Regional Employment and Occupational Morbidity Indicators in Western Kazakhstan

BACKGROUND: The article deals with regional employment and occupational morbidity indicators in Western Kazakhstan. AIM: The purpose is to study the employment indicators in hazardous working conditions and the dynamics of occupational morbidity in the West Kazakhstan region for the period 2013–2017. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Materials obtained from the Public Health Departments of the Aktobe, Atyrau, West Kazakhstan, and Mangystau regions were studied based on the results of periodic medical examinations of workers employed in hazardous working conditions for the period 2013–2017. The indicators of the dynamics of occupational morbidity in the region are derived from the annual reports of the West Kazakhstan branch of the RSE at the National Hygiene Center for Occupation and Occupational Diseases of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the period 2013–2017. RESULTS: The Atyrau, West Kazakhstan, and Mangystau regions saw an annual increase in the number of workers employed in hazardous production. In the Aktobe region, the number of people employed in hazardous working conditions decreased due to the decline in industrial production. There is a positive trend in this region to identify occupational diseases. In the Atyrau, West Kazakhstan, and Mangystau regions, the occupational morbidity rate is close to zero. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to revise the existing orders of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan concerning the improvement of the occupational health service.