Structure and features of occupational incidence in the South Kuzbass agglomeration

Introduction. Kuzbass is the leader among the subjects of the Russian Federation in the number of cases of first-time proven occupational diseases.

Materials and methods. State reports on the sanitary and hygienic well-being in the population of the Russian Federation and Kuzbass, as well as accounting and reporting forms of the Research Institute for Complex Problems of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases for 2024, were used. The diagnosis, sex, age, industry, enterprise, occupation, harmful production factors, and work experience under their influence were considered.

Results. In Kuzbass, from 2015 to 2024, occupational incidence decreased from 13.32 to 7.11 per 10,000 working population (by 46.69%), and the number of cases of first-time proven occupational diseases decreased from 1,053 to 532 (by 49.48%). Since 2023, Kuzbass has been ranked second among the subjects of the Russian Federation in terms of occupational incidence rate, and it continues to lead in terms of the number of cases. In the structure of occupational pathology by economic sector, enterprises engaged in the extraction of minerals occupy the first place. In 2024, 46.22% of all first-time proven occupational diseases were revealed at these enterprises in the Russian Federation, 81.58% in Kuzbass, and 93.71% in the South Kuzbass agglomeration. Of the 313 cases of occupational diseases detected in the South Kuzbass agglomeration among workers of mining enterprises, 287 were identified in the coal industry – 243 in miners and 37 in workers at coal pits. Research Institute for Complex Problems of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases registered 64.66% of all cases of occupational diseases that were first proven in Kuzbass in 2024. In 98.26% of cases, the diagnosis was made on time; in 6 cases, the delay in diagnosis was due to the on-site occupational pathology service.

Limitations. This study is limited to a sample of patients who were examined at the Research Institute for Complex Problems of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases in 2024.

Conclusion. To maintain the health of the working population and reduce the incidence of occupational and work-related diseases, it is necessary to show interest in the health of not only the individual but also their employer, as well as timely and high-quality medical examinations, procedures for special assessment of working conditions, health-improving measures at work, and improvement of working conditions.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study did not require the approval of a Bioethics Committee.

Contribution:
Baran O.I. – concept and design of the study, data analysis, writing the text;
Korotenko O.Yu. – concept and design of the study, editing the text.
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.

Funding. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: January 26, 2026 / Accepted: March 24, 2026 / Published: May 18, 2026

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