To the question of occupational pathology developing under acceptable working conditions (on the example of workers of enterprises in the Russian Arctic)

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to investigate occupational pathology that develops under acceptable levels of harmful production factors. Results. It has been found that 0.77% of all cases of occupational diseases in 2007-2018 developed under acceptable working conditions in the enterprises of the Arctic (66 out of 8609 diseases). Their features were: 1) shortened length of service of the sick people (20.2 ± 1.5 years); 2) younger age (47.8 ± 1.2 years); 3) larger proportion of women among the sick people; 4) greater role of chemical factors and severity of work in the development of health disorders; 5) more frequent development of diseases among workers of certain professions; 6) different structure of classes and nosological forms of occupational diseases; 7) increased proportion of acute industrial poisoning in the structure of occupational diseases. Exposure to harmful production factors with exposure levels not exceeding hygiene standards became possible more often due to design flaws in machines, mechanisms and other equipment (54.5%). Detection of most occupational diseases in people working in acceptable working conditions took place because they sought medical help themselves due to deterioration of health (in 66.7% of cases). 59.9-66.2% of diseases in people working in harmful and dangerous working conditions were diagnosed according to the results of periodic medical examinations. Conclusion. There is a need for a deeper understanding of the causes and preventive methods of occupational health disorders that develop under acceptable working conditions.