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http://dx.doi.org/10.15269/JKSOEH.2021.31.2.156

Trends of Industrial Injuries among Long-Term Health Care Workers in Korea  

Son, Mia (Department of preventive medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University)
Jeon, Geo-Song (Department of Safety and Environmental Technology Convergence, Graduate School, Hoseo University)
Bae, Dong-Chul (Department of Safety and Environmental Technology Convergence, Graduate School, Hoseo University)
Son, Byungchang (Department of Rehabilitation Technology, Korea Nazarene University)
Kim, Taeun (Department of preventive medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University)
Yun, Jae-Won (Department of preventive medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University)
Publication Information
Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene / v.31, no.2, 2021 , pp. 156-172 More about this Journal
Abstract
Objectives: To investigate the trends of industrial injuries among long-term health care workers in Korea Methods: T7866 injuries were selected from the total industrial injuries approved by the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act(Occupational Safety and Health Act) among long-term health care workers between 2007 and 2016 in Korea. We analyzied the trends of industrial injuries according to work process, occurrence type, and causes. Results: The industrial injuries among long-term health care workers increased since 2012. The mostly occurred area for industrial injuries were low back areas, which is related that the most serious industrial injuries occurred when the one long-term healthcare worker lift manually the recipient, from bed(ondol, Korean floor heating system) to a wheelchair, bed to bath bed, and wheelchair to bath chair. In addition to this, lack of workforce, increased work intensity due to overwork contributed the increasing of occupational injury. Conclusions: This study suggests that the main causes of industrial injuries were Lack of facilities and equipment for small private long-term care institutions, The physical load that goes into lifting the recipient directly, work intensity such as excessive workload and increased work speed. We suggest that the social publicization of long-term care service for the elderly, avoiding ways to lift recipients directly, introducing lifting machines as well as improving working methods, and reducing the workload of caregivers are required.
Keywords
industrial injuries; long-term health care workers; physical load; manually lifting; social publicization;
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