Prevention of diseases resulting from dust inhalation. The fight against dust in the air at enterprises, reducing the concentration of dust in working rooms as the main measures for the prevention of pneumoconiosis Preventive measures to reduce dust

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Measures to reduce the level of occupational respiratory diseases include, first, activities social order(improvement of the socio-economic situation of workers: decent pay for work, the creation of good living conditions, living conditions, recreation, medical care); secondly, improving the health of workers; thirdly, increasing the social responsibility of employers for the life and health of employees of the enterprise entrusted to them; fourthly, improving the organization of primary health care and specialized occupational care.

When working are used: respirators, special helmets, spacesuits with clean air supply. This necessary condition for workers in the mining, ceramics, construction, aviation, electrical, machine and shipbuilding industries. This is especially true for grinders, sandblasters, sanders, electric welders, miners.

In order to prevent pneumoconiosis, dusty vacuum cleaners are sealed, volumetric dust collection, local dust collection, respiratory protection using respirators, special helmets, spacesuits with clean air supply.

Semi-dry and wet technological methods of extraction and processing of materials, robotization of production are being introduced. When hiring, the medical commission conducts a thorough professional selection.

General wellness activities include: maximum dust reduction working area; systematic, periodic medical examinations and chest x-ray; provision of therapeutic and preventive nutrition; conducting an examination of the relationship of the disease that has arisen with the profession; transfer of a sick worker to a production site that does not have harmful factors; if the employee has a cough, shortness of breath, active treatment is carried out; investigation and registration of cases of occupational disease; resort treatment.

Clinical examination of workers at enterprises with a risk of occupational respiratory diseases

Medical examination provides for dynamic monitoring of the health of workers, organization of medical and sanitary and specialized occupational care, timely detection and qualified treatment of the sick.

The purpose of medical examination- prevention of complications, the risk of the transition of the disease from the initial stage to a more severe one, prevention of disability of workers.

There is social, sanitary, chemoprophylaxis and specific prophylaxis.

Social prevention involves the creation good conditions life, work, life, improvement of the socio-economic situation of the able-bodied population, improvement of health protection, increase in the social responsibility of employers.

Sanitary prevention is carried out through the creation of safe working conditions for health, early detection and treatment of patients, prevention of complications, improvement of the organization of primary health care and specialized occupational care at enterprises and organizations.

In the event of a complication of pneumoconiosis, in the form of the development of tuberculosis, sanitary prevention is carried out through the improvement of foci of tuberculosis infection at the patient's place of residence, early detection and treatment of patients, and prevention of the spread of tuberculosis infection.

Specific prophylaxis includes vaccination, revaccination. In order to reduce the frequency and severity of infectious exacerbations of chronic lung diseases, the use of polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccines is recommended.

Chemoprophylaxis is indicated for children who are in contact with tuberculosis patients, and to prevent relapse in patients. General health measures include, in addition to the maximum reduction of air dust, systematic examinations and chest x-rays.

If the disease begins, the employee is urgently transferred to another area of ​​work; in the presence of cough, shortness of breath, active treatment is carried out, and workers in dispensaries, sanatoriums, and rest homes also improve their health. Spa treatment is widely used.

In order to increase general and local immunity workers are exposed to the chest with ultraviolet rays and an electromagnetic field of ultrahigh frequency. To improve respiratory function and gas exchange, to strengthen the respiratory muscles, breathing exercises are prescribed.

To stimulate immunity, it is recommended to introduce lecithin (in the composition of egg white), polyunsaturated fatty acids (the use of sea fish, vegetable fats), thiamine, ascorbic acid, dairy products, fresh fruits, vegetables, berries, herbal teas into the diet of therapeutic and preventive nutrition.

Kulakovskaya O. G. (2010) suggests the use of polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccines to reduce the frequency and severity of exacerbations of obstructive processes in the lungs.

K. S. Tristen

The effect of dust on the body

Dust has a fibrogenic, toxic, irritating, radioactive, allergenic, carcinogenic, photosensitizing effect. Occupational dust diseases of the lungs - pneumoconiosis - one of the most severe types of occupational diseases common throughout the world.

