Occupational prevalence rates in metallurgists in the Sverdlovsk Region

Abstract

Introduction. The previous analysis conducted for 2003–2022 showed ferrous industry employing over twenty five thousand people to make the most contribution to occupational disease incidence rates in the Sverdlovsk Region since 68.6 % of its workers are affected by industrial exposures above occupational safety standards. The purpose of the study was the analysis of occupational disease incidence in workers of a ferrous metal processing plant of the Sverdlovsk Region and assessment of the impact of adverse factors of the work environment and industrial processes on its rates. Materials and methods. Long-term occupational disease incidence in workers of the ferrous metal processing plant has been analyzed by the causative agent, nosology, age, gender, and job. Data of the reporting form No. 1-T (working conditions) for the study period have been scrutinized; comparative data evaluation by working conditions and occupational disease incidence rates has been made. Results. High incidence rates of work-related diseases in the metallurgists indicate to a significant proportion (70 %) of them to be exposed to occupational hazards. The established 20-year rate at the enterprise was 5.6 and 1.6 times higher than the regional and Russian averages in this industry, respectively. Increased gas and dust levels in the workplace air remain the leading health risk factors in ferrous metallurgy. Limitations. The limitation of this study was the lack of annual data on workers by job preventing calculation of job-specific disease incidence rates per 10 thousand workers. Conclusion. Despite the substantial modernization of the metallurgical complex, metal processing technology still does not comply with safety standards, thus requiring the development and implementation of science-based preventive measures aimed at maintaining workers’ health.