Occupational Mortality Research Articles

Challenges in calculating occupational fatality rates

Challenges in calculating occupational fatality rates

Improving the medical training and qualification of seafarers with simulation technologies

Introduction: Unlike other occupations, maritime occupations are assessed as risky with a high rate of occupational accidents, morbidity and mortality. To reduce the risk and improve the quality of medical care in case of emergencies at sea, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) develops and proposes model courses with developed programs based on current medical problems and needs of seafarers. The Academic Center for Maritime Healthcare (ACMH) at the Medical University of Varna (MU-Varna) is an innovative structure for the country, which sets in its development strategy improvement of the quality of medical education in courses for special and additional training. Nowadays, based on IMO model courses, the perspectives for development in this direction are related to the use of simulation technologies. The high efficiency in the application of the programs and the perspectives in the development of the simulation technologies in the seafarers’ training are the basis for the recognition of ACMH as a national and regional leader in the improvement of the preparation for providing medical care at sea. Aim: The aim of the study is to evaluate the applicability of simulation technologies to increase the competence of seafarers during IMO model medical qualification courses. Materials and Methods: An anonymous survey was conducted among course attendees in the courses "Medical Care on Board" and "Medical Care on Board—Refresher" in ACMH in September 2021. Results: The results of the study fully satisfy the set goal and give a clear idea of the applicability of simulation technologies in qualifying medical courses. Conclusion: The use of simulation technologies in the medical courses at ACMH of MU–Varna increases the level of competence and provides qualitatively new opportunities for acquiring practical medical skills of seafarers.

Health status and cancer related mortality among nuclear plant workers exposed to ionizing radiation

Background: The investigation of potential adverse health effects of occupational exposures to ionizing radiation, on nuclear plant workers, is an important area of research. In this study, we aimed to calculate the incidence and risk of cancer development and mortality during last five years (2015-2019). Material and methods: 456 nuclear industry workers were included into this study (39 cancer patients and 417 healthy. For this cohort, the cancer mortality has been assessed by data obtained from national health registry excluded for the probability of known causes of death. The associations between cumulative occupational radiation exposures (radon, gamma radiation and long-lived radionuclides) and cancer mortality were calculated. Results: Radon and Gamma exposure was significantly higher among workers who developed cancer [8.4 (0; 3,224.5) vs 19.7 (0; 128.4), p=0.03] and [12.0 (2.1; 110.0) vs 24.5 (0; 470.1), p=0.02]. However, no significant association was found between long-lived radionuclides and risk of cancer (p=0.07). Conclusion: In conclusion, significant association has been observed between the risk of cancer development and radon and gamma exposure among nuclear industry workers, but no association was found between cancer and long-live nucleoids exposure. Keywords: ionizing radiation; nuclear industry; cancer; mortality.

Occupational Differences in Deaths of Despair in the United States, Using Data From the Using the National Occupational Mortality Surveillance System.

To assess occupational differences in proportional mortality ratios (PMRs) and trends in these PMRs due to the deaths of despair in the United States. PMRs for deaths due to drug overdoses, suicide, and alcoholic liver disease were obtained from the National Occupational Mortality Surveillance system. Data came from various states for the years 1985 to 1998, 1999, 2003 to 2004, and 2007 to 2014. Occupations with the highest risk for deaths of despair included construction; architects; and food preparation and service. Occupations with the highest increases in deaths due to deaths of despair included personal care and service and home aides. Identifying occupations with elevated risk factors for deaths of despair makes it possible to focus interventions on these occupations. Occupational hazards and exposures may increase risk to deaths of despair for specific workers.

Physical activity at work may not be health enhancing. A systematic review with meta-analysis on the association between occupational physical activity and cardiovascular disease mortality covering 23 studies with 655 892 participants.

