The purpose of this study was to assess the ergonomic risks of lifting tasks in a marine diesel engine manufacturing industry using the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH) Revised Lifting Equation(NLE). Average Lifting Index(LI=Weight of Load/Recommended Weight Limit) of a total number of 45 lifting tasks was $1.6{\pm}0.7$. The LIs were above 1 at 34 tasks(75.6%), and above 2 at 11 tasks(24.4%). Parts management showed the highest average LI value (LI=2.3) in all departments, which resulted from high frequency and heave load of lifting. The common and significant ergonomic risk factors in the processes were the heavy weight of diesel engine parts and the long horizontal distance. In addition, some lifting tasks had such potential risk factors as the long vertical distance, the high frequency of lifts or the long work duration.

Schools have significant and serious indoor environmental health problem, of which indoor air quality (IAQ) in school building may affect the health of the students and indirectly affect learning performance. Schools are of special concern when regarding indoor exposure to air pollutants, because students are particularly sensitive to pollutants and spend a significant amount of time in that environment. Therefore researches for improvement of indoor air quality have been developed such as installation of air cleaning device, ventilation system, titanium dioxide(TiO2) coating and so on. However, it is difficult to evaluate the magnitude of improvement of indoor air quality in field study because indoor air quality can be affected by source generation, outdoor air level, ventilation, decay by reaction, temperature, humidity, mixing condition and so on. In this study, evaluation of reduction of formaldehyde emission rate in school indoor environments by far-Infrared ray coating material was carried out using mass balance model in indoor environment. we proposed the evaluation method of magnitude of improvement in indoor air quality, considering outdoor level and ventilation. Since simple indoor concentration measurements could not properly evaluate the indoor air quality, outdoor level and ventilation should be considered when evaluate the indoor air quality.

Health effects associated with metal working fluid (MWF) exposures include dermatitis, respiratory disease, hypersensitive pneumonitis, and asthma. Frequently, occupational exposures to MWFs are controlled by ventilating an enclosure with an air cleaning unit that includes a fan preceded by various kinds of filtration. There are several kinds of air cleaning units used in machining centers. But the associated troubles have hindered from efficiently using these devices. The main problem is the relatively short period of filter replacement. The reason is that the air cleaning units usually do not have the de-oiling systems, thus leading the earlier clogging of filters and reducing the flow rate of hood. Thus, the first stage of study was conducted to overcome this problem by developing the new oil mist collector equipped with the easy de-oiling system. The principle of de-oiling is that the centrifugal force generated by spinning the drum covered by filter fabric separates oils from the filter fabric. It would be very similar to the spin-dry laundry. By adopting this de-oiling technique, the problems associated with the conventional oil mist collectors could be solved. Several tests/analyses were performed to make the lab-scale oil mist collector. The collection efficiencies and the de-oiling efficiencies of commercially available filter fabrics were tested. Subsequently, the endurance test were conducted by observing SEM photos of filter fabrics and measuring tensile strength/expansion coefficient after spinning the filter drum for 20 minutes at the different rotation speeds. By doing these experiments, the most appropriate filter fabric and rotation speed/duration were selected. Finally, the new oil mist collector was designed. In the near future, this device must be tested in the real machining center.

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) adopted the Lifting Threshold Limit Values ($TLVs^{(R)}$) in 2005 as a guideline for protecting the workers from work-related low back and shoulder disorders associated with repetitive lifting tasks. The TLVs consist of three tables with recommended weight limits for lifting tasks and their determination procedures are simple. The TLVs sans the material weight/the recommended values (LITLVs) were obtained from 45 lifting tasks in ship engine manufacturing factories. These values were compared and correlated with the Recommended Weight Limits (RWLs) and lifting indices (LIs) determined by the Revised Lifting Equation (LE) of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The average ratio, LITLVs/LIs, was 0.8 (LITLVs: $1.3{\pm}0.8$, LIs: $1.6{\pm}0.7$). Thus, the TLVs underestimated the risk than the LE. The LITLVs were highly correlated with LIs (r=0.82). The predicted value of LITLVs when LIs=1 wa 0.76. Using the predicted TLVs the higher risk ones of a large number of tasks can be screened to be further investigated.

