Occupational pathologist - who is this and why is he needed? What does an occupational pathologist treat? When an occupational pathologist is required

Many people have to work in hazardous industries and therefore everyone can develop diseases that are associated with such activities. That only is the work of a miner or a worker in the plastics industry. A professional pathologist works with such diseases.

What is the competence of the occupational pathologist?

The name of this industry is built on the combination of two parts: professional and pathology. That is, the essence of the competence of the representative of this profession comes from the name itself. In addition to all this, the doctor is developing methods of treating such diseases.

What diseases does the occupational pathologist deal with?

The occupational pathologist deals with:

field lung diseases (dust bronchitis,);
vibration disease;
disorders of the musculoskeletal system associated with hazardous activities ();
with toxins that poison human lungs in chemical plants;
poisoning with mercury, lead, manganese, which are associated with the work of the patient;
occupational skin diseases (dermatitis, and so on).

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What bodies does the occupational pathologist deal with?

The range of organs that the occupational pathologist deals with is wide and narrow at the same time, depending on which point of reference to choose. If we compare with a therapist, then this specialist treats few organs, but on the other hand, the profile of an occupational pathologist is much broader than that of a cardiologist or nephrologist. If they treat the heart or kidneys of a person and that's all, then the occupational pathologist treats the lungs, skin, musculoskeletal system, bronchi. In general, this doctor is more like a therapist with a narrower profile.

Occupational pathologist is a doctor who studies the impact of occupational characteristics of work and unfavorable working conditions on human health. Also, the scope of duties of an occupational pathologist includes the development of methods for early detection, medical and social rehabilitation, prevention and treatment of patients with occupational diseases.

Occupational pathologist is a fairly young profession that has emerged from various areas of medicine. It appeared in Russia in 1994. Prior to that, research institutes and some medical universities were studying the impact of occupational factors on human health.

Tasks of the occupational pathologist

Occupational pathologists work in occupational pathology centers and in other medical and preventive institutions, closely cooperating with the state sanitary and epidemiological service.

As a result of the analysis of the health status of people working in harmful and dangerous working conditions, the occupational pathologist draws up a conclusion. The opinion of the occupational pathologist usually contains a plan for taking measures to reduce the risk of developing dangerous occupational diseases. Also, the duties of an occupational pathologist include:

Assistance in the implementation of comprehensive health-improving and preventive measures aimed at reducing labor losses caused by diseases and disabilities;
Taking measures to reduce the impact of both general and occupational health risk factors;
Referral of injured and sick people to the state service of medical and social expertise and control over their determination of the degree of loss of professional and general working capacity;
Preparation of recommendations for the management and treatment of patients in medical institutions;
Implementation of organizational and methodological assistance to health care institutions.

Occupational diseases treated by an occupational pathologist

Occupational diseases, which are observed and treated by an occupational pathologist, are:

Acute, which occur during or immediately after exposure to factors harmful to human health;
Chronic, arising from constant exposure to harmful factors.

The main task of the occupational pathologist's conclusion is to establish a connection between the action of harmful production factors on the human body. The doctor is responsible for the accuracy and validity of the conclusions drawn up, and the timeliness of sending injured persons at work to medical institutions for the necessary treatment.

To draw up a conclusion, the occupational pathologist conducts preliminary and periodic medical examinations of employees of enterprises.

A large group of people whose work is associated with exposure to dust factors is susceptible to lung diseases. As a result of inhalation of industrial dust, normal lung tissue is replaced with fibrous tissue. Doctors occupational pathologists distinguish, depending on the type of dust inhaled:

Metalloconioses - siderosis, beryllium, aluminosis;
Silicatosis - talcosis, asbestosis, cementosis;
Carboconiosis - graphitosis, anthracosis;
Pneumoconiosis from mixed and organic dust of flax, cotton, books, grain.

In case of diseases resulting from the effects of chemical factors, the conclusion of an occupational pathologist should include not only the type of metal that caused the disease (mercury, lead, manganese), but also recommendations for preventive measures.

Various physical factors lead to a wide range of disorders in the body and diseases, the traces of which:

Vibrations that cause vibration sickness;
Noise that leads to occupational sensorineural hearing loss;
Atmospheric pressure, which can lead to the development of decompression sickness or altitude sickness;
Electromagnetic radiation;
Ionizing radiation that causes radiation sickness;
High or low temperature, which can lead to overheating of the body, heat stroke, convulsions, hypothermia or frostbite.

Also, diseases fall into the circle of attention of the occupational pathologist:

Caused by the impact of biological factors on health - anthrax, tuberculosis, glanders, brucellosis, tick-borne encephalitis;
Associated with overstrain of the systems of the human body and various organs - varicose veins of the lower extremities, myofibrosis, periarthrosis, radiculopathy.