ObjectivesEmerging evidence suggests contrasting health effects for leisure-time and occupational physical activity. In this systematic review, we synthesized and described the epidemiological evidence regarding the association between occupational physical activity and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality.MethodsA literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews, from database inception to 17 April 2020. Articles were included if they described original observational prospective research, assessing the association between occupational physical activity and CVD mortality among adult workers. Reviews were included if they controlled for age and gender and at least one other relevant variable. We performed meta-analyses on the associations between occupational physical activity and CVD mortality.ResultsWe screened 3345 unique articles, and 31 articles (from 23 studies) were described in this review. In the meta-analysis, occupational physical activity showed no significant association with overall CVD mortality for both males [hazard ratio (HR) 1.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.87–1.15] and females (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.82–1.09). Additional analysis showed that higher levels of occupational physical activity were non-significantly associated with a 15% increase in studies reporting on the outcome ischemic heart disease mortality (HR 1.15, 95% CI 0.88–1.49).ConclusionsWhile the beneficial association between leisure-time physical activity and CVD mortality has been widely documented, occupational physical activity was not found to have a beneficial association with CVD mortality. This observation may have implications for our appreciation of the association between physical activity and health for workers in physically demanding jobs, as occupational physical activity may not be health enhancing.

Inhibition of gasdermin D-dependent pyroptosis attenuates the progression of silica-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis

Silicosis is a leading cause of occupational disease-related morbidity and mortality worldwide, but the molecular basis underlying its development remains unclear. An accumulating body of evidence supports gasdermin D (GSDMD)-mediated pyroptosis as a key component in the development of various pulmonary diseases. However, there is little experimental evidence connecting silicosis and GSDMD-driven pyroptosis. In this work, we investigated the role of GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis in silicosis. Single-cell RNA sequencing of healthy and silicosis human and murine lung tissues indicated that GSDMD-induced pyroptosis in macrophages was relevant to silicosis progression. Through microscopy we then observed morphological alterations of pyroptosis in macrophages treated with silica. Measurement of interleukin-1β release, lactic dehydrogenase activity, and real-time propidium iodide staining further revealed that silica induced pyroptosis of macrophages. Additionally, we verified that both canonical (caspase-1-mediated) and non-canonical (caspase-4/5/11-mediated) signaling pathways mediated silica-induced pyroptosis activation, in vivo and in vitro. Notably, Gsdmd knockout mice exhibited dramatically alleviated silicosis phenotypes, which highlighted the pivotal role of pyroptosis in this disease. Taken together, our results demonstrated that macrophages underwent GSDMD-dependent pyroptosis in silicosis and inhibition of this process could serve as a viable clinical strategy for mitigating silicosis.

Pedestrian mortality in Russia: a continuous decline over the last 25 years?

Using different data sources (HCoD, IRTAD, UNECE statistical database, police data), our research shows that the significant excess of pedestrian mortality over motor vehicle occupant mortality in 1988-1999 in Russia, according to RusFMD, is an abnormal phenomenon that most likely never occurred. Police data is preferable for assessing mortality levels by road user types in Russia. According to Russian police data, pedestrian mortality never exceeded motor vehicle occupant mortality. The steady decline of pedestrian mortality began in 2003, not in 1993, as vital statistics show. In 2008, pedestrian mortality for the first time reached the minimum level of the Soviet period. After significant fluctuations, motor vehicle occupant mortality dropped to the level of the early 1970s only in 2015-2017. The use of vital statistics is possible if it is necessary to differentiate road traffic mortality by sex, age, and type of settlements. Categorisation by road user types should be done with caution, using the following data sources: HCoD data from 1988 and RusFMD data from 1970 to 1988 and after 1999. It is suggested that difficulties in analysing long-term mortality by road user types based on vital statistics may occur in post-Soviet countries, where the Soviet abridged classification of causes of death (SC) was used. The prevalence of deaths coded by unspecified V-codes (V89) should also be considered.

Occupational physical activity, mortality and CHD events in the Italian Longitudinal Study

