[The actual issues of health preservation of workers of coal freight terminal]

The key link in line-up of export supply of coal is cargo terminals supported by operators directly contacting dangerous load. Therefore, comprehensive analysis of crisis cycles and adaptive potential of coal industry would be incomplete without thorough assessment of its key asset, human resources. Despite active technological modernization, industry continues to be one of the most labor-intensive and socially significant one in extractive sector of economy. Tens of thousands of workers employed both in mining and at critical stages of coal transportation, transshipment and processing are exposed daily to specific production factors. The production processes in coal industry are associated with complex of occupational risks leading to long-term negative consequences for health of personnel. In the context of increase of export flows, the main type of transport for which is by sea, maximal load lays exactly on operators of transshipment terminals. They are exposed to harmful factors, dominated by coal dust. Its systematic inhalation in high concentrations is direct cause of development of severe occupational pathology of respiratory system such as pneumoconiosis and chronic dust bronchitis. The specific nosological form depends on chemical and mineralogical composition of inhaled aerosols. Thus, the most important indicator that is to be strictly controlled to ensure occupational safety at coal terminals is the maximum permissible concentration of dust in air of working area. This fundamental standard should not lead to development of diseases or other deviations in health status of employees under established length of working hours during entire length of service. The implementation and continuous application of modern highly efficient chemical dust suppression agents is to be considered as one of priority and mandatory technological tasks for transshipment complexes.