Hygienic Evaluation of the Conditions of Work of Machine Operators Attending Universal Lathes.

Hygienic studies have shown that meteorologic conditions (relative humidity and air flow velocity) prevailing in shops where multipurpose lathes are operated, do not meet the State Standard GOST 12. 1. 005-76. Also, the dust concentration is higher than the MAC (Maximum Acceptable Concentration) and illumination intensity is considerably lower than the minimal permissible level. Operating multipurpose screw-cutting lathes involves considerable physical, nervous, and psychic stresses, eye strain, as well as fixed working postures, which leads to fatigue. Some 15% of those operating such lathes were found to show initial signs of varicose dilatation of veins of the lower extremities without noticeable hemodynamic disturbances. The general disease pattern was characterized by a predominance of respiratory tract diseases. A set of measures to improve the design of the lathes and the working conditions is proposed.