PurposeSeveral recent studies have suggested a ‘physical activity paradox’ whereby leisure-time physical activity benefits health, but occupational physical activity is harmful. However, other studies imply that occupational physical activity is beneficial. Using data from a nationally representative Italian sample, we investigate if the context, or domain, of physical activity matters for mortality and coronary heart disease (CHD) events.MethodsAmong 40,220 men and women aged 40–55 at baseline, we used Cox models to compare associations of occupational, domestic and leisure-time physical activity with risk of mortality and CHD events over a follow-up period of up to 14 years. We accounted for sociodemographic factors, smoking, body mass index (BMI), physical and mental health, and educational qualifications.ResultsOccupational physical activity was not significantly associated with risk of mortality or CHD events for women, or with CHD events for men. In crude models, risk of mortality was higher for men in the highest occupational activity group, compared to the lowest (HR 1.26, 95% CI 1.01, 1.57). This attenuated with adjustment for health-related behaviours, health, and education (HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.77, 1.38). In crude models, leisure-time physical activity was significantly associated with decreased mortality and CHD risk only for men. Domestic physical activity was not associated with either outcome for either gender.ConclusionIn a large sample of middle-aged Italian workers, we found limited evidence of harmful or beneficial effects of occupational physical activity on mortality or CHD events. However, confidence intervals were wide, and results consistent with a range of effects in both directions.

Emergency physician risk of occupational mortality: A scoping review.

BackgroundOccupational hazards for emergency physicians are widely known, but the risk of work‐related mortality is not clear. The COVID‐19 pandemic generated new concerns about the risk of occupational mortality, particularly in the setting of inadequate personal protective equipment. The perception of increased risk generated ethical concerns regarding emergency physicians’ duty to treat and employers’ duty to protect their employees. We performed this scoping review to define prepandemic emergency physician occupational mortality.MethodsWe performed a scoping review of peer‐reviewed publications from PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases in September 2020.ResultsOf the 747 unique articles identified in the 3 databases, 1 article met inclusion criteria and was included in the final analysis.ConclusionThe baseline risk of occupational mortality for emergency physicians is not established in the scientific literature. Further study is needed to quantify risk, as this information would be useful to shape policy and ethical considerations.

Mesothelioma Mortality in Brazil from 2000 to 2019: Despite underreporting, an overview for the necessary public policy approach

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Asbestos identifies a group of minerals widely used by the industry due to the low cost of exploration. Asbestos is carcinogenic, causes lung cancer and mesothelioma. Mortality due to mesothelioma is a public health problem and in Brazil the number of Asbestos-Related Diseases is increasing at the expense of diagnosis and underreporting. Brazil is among the five largest global suppliers and consumers of asbestos. Work-related carcinogens are responsible for considerable disease burden worldwide. The results provide guidance for prevention and control initiatives. In the world, occupational Lung cancer accounted for 86% of the deaths, mesothelioma for 7.9%. Asbestos was responsible for the largest number of deaths due to occupational carcinogens (63%). AIM: to describe mesothelioma mortality rates in Brazil. Period 2000 to 2019. METHODS: Descriptive study with data collection through DataSus / MS and Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics - IBGE. RESULTS:Mortality rate in Brazil in the year 2000 was 0.35 / 100 thousand inhabitants and in 2019 it was 1.02. States with higher rates concentrate a high degree of urbanization and the use of asbestos in civil construction. The underreporting and latency of occurrence of Mesothelioma influenced the results. In Brazil in 2007 it was 0.41 deaths / million inhabitants. In the United Kingdom 17.8 deaths / million inhabitants, Australia 16.5; USA 13.32 and Italy 10.3 all in 2007.The United States imported 300 tons of asbestos from Brazil in 2020, an increase of 30% compared to 2019 CONCLUSIONS:There is a significant increase in mortality rates by mesothelioma in Brazil. Knowing the mortality rates contributes to the adoption of public policies and actions in primary care and a better notification of cases and deaths. It is necessary to promoting on occupational and environmental health and a policy to ban asbestos in Brazil is necessary. KEYWORDS: Occupational epidemiology, Mortality, Cancer and cancer precursors,Policy and practice

Occupational mortality in the New Mexico oil and gas industry.

New Mexico's oil and natural gas industry has the second highest occupational fatality rate among oil and gas workers in the nation. There is currently limited data available regarding the top contributing factors to occupational mortality specific to the state's oil and gas industry. This study seeks to understand causes of mortality among oil and gas workers in New Mexico between 2008 and 2018. To facilitate this study, case reports were obtained from the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, and population data was acquired from the US Department of Labor. In this 11-year span, there were 73 cases, with an average annual mortality rate of 37 deaths per 100,000 oil and gas workers. Leading causes of death were vehicle accidents (36%), cardiovascular incidents (22%), and crush injuries (19%). The majority of vehicle accidents involved single vehicle accidents, and correct seat belt use was only documented 23% of the time. The majority of cardiovascular deaths were due to arteriosclerotic and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Alcohol was present in 18% of cases, and drugs were present in 19% of cases with methamphetamine present in 10% of investigated deaths. This is the first study to directly include cardiovascular incidents in the leading causes of death; otherwise, this study reflects national data reporting vehicle accidents and crush injuries as the leading causes of death. Going forward, prevention measures should effectively target safe driving practices focusing on seatbelt use, and mitigation of workplace drug and alcohol consumption.

