Comparative analysis of health statusof employees working in an open territory in the cold period of the year according to questionnaire results
Introduction. The main reasons for considering oil industry employees to be a group with a high risk of general and occupational diseases are: the impact of a complex of harmful factors in the work environment, the work process along with adverse climatic conditions.The aim of the study was to perform a comparative analysis of the questionnaire results of oil industry employees working under conditions of intense exposure to cold environment in order to analyze their self-rated health, to identify risk factors and events leading to its deterioration, and to analyze the contribution of production factors to health status.Materials and methods. It was surveyed 596 employees of an oil company of various professional groups in comparison with a control group consisting of administrative and managerial staﬀ. The use of the developed questionnaire allow to assess the employees' health status of various professional groups, and to determine the risk factors when working in the open area in the cold season.Results. According to the questionnaire results, it was found that employees working in cold environment have the proven risk of the following pathologies development: musculoskeletal disorders, skin disorders, psychoemotional disorders. The majority of occupational groups mainly associate their illnesses with cold environment. Employees, who expose to severe cold while working, are more likely to suﬀer from respiratory infections. Signiﬁcant risk factors for the diseases development during cold exposure are smoking and alcohol. The questionnaire results reveal the metabolic disorders (increased body weight and obesity) in the exposed group, which is considered as a cold adaptation factor. At the same time, a signiﬁcant number of employees believe that special clothing does not oﬀer an adequate level of cold protection. Humid clothes are a signiﬁcant risk factor while working in the open area for the development of cold-related diseases.Conclusion. According to the questionnaire results and risk factors for health disorders in the result of the adverse climate environment were proposed medical and preventive measures.