PROCEEDINGS
OF THE TOMSK ORDER OF THE OCTOBER REVOLUTION
AND ORDER OF THE RED BANNER OF LABOR
POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
named after S. M. KIROV

Vol. 292　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　1974

REDUCING LOSSES OF WORKING TIME

DUE TO INCAPACITY FOR WORK—

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT RESERVES

FOR GROWTH IN LABOR PRODUCTIVITY

V. A. KURATOVA

In the decisions of the Twenty-Fourth Congress of the CPSU, the socio-economic significance of the growth of the productivity of social labor is emphasized. The task has been set of increasing labor productivity by 36–40%¹. The growth of social labor productivity is influenced by many factors.

Among the complex of factors, the influence of working conditions has great and ever-increasing significance.

Working conditions, as the totality of psychophysiological, sanitary-hygienic, aesthetic, and socio-psychological factors of labor, are formed under the direct influence of the environment, the means of production, the specific features of production technology, and social factors.

Let us dwell in greater detail on such aspects of production conditions as sanitary-hygienic conditions, which in turn affect the state of health of the working people—the principal productive force.

Bourgeois society limits to the utmost its expenditures on ensuring normal working conditions. “The squandering of the worker’s life and health—the lowering of the conditions of his existence—is itself counted among the economies in the application of constant capital and, consequently, among the means of raising the rate of profit.”²

All measures to improve working conditions and the corresponding expenditures are undertaken by the capitalist only within the limits of the capitalist law of the use of machinery, i.e., when the effect from increased productivity and intensity of labor achieved under these conditions exceeds the capitalist’s expenditures on all these arrangements. Such an approach leads to injuries, nervous exhaustion, and so forth.

It is not by chance that Canadian journalists write: “The freedom to be healthy in our day is such an expensive thing that only socialism can afford it.” Concern for human health under socialism follows from the humanism of the new society, but it is also economically necessary.

Thus, for example, at the TEMZ plant labor productivity has increased significantly, as is evident from a comparison of data over a number of years—1966–1970. Undoubtedly, the growth of labor productivity was influenced by the reduction of losses of working time due to incapacity for work,

especially after the transition in 1968 to a five-day workweek. Over a number of years the morbidity level at the TEMZ also declined, but it still remains high. The percentage of colds is high (tonsillitis, bronchitis, diseases of the peripheral nervous system). This is explained by poor preparation of production premises for winter conditions; sharp temperature fluctuations to which workers are exposed; an unsatisfactory microclimate in some shops (the foundry and blacksmithing-thermal shops); insufficient ventilation efficiency; and considerable dustiness and gas contamination in a number of shops and sections, exceeding permissible standards, which has had a particularly strong effect on bronchitis cases. In the defect-correction section, the supply ventilation has no air-duct distribution and does not correspond to the exhaust ventilation; as a result, dust from the foundry shop is drawn into the general ventilation system and reaches the workplaces. Ventilation in the electric-welding department is in unsatisfactory condition. Electrode-arc welding machines have no local ventilation at all.

Cases of pustular diseases are frequently encountered. The reason for this is the low sanitary culture of the workers themselves and the poor sanitary condition of production facilities. The shops are often dirty, and production wastes are not removed in a timely manner. Not all shops have shower facilities. Only 33.9% of the plant is supplied with shower installations. These working conditions significantly worsen the health of workers and, accordingly, reduce labor productivity.

The morbidity level was also affected by the housing conditions of TEMZ workers and the absence of a preventive-health facility.

As a result, in 1970 the plant lost 21,670 days due to incapacity for work. The facts convincingly prove that the high morbidity level at TEMZ affected the production process. A large volume of marketable output was not produced. Human reserves were not used fully. A 5% increase in labor productivity was not achieved, although it is possible if losses of working time due to incapacity for work are reduced.

Thus, for example, in Shop No. 1, losses due to incapacity for work amounted to 4,442 days. Yet during this time, in addition to the output produced, it would have been possible to manufacture 17,760 MO-9P hammers.

To reduce the morbidity level at TEMZ and, consequently, to increase labor productivity, it is necessary to:

1) study the microclimate in a number of shops and sections and its effect on morbidity;

2) analyze morbidity by persons and occupational groups;

3) identify and eliminate sanitary-hygienic violations, check the quality of laundering of special clothing, the drinking regime, and the operation of buffets and the canteen;

4) develop draft plans for health-improvement measures and carry out prevention of everyday injuries;

5) more broadly disseminate sanitary-hygienic and medical knowledge, raise the sanitary culture of the working people; the plant needs a preventive-health facility for workers.

The level of labor productivity will also depend on the effectiveness with which these tasks are solved. Thus, improving sanitary-hygienic working conditions is a real reserve for the growth of labor productivity, one that can and must be realized at enterprises.

1. “Materials of the Twenty-Fourth Congress of the CPSU,” Moscow, Politizdat, 1971, p. 142. ↩

2. K. Marx, Capital, vol. III, p. 91. ↩