Coal Industry Workers Research Articles

Influence of negative aff ectivity, social suppression and anxiety on motivation for health and a healthy lifestyle in coal industry workers

Introduction. A healthy lifestyle is one of the most eff ective methods of preserving health and preventing non-infectious diseases. The mechanisms and factors that infl uence the formation of motivation for health and a healthy lifestyle in employees engaged in harmful working conditions have not been suffi ciently studied. The study of these mechanisms will allow us to more eff ectively shape health-saving behavior.The aim of the study is to study negative aff ectivity, social suppression and anxiety in the formation of motivation to maintain health and a healthy lifestyle in coal industry workers.Materials and methods. A survey was conducted of 75 employees of mines and sections in the South of Kuzbass with an established diagnosis of occupational diseases, as well as 54 people who do not work in harmful working conditions (engineering and technical workers). Surveys were conducted using the method “Index of motivation to health and a healthy lifestyle”, the presence of personality type D was conducted using the DS14 questionnaire, the level of personal and situational anxiety was assessed using the Spielberger — Hanin questionnaire.Results. Th e level of motivation for health and a healthy lifestyle among patients with occupational diseases is signifi cantly lower than the level of motivation for the health of engineering and technical workers. Th e infl uence of negative reaction and social suppression on the level of motivation for health and a healthy lifestyle was not found. Th e level of situational anxiety also has no eff ect on health motivation. A higher level of personal anxiety among people with a high level of motivation for a healthy lifestyle was determined.Conclusions. Personal anxiety aff ects the level of motivation for health and a healthy lifestyle in people with occupational diseases.

ФАРМАЦЕВТИЧЕСКАЯ САНОЛОГИЯ КАК ОСНОВА ФАРМАЦЕВТИЧЕСКОЙ И МЕДИЦИНСКОЙ ПРОФИЛАКТИКИ ПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНЫХ ЗАБОЛЕВАНИЙ

Annotation: the review discusses the current problems of pharmaceutical and medical prevention of occupational diseases in the pharmaceutical care system. The importance of pharmaceutical sanology as a basis for prevention, which allows to achieve results that improve the quality of life of patients, including coal industry workers, is shown.

Assessment of risk factors for multifocal atherosclerosis in the workers of the main professions of coal enterprises in the South of Kuzbass

Introduction. The problem of high mortality from cardiovascular diseases is caused, among other things, by asymptomatic atherosclerosis, which proceeds latently for a long time and manifests itself as a serious vascular catastrophe, which is of particular importance for people working at production facilities with difficult and dangerous working conditions.The aim of the study was to assess the risk factors for atherosclerosis and the state of the vascular wall in the workers of the main professions of coal enterprises in the South of Kuzbass.Material and methods. In total, the study included 384 people (men), of whom 266 were the workers in coal mines in the South of Kuzbass and 118 people who were not employed in the coal industry, aged 40 to 55 years. The diagnosis of atherosclerosis was carried out on the ultrasound system “Vivid E9” of the manufacturing company GE using a linear sensor for measuring the thickness of the intima-media complex and visualization of atherosclerotic plaques. To identify significant risk factors, anthropometric, anamnestic data, indices of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, and the presence of arterial hypertension were studied.Results. Significant differences in the frequency of asymptomatic atherosclerosis in the form of an increase in intima-media thickness by more than 1 mm and / or the presence of atherosclerotic plaques in both groups were not found: 60.2% among the miners and 62.3% among non-coal mining workers (p=0.703); at the same time, the percentage of detection of atherosclerotic plaques in arteries was significantly lower among coal workers — 46.9% versus 60.5% among people in the comparison group (p=0.016). The common risk factors for all examined subjects were arterial hypertension and increased level of glycated hemoglobin; in turn, in coal miners additional risk factors were increased values of low density lipoproteins and waist-hip index, as well as burdened heredity for cardiovascular diseases, and among the individuals not employed in the coal industry it was smoking.Conclusions. The most significant risk factors for atherosclerosis in coal industry workers were arterial hypertension, raised values of glycated hemoglobin, low density lipoproteins and waist-hip index, as well as burdened heredity for cardiovascular diseases. Significant differences in the frequency of asymptomatic atherosclerosis in the form of an increase in the thickness of the intima-media complex of the main arteries and the presence of atherosclerotic plaques in both groups were not established, but the percentage of the detection of atherosclerotic plaques was lower among coal miners.The authors declare no conflict of interests.

