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http://dx.doi.org/10.15269/JKSOEH.2015.25.3.405

Associations between Physical Factors and Working Conditions and Occupational Injuries among Korean Workers  

Park, Jung-hun (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine)
Sung, Joo-hyun (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine)
Sim, Chang-sun (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine)
Lee, Chan-boo (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine)
Park, Sang-jin (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine)
Lee, Ji-ho (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine)
Lee, Choong-ryeol (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine)
Publication Information
Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene / v.25, no.3, 2015 , pp. 405-417 More about this Journal
Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between physical factors, working conditions and occupational injuries among Korean workers. Methods: We used data from the 2nd Korean Working Conditions Survey, conducted in 2010. A total of 7,114 workers over 15 years of age were selected from among 10,019 Korean workers. The participants were interviewed using questionnaires. A multiple logistic regression model was used to analyze the associations among physical factors, working conditions and occupational injuries. Results: After the adjustment of socio-demographic factors, the odds ratio of injuries through physical factors such as vibration (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] 4.037, 95% CI 2.30-7.09), noise (aOR 4.562, 95% CI 2.64-7.89), high temperature (aOR 3.262, 95% CI 1.86-5.73), and low temperature (aOR 3.358, 95% CI 1.76-6.41) were greater in the exposed group than in the non-exposed group. The odds ratios of occupational injury(aOR 5.272, 95% CI 3.19-8.7 for very high speed work, aOR 3.303, 95% CI 1.95-5.60 for tight deadlines, and aOR 3.641, 95% CI 1.72-7.70 for not enough time to work) increased with increased work demands. Conclusions: In this study, physical factors such as vibration, noise, and high and low temperatures were significantly correlated with occupational injuries according to the increase in exposure intensity(p for trend <0.001). Also, working conditions such as high-speed work, tight deadlines and insufficient time to work showed significant associations with occupational injuries(p for trend<0.001).
Keywords
Korean working conditions survey; noise; occupational injuries; temperature; vibration;
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