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WORKING CONDITIONS AND RISKS OF VISUAL ORGAN PATHOLOGY IN UNDERGROUND COAL MINE WORKERS

https://doi.org/10.33573/ujoh2017.03.038

Varyvonchyk D. V.1, 2, Vitovska O. P.3, Blahun I. V.3

WORKING CONDITIONS AND RISKS OF VISUAL ORGAN PATHOLOGY IN UNDERGROUND COAL MINE WORKERS

1 P. L. Shupyk National Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education, Kyiv

2 State Institution "Institute for Occupational Health of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine", Kyiv

3 Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv

Full article (PDF), UKR

Introduction. Coal mining is one of the priority economic sectors of Ukraine. The working conditions in this sector are the most harmful and dangerous to the health of workers. Currently, the occurrence of risks of visual organ pathology is poorly investigated in workers.

Purpose – to determine risks of occurrence of ophthalmic pathology among underground workers of coal mines, who are affected by harmful production factors.

Materials and methods. The working conditions and ophthalmic morbidity among underground workers of 16 coal mines (38,8 thousand people) were studied. The indices of illumination and dust (coal) air pollution at workplaces of 10 occupational groups of underground workers are investigated. Using a method of epidemiological retrospective study ("case – control") there have been defined indicators of the odds ratio (OR) in occurrence of ophthalmic diseases among workers, exposed to the studied harmful environment factors (exceeding hygienic standards).

Results. The underground workers in coal mines are exposed to harmful production factors that affect the visual system: "Direct" action – low artificial illumination and a significant coefficient of illumination heterogeneity; coal dust, containing crystalline SiO2; "indirect" effect – methane, vibration, unfavorable microclimate, severity and intensity of work. In the prevalence of visual organ pathology the following harmful production factors play a significant part for underground workers: eyelid diseases – low illumination (2.7), methane (2.6), coal dust (2.4), work intensity (2.1); corneal diseases – coal dust (4.7), low illumination (3.6), methane (2.3); diseases of the choroid and retina – severity of work (1.7); nystagmus – low illumination (16,4), coal dust (7.5), methane (4.2); eye injuries – low illumination (9.9), coal-rock dust (9.4), methane (7.7), severity of work (7.0), vibration (4.6) (p <0.05).

Conclusions. The obtained data are the basis for developing measures on prevention of the work-related pathology in underground workers in coal mines, and a scientific reason for further in-depth clinical study of the state of morpho-functional changes in the visual analyzer in these workers.

Key words: coal industry, underground working conditions, harmful factors, ophthalmologic pathology, risks

References

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