The application of game theory principles for the increase in the productivity of coal industry workers

In the Russian Federation the main factor for the reduced labor productivity in the coal mining industry, with almost the same level of technological equipment as in other countries, is human: non-compliance with safety regulations, low motivation, lack of labor discipline among employees of enterprises. The solution to the problem of increasing the labor productivity of coal industry workers largely depends on how effective the fight against these factors is. By choosing the mechanisms of economic and administrative incentives for employees, as well as by creating a hierarchical control system, it is possible to ensure that the behavior optimal for employees is exactly what management needs. This work is devoted to the discussion of methodology for constructing such mechanisms, based on the analysis of game-theoretic models of organizing a safety management system at a coal mining enterprise, proposed in earlier works by the authors of the paper.

Epidemiological analysis of new pneumoconiosis among workers in coal industry in Chongqing

Objective: To analyze the incidence of pneumoconiosis among workers in the coal industry in the past 13 years in Chongqing, understand the different epidemiological characteristics of new pneumoconiosis among workers in the coal industry in the city, provide basic evidence for the prevention and treatment of pneumoconiosis. Methods: Collecting new cases of pneumoconiosis diagnosed in the coal industry in Chongqing in January 2006-May 2018, and analyze its epidemiological characteristics. Results: In January 2006-May 2018, 25329 cases of pneumoconiosis were added to workers in the coal industry in Chongqing, and 23, 328 cases were present, all male. Among the existing cases: coal workers' pneumoconiosis accounted for 89.30%, silicosis accounted for 10.70%; age distribution was 50-59 years old. The main, accounting for 45.19%, the average age of onset was 52.21±7.45 years; the actual dusting age was mainly 10-19 years, the average actual working age was 17.52±8.47 years; the distribution of the work was mainly by the main coal mining (53.20%) ; There are more new cases in enterprises, accounting for 88.86%; distributed in 36 districts and counties. Conclusion: There was a large number of new pneumoconiosis diseases in the coal industry in Chongqing. Different measures should be taken according to the characteristics of different enterprises, and relevant enterprises should be urged to take the initiative to carry out occupational health surveillance, effectively protect the health of workers, improve the coordination mechanism, improve medical security, and gradually realize government assistance and Social care is combined.

Genetic and biochemical aspects of formation of professional chronic dust bronchitis

Introduction. Th e actual problem of modern occupational health is the study of the role of exogenous and endogenous factors in the development of occupational pathology of the bronchopulmonary system. То identify groups at increased risk of developing a dusty pathology of the bronchopulmonary system, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive study of clinical and genetic factors, as well as to determine the most signifi cant diagnostic markers of the development of this pathology.The aim of the study was to study the genetic status of a set of biochemical and molecular genetic markers, as well as biochemical parameters of blood and respiratory function in coal industry workers with chronic dust bronchitis and persons of the control group.Materials and methods. 115 workers of coal mines from the South of Kuzbass aged from 39 to 58 years were examined in the Clinic of the Institute. Among them — 71 people with a previously established diagnosis of chronic dust bronchitis (the main group) and 44 people of the control group of persons working in the same sanitary conditions, but not having this pathology. A complex of clinical, biochemical and genetic methods of research was used in the study, and functional parameters of the bronchopulmonary system were evaluated. Statistical processing of the results was carried out using IBM SPSS Statistics 22 soft ware. Results. Statistically signifi cant diff erences between biochemical (increase in the concentration of ceruloplasmin and α–1antitrypsin) and immunological parameters (increase in the total number of leukocytes and ESR, increase in the concentration of IgG) in miners with chronic dust bronchitis and coal industry workers without this pathology were revealed. The dependence of the functional changes of the respiratory system with the development of professional pathology is determined. Th e persons of the main group showed a statistically signifi cant decrease in functional parameters (forced exhalation per second and lung capacity), increased respiratory failure. A predisposition to the development of dust bronchitis in the owners of the HP 1–1 genotype and resistance to the formation of this pathology in persons with the HP 2–2 genotype were found. Th e study of GSTT 1 deletion polymorphism revealed that carriers of the GSTT 1 «+» variant are most susceptible to the development of chronic dust bronchitis, and owners of the GSTT 1 variant are» resistant to its formation. Th ere was a positive аssociation with the development of dust bronchitis of the holders of the MM phenotype (MN).Conclusions. When working in similar conditions, some workers have a deviation of biochemical and immunological parameters fr om the norm, as well as a violation of the respiratory system, while others have no changes. Th e response of the body to the impact of certain external adverse factors may be due to genetic predisposition or resistance to the development of the disease.