The main dust occupational diseases are:

1. Pneumoconiosis.

2. Chronic dusty bronchitis.

3. Dust diseases of the upper respiratory tract.

Pneumoconiosis- chronic occupational dust lung disease, characterized by the development of fibrotic changes in them as a result of prolonged inhalation action of fibrogenic industrial aerosols.

According to the etiological principle, the following types of pneumoconiosis are distinguished:

1. Silicosis - pneumoconiosis caused by inhalation of quartz dust containing free silicon dioxide.

2. Silicosis - pneumoconiosis arising from the inhalation of dust of minerals containing silicon dioxide in a bound state with various elements.

3. Metalconiosis - pneumoconiosis from exposure to metal dust (siderosis, aluminosis, baritosis, staniasis, manganoconiosis, etc.)

4. Pneumoconiosis from mixed dust (with a content of free silicon dioxide more than 10 and less than 70%).

5. Pneumoconiosis from organic dust: vegetable (byssenosis - from cotton and flax dust; bagassosis - from sugarcane dust; farmer's lung - from agricultural dust containing mushrooms), synthetic (plastic dust), from exposure to soot - industrial carbon.

The most common severe form of pneumoconiosis is silicosis. Occurs in workers exposed to industrial dust containing silicon dioxide. Silicosis develops at different times of work under dust exposure. The prevalence, rate of development of the disease and the degree of its severity depend on working conditions, dispersion, and concentration of quartz dust. The mechanism of action of dust on the respiratory tract and the development of the fibrogenic process in the lungs can be explained from the standpoint of the type of dust, its physical and chemical properties.

The pathogenesis of dust lung diseases is complex. Theories of the pathogenesis of silicosis can be divided into three groups:

1. Mechanical.

2. Toxic-chemical.

3. Immune-biological.

At present, theories are most recognized, according to which the main mechanisms of action of quartz dust are phagocytosis, the direct effect of quartz particles, which have chemically active radicals on their surface, on the cytoplasm of macrophages, causing damage to the membranes of intracellular organelles. This last disrupts the processes of energy metabolism in the lung tissue with the subsequent development of collagens.

Silicosis is characterized by the development of nodular or diffuse pulmonary fibrosis. Pathological phenomena increase slowly. Clinical symptoms do not always correspond to the severity of the pneumofibrotic process, therefore, radiological data are of primary importance for diagnosis.

Silicosis is a common disease of the body, in which, along with a violation of the respiratory function, the development of emphysema, chronic bronchitis, "cor pulmonale" is observed. Changes in immunological reactivity are recorded, metabolic processes. Violations of the activity of the central and autonomic nervous system.

Among the complications of silicosis are asthmatic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, bronchial asthma. The most common and severe complication of silicosis is tuberculosis, which leads to a mixed form of the disease - silicotuberculosis. Characteristic of silicosis is its progression even after the cessation of work in the dust industry.

Of the other forms of pneumoconiosis, silicosis develops at a later date and is less prone to progression and complications. They have a brighter clinical picture and less clear radiological. One of the most aggressive forms of silicatoses is asbestosis- in the later stages, in 15-20% of cases it can be complicated by the development of lung cancer.

When the air in the mines is very dusty, miners may develop pneumoconiosis as a result of inhalation coal dust – anthracosis. Its course in comparison with silicosis is more favorable, the fibrous process in the lungs proceeds according to the type of diffuse sclerosis. Inhalation of mixed coal dust and rock containing free silica causes anthracosilicosis, a more severe form of pneumoconiosis compared to anthracosis.

Industrial dust can cause not only pneumoconiosis, but also other diseases of the respiratory apparatus, skin, and mucous membranes. These include: dust bronchitis, bronchial asthma (from wood, flour dust, dust of some organic compounds), pneumonia (thomaslag dust, dust of manganese compounds); lesions of the nasal mucosa and nasopharynx (cement dust, chromium compounds); conjunctivitis, skin lesions - peeling, coarsening, acne, furunculosis, and sometimes eczema, dermatitis (wood, grain, hair dust, etc.).