This study is designed to compare the performance of established samplers (personal air sampler and MiniVOL portable air sampler) commonly used in the air environment or work environment with that of the sampler made by remodeling the air bubble generator for aquarium fishes. Sampling method used in this study is the filter collection method for PM10 and total suspended particles (TSP), the liquid collection method for sulfur dioxide ($SO_2$) and nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$), and the solid collection method for toluene, respectively. There is not a significant difference in the average concentration of TSP between the Gilian personal air sampler (1st, $0.316{\pm}0.095$; 2nd $0.191{\pm}0.090$; 3rd, $0.185{\pm}0.073mg/m^3$) and the remodeled sampler (1st, $0.317{\pm}0.106$, 2nd $0.201{\pm}0.050$; 3rd $0.189{\pm}0.081mg/m^3$). There are also not significant differences in the average concentration of PM10 among the Gilian personal air sampler ($0.058{\pm}0.006mg/m^3$), the remodeled sampler ($0.052{\pm}0.008mg/m^3$) and the MiniVOL portable air sampler ($0.054{\pm}0.007mg/m^3$). The average concentration of the SO2 by the established sampler and the remodeled one is $3.79{\pm}0.21ppb$ and $3.45{\pm}0.15ppb$, respectively. In addition, there are not sigmficant differences in the average concentration of the NO2 between the Gilian personal air sampler (1st, $0.325{\pm}0.068$; 2nd $0.341{\pm}0.206$; 3rd, $2.971{\pm}0.078{\mu}g/m^3$) and the remodeled sampler (1st, $0.300{\pm}0.062$; 2nd $0.332{\pm}0.144$, 3rd, $2.968{\pm}0.085{\mu}g/m^3$). There are not significant differences in the average concentration of toluene between the Gilian personal air sampler (1st, $0.499{\pm}0.072$; 2nd $0.598{\pm}0.112$; 3rd $2.284{\pm}0.077{\mu}g/m^3$) and the remodeled sampler (1st, $0.463{\pm}0.133$; 2nd $0.603{\pm}0.082$; 3rd $2.353{\pm}0.115{\mu}g/m^3$). From these results, we can conclude that the performance of the remodeled sampler is not different from that of established samplers. There is possibility that the remodeled sampler can be used as a alternative device for Gilian personal air sampler in area and personal air sampling.

The Korean government had introduced the industrial safety & hygiene consultant(ISHC) system to improve worksite health and safety level by providing specialized industrial safety & hygiene(S&H) services in 1996. Despite of initial hopeful expectation it has been said that this plan might fail to settled down and maintain its purpose. This study was designed to investigate operational issues and problems concerning the ISHC system, that would direct the way of change and future role. Questionnaire were sent to ISHC, professional engineer, agencies for occupational injury prevention, S&H specialist in the corporation nationwide and totally 256 people responded to in having 62.7% of response rate. The result of this study were as follows; 1. One hundred and forty two cases of safety assessment and 27 cases of process safety reports were the six years' results since 1996 the ISHC program had first been introduced. This results showed that injury prevention activities of ISHC had been stagnant. 2. The 78.8% of respondents had negative opinion about injury prevention activities of ISHC program. 3. The operational problems of ISHC were lack of understanding of company about ISHC, low systematization of work items, duty overlapping with agencies for occupational injury prevention, low support by government. in order. 4. It was suggested that abolition of ISHC and promotion of professional engineer system should be considered. 5. To promote professional engineer system it was suggested that the professional engineer could conduct consulting service and ISHC should be integrated with the expert system.

This study was aimed at rating the existing work environment noise components and alternatives in point of worker's view. To answer the purpose, AHP(Analytic Hierarchy Process) method is adopted in this research. Based on the AHP method, this research abstracts a mathematically rigorous noise components and alternative's weights and proven process for priority and decision-making. By reconstructing complex hearing conservation programs to a series of pair-wise comparisons, and then synthesizing the results, this study not only helps establishments of noise countermeasure, but also provides a clear rationale for noise alternatives. The result of this study is summarized as follows; 1) Job satisfaction index and noise identification index are 63, 56 respectively. 2) Noise level(15.7%), frequency(14.1%) and directivity(13.6%) are main reasons in worker's ground. 3) There are some difference between the estimation of worker's identification and that of work sites. 4) Low noise machine(14.7%), enclosure(13.2%) and shielding(9.6%) are chosen for noise protection method by workers. 5) Noise environment improvement should be focused on noise source rather than personal protection. 6) By the AHP method, noise source countermeasure have a key role at work environments.

Penetration and health effect of fibers was related with their diameters and length. The purpose of this study is to characterize and compare the diameter and length of airborne man-made mineral fibers(MMMF) or synthetic vitreous fibers in the related industries. The average fiber length of the continuous filament glass, rock wool, refractory ceramic, and glass wool fibers production industries approximately 27, 28, 35, $50-105{\mu}m$. Airborne glass fibers were longest in all the type of MMMFs. The average diameters of airborne fibers generated from refractory ceramic, rock wool, glass wool, continuous filament glass fibers production industries were approximately 1.0, 1.6, 1.5-4 and $10{\mu}m$, respectively. The percentages of respirable fibers(<$3{\mu}m$) were 94% for RCFs, 73% for rock wool fibers, 61.0% for glass fibers, and 1.6% for filament glass fibers. The length of glass fibers were the longest in all types of fibers, and length of the others were similar. The refractory ceramic fibers were smallest in diameters and highest in fraction of respirable fibers.