How to get the profession of an occupational pathologist

In order to work as an occupational pathologist, it is necessary to graduate from a medical university with a degree in General Medicine, and then undergo postgraduate training, including special vocational and educational programs of primary specialization in internship and clinical residency.

An occupational pathologist is a medical specialist, whose existence and field of activity are not known to everyone. The specialization of this doctor includes diagnostics, treatment and prevention of various diseases and pathologies, the occurrence of which is associated with a person's professional activity.

What does a doctor do and features of medical specialization

Occupational pathologist is a doctor with the following duties:

creation of preventive programs to reduce the risks of occupational diseases;
organization of measures to prevent and prevent disability by workers of hard and dangerous work;
issuance of referrals for medical commissions;
registration of medical examination;
medical examinations to determine the professional suitability of people;
diagnostics and treatment of occupational diseases.

The occupational pathologist's specialization includes consulting people whose professional activities are associated with harmful substances and high risks of injury.

What diseases belong to the specialization of an occupational pathologist?

This medical specialty deals with diseases and pathological processes in the body, the appearance of which is associated with the influence of harmful and dangerous factors of human professional activity:

damage to the circulatory system under the influence of harmful substances;
lesions of the respiratory system that occur in people who are constantly in contact with hazardous volatile chemicals, dust;
diseases caused by mechanical influence on the body. Occur in people working for industrial equipment;
pathologies provoked by mental and emotional stress;
degenerative-dystrophic conditions of the spine and disturbances in the functioning of the musculoskeletal system, provoked by physical activity;

The main diseases that occupational pathologists most often deal with are the following:

bronchitis of the asthmatic type;
allergic bronchitis;
vibration disease;
intoxication with heavy metals and their compounds, resins;
dermatitis;
hearing loss of a neurosensory nature;
radiculitis;
varicose veins;
periarthrosis;
frostbite;
tuberculosis;
encephalitis.

The occupational pathologist must diagnose the disease, determine the cause of its occurrence, prescribe the appropriate treatment to the patient and provide a program of preventive and restorative measures.

When does it become necessary to contact an occupational pathologist?

The symptoms that arise in people due to the development of occupational diseases are of a different nature, depending on which organs and systems of vital activity are affected.

If the following clinical signs and conditions appear, you should contact a medical specialist:

if working conditions imply constant contact with dust, volatile substances, a person has a frequent cough, dry, suffocating, chest pain;
lesions of the skin and mucous membranes;
signs of chronic or acute intoxication - nausea and vomiting;
general malaise;
constant feeling of drowsiness;
decreased hearing, vision;
the appearance of tremors in the hands;
during standing work - a feeling of heaviness and pain in the legs, intensifying in the evening, severe swelling in the lower extremities;
the development of neuroses, increased aggression, hysterical states;
manifestation of signs of hemorrhoids;
frequent pressure surges.

Each person employed in hazardous work, or whose field of professional activity is associated with certain risks, is well aware of the complications in the body that are characteristic of his specialty.

Unfortunately, the majority of people employed in hazardous and hazardous jobs, having discovered the first signs of malaise, do not rush to see a doctor for the reason that they are afraid to receive a conclusion about their professional unsuitability.

It is important to understand that an occupational pathologist is a specialist who works for a patient. Its task includes not only the diagnosis of occupational diseases and their treatment, but also the preparation of individual preventive measures aimed at reducing the risks of further development of pathologies.

At the first consultation, the occupational pathologist listens to the patient about the main symptoms. The patient is examined. Depending on the specifics of the disease, a physician can refer a person for consultation to other narrowly focused specialists.

A medical examination is prescribed. Based on the severity of the clinical case and the intensity of the symptomatic picture, the patient is issued a sick leave.

Diagnostic measures

It is almost impossible to make an accurate diagnosis only by examining and interviewing a patient. To get a complete picture of the state of human health, a detailed medical examination is carried out, which includes the delivery of laboratory tests and the passage of instrumental diagnostic methods. These include:

general clinical and detailed blood test;
general urine analysis;
bacteriological analysis of urine;
spirography - measurement of lung volume;
magnetic resonance imaging;
ultrasound examination of internal organs;
angiography (with contrast);
x-ray;
fluorography;
electrocardiogram;
tests to identify allergic factors.

When decoding the diagnostic results, the occupational pathologist works closely with many specialized medical specialists - a gastroenterologist, a pulmonologist, a rheumatologist, a dermatologist, and a therapist.

Treatment features

Therapy of diseases of a professional nature is carried out by narrow-profile medical specialists in close cooperation with an occupational pathologist. Treatment is not the primary concern of this healthcare professional.

The task of the occupational pathologist includes the diagnosis of the disease and, which is especially important, the identification of harmful factors that provoked the development of pathology. Treatment is carried out inpatiently or outpatiently, depending on the severity of the clinical case.