Prevention of dust diseases

1. Hygienic regulation. The basis for carrying out measures to combat industrial dust is hygienic regulation. In our country, maximum concentration limits for fibrogenic dusts in the air of working premises have been established, the requirement to comply with which is the basis for the implementation of preventive and current sanitary supervision. Control over the state of the dust level is carried out by the laboratories of the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Supervision, factory sanitary and chemical laboratories. The administration of enterprises is responsible for maintaining conditions that prevent the excess of the MPC of dust in the air. Considering that dust containing free silicon dioxide is the most aggressive among fibrogenic aerosols, MPC of such dusts depends on its percentage. Thus, when the content of free silicon dioxide in the dust is more than 70%, the MPC will be 1 mg/m 3 , with a content of 10 to 70% - 2 mg/m 3 , with a content of 2 to 10% - 4 mg/m 3 .

2. Technological measures. The main way to prevent dust lung diseases is to eliminate dust in the workplace by changing production technology, that is, reducing dust formation. Implementation continuous technologies, automation and mechanization of production, remote control contributes to a significant improvement in working conditions.

effective means dust control are the use in the technological process instead of powdery substances - briquettes of granules, pastes, solutions, etc., as well as the replacement of "dry" processes with "wet" ones.

3. Sanitary measures. Measures of a sanitary nature are aimed at removing dust directly from places of dust formation. They play an essential role in the prevention of dust diseases. These include local shelters for dusty equipment with air suction, local exhaust ventilation. The dusty air must be cleaned before being released into the atmosphere.

4. Personal protective equipment. In cases where the implementation of measures to reduce the concentration of dust does not lead to a decrease in dust in the working area to acceptable limits, it is necessary to use personal protective equipment. Personal protective equipment includes anti-dust respirators, goggles, special anti-dust clothing. The most widely used respirator type "Petal". In case of contact with powdery materials that adversely affect the skin, protective ointments and pastes are used. Use goggles or goggles to protect your eyes. From overalls dustproof overalls are applied.

5. Therapeutic and preventive measures. In the system of recreational activities is very important medical control for the health of workers. In accordance with Order No. 90 of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation dated March 14, 1996, it is mandatory to conduct preliminary examinations upon admission to work and periodic medical examinations. All forms of tuberculosis, chronic diseases of the respiratory system, cardiovascular system, eyes and skin are contraindications for employment with exposure to dust.

The main task periodic inspections- timely detection of the early stages of the disease and prevention of the development of pneumoconiosis, determination of professional suitability, implementation of the most effective therapeutic and preventive measures. The timing of inspections depends on the type of production, profession and the content of silicon dioxide in the dust.

Biological methods of prevention are aimed at increasing the reactivity of the body and accelerating the removal of dust from it. The most effective is ultraviolet irradiation in photoria, which inhibits sclerotic processes; alkaline inhalations, which contribute to the removal of dust from the respiratory tract, sanitation of the mucous membranes. Respiratory gymnastics, sports that improve the function of external respiration also prevent the development of pneumoconiosis. The diet in the organization of nutrition should be aimed at normalizing protein metabolism and inhibiting the silicotic process. For this purpose, methionine and vitamins are added to it, which activates the enzyme and hormonal systems and increases the body's resistance to the pathogenic effects of dust.

Control questions on the topic of the lesson

1. Classification of dust by formation, origin, dispersion.

2. What indicators characterize the dust.

Prevention of occupational dust diseases should be carried out in a number of areas and includes: .

Hygienic regulation;

Technological measures;

Sanitary and hygienic measures;

Personal protective equipment;

Therapeutic and preventive measures.

Hygienic regulation. The basis for carrying out measures to combat industrial dust is hygienic regulation. The requirement to comply with the MPCs established by GOST (Table 5.3) is the main one in the implementation of preventive and current sanitary supervision.

Tab. 5.3. Maximum allowable concentrations of aerosols of predominantly fibrogenic action.

