Occupational pathology among mining sector workers in the harsh continental climate of the Republic of Bashkortostan

The Republic of Bashkortostan has rich deposits, the basis of which are pyrite-polymetallic ores. Working conditions at enterprises specializing in the extraction and enrichment of ore minerals (copper, zinc and pyrite) are classified as harmful and hazardous and are the cause of health problems for workers. High levels of occupational diseases of workers in the extraction and enrichment of ore minerals are determined by a complex of harmful production factors. 734 cases of occupational diseases among workers of enterprises for the extraction and enrichment of ore minerals were analyzed based on occupational disease (poisoning) registration cards for 1960-2022 from the republican register of occupational diseases in the Republic of Bashkortostan. Occupational morbidity rates at mineral extraction enterprises in the republic ranged from 1.0 to 2.2 per 10,000 workers, while since the 1980s the proportion of workers with newly diagnosed occupational diseases has increased by 4.3 times in the industry. The greatest risk of developing occupational pathology was among workers in underground mines (miners, drilling rig operators, drillers for production and exploration drilling) and open pits (car drivers, excavator operators, bulldozer operators), whose proportion in the total number of occupationally ill people was 68.8 %. The complex and combined effects of production factors affecting workers in the extraction of ore minerals caused the development of 30 nosological forms of occupational diseases of the musculoskeletal, nervous systems, hearing, respiratory organs, etc., of which the most common were vibration disease (281 cases, 38.3 %), vegetative-sensory polyneuropathy (115 cases, 15.7%) and radiculopathy (72 cases, 9.8 %). It is also necessary to take into account the impact on the body of workers, especially in open-pit mines, of the difficult climatic conditions of the region with sharp temperature changes. A number of studies have shown that in Arctic conditions, workers in the extractive industries develop similar nosological forms of occupational diseases. High rates of occupational morbidity among workers necessitate the development of targeted measures aimed at preventing occupational diseases and maintaining working longevity.