It may cost an arm and a leg: workers value and occupational fatality rates in the U.S.

BackgroundThe present study aims to observe how societal indicators of workers’ values at the state-level are related to health and safety outcomes, particularly major injuries and fatalities in the U.S. Underscoring workforce flexibility and workability over workforce stability and safety might be indicative of the worth of workers which can be associated with occupational safety and health concerns.MethodsLinear regression analysis with a log-transformed dependent variable was adopted to examine how the state-level indicators of worker value in terms of 1) minimum wage, using data from 2015; 2) average of workers’ compensations for the loss of an arm, hand, leg, or foot in 2015 were concurrently and prospectively associated with occupational fatality rates averaged across 2015, 2016 and 2017. Socioeconomic contextual variables such as education level, GDP per capita, and population at the state-level were controlled for.ResultsThe present study showed that state-level quantitative indicators of how workers are valued at work, namely minimum wage and workers’ compensation benefits, were significantly and negatively associated with fatality rates in the following year.ConclusionsThe present study illustrates the gap in how workers are valued across the U.S. The study speaks to the importance of contextual factors regarding worker value, as they can affect outcomes of health and safety culminating at a state-level.

Relationships between Social Support, Social Status Perception, Social Identity, Work Stress, and Safety Behavior of Construction Site Management Personnel

The occupational injury death rate and mortality ratio owing to cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases in the construction industry are the highest among all industries in Taiwan. Reducing work stress and improving safety behavior is a must for reducing occupational disasters and diseases. Construction site management personnel’s safety behavior is an important paradigm for construction workers. This study explored the relationships among work stress, safety behavior, professional identity, social status perception, and social support for construction site management personnel by using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results indicated that low work stress can lead to favorable safety behavior. Greater company support, family support, and professional identity reduce work stress. Social status perception negatively influences work stress indirectly through the mediation of professional identity. The results revealed that construction site management personnel working within an exempt employee system (i.e., no overtime pay and compensatory leave) exhibited a significantly higher effort/reward ratio than those without this system. Gender, headquarter location, and site location also significantly influenced the on-site management personnel’s effort/reward ratio.

Suicide Among the Emergency Medical Systems Occupation in the United States.

IntroductionSuicide claimed 47,173 lives in 2017 and is the second leading cause of death for individuals 15–34 years old. In 2017, rates of suicide in the United States (US) were double the rates of homicide. Despite significant research funding toward suicide prevention, rates of suicide have increased 38% from 2009 to 2017. Recent data suggests that emergency medical services (EMS) workers are at a higher risk of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts compared to the general public. The objective of this study was to determine the proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) of suicide among firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMT) compared to the general US working population.MethodsWe analyzed over five million adult decedent death records from the National Occupational Mortality Surveillance database for 26 states over a 10-year non-consecutive period including 1999, 2003–2004, and 2007–2013. Categorizing firefighters and EMTs by census industry and occupation code lists, we used the underlying cause of death to calculate the PMRs compared to the general US decedent population with a recorded occupation.ResultsOverall, 298 firefighter and 84 EMT suicides were identified in our study. Firefighters died in significantly greater proportion from suicide compared to the US.working population with a PMR of 172 (95% confidence interval [CI], 153–193, P<0.01). EMTs also died from suicide in greater proportion with an elevated PMR of 124 (95% CI, 99–153), but this did not reach statistical significance. Among all subgroups, firefighters ages 65–90 were found to have the highest PMR of 234 (95% CI, 186–290), P<0.01) while the highest among EMTs was in the age group 18–64 with a PMR of 126 (95% CI, 100–156, P<0.05).ConclusionIn this multi-state study, we found that firefighters and EMTs had significantly higher proportionate mortality ratios for suicide compared to the general US working population. Firefighters ages 65–90 had a PMR more than double that of the general working population. Development of a more robust database is needed to identify EMS workers at greatest risk of suicide during their career and lifetime.

