[Progress and prospects in the development of catastrophe medicine in the prevention and cleaning up of accidents caused by hazardous cargo].

Progress in emergency medicine in the prevention and liquidation of hazardous cargo-induced accidents is analyzed. The results of development of theoretical aspects, search for adequate individual protective means and methods for chemical decontamination of hazardous cargo residues are summarized.

[Hygienic assessment of new technology of tank cars].

A washing and steaming station built by Finnish specialists in 1997 operates at the Ryazan petroleum processing plant. The process is completely automatic and hermetic, excludes the workers' contact with harmful industrial factors. There is a whole set of special clothes and individual protective means.

[Experience in hygienic and ergonomic design of an inter-regional high-speed electric train "Sokol"].

The fundamental hygienic principles in the design of a high-speed Sokol electric train and its ergonometric approach cause one to anticipate a new rolling stock with high convenience for passengers, which will be an analogue of the world's best ones to appear.

[The research achievements and prospects in the field of railroad medicine in providing traffic safety].

Experience in ensuring safe traffic at the All-Russian Research Institute of Railway Hygiene is summarized. Various aspects of this line of activities, such as medicopsychological professional selection, medical examination of engine-drivers, training how to behave in emergency, etc., are considered.

[Sanitary-hygienic regulations of the utilization of asbestos production waste in railway facilities].

The hazards of utilizing the asbestos production wastes in railway construction are analyzed. An increased risk of cancer development was observed only in groups exposed to asbestos in concentrations surpassing the maximal permissible level, as shown by mortality records. The authors come to a conclusion that the use of asbestos waste is permissible only on condition of strict adherence to sanitary regulations.

[Problems in improvement of work conditions in railroad transport].

Within a short period of time the temperature conditions have been improved at working places of locomotive drivers and their assistants, a new switchboard for locomotives developed, noise and vibration in cabins were reduced, etc. Hygienic problems associated with improvement of locomotives are supervised by the Ministry of Communications and by special commissions.

[Scientific bases of improving the regulations of hazardous cargo transportation].

The authors report their experience on improvement of Rules for Transportation of Dangerous Load and related legal documents and recommendations. The materials necessitate systematic research in urgent medical care, transport hygiene, ecology and all fields forming basic science for improvement of Rules for Transportation of Dangerous Load. The article considers scientific and informational value of emergency cards escorting dangerous load (exemplified by high concentrations of hexamethylene diamine).

[Reasons for privileges for hard and hazardous work conditions in railway transport].

Many railway occupations have special work conditions which considerably depend on peculiarities of work and therefore could not undergo hygienic regulation. The article gives examples of such occupations connected mostly with personal risk in railway traffic, marked work hardness, etc. Reasonable privileges and compensations are established for those occupations.

[Ergonomic improvement of control panel in modern locomotives].

Such matters as optimization of informational load, higher reliability of train driver's work in more speedy motion and increased complexity of transportation due to automated control systems necessitated creation of pioneering control panel for locomotive operations. Long-standing research defined psychologically rational algorithm of the driver's activities, designed form and organization of units within the control panel, precisely chose basic characteristics required for systems of informational view and control.

[Medical information system regarding the control of the results of the railroad accidents involving hazardous substances].

Medical and informational supply of the system liquidating the consequences of accidents concerning the dangerous railway goods was analysed. Emergency cards of dangerous railway goods were described as a new type of medical and technical information. 130 of such cards concerning 567 dangerous railway goods were published in 1984, additional prophylactic sections of emergency cards for 400 substances (goods) were published in 1991.