Physiological and hygienic features of the occupation load in railway transport workers in modern forms of train driving

Introduction. New technologies are being actively introduced in Russian railway transport – high-speed and high-speed traffic, automated control of technological processes using artificial intelligence. In this regard, the role of mental labour and the intensity of the labour process increases, which creates additional risks of health disorders.

The purpose of the work is to determine the nature of changes in the functional state in the body of transport workers using modern production process technologies – automatic train guidance systems and remote train tracking.

Materials and methods. Comparative hygienic and physiological studies of more thirty locomotive crews were carried out in production conditions when working in normal mode and using automated train management systems; 15 operator drivers and train drivers-instructors of the center for dispatching control and traffic control of electric trains.

Results. A qualitative change in the occupation load of employees in locomotive crews has been established when using automated train management systems. An improvement in most indices of the production load of assistant drivers has been revealed, stipulating a possible transition to work without an assistant when using automated train driving.

The analysis of individual components of the occupation load in employees in locomotive crews working in modern conditions of labour management designate its qualitative change due to the gain in the information component, which requires improvement of the system for assessing the readiness of employees associated with train movement for production activities.

Limitations. The research was conducted with the participation of employees in locomotive crews without medical contraindications for work in the occupation and are allowed training work in accordance with the procedure provided by orders of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation.

Conclusion. The gain in the information component causes a qualitative change in the occupation load in employees in locomotive crews working in advanced forms of labour management, which determines the requirements for assessing the readiness of locomotive crews for train work based on improved methods and criteria for evaluating performance for occupational selection and prevention of health disorders.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was conducted in accordance with the generally accepted scientific principles of the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association (ed. 2013) and in accordance with the Program-methodology developed by the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Transport Hygiene of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-being and agreed with the employer, which is responsible for employees in locomotive crews, machinists, operators, and employees of the dispatch and operator group. Employees of these occupational groups participated in the study on a voluntary basis. Due to the absence of personal data in the research materials, informed voluntary consent of employees is not required.

Contribution:
Vilk M.F. – research concept and design, editing;
Tulushev V.N. – collection, processing and analysis of the material, writing the text;
Kaptsov V.A. – analysis of research results, editing of conclusions;
Pankova V.B. – analysis of the material, writing and editing of the text;
Latynin E.O. – processing and analysis of the material, technical design.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: April 22, 2024 / Accepted: June 19, 2024 / Published: July 31, 2024