Identifying health threats in occupational health risk assessment upon exposure to work hardness considering detailed analysis of its separate components

Hazard identification is an integral element of health risk assessment. Certain components of work hardness can be typical for specific occupations and this should be considered at the hazard identification stage.

In this study, we aimed to more precisely define approaches to hazard identification when assessing occupational health risks for workers under long-term exposure to work hardness involving detailed analysis of its components and likely adverse effects.

To develop more precise approaches (an algorithm) to hazard identification upon long-term exposure to work hardness and to test them, we performed detailed analysis of information in regulatory documents and research results reported in scientific publications. Certain components of work hardness were examined according to the Guide R 2.2.2006-05 and classified into seven groups of ergonomic indicators.

A suggestion was to consider not only occupational diseases (OD) as probable health outcomes within hazard identification but also work-related diseases (WRD) under exposure to work hardness, its specific components taken into account. More precisely defined approaches (an algorithm) to hazard identification upon long-term exposure to physical overloads involve analyzing presence of a relationship with health effects established for specific occupational groups typically exposed to certain components of work hardness; confirming biological plausibility of WRD considering pathogenetic pathways of their development; creating a hazard identification matrix with a list of likely health disorders. We visualized a list of OD and created a list of WRD, which are likely to develop upon exposure to certain components of work hardness. Use of these more precise definitions makes it possible to consider effects produced by components, which have not been established as regards OD development (body bending, physical displacement).

The suggested approaches were tested in hazard identification accomplished for such occupations as engine drivers, loaders and mechanics at various productions. As a result, it was established that diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (М00–М99), nervous system (G00–G99), circulatory system (I00–I99), digestive system (K00–K93), genitourinary system (N00–N99), as well as diseases of the eye and adnexa (Н00–Н59) should be considered work-related diseases (WRD) whereas diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L00–L99) as well as endocrine diseases (E00–E90) did not belong to WRD. A hazard identification matrix was created by detailed analysis of the relationship between components of work hardness and likely health outcomes (per classes of diseases).

Use of the developed approaches ensures creating a proper theoretical base for hazard identification within occupational health risk assessment; allows minimizing uncertainties and unifying the assessment process due to detailed consideration of specific components. It can be recommended for supplementing the Guide on Assessing Occupational Health Risks for Workers.