• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.281-291
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• 1996

458 female workers working in the small and medium scaled industries in Inchon area were surveyed to study their general characteristics, health behavior, working and environmental conditions, awareness of exposure at hazardous materials, current health status, and degree of working satisfaction. Self-administered questionnaire was distributed to the female workers with the explanation by trained interviewer on the purpose of survey and the method how to answer. The results were as follows : (1) 75.5% of the respondents are living with their families and others are living in domitary or rent house for herself. Age distribution ranges from teenagers to warren in their forties. In marital status 69.0% of workers are single and 31.0% of them have ever married. 69.4% of workers are high school graduate. The size of factory is 48.3% with less than 300 workers, 42.1% with 300~500 workers. (2) Most of the workers(86.7%) are full time workers, 52% of the respondents have working experiences in other factories. More than 65% have fewer than 5 years working experience. (3) The awareness of exposure at noise was 33% of respondents, it was significantly different by skilled status. The awareness of exposure at dust, other hazardous material was each 13.3%, 12.4% of respondents. (4) 26% of them are unsatisfied with their working cognitions and 43.7% of them are unsatisfied with their welfare in occupational system unsatisfactory rate of promotion is higher in the unmarried workers(45.6%), skilled workers(47.2%), full time workers(47.4%), long term workers(50%), and awareness group of exposure hazardous material(51.3%), compared to married women workers, unskilled workers, part-time workers, short term workers and unawareness group of exposure at hazardous materials. (5) The index of working satisfaction is rated on a scale of 1 to 10 with the higher point indicating higher satisfaction. Among the selected variables, marital status, working status, the awareness of exposure at hazardous materials, were statistically significant with the index of working satisfaction. (6) By multiple regression analysis showed that the determinant factors of index of working condition were health index, the awareness of exposure at dust, the awareness of exposure other hazardous materials, marital status and working period. In conclusion, there is a significant relationship between the awareness of exposure at hazardous material the index of working satisfaction. Therefore if the workers are less exposed to the hazardous material and are educated properly they will be more satisfied with their work thus improving their health and productivity. Finally, with the result of this study, there is a great need for the development of a health promotion program and a welfare policy for small-scale factories.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.59-77
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• 1990

The purpose of this study was to provide the basic data for the effective health management of the industrial workers, by classifying factors influencing their perceived symptoms to examine their health status and identifying the inter' relationship of their perceived symptom with their working department. the environment of working area and their general characteristics. The study was undertaken from October 1 to November 30. 1989. The subjects were 999 workers who had worked in Industrial Corps located in Chungbuk Province. The results of this study were as follows: I . Worker's perceived symptoms were classified according to the following eight factors; 1) musculo - skeletal symptoms of shoulder, neck, back and arm 2) optical symptoms 3) symptoms in head(such as headache and dull) 4) musculo - skeletal symptoms of leg and lower back 5) gastro - intestinal symptoms 6) mental symptoms. 7) neural symptoms 8) lung and heart symptoms II . The degrees of workers' perception of perceived symptoms; Mean score of perceived symptoms:7.0 The rank of degrees of perceived symptoms: The highest:musculo - skeletal symptoms of shoulder, neck, back, and arm The second:optical symptoms The third:musculo - skeletal symptoms of leg and lower back The fourth:mental symptoms the fifth:gastro-intestinal symptoms m . Analysis of the inter-relationship of perceived symptoms with working department, environment of working area and general characteristics; 1) sexuality The difference of degrees of perceived symptoms was significant;femanle was higher than male(P<0.000). 2) level of education The difference of degrees of perceived symptoms according to the level of education was significant; The higher the level of education, the higher the degree. 3) working department The working department played a significant part in the degrees of perceived symptoms of workers; Workers of assembling department:musculo-skeletal symptoms both of shoulder. neck, back and arm and of leg and lower back(P<0.000). Workers of inspection department:optical symptoms(P<0.05). Office workers:mental symptoms(P<0.05). 4) kinds of job The difference of the degrees of perceived symptoms according to kinds of job was significant; Workers dealing with chemical materials and workers dealing with job with high tension:gastro-intestinal symptoms and symptoms in head. Workers dealing with weighty things or working a long time with the same posture:musculo-skeletal symptoms both of shoulder, neck, back and arm and of lower back(P<0.000). 5) working posture The difference of the degrees of perceived symptoms related with working posture was significant; Sitting:optical symptoms(P<0.0000) and symptoms in head(P<0.005) Standing:musculo-skeletal symptoms of leg and lower back(P<0.0000). 6) satisfaction with their own duty The more dissatisfien they were. the higher became the degrees of their perceived symptoms(P<0.0001). 7) satisfaction with their working condition The more dissatisfied with their working condition they were, the higher became the degrees of their perceived symptoms(P<0.001). 8) environment of working area The environment of working area played a significant part in the degrees of perceived symptoms of workers; Workers exposed to most of the factors of the environment of working area were higher than those not exposed in the degrees of musculoskeletal symptoms. Workers in the noisy environment:optican symptoms(P<0.000), symptoms in head(P<0.005). Workers in the damp environment:optical symptoms(P<0.005) and lung and heart symptoms(P <0.01). Workers with illumination problem:optical symptoms(P<0.000), mental symptoms(P<0.005) and neural symptoms(P<0.01). Workers with ventilation problem:optical symptoms and lung and heart symptoms(P<0.001)

