SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM STATE IN WORKERS OF UNDERGROUND MINES IN THE ARCTIC ZONE OF RUSSIA

Abstract

The purpose of the conducted research was a comprehensive study and comparison of results of subjective and objective appraisal of workers' musculoskeletal system (MSS) state and links of observed disturbances with occupational environment exposures in underground mining in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. Study method: for obtaining necessary data a questionnaire survey of underground mine workers within their routine periodic medical examination was conducted, the questionnaire being designed together with the Norwegian experts. Analysis results of 1874 respondent answers allowed to identify connection between subjective workers' appraisal of pain syndrome manifestation in various parts of spinal cord (cervical, thoracic and lumbar) and subjective workers' assessment of intensity of several exposure factors in their jobs. Subjective assessment of MSS state according to pain syndrome manifestation, given by the respondents, was found to comply with objective data on MSS diseases reported in the process of routine periodical medical examinations in the same jobs. Respondents' evaluation of workplace factor intensities is consistent with numerous published reports on health assessment of underground mining working conditions, including those in the RF Arctic zone. Received data don't correspond to the results of the special assessment of working conditions (SAWC) which considered such working conditions admissible. Conclusions: the study revealed a relatedness of MSS pain syndrome onset in underground mine workers to occupational factors and increase of syndrome risk development as the exposure intensity grows. The trend of subjective and objective appraisals of MSS disturbances manifestation is the same in the same jobs. SAWC doesn't reflect actual state of working conditions in underground mines of the Arctic zone.