Working above 3000 meters: where mountain medicine and occupational health meet

Abstract

Sea-level workers occupationally exposed to chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CIH) may have their health and safety affected when working in altitude, in particular above 3000 meters.

Environmental factors at these levels include barometric pressure, oxygen pressure, temperature, humidity, solar radiation, climate and unique physical demands. CIH is understood as a hazard that can influence occupational altitude diseases, risk of incidents/accidents by causing drowsiness, poor quality of sleep in hypobaria, fatigue due to reduced aerobic capacity, and chemically induced respiratory diseases. Mountain Medicine (MM), a clinical discipline that proposes criteria for tolerance, acclimatization, diagnosis and treatment of altitude diseases, addresses the biological effects of these factors. Health and labor authorities in Chile have established regulations considering MM criteria, with the aim to prevent, control and mitigate these risks, preserve the health and working capacity of those exposed to CIH, improve the environmental conditions of work stations at altitude, and develop organizations and organizational culture that promotes health and safety at work. A proper deployment of these regulations may provide relevant insights to further optimize occupational health at high altitude.