PROPHYLAXIS OF SKIN DISEASES IN WORKERS OF THE PRODUCTION OF SECONDARY PRECIOUS METALS

Abstract

Introduction. The production of secondary precious metals is one of the most important and promising directions for the development of the metallurgical industry with its own specifics of technological processes and, accordingly, working conditions. The purpose of the research is to scientifically substantiate and develop a complex of hygienic and therapeutic and preventive measures to reduce the risk of skin diseases in workers of secondary precious metals. Material and methods. As an object of research, the workers of the enterprise JSC “Shchelkovsky plant of secondary precious metals” were chosen. To assess the occupational health risk, the main provisions of the “Methods of calculating individual occupational risk depending on working conditions and the state of worker’s health” were used. To assess the clinical effectiveness of the use of emollients in the prevention of chronic allergic dermatoses in workers, the patients were examined and the dermatological indices EASI (Eczema area and severity index), VAS (Visual analog scale), DLQI (Dermatology life quality index) were calculated. Results. The index of the individual occupational risk (IOR) for the main professions of refining precious metals amounts to from 0.56 to 0.79, which refers to a very high risk with the leading unfavorable chemical production factor - with a share contribution to the profile of occupational risk - from 20 to 25 %. The presence of dermatological diseases even with their course without permanent disability significantly affects the quality of life of workers, as evidenced by the high values of dermatological indices EASI from 16.3 to 53.3, DLQI - from 6.2 to 16.8, VAS - from 5.8 to 9.1 points before the start of the treatment. Discussion. The results obtained are in general consistent with the materials of earlier studies that skin and subcutaneous tissue diseases are related to the risk in the workers in the metallurgical industry. Conclusion. Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous fatty tissue in workers of secondary precious metals production are due to the significant value of the etiological share of production factors in their formation and are occupationally conditioned. The proposed complex of hygienic and medico-prophylactic measures, including the additional use of emollients to existing standards of treatment and prevention of allergic dermatoses in workers, provides a reduction in the risk of professionally caused skin diseases.