In Irkutsk, the city interdepartmental labor protection commission discussed the rise in occupational disease. In 2014, 75 cases were registered in 10 city organizations, more than the year before. Most cases were in manufacturing and transport, mainly at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, where long exposure to vibration and noise caused illness. The commission also reported measures already being taken to fix violations and prevent new cases.
Data on the state of occupational morbidity at enterprises in the city of Irkutsk were presented at the city interdepartmental labor protection commission. In 2014, 75 cases of occupational morbidity were registered in 10 organizations in Irkutsk. Health problems were identified in 65 workers, 10 of whom were confirmed to have 2 diseases each. These data were presented by the Office of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing in the Irkutsk Region (including data from the Office for Railway Transport).Compared with the previous year, there was an increase both in the number of occupational diseases - by 7 cases, and in the number of affected workers - by 4 people. In the majority of workers, occupational diseases were identified during periodic medical examinations.
The largest number of cases was registered in manufacturing organizations – 40 people (61.5%) and in transport - 23 people (35.4%).
Compared with the previous year, manufacturing organizations saw a 1.7-fold increase in the number of affected workers. Of the 40 people, 38 are employees of the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, a branch of OJSC Irkut Corporation. Among the affected workers are employees of the following professions: rivet assemblers, hand straighteners, fitters engaged in various tasks. It should be noted that compared with the previous year, the number of affected workers at this enterprise increased 1.9 times (20 versus 38), and occupational diseases increased 2.7 times (23 versus 41).
The main causes of occupational morbidity at the plant are: prolonged exposure to local vibration and elevated industrial noise levels when using pneumatic tools and other equipment provided for in the aircraft manufacturing processes.
Based on the results of monitoring the implementation of measures to prevent the causes and conditions that contribute to industrial injuries and occupational morbidity, the heads of Irkutsk organizations have taken measures to eliminate the causes of their occurrence: unscheduled briefings were conducted at workplaces, and control by officials over employees’ compliance with internal labor regulations and occupational safety requirements was strengthened. All persons responsible for the accidents that occurred have been brought to disciplinary or administrative responsibility.
According to materials from the press service of the Irkutsk administration.