Prevalence of somatic pathology in coal mine workers with occupational respiratory diseases

Introduction. Th e high level of professional and production-related pathology among workers of the coal industry, as well as the frequent development of their combined pathology with an unfavorable prognosis determine the relevance of studying the prevalence of somatic pathology in miners with occupational diseases of the respiratory system.The aim of the study was to explore the prevalence of internal organs pathology in coal industry workers with occupational lung diseases (anthracosilicosis, chronic dust bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).Materials and methods. 788 store miners and shaft sinkers with previously diagnosed occupational respiratory diseases (anthracosilicosis, chronic dust bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and 161 miners, working for a long time in harmful labour conditions and having no occupational pathology (the control group) were examined.Results. It was revealed that the workers of the coal industry with occupational diseases of the respiratory system pathology of internal organs occurs more often than the workers of the control group, including: diseases of the cardiovascular system (hypertension, angina pectoris I and II functional classes), diseases of the digestive system (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and chronic pancreatitis), kidney disease (chronic pyelonephritis), as well as a combination of several somatic diseases.Conclusions. In miners with occupational diseases of the respiratory system more oft en than in the control group, there is a pathology of the internal organs: diseases of the cardiovascular system, digestive organs, kidneys, as well as a combination of several somatic diseases. Th e data obtained should be considered during periodic medical examinations and medical examinations for the development of timely therapeutic and preventive and rehabilitation measures.

Motivation for health and a healthy lifestyle among employees of the aluminum and coal industry

Introduction. Th e system of formation of a healthy lifestyle is recognized as the most important area of prevention. Studies of motivation for health and healthy lifestyles in workers engaged in harmful working conditions are few and indicate the negative impact of occupational disease on the psychosocial status of patients, a signifi cant impact of adherence to a healthy lifestyle on the prevalence and course of somatic diseases and the need to develop health-saving behavior.The aimof the studywas to study the prevalence of diff erent levels of motivation for maintaining health and a healthy lifestyle among workers in the metallurgical and coal industries.Materials and methods.72 workers of mines and sections of the South of Kuzbass with the established diagnosis of occupational disease were surveyed; 372 workers of the aluminum plant and 54 people who do not work in harmful working conditions (engineering and technical workers). The surveys were conducted by the method of «Motivation index for health and healthy lifestyle», alexithymia was evaluated by the method of «Toronto scale of alexithymia (TAS)» with the informed consent of the subjects.Results.Th e high level of motivation for health and a healthy lifestyle among employees of the aluminum industry corresponds to the population. Th e group of coal industry workers with occupational diseases surveyed is dominated by a low level of motivation to maintain health and a healthy lifestyle. In the group of workers who are not employed in harmful working conditions, a high degree of motivation for health and a healthy lifestyle is determined. Th e predominance of motivation on emotional and cognitive scales among workers not employed in harmful working conditions was revealed. In the group of coal industry workers with occupational diseases, the number of persons with a high level of motivation on an emotional scale has been reduced. Among persons with alexithymia signifi cantly reduced the level of motivation on an emotional scale. Among the workers of the coal industry with occupational diseases revealed signifi cantly higher prevalence of alexithymia.Conclusions. It is assumed that the link of reduced motivation for health in persons with occupational diseases with the presence of alexithymia.

Quality of Life of Kuzbass Coal Industry Workers

The study of the quality of life (QoL) in medicine is recognized worldwide, its scientific study is also recognized as a priority.Aim. To study the quality of life of workers in the Kuzbass coal industry, who are exposed to physical factors, as well as to assess the severity and degree of influence of diseases on QoL.Methods. The method of QoL assessment was based on of individual QoL assessment and the rationing of intensive indicators. For the subjective assessment of the severity of symptoms of the occupational disease (OD) and the effect of these symptoms on QoL, we used the questionnaire method, recommended by Dyakovich M.P. and Kazakova P.V. (2013).Results. The study of individual QoL included 400 miners with OD, caused by exposure to physical factors. We found that among the low indices, reflecting determination of quality of life of workers in the coal industry, satisfaction with the past was the highest. Indices of satisfaction with the future were the lowest. The predominance of subjective positive over negative was possibly related to social satisfaction.The study involved a group of 98 patients, who had symptoms of diseases, caused by exposure to physical factors. Subjective assessment of patients with sensorineural hearing loss (SHL) revealed a significant effect of symptoms of the disease on QoL, especially with regard to symptoms that worsened their psycho-emotional state, which might further lead to impairments and disabilities.Conclusion. Evaluation of individual QoL, as well as the severity of the symptoms and their effect on QoL, helps correctly diagnose the patient’s personal response to the disease, and to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. In the future, doctors can use the received information when developing rehabilitation measures.