In this study, occupational exposures to man-made mineral fibers (MMMFs) including glass wool, rock wool, and continuous glass filament fibers were determined and evaluated on the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV). A total of 171 personal samples collected from 4 glass wool fiber, 2 rock wool fibers, 4 continuous filament glass fiber products manufacturing and a glass fiber and rock wool insulations using industries, and determined respirable fibers concentrations using the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Method 7400, "B counting rule. The fiber concentrations of samples from workers installing thermal insulations in a MMMF using industry showed the highest value: geometric mean (GM) = 0.73 f/cc and maximum = 2.9 f/cc, 70% of them were above the TLV, 1 f/cc. Workers' exposure level (GM= 0.032 f/cc) in the rock wool manufacturing industries was significantly higher than those of glass wool (GM=0.012 f/cc) and continuous filament glass fibers (GM=0.010 f/cc) manufacturing industries (p<0.01). No samples were more than the TLV in the MMMF manufacturing industries. There was a significant difference among companies in airborne fiber levels.

There are growing needs for improving the general performances of the domestic working environment evaluation organizations. For this purpose, introduction of laboratory accreditation program has been suggested. This study was conducted as a part of this effort. With a questionnaire developed in accordance with the ISO/IEC 17025, the current status of industrial hygiene (IH) laboratories in terms of manpower, management and technical aspects. The results of this study were as follows: 1. The average working staffs' number of the working environment evaluation organizations was $6.8{\pm}3.3$ persons. In addition, 49% of all organizations are run by less than 5 persons. This suggests that manpower of Korean IH laboratories is very limited. 2. IH laboratories surveyed in this study obtained 53% of the points by the international standard. And there is significant correlation between the number of staffing and total scores (P<0.05). 3. The period of work experience is one of the most important factors to determine the working capability. The average year of work experience of the laboratories' directors was $13.5{\pm}5.3$ years. Directors with more wok experiences obtained higher scores on the questions that ask to prove the appropriateness of the research methodology (p<0.05). 4. As for academic qualifications of laboratory directors, 14% had Ph.D., 31% with Master's, 29% with Bachelor's, and 4% had Associate degree. There was significant correlation between the total scores and the general managers' academic background (p<0.05). The 27% of laboratory directors have majored in either industrial hygiene or health, 8% majored in medicine, another 8% majored environmental studies, and 6% majored in chemistry. 5. Only 14% of all IH laboratories surveyed employ directors with Certified Industrial Hygienist licence, 41% have general managers with Certified Associate Industrial Hygienist (Level 1) licence, and 45% of all laboratories either employ directors without relevant qualification or did not respond. When the laboratory manger holds relevant qualification, laboratory health and safety management was better (p<0.05). 6. When compared to the general international standard in terms of the management, and 55% in terms of technological level.

Ventilation effect is analyzed for boiler building with multiple heat sources. Air flow inside the boiler building is characterized as turbulent mixed convection. Analysis methodology is set up with two different $k-{\varepsilon}$ type models (standard $k-{\varepsilon}$, RNG $k-{\varepsilon}$). Two different cases with high and low outside temperature are analyzed. In case of high outside temperature condition, mixed convection is well realized inside the boiler building. With different upper louver opening rate, air flow is also well established and proper opening rate is found to meet design limit in case of low outside temperature condition. Difference of analysis results for two different turbulence models are not significant. Therefore, analysis methodology with simple $k-{\varepsilon}$ turbulence model is found to be reliable for the boiler building ventilation analysis. However, more simplified geometrical model is desired to expand its application.

This study was designed to find the symptom prevalence rates of musculoskeletal disorders and the risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders among selected hair dressers. Methods; The survey were conducted from July 1 to 30, 2004 for 459 hair dressers working in Seoul and Gwangju using self-administration questionnaire. The risk factors on musculoskeletal disorders have analysed by multiple linear regression analysis. The results of this study are summarized as follows: The experience rate of musculoskeletal disorders symptom in the last one year was 56.4%. The experience rates of each body parts were 36.4% on the shoulders, 30.5% on the legs and the feet, 28.5% on the low back, 27.0% on the hand and the fingers, 23.3% on the neck and 17.0% on the arms and the elbows. The prevalence rate of musculoskeletal disorders symptom in the last one week was 40.5%, those of each body parts were 24.0% on the legs and the feet, 21.4% on the shoulders, 20.7% on the low back, 15.7% on the hand and the wrists, 15.0% on the neck, 9.4% on the arms. The risk factors on musculoskeletal disorders were working posture(${\beta}=0.32$), perceived stress(${\beta}=0.19$), working period(${\beta}=0.16$), standing working over 10 hour(${\beta}=0.16$), hard working(${\beta}=0.11$). The adjusted determinant coefficient($R^2$) of this regression model was 0.267. Based on the results, in order to prevent musculoskeletal disorders of hair dressers, working posture shall be improved and leisure opportunities to relieve stress, and health management program shall be provided.

