[Essential hypertension as an occupational disease in engine crew members].

The paper raises the question as to whether essential hypertension should be included into a list of occupational diseases (intellectual, sensory, and emotional workloads and working conditions) in engine crew members. In the engine crew members of the South-Eastern Railway, the cases and days lost because of illness and temporary disability are higher than those in the whole railway. 32% of the engine drivers (assistants) are followed up for diagnosed essential hypertension. Hypertension (49.7%) is the main reason for suspending engine crew members from work as evidenced by train pre-trip medical examinations. The working conditions (noise, infrasound, mcroclimate) in train engineer's cabs do not meet the sanitary requirements; in this connection the occupational disease sensorineural hearing loss is also registered.