RESUMO
In the paper the methodological problems of establishing a general class of working conditions on the results of certification of workplaces are analyzed There is proposed the use of an additional parameter - the index of harm, characterizing the degree of correspondence of the general level of harmful occupational factors to applicable health standards with taking into account the nonequivalence of their display. The recommendations for the use of hazard index as the main criterion for a priori evaluation ofthe category ofsuspected occupational risk and the tool to establish by the correlation methods cause-and-effect relations between indices of health status and the impact ofoccupational factors are presented. As exemplified by real working conditions the possibilities of the use the index of harm as an indicator describing the hazard probability are considered with comprehensive assessment of occupational risk of health problems on the basis of the matrix method with the use of the table of vectors and nomograms "probability of harm - the severity of the consequences". The use of index of harm will permit to increase the objectivity of the assessment and the efficacy of management of occupational hazards in the workplaces.