Substance name	MPC value,	Hazard Class
Silicon dioxide crystalline: when its content in dust is more than 70% the same from 10 to 70% » from 2 to 10%
Silicon dioxide amorphous in the form of a condensation aerosol: when its content in dust is more than 60% the same from 10 to 60%
Silicates and silicate-containing dust: asbestos, asbestos cement, cement, apatite, talc clay, mica glass fiber
Carbon dust: diamond metallized stone
Metal Dust: aluminum and its alloys (in terms of aluminum) aluminum oxide with an admixture of silicon dioxide in the form of an aerosol of condensation aluminum oxide in the form of an aerosol of disintegration (alumina, electrocorundum) iron oxide with an admixture of manganese oxides up to 3% the same 3 - 6% titanium cast iron, titanium dioxide tantalum and its oxides
Dust of vegetable and animal origin: grain (regardless of silicon dioxide content) flour, cotton, wood, etc. (with an admixture of silicon dioxide less than 2%) cotton, cotton, linen, woolen, down, etc. (with an admixture of silicon dioxide more than 10%) with an admixture of silicon dioxide from 2 to 10%

Systematic monitoring of the dust level is carried out by SES laboratories, factory sanitary and chemical laboratories. The administration of enterprises is responsible for maintaining conditions that prevent an increase in the maximum allowable concentration of dust in the air.

When developing a system of recreational activities, the main hygienic requirements should be imposed on technological processes and equipment, ventilation, construction and planning solutions, rational medical care for workers, and the use of personal protective equipment. At the same time, it is necessary to be guided by the sanitary rules for the organization of technological processes and hygienic requirements for production equipment, as well as industry standards for production with dust emissions at enterprises in various sectors of the national economy.

Measures to reduce dust in the workplace and prevent pneumoconiosis should be comprehensive and include technological, sanitary-technical, biomedical and organizational measures.

Technological events . Eliminating the formation of dust in the workplace by changing production technology is the main way to prevent dust lung diseases. The introduction of continuous technologies, automation and mechanization of production processes that eliminate manual labor, remote control contribute to a significant relief and improvement of working conditions for a large contingent of workers. Thus, the widespread use of automatic types of welding with remote control, robotic manipulators in the operations of loading, transferring, packing bulk materials significantly reduces the contact of workers with dust sources. The use of new technologies - pressure casting, electrochemical methods of metal processing, shot-blasting, hydro- or electric spark cleaning excluded operations associated with dust formation in the foundries of factories.

Effective means of dust control are the use of briquettes, granules, pastes, solutions, etc. in the technological process instead of powdered products; replacement of toxic substances with non-toxic ones, for example, in cutting fluids, greases, etc.; transfer from solid fuel to gaseous; widespread use of high-frequency electric heating, which significantly reduces pollution of the production environment with fumes and flue gases.

The following measures also contribute to the prevention of air dustiness: replacement of dry processes with wet ones, for example, wet grinding, grinding, etc.; sealing of equipment, places of grinding, transportation; allocation of units that dust the working area to isolated rooms with a remote control device.

The main method of dust control in underground workings, the most dangerous in relation to occupational dust lung diseases, is the use of nozzle irrigation with water supply under a pressure of at least 3-4 atm. Irrigation devices should be provided for all types of mining equipment - harvesters, drilling rigs, etc. Irrigation should also be used in places of loading and unloading coal, rocks, as well as during transportation. Water curtains are used immediately before blasting and with suspended dust, and the water torch should be directed towards the dust cloud.

Sanitary measures. Measures of a sanitary nature play a very significant role in the prevention of dust diseases. These include local shelters for dusty equipment with air suction from under the shelter. Sealing and covering the equipment with solid dust-tight casings with effective aspiration are a rational means of preventing dust release into the air of the working area. Local exhaust ventilation (casings, side suctions) is used in cases where, due to technological conditions, it is impossible to moisten the processed materials. Dust must be removed directly from the places of dust formation. The dusty air is cleaned before being released into the atmosphere.

When welding metal structures and large-sized products, sectional and portable local suctions are used. In some cases, ventilation is installed in combination with technological measures. So, in installations for dust-free dry drilling, local exhaust ventilation is combined with the head of the working tool. To combat secondary dust formation, pneumatic cleaning of premises is used. Blowing off dust with compressed air and dry cleaning of premises and equipment is not allowed.

Personal protective equipment . In cases where the implementation of measures to reduce the concentration of dust does not lead to a decrease in dust in the working area to acceptable limits, it is necessary to use personal protective equipment.

Personal protective equipment includes: anti-dust respirators, goggles, special anti-dust clothing. The choice of one or another means of respiratory protection is made depending on the type of harmful substances, their concentration. Respiratory organs are protected by filtering and isolating devices. The most widely used respirator type "Petal". In case of contact with powdery materials that adversely affect the skin, use protective pastes and ointments.

