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The paper focuses on results of substantiating and selecting informative physiological criteria that can be used for assessing and controlling functional state and working conditions category taking into account physical and nervous-emotional loads borne by CNC- machinery operators. Basing on complex physiological and ergonomic studies and retrospective data analysis, we showed that workers from various occupational groups who dealt with physical labor had to face certain strain over a working shift. Such strains, given long-term working experience, could result in neuromuscular system overstrain and occupational diseases occurrence. We substantiated and developed informative physiological criteria that allowed assessing and controlling functional state and working capacity as well as working conditions category taking into account occupational activities. The present research involved using a set of occupational studies, physiological and ergonomic procedures as well as clinical and statistic ones for examining peculiarities related to functional state of workers’ bodies under exposure to occupational factors taking into account specific working tasks and loads. It allowed us to substantiate labor intensity assessment. Our research results revealed that there was a strong correlation between hand muscles endurance to static exertion (decrease in % by the end of a work shift) and working conditions category given local and overall muscular loads borne by workers. This criterion is recommended for control over functional state and working capacity taking into account occupational peculiarities and gender-related differences. It is necessary to accumulate scientific data for confirming a similar correlation between overall physical working capacity (OPWC) and working conditions category. Results obtained via physiological research were used for developing prevention activities for workers.

The papers dwells on the results obtained during fatigue risk assessment as per subjective and objective parameters in civil aviation crew members. Our research goal was to assess fatigue and overfatigue risks as per subjective and objective cardiovascular system parameters and central nervous system parameters in workers with morning and evening biorhythms under neuro-emotional workloads and shift work performed by planes crew members, air traffic controllers, and operators. Our examined workers were mostly people aged 35-45 with working period equal to 5-15 years. Fatigue which occurred during flights was assessed subjectively by crew members questioning as per Epworth Sleep Scale, Karolinska Sleepiness Scale, and crew state control as per Samn-Perelli. Working efficiency was studied via PVT test (psychomotor vigilance test), sleep monitoring, and actigraphy. Circadian rhythms dynamics was examined as per changes in minimal body temperature which aircrew members had. We applied Ostberg's questionnaires to assess biorhythmologic activity type. Workers' functional reserves were assessed via stress testing. We calculated functional changes index to assess functional abilities of the circulatory system and adaptation state during a working shift in workers with various biorhythmologic types. The paper outlines the examination results for physiological reactions appearing in the cardiovascular system and central nervous system of workers with morning and evening biorhythms. We revealed that functional state peculiarities in operators when they performed their work tasks in a shift regime were closely connected with their biorhythmologic activity type. "Early risers" had more adverse physiological reactions during their work activities. We developed ways to lower risks related to fatigue and overfatigue caused by shift work. It was shown that regulatory mechanisms stress occurring in the circulatory system, lower labor motivation, and poorer health in people with the morning biorhythmologic type made it necessary to correct the body functional state during shift work, especially when labor was very intense.

On the basis of analysis of modern domestic and foreign publications the risks of occupational stress as a result of shift work in different professional groups has been considered. Brief description of shift work of different forms in various countries and possible role in the deterioration of work quality are presented. The bidirectional relationship between sleep disorders and work-related psychosocial risks was identified (including work style, high requirements and low level control, duration of working hours and shift work and imbalance between work and remuneration). It is shown that desynchronosis in conditions of shift mode of work, especially with rotation of shifts, has a negative stress effect on physical and mental health, and may lead to increased risks of obstructive sleep apnea, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, mental health and nervous system disorders, and even certain forms of cancer. A brief analysis of the data of increased health risks of different professional groups, including the security forces, doctors and nurses, railway workers, etc. was done. The dependence of the development of pathological changes on the shift work experience with rotating shifts was noted. Presented data show the potential risk of shift work, especially with shift rotation, for health and longevity. Legislative regulation improvement is necessary for decreasing of potential danger of shift work to health of workers.