Thermal perception thresholds among workers in a cold climate

PURPOSE: To investigate whether exposure to cold could influence the thermal perception thresholds in a working population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was comprised of 251 males and females and was carried out at two mines in the northern part of Norway and Sweden. The testing included a baseline questionnaire, a clinical examination and measurements of thermal perception thresholds, on both hands, the index (Digit 2) and little (Digit 5) fingers, for heat and cold. RESULTS: The thermal perception thresholds were affected by age, gender and test site. The thresholds were impaired by experiences of frostbite in the fingers and the use of medication that potentially could affect neurosensory functions. No differences were found between the calculated normative values for these workers and those in other comparative investigations conducted in warmer climates. CONCLUSIONS: The study provided no support for the hypothesis that living and working in cold climate will lead to impaired thermal perception thresholds. Exposure to cold that had caused localized damage in the form of frostbite was shown to lead to impaired thermal perception

Hälsoundersökning bland arbetande inom gruvnäring i Barentsregionen : Deskriptiva data från basenkäten, Aitik Boliden november 2012

MineHealt

Guidebook on cold, vibration, airborne exposures and socioeconomic influences in open pit mining

The greatest challenge for the mining industry in northern regions is to attract personnel capable of safe working practices and to train them for the work in such a way that, despite the demanding mining tasks, they can sustain their work capacity. To ensure productive and safe mining operations, it is imperative to recognise the hazards in one’s own work and to comply with instructions. The systematic identification of hazards and evaluation of the seriousness of the consequences, i.e., risk assessment, provide the foundation for safety management. This Guidebook was developed for continuous learning in occupational safety related to mining work and to emphasise its role in the day-to-day work and professional skills required in the mining industry. Thus, it is legitimate to claim that occupational exposure is a significant health risk within the mining industry in the Barents region. Therefore, there is a great challenge for the mining industry in northern regions to ensure highly productive, safe and healthy mining operations and to overcome the hazards related to exposure to vibration, cold and airborne particles. These challenges are prerequisites for attracting new personnel and keeping a substantial work force within this domain

Musculoskeletal symptoms and exposure to whole-body vibration among open-pit mine workers in the arctic

Objectives: This cross-sectional questionnaire study was carried out at 4 open-pit mines in Finland, Norway, Russia and Sweden as part of the MineHealth project. The aim has been to compare the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms between drivers of mining vehicles and non-drivers. Material and Methods: The mine workers were asked whether they had suffered from any musculoskeletal symptoms during the previous 12 months in specified body regions, and to grade the severity of these symptoms during the past month. They were also asked about their daily driving of mining vehicles. Results: The questionnaire was completed by 1323 workers (757 vehicle drivers) and the reported prevalence and severity of symptoms were highest for the lower back, followed by pain in the neck, shoulder and upper back. Drivers in the Nordic mines reported fewer symptoms than non-drivers, while for Russian mine workers the results were the opposite of that. The daily driving of mining vehicles had no significant association with the risk of symptoms. Female drivers indicated a higher prevalence of symptoms as compared to male drivers. Conclusions: The study provided only weak support for the hypothesis that drivers of vehicles reported a higher prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms than non-vehicle drivers. There were marked differences in the prevalence of symptoms among workers in various enterprises, even though the nature of the job tasks was similar