https://doi.org/10.33573/ujoh2018.03.064
State Institution "Kundiiev Institute of Occupational Health of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine", Kyiv
Introduction. The risk of traumatism and development of occupational diseases in the coal mining industry is 5–10 times higher than in other industries. In the structure of occupational morbidity in Ukraine, the pathology of the musculoskeletal system takes the second place after diseases of the broncho-pulmonary system, and constitutes its fifth part, reaching 601– 604 cases per year (2015–2016). The most common disease of the musculoskeletal system in miners of main occupations is chronic radiculopathy. These are working conditions that are directly related on the technology of coal mining and is a cause of health disorders in miners, loss of their ability to work and disability.
Unfortunately, even the most effective engineering measures, controlling dangerous factors of production in mines, do not always provide their reduction to normative values. The main etiological factors in development of chronic radiculopathy in miners are: a significant physical load, long time staying in the forced working posture, forced slopes, unfavorable microclimate. Purpose of the study – to assess work conditions of miners of main occupations of coal mines in Ukraine and to identify the most dangerous indicators of the work environment that cause development of chronic lumbosacral radiculopathy of occupational genesis.
Materials and methods. А hygienic assessment of main unfavorable factors of the work environment was made on the basis of research on work conditions and the work process at workplaces of 48 miners of main occupations (coal miners, miners of the clearing face, drifters) of Donbas coal mining industry by analyzing sanitary and hygienic characteristics and information records on work conditions.
Conclusions. Main factors of the work environment, which lead to development of chronic lumbosacral radiculopathy in miners of main occupations, are defined as: intensive physical work, significant static load, long time staying in the forced working posture, work in the unfavorable microclimatic conditions.
Key words: chronic lumbosacral radiculopathy, harmful work conditions, occupational pathology of the musculoskeletal system
References
ORCID ID article author:
Lashko O. M. (ID ORCID 0000-0001-7938-5887).
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