Understanding the Role of Work in Mortality: Making the Best Use of Available US Death Certificate Occupation Data and Opportunities for Improvements.

Occupational disparities in mortality are a concern in public health. Understanding these disparities is important for identifying high-risk occupations for intervention and occupational factors that may be contributing to high risk for primary prevention. Using data from death certificates is a useful strategy for tracking occupational disparities in mortality. There are a number of challenges associated with working with this data. This paper describes how to access death certificate data, code occupational information from these death certificates, calculate mortality rates by occupation, and combine death certificate data with data from other sources. Limitations of existing death certificate occupation data are described along with recommendations about how to improve the collection of occupation information for death certificates. Finally, a proposal for the development of a national occupational mortality surveillance system is presented.

Особливості професійної захворюваності медичних працівників житомирської області на covid-19 та оцінка ризиків їх зараження вірусом SARS-CoV-2 в аспекті безпеки, гігієни праці та інфекційного контролю

Objective: We assessed safety, occupational health and infectious control at the institutions of public health of Zhytomyr oblast of Ukraine to improve the management of the risks of the infection of medical personnel with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and to reduce the occupational morbidity and mortality of medical workers from COVID-19. Materials and methods: We used bibliographic, hygienic, questionnaire and mathematical methods in the study. The results of our own observations, questionnaires for a survey of medical workers, data of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the Center for Public Health of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the State Service of Ukraine for Labour, and thematic scientific sources of information were used as a material for the study. Results: The work of medical workers, involved in COVID-19 pandemic overcoming, is classified as dangerous (extreme). Besides SARS-CoV-2 virus, concomitant physical, chemical factors, and high physical and neuro-emotional stress affect the formation of working conditions in medical workers. Nurses (38.57%), junior nurses (26.10%), paramedics (5.37%), general practitioners of family medicine (4.85%), surgeons (4.16%), anesthesiologists (2.54%), infectious disease doctors (2.08%), radiologists (1.85%) are among medical workers who have been diagnosed with an acute occupational COVID-19 disease in Zhytomyr oblast of Ukraine. Conclusions: The main reasons of the high levels of occupational morbidity in medical workers of Zhytomyr oblast include personal carelessness of the victims; non-use of personal protection equipment if available; work in the focus of the disease; absence or poor-quality instruction on labour protection; not full provision with personnel in Zhytomyr oblast and medical workers with personal protection equipment in the medical institutions; shortage of epidemiologists, hygienists, and occupational pathologists.

Socioeconomic and demographic profile of occupational morbidity and mortality in Brazil from 2009 to 2016.

Introduction:Occupational accidents occur as a result of work, and can lead to bodily harm or functional impairments that lead to death, or to the reduction or loss of working capacity. Occupational accidents are associated with two possible outcomes: morbidity or mortality. Morbidity refers to the subset of a population that develops an illness over a given period of time, while mortality refers to the number of individuals who die over a specified time period.Objectives:To assess occupational morbidity and mortality in Brazil in the period of 2009 to 2016.Methods:An ecological study was conducted based on secondary data collected from incident records in the Social Security database.Results:The outcomes of all occupational accidents reported in Brazil from 2009 to 2016 were extracted from the database. These data were then classified by geographical region and category in the National Classification of Economic Activities (Classificação Nacional de Atividades Econômicas), so as to calculate the prevalence of each outcome and the accident mortality rates, and compare these values across regions and occupational categories.Conclusions:The data show that the outcomes of occupational accidents are directly associated with socioeconomic sectors and the sociocultural characteristics of different regions in the country. These results make an important contribution to the characterization of occupational morbidity and mortality in Brazil.