Immunoassay of antibodies to benzo[a]pyrene for lung cancer risk diagnosis among coal-mining workers

Th e authors detected association of G-class antibodies specifi c to chemical carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene (IgG-Bp) with lung cancer in healthy men not working at coal mines. Objective — to reveal possibilities of immunoassay of IgG-Bp in evaluating risk of lung cancer in coal mine workers. Th e study covered serum IgG-Bp in 501 miners aged under 60 (161 healthy, not working in mine; 239 miners; 101 patients with lung cancer), by means of non-concurrent immune-enzyme analysis using benzo[a]pyrene conjugates with bovine serum albumin as an antigen. Findings are that increased levels of IgG-Bp in lung cancer patients are more frequent (50.5%) than in healthy men not working in mine (37.2%, p=0.047, OR=1.7) and in miners (30.5%, p=0.0008, OR=2.3). Length of service in mines did not infl uence serum levels of IgG-Bp in coal industry workers. In the miners, with age adjustment consideration, OR for lung cancer equaled 2.0 (p=0.01), and with adjustment for smoking OR=2.3 (p=0.001). Occupational (work in mine), lifestyle (smoking) and endogenous (age) factors do not have signifi cant infl uence on intensity of individual specifi c reaction to benzo[a]pyrene in males. Immunoassay of IgG-Bp is recommended for lung canc er diagnosis in coal mine workers.

Analysis of health status of workers in coal industry

Purpose: Assessment of the health status of working operators in the substations in the coal industry. Material and methods: Prophylactic examinations were carried out on 82 workers responsible for ensuring the security of the power supply in the mines. Some basic indicators (range of prophylactic examinations, relative share of sick persons, structure of the momentary illness) were followed. A connection has been sought between the established deviations in the health status and the working environment factors, as well as the harmful habits. Results: Diseases of the organs of the circulation (66.03%) and "Endocrine diseases" (9.43%) predominate in the registered pathology. The same share is the class "Diseases of the eye and its eye appendages” and "Diseases of the respiratory system" (5.66%). Work environment factors are not directly related to health hazards. Smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, stress are important to unlock some diseases. Conclusions: Periodic medical examinations allow early detection of diseases and especially their timely treatment. On the basis of the health status analysis, the necessary health and medical activities, services and programs for the protection of the health of the employees can be developed, planned and implemented.

ГІГІЄНІЧНА ОЦІНКА ВПЛИВУ УМОВ ПРАЦІ НА РОБОЧИХ МІСЦЯХ ПРАЦІВНИКІВ ВУГІЛЬНОЇ ТА АЗБЕСТОПЕРЕРОБНОЇ ПРОМИСЛОВОСТІ

ГІГІЄНІЧНА ОЦІНКА ВПЛИВУ УМОВ ПРАЦІ НА РОБОЧИХ МІСЦЯХ ПРАЦІВНИКІВ ВУГІЛЬНОЇ ТА АЗБЕСТОПЕРЕРОБНОЇ ПРОМИСЛОВОСТІ

Research on Employment Difficulties and the Reasons of Typical Resource-Exhausted Cities in Heilongjiang Province during the Economic Transition

The highly correlation between the development and resources incurs the serious problems of employment during the economic transition, such as greater re-employment population, lower elasticity of employment, greater unemployed workers in coal industry. These problems not only hinder the social stability, but also slow the economic transition and industries updating process. We hope to push forward the economic transition of resource-based cities and therefore solve the employment problems through the following measures: developing specific modern agriculture and modern service industry, encouraging and supporting entrepreneurships, implementing re-employment trainings, strengthening the public services systems for SMEs etc.

Demographic variables in coal miners’ safety attitude

To change unsafe behavior through adjusting people’s safety attitudes has become an important measure to prevent accidents. Demographic variables, as influential factors of safety attitude, are fundamental and essential for the research. This research does a questionnaire survey among coal mine industry workers, and makes variance analysis and correlation analysis of the results in light of age, length of working years, educational level and experiences of accidents. The results show that the coal miners’ age, length of working years and accident experiences correlate lowly with safety attitudes, and those older coal miners with longer working years have better safety attitude, as coal miners without experiences of accident do.However, educational level has nothing to do with the safety attitude. Therefore, during the process of safety management, coal miners with different demographic characteristics should be put more attention to.

Study of otoacoustic emissions in workers of various professional groups of the coal industry.

