were identified to show the significant-high incidence. Moreover, there is a high and medium degree of association of diseases of the digestive system and skin with exposure to heat radiation in women and men, respectively. Exposure to heat radiation at controllers raised the risk of developing gynecological abnormalities, as well as complications of pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period by 3.4 times (very high degree of association) and 3.0 times (high degree), respectively. The relative risk of mortality owing to circulatory diseases was 3.3 in occupational groups of lehr operators, 2.8 in blacksmiths, and 1.8 in melters requiring the development of targeted prevention programs.