Revisiting the ‘Physical Activity Paradox’ in a Chinese Context: Occupational Physical Activity and Mortality in 142,302 Urban Working Adults from the China Kadoorie Biobank Study

Background: Previous research suggests that while leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) is beneficial, occupational physical activity (OPA) may be detrimental to health, known as the ‘physical activity paradox’. However, the current evidence is primarily based on data from Western countries. We examined the association of OPA with all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in working adults in urban China. Methods: This prospective longitudinal study was based on a sample of 142,302 urban working adults aged 30-79 years from the China Kadoorie Biobank study. Self-reported OPA (mainly sedentary, standing occupation, and manual work) was collected at baseline (2004-2008) and linked to death registry until 31/12/2016. Cox proportional hazards models were used to with further testing for effect modification by sex, education, and LTPA. Findings: During a median follow-up of 10·2 year, 4,077 deaths occurred, of which 727 were primarily from cardiovascular diseases. Crude modelling showed that compared with the sedentary workers, manual work was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality. However, after adjusting for socio-demographic and lifestyle variables, the association was attenuated to null (HR=1·00, 95%CI: 0·93-1·08). In subgroup analysis, higher OPA was associated with lower risk of all-cause mortality in the least educated group (HR=0·84, 95%CI: 0·74-0·95 for manual work, and HR=0·86, 95%CI: 0·75-0·99 for standing jobs), but harmful in the most educated group (HR=1·16, 95%CI: 1·01-1·35) and in those who reported regular LTPA (HR=1·20, 95%CI: 1·01-1·43). Interpretation: OPA was not associated with mortality risk in the overall sample. However, findings support the ‘physical activity paradox’ within better educated Chinese workers. Funding Information: None. Declaration of Interests: We declare no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: Ethical approval was obtained from the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Beijing, China, approval number: 005/2004, 9.7.2004) and the Oxford Tropical Research Ethics Committee, University of Oxford (UK, approval number: 025–04, 3.2.2005), and all participants provided written informed consent before participation.

Intentional self-harm associated mortality among U.S. White physicians, nurses, lawyers &amp; judges

The mortality associated factors can be quantified in terms of proportionate mortality ratios (PMR) per National Occupational Mortality Surveillance (NOMS) data. Therefore, we explored NOMS data for the United States (U.S.) occupational workers’ mortality during 1999, 2003-2004, 2007-2014 to compare physicians’ mortality associated factors to the mortality associated factors among nurses vs. the mortality associated factors among lawyers &amp; judges. Due to lack of adequate sample sizes of decedents being concurrently present among physicians, nurses, and lawyers &amp; judges of Black race, we were able to tabulate 25 causes of death with significant PMRs among physicians, nurses, and lawyers &amp; judges only of White race. Therein, intentional self harm associated mortality was found to be common among U.S. White physicians, nurses, lawyers &amp; judges.

Problems of safety, occupational hygiene and control over infections in fighting with occupational diseases of healthcare workers with COVID-19 in treatment facilities of Ukraine

The objective of the publication was to assess the safety of treatment facilities, occupational health and infection control in Kiev, Zhytomyr and Zhytomyr region to enhance risk management of SARS-CoV-2 infection of healthcare workers and reduce occupational illness and mortality for COVID-19. Bibliosemantic, hygienic, questionnaire, statistical methods and methods of comparative and system analysis have been used. The work of doctors involved in overcoming COVID-19 pandemic is classified as dangerous (extreme). In addition to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the working conditions of medical workers are influenced by physical, chemical factors and high physical and neuro-emotional stress. Among medical workers of the Zhytomyr region who were diagnosed with an acute occupational disease COVID-19, nurses prevailed (38.57%). Junior nurses (26.1%) – the second COVID-19 incidence, paramedics (5.31%) occupy the third place. The doctors’ incidence was ranked in the following sequence: doctors of GPFM – 4.85%, surgeons – 4.16%, anesthesiologists – 2.54%, infectious disease doctors – 2.08%, radiologists – 1.85%. This distribution of medical professions is observed for all Ukraine regions. Chance of becoming infected with SARS CoV 2 for healthcare workers in October was by 3.8 times higher than the general population. Risk of dying from COVID-19 in healthcare workers is greater by 1.5 times than the general population. The high level of occupational morbidity of COVID-19 in Ukrainian medical personnel is determined by personal negligence, incomplete staffing of TF with medical workers, of medical workers with PPE; dis-use of PPE if available, absence or poor-quality instruction on labor protection; shortage of epidemiologists, hygienists and occupational pathologists.