Physiological aspects of high-tech refinery operators work

Work at high-tech refineries is characterized by such the main factors as complexity of workers' duties (pace, nature of mental tasks), intense static and dynamic loads, irrational work regime. It is known that the decrease in work efficiency is the result of the influence of factors of the labor process (the monotony of external stimuli, long stay in the required working position, restriction of physical activity, relative isolation and sensory insufficiency). That is caused by the development of inhibition in the cerebral cortex and weakening of excitatory process. Arrival of the signal expected is associated with the transition to intensive activities at the control panel according to a specific algorithm or the operator’s labor intensity in the long standby mode. The paper presents results of studies of the basic physiological parameters of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems of operators during 12-hour work shifts. The assessment confirmed the high “physiological cost” of the operators' work activity, myocardial hypoxia observed in the work shift process, reduced mental performance, development of fatigue, therefore, conditions for reducing the reaction rate and possible error actions of the staff in this work process organization. In addition, the probability of provoking negative changes in the health of operators and possibility of developing a number of cardiovascular diseases, including those caused by production activities, have been confirmed. There is a need to develop individual strategies to adapt to the labor process, taking into account age and professional features of the activity, as well as the development of rational shift regimes of work and rest for working on 12-hour work schedules taking into account the regular changes in the phase character of working capacity in order to optimize conditions and increase productivity