Morbidity with temporal disability in workers engaged in refined copper production

Introduction. High ductility, electrical and thermal conductivity, and resistance to corrosion determine a high demand of the national economy for refined copper, thus necessitating a comprehensive study of the occupational environment and health status in workers employed in this branch of non-ferrous metallurgy. The purpose of our study was to assess the morbidity with temporal disability in workers engaged in the fire and electrolytic refining of copper. Materials and methods. Morbidity with temporal disability in both male and female workers was studied by means of its detailed personal record at one of the large copper refineries of the Middle Urals. Results. Among those engaged in copper smelting, the highest morbidity with temporal disability rates per one hundred workers were registered among repairers and auxiliary personnel (95.3 sick leave episodes and 1,147.8 days) in men and among overhead crane operators (52.8 episodes and 657.6 days) in women. In the copper electrolysis shop, the highest rates were noted among both men (86.7 episodes and 954.0 days) and women (77.8 episodes and 841.2 days) constituting the core personnel. We established that in the study cohort lung diseases ranked first among the causes of the morbidity with temporal disability followed by musculoskeletal diseases. Limitations. Such a study is feasible only at the enterprises that record and measure morbidity with temporal disability due to work. Conclusions. Our findings may indicate work-relation of morbidity with temporal disability in male repairers and auxiliary personnel, as well as female crane operators engaged in fire refining of copper and in both male and female core personnel engaged in electrolytic refining.