After the therapy, an occupational pathologist is connected, whose task is to draw up an individual preventive program. This medical specialist deals with the issues of referral and execution of the necessary medical documents for the organization of the patient's sanitary-resort treatment.

After the diagnosis of an occupational disease and the therapy carried out, the patient needs to visit an occupational pathologist at least 1-2 times a year. The doctor will conduct an examination, prescribe diagnostics aimed at timely detection of a relapse of the disease or the occurrence of complications.

If the patient's condition is critical, preventing the further implementation of his occupational diseases, the occupational pathologist prepares documents for the medical commission, where he acts as an observer and consultant regarding the issue of recognizing the patient's disability.

All people who are employed in hazardous and difficult industries should regularly visit a specialist. Only with the timely detection of a pathological process, it can be stopped in the early stages of development, preventing severe, sometimes irreversible, complications.

An occupational pathologist is a doctor who diagnoses, treats and prevents diseases related to the patient's professional activities. The occupational pathologist studies the impact of working conditions on human health and the relationship between these conditions and diseases / pathologies arising in the patient, and also monitors the safety of people's health at their workplaces.

What does an occupational pathologist treat

The competence of the occupational pathologist includes all diseases that arise due to the impact of working conditions on the human body:

Foundry fever. Occurs in specialties associated with foundry or welding and, as a result, inhalation of metal vapors.
Hearing impairment. A problem typical for professions forced to work in noisy industrial premises.
Pneumoconiosis and anthracosis. Diseases caused by inhalation of industrial dust. Often found among miners and other workers in the mining industry.
Vibration disease. Occurs in people working with equipment that is prone to strong vibration.
Silicosis and silicosis. Diseases resulting from inhalation of dust from cement, asbestos and similar materials.
Carpal tunnel syndrome. Usually manifests itself in workers who perform the same type of flexion and extension movements with a brush, for example, pianists or assemblers on a conveyor belt.

The spectrum of occupational diseases, which the occupational pathologist deals with, is not limited to this. Almost any body system can suffer from unsafe working conditions, from the urinary system to the digestive system, from the heart and blood vessels to the endocrine system.

The task of the occupational pathologist is to try to prevent occupational diseases / pathologies, identify them at early stages, offer the employee treatment options and, if necessary, refer him to a narrower specialist.

When to contact an occupational pathologist

Symptoms, in which an occupational pathologist is consulted, may vary depending on the activity of the employee, but the typical complaints that an occupational pathologist deals with are the following:

general weakness, malaise, fatigue, trouble sleeping;
vision problems, a decrease in its level, pain in the eyes;
ear problems, hearing impairment;
unpleasant taste in the mouth, nausea, vomiting;
shortness of breath and cough on exertion, chest pain, blood or mucus secretion during coughing;
soreness in the hip joints or knees, crunching when limbs move;
problems with urination, discoloration of urine, problems with stools;
sensation of discomfort in the fingers, including itching, numbness, vibration;
pallor or yellowness of the skin, hair loss, increased bleeding.

The occupational pathologist must determine whether the symptomatology is related to the patient's professional activity, and, based on this information, advise further actions.

It is necessary to consult a professional pathologist even with mild symptoms or mild ailments. If the symptoms of occupational diseases appear in full force, this means that the problem is already in an advanced stage.

What specialties require a mandatory visit to an occupational pathologist

Some specialties are required by law to periodically visit an occupational pathologist. The frequency of visiting a doctor depends on the type of human activity:

Visits once a year: military, miners, firefighters and a number of other professions with dangerous conditions, as well as pharmacists and sellers of non-food products.
Visiting 2 times a year: workers in the food industry, catering, food vendors.
Visiting 4 times a year: employees of school and other children's, as well as medical institutions.

Specialists in some professions must receive an examination from an occupational pathologist before the start of each work shift. These are specialists in contact with hazardous substances at the workplace, as well as some categories of drivers.

Obligations of occupational pathologists

Key responsibilities of an occupational pathologist:

assessment of potential harm to health in the workplace;
assessment of the impact of negative environmental factors in the workplace, including biological, physical, chemical, environmental and psychological factors;
ensuring health safety in the workplace, taking the necessary preventive measures;
identifying what working conditions will be optimal and safe;
determining what equipment, overalls and protective equipment should be available to workers for the safety of working conditions;
prompt identification of the development of occupational diseases, their treatment and provision of rehabilitation of workers after treatment;
implementation of programs that promote health promotion in the workplace.

