1Zaporizhzhia State Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine
2State Institution «Kundiiev Institute of Occupational Health of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine», Kyiv, Ukraine
Introduction. The analysis of occupational morbidity in Ukraine indicates that the mechanical engineering industry significantly contributes to the morbidity structure caused by harmful and dangerous working conditions. Mechanical engineering ranks third in this regard, following the mining and metallurgical industries.
The aim of the study. To conduct a hygienic assessment of working conditions at employees’ workplaces in a machine-building enterprise.
Research materials and methods. Measurements were taken at employees' workplaces in the foundry shop of a machine-building enterprise. The study involved analyzing protocols on industrial environment factors, including indicators of the industrial microclimate, industrial noise and vibration, chemical substances, and industrial dust in the workplace air, as well as indicators of the difficulty and intensity of the labor process. The assessment of working conditions was carried out according to the State Sanitary Norms and Rules "Hygienic Classification of Work According to Indicators of Harmfulness and Dangerous Factors of the Production Environment, Difficulty, and Intensity of the Labor Process".
Results. The research established that one of the leading risk factors in the workplaces of foundry workers was the overheating microclimate. The working conditions of metal and alloy smelters corresponded to the 3rd class, 4th degree of harmfulness. The working conditions of manual welders, grinders, and cutters were classified as 3rd class, 3rd degree of harmfulness. Harmful chemical substances were present in the air of all workers' areas, exceeding established hygiene standards, classifying the working conditions as 3.1-3.2 class of harmfulness. Industrial noise and local vibration exceeded maximum permissible levels (hazard class 3.1-3.3) at all workplaces. The difficulty and tension indicators of the labor process for foundry workers corresponded to the 3.1-3.2 class of harmfulness.
Conclusions. The study revealed that the working conditions of foundry workers in a machine-building enterprise have a complex and combined nature of factors influencing the production environment. The general assessment of working conditions for cutters and smelters of metal and alloys is characterized by a very high level of occupational risk (3rd class, 4th degree of harmfulness). The working conditions of manual welders and grinders indicate a high level of occupational risk (3rd class, 3rd degree of harmfulness). These conditions could lead to various forms of production-related morbidity in this category of workers, necessitating the mandatory implementation of preventive measures to reduce risk levels.
Keywords: working conditions, professional risks, risk factors, machine-building enterprise.
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