Military Hygiene and Hygiene in Emergency Situations - K.O. Pashka 2005

Occupational hygiene of military personnel during the remediation of emergency consequences and in wartime
Military occupational hygiene in engineering troops

The engineering troops comprise units and subunits of various purposes: engineering and sapper, assault, barrier and breaching, road construction, bridge-building, pontoon-bridge, crossing and landing, positional, camouflage, Field Water supply, engineering and construction, etc. Organizationally, engineering troops are an integral part of all formations, units, and subunits across the Branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In combat, they perform the most complex engineering support tasks that require specialized personnel training, as well as The Use of engineering equipment and munitions.

Engineering support is a set of engineering measures aimed at creating favorable conditions for combat operations of friendly forces, enhancing the protection of troops and assets against all means of destruction, inflicting losses on the enemy using engineering munitions, and hindering their actions.

As evident from the missions assigned to engineering troops personnel, they are frequently required to complete a high volume of work within short timeframes, often involving significant physical and psychological exertion, such as during clearance operations. Depending on the season and climate zones, personnel will be exposed to adverse weather conditions such as extreme heat or cold, rain, snow, and wind. They often have to perform tasks—such as building bridges or establishing pontoon crossings—while operating in cold water, under enemy fire, and with limited time and inadequate conditions for rest, forcing them to forgo hot meals and rely on field rations.

Operating, servicing, and repairing engineering vehicles and equipment also demand considerable physical effort from the personnel.

Consequently, servicemen in engineering troops are prone to frequent colds, musculoskeletal disorders, injuries, gastrointestinal disturbances, and exhaustion.

This necessitates that military medical boards select candidates for these troops who, alongside specialized education, possess robust physical development and a sturdy build. During service, special attention must be paid to developing their physical strength through a gradual increase in workloads and systematic physical conditioning.

Executing operations in emergency situations under adverse weather conditions requires careful Selection of the most rational clothing and footwear, Setting up drying rooms for gear, and establishing warming shelters for personnel even when the weather is not severely cold.

Contamination of uniforms and Skin can lead to Pyoderma and other skin infections; therefore, frequent washing and laundering are essential, alongside utilizing a reserve supply of clothing while gear is being dried.

Arduous labor, often conducted during the dark hours of the day, necessitates adjustments to the dietary regimen, the provision of extra rations and tea, and an increased content of Vitamins A, B₁, B₂, B₆, etc., in the diet.

Because engineering tasks are carried out by subunits lacking medical personnel, deployed at significant distances from their parent units and across dispersed locations, they must be equipped with field kitchens or portable stoves for meal preparation, as well as means for water purification and disinfection. Additionally, educational and awareness campaigns must be conducted among personnel regarding the hazards of consuming wild berries and mushrooms, food obtained from local residents, and water from unverified sources.