The occupational pathologist also deals with:

Occupational hygiene. Determines the level of noise, electromagnetic fields, radiation, the presence of toxic and chemical substances in the workplace, and the effect of lighting on health.
Labor psychology. Evaluates the psychological training of workers, the psychological consequences of changes in the workplace, tries to influence psychosocial factors that can affect the health of workers.
Physiology of labor. Evaluates physical activity, mechanisms of workers' fatigue, organization of the workplace, including ergonomics, adaptation of the workplace to the current state of the employee (in case of illness, pregnancy, old age, disability).
Epidemiology. Keeps statistics on diseases, medical records for the purpose of conducting epidemiological studies, applies an epidemiological approach to diseases in the workplace.

Special rights of occupational pathologists

Occupational pathologists have the right:

request information necessary for the implementation of their activities, insist on providing it;
involve the necessary specialists, organizations, institutions and enterprises from the health care and related fields to ensure the protection of the health of workers;
monitor, within the framework of their competencies, the work of institutions and the health care professionals attached to them, in order to provide employees with prompt and high-quality medical care and compliance with medical regulations to check the professional aptitude of employees in connection with their state of health;
make suggestions that can improve the health of workers.

In case of heavy workload, it is recommended to visit the pool at least once a week.
When working in noisy production, you need to use special headphones or earplugs.
When working on vibrating instruments, you need to massage your hands for at least 5 minutes every hour.
If the work takes place at a height, the working day should not exceed 6 hours a day.
When working with paint or when there is a high dust content in the air, it is imperative to wear respirators or protective masks.
Miners and drillers must use respirators with oxygen masks.
When working underwater, it is necessary to ascend to the surface as slowly as possible to prevent decompression sickness.

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The field of medical activity, the purpose of which is prevention and treatment is called occupational pathology. Its specificity is to exclude or reduce the impact of adverse factors on a person during work. Many colloquially call occupational pathology occupational medicine. It is an absolutely independent medical discipline. The main objective of this activity is to maintain the good health of the work unit.

Occupational pathologist - who is this?

Qualified specialists are involved in this area. An occupational pathologist is a medical worker who advises patients, finds the causes of diseases that have arisen, prescribes an examination, establishes a diagnosis and plans further treatment. The doctor also develops methods that allow early detection of such ailments, possibly preventing their occurrence. The occupational pathologist prescribes preventive measures, and also conducts the rehabilitation of workers within the framework of recreational and social programs. The competence of a doctor includes establishing a direct link between existing diseases or disabilities with the peculiarities of work and an examination that determines a person's professional suitability to work in a particular place.

Occupational pathologists are busy on a daily basis analyzing the state of the population suitable for professional activity, especially that part of it that works in dangerous and unhealthy conditions. These doctors try to take all measures that will help reduce the risk levels of serious illness. They are interested and show maximum efforts in carrying out complexes of various measures of a health-improving and prophylactic nature, helping to reduce the effect of harmful factors.

What does this doctor do?

Asking the question: "Occupational pathologist - who is this?", You need to find out what exactly the doctor's activities are aimed at. The services he provides:

Competence of an occupational pathologist

The question arises again: "An occupational pathologist - who is this, what is his activity aimed at?" If you need to use the services of this doctor, you should understand what actions on his part are legal. A patient who comes to an appointment must give the most accurate and truthful answers to questions about his health. To confirm the words of the worker, the doctor may ask to submit the relevant documents, certificates, test results or medical history.

A particularly important dialogue during the consultation includes issues related to working conditions. Without reliable information and truthful answers, it will be quite difficult for an occupational pathologist to provide the necessary assistance.

At present, every enterprise has a mandatory procedure for workers - a medical examination. Having seen the list of offices in which it is necessary to check in, many may ask the question: "And who is this professional pathologist?" This doctor determines the suitability of a person for work in the position held, assesses how his activities affect health, if necessary, he offers treatment or gives recommendations on the necessary preventive procedures.

Range of duties

A professional pathologist is a specialist with a higher education in the field of medicine. In addition, he must have a certificate attesting to his postgraduate training. Such a doctor carries out his work in specialized medical centers or medical institutions.

According to the job description of the occupational pathologist, his activities are carried out in close cooperation with the Sanitary and Epidemiological Service. The main duties of a person in this profession are to analyze the state of health, especially of those people who work in hazardous or harmful conditions, activities aimed at reducing the risks of various diseases. The conclusion of the occupational pathologist about the state of health of the employee speaks of his professional suitability for one or another type of work.

Diseases from the field of occupational pathology

Dust-type pulmonary ailments (bronchitis, asthma, pneumoconiosis).
Vibration disease.
Microtrauma or problems of the musculoskeletal system.
Acute and chronic intoxication with mercury, lead, manganese, fluorine, chromium, carbon disulfide, beryllium, benzene, styrene, pesticides, etc.
Skin diseases caused by the work environment (epidermis, follicles, melasma, ulceration, dermatoses, dermatitis).