OCCUPATIONAL IMPACT ON SOME DIAGNOSTIC INDICES OF WORKERS OF AGRO-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

It is known that tension in the CNS and centers responsible for autonomic reactions is one of the important links that ultimately form psychosomatic diseases. The existing neuropsychic tension, directly related to the professional activity of workers of the agro-industrial complex, leads to a change in the functional state of their organisms

The examination involved workers (operators, machinists) of the agro-industrial complex main and auxiliary facilities. Inclusion criteria: males, 30-40 years old (average age: 36.4±0.4 years). Exclusion criteria: occupational history of extreme conditions (firefighters, EMERCOM rescuers, etc.).

The study group was examined during routine medical check-ups with standard methods of examination, which allowed to describe the state of the body functional systems that are most often and constantly involved in the labor process.

 The functional state of visual and auditory analyzers was assessed by the speed of reaction to light and sound stimuli and the critical flicker fusion frequency, for which a psychophysiological testing device UPFT-1/130 Psikhofisiolog (Limited Liability Company Medikom MTD, Taganrog) was used. The general state of psychophysiological functions was studied with the Anfimov table test. The weighted average skin temperature was measured with the Postnikov and Smoliansky table test.

The studies were carried out during the working day, 3 times in an 8-hour shift: at the end of the first hour, after 4 hours and at the end of the 8th hour during the day and night shifts.

Statistical analysis of the results was performed with Statistica 12 software (StatSoft, USA). The quantitative data distribution was analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. In case of conformity to the normal distribution law, a parametric or nonparametric method of statistical analysis was chosen. In case of normal distribution of quantitative variables, the central tendencies and the spread of characteristics were described using the mean value (M) and mean square deviation (m).

The current labor schedule of workers at the agro-industrial complex is the following: employees work 8 hours in the daytime for two days, then they work 8 hours at nighttime for two days as well. After that, four days are given for rest.

The study of CNS functions allowed to determine the degree of fatigue during the working shift. The tables show the results of one brigade (14 people). The results of examination of other brigades do not have statistically reliable differences with the former. The functional state of the CNS during a working shift was examined with the Landolt ring test (Table 1). Such parameters as the time required to perform the test, the test performance velocity, and the rate of errors made by an examined worker were determined in the course of the study.

The physiological results of the testing show that during the 3-time study, fatigue was recorded mainly at the end of the working shift, and in case of working in the night shift – partially in the mid-shift testing too.

Evaluation of a visuomotor reaction (Table 2) did not reveal reliable differences. The CNS state restored while the workers were resting between shifts. This conclusion is based on the fact that in repeated studies, the indices always corresponded to the ones of the start of the shift.

V is the test performance velocity, Т is the test performance time, ER is the error rate.

An intensifying excitatory process in the nervous system has a certain effect on thermoregulation in various forms of labor. Our studies of the weighted average skin temperature revealed a certain dependence during an 8-hour shift: changes in the skin temperature between the start and the end of the shift (Table 3, 4) were found statistically reliable (P < 0.05).

The level of functional capacity of the central and autonomic nervous systems is the biological foundation of important qualities of a professional activity, which influence this activity and are important for its performance. If the production environment is good, it is difficult to discover a relationship between the employees’ health and the existing working conditions at the enterprise. At the same time, the lability of CNS indices and a subsequent increase in the level of non-occupational pathology can be regarded as stages of latent, slowly developing changes in workers’ organisms. The absence of significant disorders of the central nervous system in the agro-industrial complex workers demonstrates their high professional training and good adaptation to production conditions.

Applying adequate methods of functional diagnostics allows to reveal pre-pathological changes in the human body or to establish their absence, which is necessary for timely preventive measures, and can also be used in the course of preliminary medical examinations when hiring potential employees.