To investigate the field applicability of a diffusive sampler (3M OVM #3500, passive sampling method) authors conducted a simultaneous measurement of personal organic solvents exposure in the air of the workplaces by charcoal tube with low volume sampler (active sampling method) and diffusive sampler. Samples were collected and analyzed by NIOSH method ($NMAM^{(R)}$) from thirty-eight workers in 12 factories who work in 6 different processes. Geometric mean (GM) and geometric standard deviation (GSD) were used to describe the result. To compare the results of the two methods, paired t-test was used. According to the manual of the exposure assessment of the mixed organic solvents (Ministry of Labor, Korea), Em was calculated. Simple linear regression was used to evaluate the relationship between the two methods. Results were as follows; 1. Eight different solvents (ethyl acetate, n-hexane, toluene, xylene, acetone, isopropyl alcohol, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and methyl isobutyl ketone) were detected simultaneously in the two methods and the concentrations of the personal exposure were lower than 0.5 TLV level. The concentration of the charcoal tube method was higher than that of a diffusive sampler in n-hexane and MEK (p<0.05). 2. Em of the charcoal tube method was higher than that of diffusive sampler method but not significantly different and was lower than the OEL (Occupational Exposure Limit) in all 6 processes. 3. There was a significant correlation between the two methods in low concentrations of the 8 organic solvents (p<0.05). In conclusion, there was no difference in charcoal tube method and diffusive sampler method in low concentrations of some organic solvents, diffusive sampler can be applied to assess the personal monitoring in low level exposure.

This study was conducted to examine whether a specific synthetic metalworking fluid (MWF), "A", in use for 10 months without replacement, displayed microbial resistance and to identify the additives associated with the control of microbial growth. Three synthetic MWF products ("A", "B", and "C") were studied every week for two months. Microbial deterioration of the fluids was assessed through evaluation by endotoxin, bacteria and fungi levels in the MWFs. In addition, formaldehyde, boron, ethanolamine, and copper levels were also studied to determine whether they influence microbial growth in water-based MWFs. Throughout the entire study in the sump where MWF "A" was used, bacteria counts were lower than 103 CFU/mL, and endotoxins never exceeded 103 EU/mL. These levels were significantly lower than levels observed in sumps badly deteriorated with microbes. Boron levels in MWF "A" ranged from 91.7 to 129.6 ppm, which was significantly higher than boron levels found in other MWF products. The total level of ethanolamine (EA) in MWF "A" ranged from 35,595 to 57,857 ppm (average 40,903 ppm), which was over ten times higher than that found in other MWFs. Monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA) concentrations in MWF "A" were also significantly higher than seen in other MWFs. However, although EA and boron might improve anti-microbial performance, their abuse can pose a serious risk to workers who handle MWFs. From an industrial hygiene perspective, our study results stress that the positive synergistic effect of boron and EA in reducing microbial activity in MWF must be balanced with the potentially negative health effects of such additives. Our study also addresses the disadvantage of failing to comprehensively report MWF additives on Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). Future research in MWF formulation is needed to find the best level of EA and boron for achieving optimal synergistic anti-microbial effects while minimizing employee health hazards.

Air-line mask is an important personal protective equipment for workers working under hazardous surroundings in which a fixed ventilation system is difficult to be installed. If the air-line mask make loud noise, works wearing the mask may be faced with health problems such as noise induced hearing loss(NIHL). The purpose of this study is to introduce a low noisy technology for workers using air-line mask. A traditional type air-line has been improved to an advanced air-line mask with lesser noise. In the mask, air suppling conduits consists of multi tubes are placed inside of the front of the safety helmet. The noise level reduced from 80dB(A) to less than 80dB(A) when measured by KS A 0701 method at Center for Safety Inspection, Testing and Certification for KOSHA. It is suitable for related regulation[Article 35 of the Industrial Safety and Health Act(Test of Personal Protective Equipment)]. While workers working in noise level of over 90dB(A), they may expose to 82dB(A) or less when they wear the advanced masks. This type masks can be an alternative for works suffering from loud noise generated by traditional air-line masks.