Use goggles or goggles to protect your eyes. Closed-type glasses with durable shatterproof glasses are used in the mechanical processing of metals (cutting, chasing, hand riveting, etc.). When processes are accompanied by the formation of fine and solid particles and dust, metal splashes, closed-type goggles with sidewalls or masks with a screen are recommended.

Of the overalls used: dust-proof overalls - women's and men's with helmets to perform work associated with a large formation of non-toxic dust; costumes - male and female with helmets; self-contained suit for protection against dust, gases and low temperatures. For miners employed in open-pit mining, for quarry workers in the cold season, overalls and footwear with good heat-shielding properties are issued.

Therapeutic and preventive measures . In the system of recreational activities, medical control over the health of workers is very important. In accordance with the order of the Ministry of Health No. 700 dated 06/19/1984, it is mandatory to conduct preliminary and periodic medical examinations upon admission to work. All forms of tuberculosis, chronic diseases of the respiratory system, cardiovascular system, eyes and skin are contraindications for employment with exposure to dust.

The main task of periodic examinations is the timely detection of the early stages of the disease and the prevention of the development of pneumoconiosis, the determination of professional suitability and the implementation of the most effective therapeutic and preventive measures. The timing of inspections depends on the type of production, profession and the content of free silicon dioxide in the dust. Examinations by a therapist and an otolaryngologist are carried out once every 12 or 24 months. depending on the type of dust with obligatory chest x-ray and large-frame fluorography.

Among the preventive measures aimed at increasing the body's reactivity and resistance to dust damage to the lungs, the most effective are UV irradiation in fotaria, which inhibits sclerotic processes, alkaline inhalations, which contribute to the sanitation of the upper respiratory tract, respiratory gymnastics, which improves the function of external respiration, a diet with the addition of methionine and vitamins.

Indicators of the effectiveness of anti-dust measures are a decrease in dustiness, a decrease in the incidence of occupational lung diseases.

Table 5.4.

The structure of occupational dust diseases in the Russian Federation in 2000

Disease	Number of cases	Nonspecific diseases	Dust pathology,%	Pneumoconiosis,%
Chronic non-specific diseases
Dust bronchitis
Conio-tuberculosis
Skin allergic diseases
Allergosis of medicinal-copper-
kamentozny
Dust dermatitis
Pneumoconiosis
Anthracosis
asbestosis
Pneumoconiosis electrofusion
Mixed etiology (anthra-
cosilicosis)
Other pneumoconiosis

As mentioned above, industrial dust is the most common occupational hazard. According to the Federal Center for Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance of the Russian Federation, in 2000, 9280 primary cases of occupational diseases were registered in our country, of which 2582 diseases are the result of occupational dust exposure, which is 28.5%. The structure of these diseases is presented in Table. 5.4.

In conclusion, it should be noted that there has been no particular dynamics of occupational dust pathology over the past 3-5 years - the percentage of these diseases, recorded annually, slightly decreased in 1998 compared to 1996-1997. and, since 1996, has been practically on the same level.

Industrial dust is one of the most common occupational hazards that can cause dust diseases, which rank first among occupational diseases. The formation of dust and its release into the air of the working area takes place in many industries:

• in mining and coal industry-- when drilling rock, blasting, sorting, grinding;
• in mechanical engineering - when cleaning, cutting off castings, grinding, polishing products; metallurgy and chemistry - when performing pyrometallurgical processes of smelting metals and smelting various mineral materials;
• at textile enterprises - when cleaning and sorting wool, cotton, when spinning, weaving, etc.

Industrial dust is a finely divided solid particles that are in the air of working premises in a suspended state, i.e. in the form of an aerosol.

By origin, dust is distinguished: organic (vegetable, animal, artificial), inorganic (metallic, mineral), mixed.

In construction, industrial dust is generated as a result of stone crushing, drilling, sandblasting, explosions of earth masses, dismantling of old buildings, unloading of bulk materials, etc. A large amount of dust is generated on construction sites in the presence of bad roads, the lack of watering them with water in the hot summer, the preparation of paints and mortars for painting and plastering from dry mixtures.

