[Features of work environment in open mining of gold-containing sand in the Far North].

Up-to-date work conditions of open extraction of gold in Far North are characterized by some occupational hazards, among which noise and vibration are leaders. In severe climate conditions heat state of the workers was considered exceeding the allowable standards. The authors suggest recommendations to normalize working environment of the enterprises under study.

[Prognostic assessment and risk of the development of vibration disease due to the effects of general vibration].

The studies revealed that evaluation of actual health disorders in people exposed to vibration requires up-to-date methodology, elaboration of new criteria that justify prophylactic measures. Taking into account a concept of occupational risk, scientists should have new approaches to hygienic regulation of general vibration in connection with load, levels, direction, quota of low-frequency components in total spectrum of mechanical oscillations.

[Evaluation of the workload in the various modes of tractor driving].

Two modes of tractor driving--by means of unstepped and frictional turn mechanisms--were compared. The study revealed the advantage of unstepped turn mechanism according to changes of the body functional status.

[Clinical aspects of vibration disease caused by general vibration].

The clinico-functional examination of agricultural machine-operators, truck drivers, excavator and boring machine operators revealed that, under low-frequency general vibration, polymorphic pathologic changes occur in human organism. Those include peripheral vascular and neuritic disorders and changes in the vertebral column. The most peculiar symptoms of VD are dealt with.