Noise influence takes one of the leading roles in the development of sensorineural hearing loss (SHL) . At the same time professional deafness steadily occupies the 5th place in the structure of occupational diseases in Ukraine over the past few years. Of special importance is the problem of pre-clinical and early diagnosis of occupational hearing deterioration, in sense of timely prophylactic and rehabilitation measures in “risk group” workers. The objective research methods play an important role in the diagnosis of auditory analyzer state. Many scientific studies have shown the diagnostic effectiveness of method of otoacoustic emissions recording in the early diagnosis of lesions of receptor part of auditory analyzer. It is known that SHL of noise genesis largely affects the receptor part of the auditory analyzer, for which the OAE method has great practical diagnos tic significance. Objective: to study informativity indicators of otoacoustic emission for the diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss in various occupational groups of coal workers in Ukrainian mines. Materials and Methods: Auditory function of 87 workers of the coal industry (drifters, miners and longwall miners) with different levels of industrial noise and hygienic conditions in their workplaces was: 28 studied drifters (group 1), 25 miners (group 2) and 34 longwall miners (group 3). Work experience in noise in these groups was 17,9±1,0; 23,1±1,0 and 22,2±2,0 accordingly. Noise ratio in drifters was 93,6±4,9 dBA, in miners – 92,9±5,5 dBA and in longwall miners – 86,5±6,04 dBA accordingly, while the maximum permitted level is 80 dBA. The research was conducted on the analyzing system Eclipse Interacoustics (Denmark). All patients underwent registratiov of the caused OAE at frequency distortion product (DPOAE) at frequencies 1-6 kHz. The results were rated using variation statistics Student's test. Results: The most prominent violation of the receptor part of the auditory analyzer according to the OAE among all the examined workers of different professional groups of the coal industry was found in drifters, miners had less pronounced violations and the least significant ones were in longwall miners. At the same time in 42,9% drifters caused OAE at frequency distortion products was not recorded on any of the investigated frequencies. Received averages of OAE amplitude in the studied frequencies differed significantly in drifters not only from the norm , but also from that in the group of longwall miners in the 4-6 kHz region . The most prominent disorders according to the speech and above-threshold audiometry were found in drifters and miners, testifying to violations in the receptor part of the auditory analyzer. Conclusions: In all occupational groups of coal industry workers according to OAE data, more pronounced violations were found in the frequency distortion products in the 4-6 kHz. This is evidenced by significant decrease of OAE amplitudes averages, especially pronounced in 4 and 6 kHz, where they significantly differ from the norm and from the indicators in the group of longwall miners; and OAE registration was absent in the drifters. The identified differences in OAE indicators and dysfunction severity in the receptor structures of the auditory analyzer , obviously, could be explained by the nature of industrial noise and hygienic working conditions in the workplaces of the studied workers of coal industry.

Social Attitudes to Miners’ Protests during the Transition to Market Relations (1992 – 1999)

On the ground of numerous archive documents and literature the paper provides consideration of the attitudes of different social and professional population groups to protest movement of Russian miners during transition to market relations. The stages are determined; their common and different features are analyzed. The reasons and factors of contradictory relations of Russians to protests of miners are demonstrated, as well as their connection with domestic and foreign policy processes. The struggle of coal industry workers for consolidation of their positions in such an important sphere as public opinion is characterized. The forms of worker and retired employer solidarity are determined. A comparative analysis of attitudes and actions of population to miners’ protest movement is carried out and the period of “perestroika” and “shock therapy” are considered. While mass and radical protesting the increasing international solidarity with actions of Russian coal industry workers is emphasized. The activities of bodies of power aimed at decreasing of miners’ movement authority in the society are revealed. The key reasons of negative dynamics in public attitude to miners’ protest are studied. A conclusion as made that the negatively changing public attitude to miners’ protest was one of factors influencing on its dynamic decline.

Raising awareness of psychosocial factors in the occurrence of low back symptoms in developing countries

Although there is strong evidence that single physical, psychosocial and organisational risk factors are each independent predictors of low back symptoms (LBS), little is known about their combination/interaction, particularly in those working in developing countries. A total of 1294 Indonesian coal mining industry workers reported information about physical, psychosocial, and organisational factors using self-reported questionnaires and were placed into one of four combination exposure groups: 1) high physical (working with bent trunk; whole body vibration exposure; lifting) and high psychosocial (high effort; low reward; work stress), 2) high physical and low psychosocial, 3) low physical and high psychosocial, and 4) low physical and low psychosocial (as the reference group). The odds of LBS in the high physical and high psychosocial group was 5.15 times (95% confidence interval 2.69-9.86) that of the reference group. Psychosocial factors played a more important role than physical factors in increasing the likelihood of reporting LBS. Permanent and night shift workers were more likely to report LBS. These findings imply that efforts to reduce LBS in this workplace should address both psychosocial and physical factors but psychosocial factors should be the priority, with a special focus on permanent and night shift workers.