Workers’ Health Risk Factors in the Production of Iron Ore Pellets

Introduction. The labor of workers of the main occupations in the mining industry is characterized by a combined effect of occupational risk factors, which can be further aggravated by adverse environmental conditions.

Objective: to study working conditions of employees in the mining industry.

Materials and methods. We conducted a hygienic assessment of the technological process of manufacturing oxidized fluxed and non-fluxed pellets during the extraction of iron ore by surface mining and its further processing into high-quality raw materials for ferrous metallurgy, and a study of harmful physical and chemical factors of the working environment.

Results. We established that a sinter machine operator (Class 3.3 hazard working conditions in the summer time), an operator of the agglomeration and firing furnace (Сlass 3.4), and a bunker operator in the shop for fired pellets (Сlass 3.3) work in hot occupational environment. The average value of the intensity of thermal radiation over the irradiation period (1.35 hours) for agglomeration and firing furnace operators was 356.2 W/m2 or 2–2.5 times higher than the maximum permissible level. Increased noise levels (Class 3.2) were measured at the workplaces of conveyor, sinter and furnace operators (14.8 % and 9.25 %). At individual workplaces of sintering machine operators, we registered elevated dust concentrations (Class 3.1), noise levels (Classes 3.1 and 3.2), sulfur dioxide concentrations (Class 3.1), and the sum of irritant chemicals (Classes 3.1 and 3.2 by excess of the maximum permissible concentration (MPC)) were recorded. At workplaces and in the service area of the furnaces at agglomeration and roasting, the maximum permissible level was exceeded for dust (Class 3.1), noise (Classes 3.1 and 3.2), sulfur dioxide (Class 3.1), and the sum of irritant chemicals (Classes 3.1 and 3.2).

Conclusions: The hygienic analysis of the technological process of manufacturing iron ore pellets at the pelletizing plant indicates the presence of sources and conditions forming adverse occupational factors posing health risks for workers. In order to address occupational health and safety issues, it is necessary to introduce comprehensive measures to prevent health disorders in the working population.

1. Sadykov MN, Otarov YeZh, Asenova LKh, Makanova UK, Aitmagambetov AR, Tyl LV. Hygienic assessment of employees of mining and ore industry. Meditsina i Ekologiya. 2017;(3(84)):71–73. (In Russ.)

2. Nowrouzi-Kia B, Sharma B, Dignard C, et al. Systematic review: Lost-time injuries in the US mining industry. Occup Med (Lond). 2017;67(6):442–447. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqx077

3. Stewart AG. Mining is bad for health: a voyage of discovery. Environ Geochem Health. 2020;42(4):1153–1165. doi: 10.1007/s10653-019-00367-7

4. Nowrouzi-Kia B, Gohar B, Casole J, et al. A systematic review of lost-time injuries in the global mining industry. Work. 2018;60(1):49–61. doi: 10.3233/WOR-182715

5. The Lancet Planetary Health. Mining the USA. Lancet Planet Health. 2018;2(8):e324. doi: 10.1016/S2542-5196(18)30163-3

6. Survey of Hearing Loss in the Coal Mining Industry. DHEW (NIOSH) Publication No. 76–172, 1976.

7. Sun K, Azman AS. Evaluating hearing loss risks in the mining industry through MSHA citations. J Occup Environ Hyg. 2018;15(3):246–262. doi: 10.1080/15459624.2017.1412584

8. Tak S, Calvert MG. Hearing difficulty attributable to employment by industry and occupation: an analysis of the National Health Interview Survey – United States, 1997 to 2003. J Occup Environ Med. 2008;50(1):46–56. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0b013e3181579316

9. Zakharenkov VV, Strashnikova TN, Oleshchenko AM, Surzhikov DV, Kislitsyna VV, Korsakova TG. [Occupational disease prevention in mining industry workers.] Vestnik Rossiyskoy Akademii Estestvennykh Nauk. Zapadno-Sibirskoe Otdelenie. 2015;(17):151–153. (In Russ.)

10. Romanova EV. [Occupational diseases in miners.] Alleya Nauki. 2020; 2(12(51)). (In Russ.) Accessed August 24, 2021. https://alley-science.ru/domains_data/files/3December2020/PROFZABOLEVAEMOST%20RABOTNIKOV%20GORNO

11. Saarkoppel LM. Comparative evaluation of health state in workers of metal mining industry. Meditsina Truda i Promyshlennaya Ekologiya. 2007;(12):17–22. (In Russ.)

12. Bukhtiyarov IV, Chebotarev AG. [Hygienic problems of improving working conditions in the mining industry.] Gornaya Promyshlennost’. 2018;(5(141)):33-35. (In Russ.) doi: 10.30686/1609-9192-2018-5-141-33-35

13. Abitayev DS, Yerdesov NZh, Zhumaliyev BS, et al. Occupational risks and health status of persons working in the mining industry of Central Kazakhstan. Meditsina i Ekologiya. 2020;(2(95)):41–45. (In Russ.)

14. Tokmacheva OA, Semeykin AYu. [Development of an information system for occupational risk management in the mining industry of the Belgorod region.] In: Youth and Scientific and Technical Progress: Proceedings of the 11th International Scientific and Practical Conference of Students, Postgraduates and Young Scientists. 2018;3:345–348. (In Russ.)

15. Bukhtiyarov IV, Kuzmina LP, Golovkova NP, et al. Justification of the platform of standards based on the risk’s assessment to health employees disorders of the leading sector’s enterprises of the economy. Meditsina Truda i Promyshlennaya Ekologiya. 2021;61(3):155–160. (In Russ.) doi: 10.31089/1026-9428-2021-61-3-155-160

16. Abdurakhimov BA, Alikulova DYa, Avezova GS. [Health of workers in the mining industry.] In: European Research: Innovation in Science, Education and Technology: Collection of scientific articles of the XL International scientific and practical conference: London, United Kingdom, May 7–8, 2018. London, 2018:111–112.

17. Iskhakova DR, Teregulova ZS, Karimova LK, Alakayeva RA, Tairova EI. Modern approaches to occupational diseases prevention in the mining industry enterprises. Byulleten’ Vostochno-Sibirskogo Nauchnogo Tsentra Sibirskogo Otdeleniya Rossiyskoy Akademii Meditsinskikh Nauk. 2006;(3(49)):106–108. (In Russ.)

18. Saarkoppel LM, Rushkevich OP, Kiryakov VA, Sidneva YeL, Kazantsev DP. Occupational hazards in metal mining industry. Vestnik Rossiyskoy Akademii Meditsinskikh Nauk. 2005;(3):39–42. (In Russ.)

19. Strashnikova TN. The analysis of the disease incidence with temporary disability of the workers of main occupational groups of the mining enterprise. Sovremennye Problemy Nauki i Obrazovaniya. 2014;(1):182. (In Russ.)

20. Actual Problems of Occupational Safety and Health in the Production, Mining and Use of Potassium-Magnesium Salts: Proceedings of the First International Scientific and Practical Conference, Perm, May 14–15, 2018. Feinburg GZ, ed. Perm: Permskiy Natsional’nyy Issledovatel’skiy Politekhnicheskiy Universitet Publ., 2018. (In Russ.)