Under the influence of dust, both specific and non-specific diseases can develop. Specific pathology manifests itself in the form of pneumoconiosis - fibrosis of the lung tissue. Pneumoconiosis is classified as follows:

• Silicosis is a characteristic form of pneumoconiosis that occurs under the influence of dust of free silicon dioxide;
• silicosis - pneumoconiosis that occurs when inhaling dust of silicic acid salts (the most common type of silicosis is asbestosis, cementosis, talcosis, etc.);
• metalconiosis (beryl liosis, etc.), carboconiosis (anithracosis, etc.);
• pneumoconiosis from mixed dust, from organic dust (byssiniosis, etc.).

The most dangerous disease is silicosis. It can develop in workers in the mining, coal, machine-building industries, etc. With silicosis, severe sclerotic changes are observed in the respiratory organs with simultaneous significant disturbances in the nervous, cardiovascular, digestive, and lymphatic systems.

Dust of toxic substances of lead, chromium, beryllium, etc., enters the human body through the lungs.

The decisive influence on the degree of damage to the human body by harmful chemicals and dust is their concentration in the air of the working area and the duration of exposure.

The toxic effect of harmful substances is also influenced by other harmful and dangerous substances. factors of production. For example, elevated temperature and humidity, as well as strong muscle tension, in most cases increase the body's sensitivity to the toxic effect of a harmful substance.

Measures to limit the adverse effects of dust in the workplace should be comprehensive and include technological, sanitary, preventive and organizational measures.

Technical measures to combat dust are varied and depend on the properties of the dust, the nature technological process and type of equipment.

Elimination of dust generation at workplaces by changing production technology is the main way to prevent dust diseases. Thus, the use of injection molding in the foundry made it possible to eliminate work with molding earth, and chemical methods for cleaning castings excluded operations associated with dust formation.

To remove dust, it is necessary to use mechanical local exhaust ventilation (hoods, fume hoods, in some cases, side suction). Main hygiene requirements for local exhaust ventilation - complete shelter of the place of dust formation and observance of sufficient air velocities in the working sections and leaks of casings (depending on the type of dust - at least 0.7 - 1.5 m / s). The air must be cleaned of dust before being released into the atmosphere.

The complex of sanitary facilities should include facilities for storing and recharging respirators, for cleaning overalls from dust.

Treatment and preventive measures include the organization and conduct of preliminary and periodic medical examinations, the use of inhalers for the prevention and treatment of the upper respiratory tract (alkaline inhalations), fotaria for ultraviolet irradiation. As individual funds protection, dust respirators can be recommended. At certain types works (sandblasting), it is recommended to use spacesuit helmets or suits with the supply of clean air into the breathing zone of the worker.

During construction, materials that have toxic properties and emit harmful gases are used. Thus, one must know their properties and the negative consequences they cause. Some construction works associated with substances that are toxic to humans. Their impact can lead to silicosis and acute chronic poisoning. Sanitary standards set the maximum concentrations of hazardous substances within the working area. They are one-time and during the eight-hour working day and the entire period of work cannot cause illness or deterioration in the health of employees.

According to the level of impact on the body, four classes of harmful substances are distinguished, which are located here as the danger to humans increases:

• 1 -- low risk;
• 2 - moderately dangerous;
• 3 - highly dangerous;
• 4 - too dangerous.

Substances of classes 3 and 4 have found the greatest use at the construction site: benzene, acetone, ammonia and other solvents used for painting work. It should be noted that different types works lead to specific diseases peculiar exclusively to this profession. Prevention of harmful health effects is achieved through the implementation of a set of technical and organizational measures aimed at improving the working environment.

In the USSR, the prevention of occupational diseases is state task regulated by general and special government decrees, orders and instructions of individual departments.

Measures for the prevention of diseases arising from exposure to dust can be divided into three groups: 1) technological and technical; 2) sanitary; 3) medical and preventive.

Technical and sanitary-technical measures include measures that are mainly aimed at eliminating the causes of diseases, that is, to combat the formation and spread of dust. Medical and preventive measures are mainly in the nature of personal prevention.

Technical and sanitary measures

Measures of this kind are of decisive importance in the prevention of dust diseases, since they are aimed at eliminating the causes of dust entering the air.

