Assessment of socio-economic, industrial factors affecting the health of oil workers

Abstract

Introduction. To a large extent, the personal state of health is determined by the lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle and preventive activity in workers are important factors in reducing risks for developing chronic non-communicable diseases. Ensuring a healthy, active life dictates the need for widespread implementation of self-assessment methods in the working population. Materials and methods. A sociological survey of one hundred twenty three oil-extraction workers in Western Siberia was conducted. The socio-hygienic study included an assessment of working conditions, damage to health caused by work environment factors, attitude to the environmental situation, and measures aimed at workers’ health promotion. Results. When analyzing the survey of oil-extraction workers, 94.2% of respondents have been shown to appreciate family relationships. One of the important factors of family well-being is the availability of home ownership (84.9%). Analysis of the results obtained shows the majority oil workers to satisfy with their working conditions (89.9%) despite a significant number of respondents were aware of the presence of hazardous occupational factors at their workplace: exposure to harmful chemicals (32.7%), the impact of unfavourable microclimate conditions (31.5%), fire and explosion hazards (31.0%), the impact of industrial noise (15.0%), responsibility for the safety of workers (13.3%), the risk of injury (12.4%), long-term work at the computer (10.6%). A sociological survey conducted has shown 68.9% of oil workers to consider their health status to be excellent or good. At the same time, 86.2% of respondents complain of having chronic diseases. A low healthcare activity level among oil-extraction workers has been established (73.3% of respondents do not refer to doctors, 68.9% – do not follow the recommendations of doctors, 29.7% of respondents are engaged in self-treatment). At the same time, 65.8% of oil workers believe a healthy lifestyle to help them be healthy. Limitations. A sociological study of 123 oil-extraction workers presenting a sufficient reference sample has been carried out. The limitation of this study is a high risk of subjectivity when answering the proposed questionnaire. Conclusion. Analysis of the results obtained has shown that despite a significant number of respondents were aware of the presence of hazardous occupational factors at their workplace the majority of them (89.9%) were satisfied with their working conditions. The majority of oil workers complained of having chronic diseases, although they consider their health status to be excellent and good. A low healthcare activity level of the respondents has been revealed. The results of the conducted survey have shown that the subjective assessment of oil workers’ health does not correspond to the objective data obtained during the survey analysis. Improving the awareness of oil workers about the risk factors for the development of chronic non-communicable diseases is one of the important preventive measures. 65.8% of oil workers believe that a healthy lifestyle will help them be healthy. The main areas of preventive activities are primary prevention measures, including improving the management and the quality of all types of preventive medical examinations, the formation of motivation for health control, individual and group counseling aimed at the formation of a healthy lifestyle (information support, hygiene education, the formation of an effective motivation, assistance, and professional assistance in the control both smoking and increased alcohol consumption). It is important to carry out medical examination of persons with an increased risk of morbidity, aimed at reducing the level of influence of modifiable risk factors, timely diagnosis of diseases and rehabilitation, conducting courses of preventive treatment and aimed health improvement.