In some cases, it is possible to achieve complete elimination of dust formation by rationalizing the technological process. So, for example, using the wet method of crushing, grinding, mixing materials, it is possible to completely eliminate dust formation during these processes in the production of dinas bricks, fireclay products, cement, metlakh tiles and in some other industries.

Rationalization of the technological process in the cleaning of castings by using metal shot instead of sand sharply reduces dust formation, and the use of hydro- or hydro-sand cleaning completely eliminates the formation of dust.

The main requirement for dust control in the factory is, first of all, the mechanization of all dust processes: crushing, grinding, sieving, mixing loose bodies, transportation, packaging, etc. With mechanization, it is possible to stop and remove dust at the place of its formation. Dust-producing processes are stopped by the use of dusty equipment shelter with air suction from under the shelter, due to which a rarefaction is created that prevents the release of dust in the atmosphere of the room.

Great importance in dust control has the introduction of continuous processes instead of periodic ones. So, for example, periodic loading of bulk solids is always accompanied by a greater dust release than continuous loading. It is also important that in a continuous process it is easy to apply automatic control, which does not require the presence of people in places of dust emission.

If technologically possible, for dust suppression, materials are sprayed with water by spraying it with special nozzles or moistened with water vapor. Water vapor is used only in shelters, and water irrigation can be used both in shelters and open way for wetting materials, for example, in coal preparation crushing and screening plants, etc.

An essential point in the fight against dust in the workplace is the organization of the proper operation of sanitary installations and the systematic monitoring of indoor air pollution with dust.

Methods of dust control during underground work at mining enterprises are somewhat different from those used in the factory.

Radical ways to combat dust during mining are, first of all, the rationalization of the technological process, machinery, methods of extracting minerals.

Hydro mining and hydro transport of coal completely eliminate dust formation. Coal mining without people in the face (remote control of machines) saves people from inhaling dust. Large-block caving ore mining systems, the use of cutting mechanisms and drill bits operating on the principle of large chipping, sharply reduce dust formation.

The main means of dust prevention and suppression of airborne dust in mining operations is the use of water. Currently, drilling is carried out everywhere with washing the borehole with water. The addition of certain substances to water increases its wetting properties. Wet drilling reduces air dust content by 10-50 times. Especially effective is the simultaneous irrigation with water on combines and moistening of coal seams in the array.

Medical and preventive measures

Preliminary and periodic medical examinations of workers are of great importance in the prevention of dust diseases.

Preliminary medical examinations of workers are carried out in order to prevent persons with health problems from working with exposure to dust. In this case, it is necessary to be guided by the list of medical contraindications for employment in industries associated with the release of dust. The purpose of periodic medical examinations in a timely manner is the early determination of the effect of dust on the body and the detection of diseases such as pneumoconiosis, silicotuberculosis. Identified patients are transferred to other work, not accompanied by dust emission, they are provided with dispensary observation.

Individual preventive measures include the device of inhalers for the prevention and treatment of the upper respiratory tract by inhalation (usually alkaline solutions).

At present, biological measures for the prevention of silicosis are of great importance.

1. Deep inhalation of aerosols of alkaline solutions is used. The effectiveness of this measure has been experimentally proven.

2. Irradiation with ultraviolet rays in a suberythemal dose is widely introduced. The beneficial effect of ultraviolet rays is explained by the normalization of the body's reactivity.

3. It has been experimentally shown that predominantly protein nutrition delays the development of silicosis in animals. Creating a specific diet and regimen for miners is very useful for the prevention of silicosis.

4. In recent years, the effectiveness of a number of polymers has been shown, the introduction of which into the body prevents the development of silicosis.

Dust respirators also belong to individual preventive measures. The most widely used respirators with paper filters of a large surface for air inhalation. For underground mining, a moisture-resistant paper filter is used. Currently, the Petal respirator is widely used. Goggles are used to protect the eyes from damage by dust particles.

Finally, to prevent skin diseases, in particular pyoderma, personal hygiene must be observed. Very effective in this regard is the daily washing of the body in the shower after work. A very important measure is overalls made of dust-tight fabric and appropriate cut to prevent dust from penetrating under clothing. Be sure to systematically wash overalls, as in case of contamination, it is the cause of pyoderma.