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.100-108
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• 1993

The purpose of this study was to identify the workers the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of industrial health care services. The study was conducted from Dec 10, 1992 to Jan 20, 1993. The data was collected from 849 workers in 56 companies in Busan City. The data was analyzed by using the mean, S.D>, T-test, ANOVA. The tool for measuring the degree of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of industrial health care of workers was developed by community health nursing academy and the reliability an of the tool was 0.82810. The results were as follows : 1. The general characteristics of workers : Distribution of workers consisted of laborer(55.0%), office workers(45.0%), in an age range from 25-39(55.0%), male employees were(69.7%), married employees were(62.4%), the educational level with the highest percentage was high school graduates(54.2%). The present work force had a career for 7 years or more with an income of 300-700 thousand won monthly(43.2). 2. The degree of Knowledge Attitude and Practice about industrial health care services of workers : The total score of the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice was 49.09 points out of a possible 80(mean Score=2.46) 1) The total score of the Knowledge was 15.73 points out of 24. (Mean score=2.62) The following are the Knowledge scores: The necessity examination of occupational disease was(3.34) The knowledge of occupational disease was (3.12) The knowledge of health education was(1.29) 2) b. The total score of the Attitude was 26.01 point out of 44(mean score=2.36) The following are the Attitude scores: The necessity of health education for health examination was (3.14). The importance of health examination was(3.08) The necessity of measurement for working environment was(2.99). The satisfaction of the content in the periodic health examination was low(1.81). 3) The total score of the Practice was 7.35 points out of 12(mean score=2.45) The following are the orders of Practice scores: The participation in health examination was higher than in health education(1.33). 3. The general characteristics and the degree of knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of workers of industrial health care. 1) The level of worker's knowledge was significantly related by working part(t=2.54 P=0.000), marital status(F=4.35 P=0.029), educational level(F=3.91 and P=0.020), monthly income(F=2.98 P=0.029) 2) There were no significant difference between the general characteristics and the attitude of workers. 3) The practice was significantly related with working part(T=2.52 P=0.012), sex(T=2.28 P=0.23), marital status(F=4.25 P=0.012), monthly income (F=2.76 P=0.034) 4) The total score had a significant difference with working part(T=2.39 P=0.017), sex (T=3.84 P=0.000), marital status (F=3.18 P=0.032). Educational level (F=3.20 P=0.033), and monthly income(F=3.05 P=0.022).

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.5-19
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• 1998

This descriptive-correlational study was conducted to identify the major factors affecting health promoting behaviors. 344 workers who employed in four different manutacturing plants in Taegu and Kyungbuk area were selected by convenience sampling method. Data were collected from April let to April 18th, 1998 by ready structured questionaires. The purpose of this study was to offer the basic data for health promotion theory development and health promotion strategy planning. This study was based on Pender's Health Promotion Model and examined three variables health promoting behavior, self-concept and perceived importance of health. The Life Style and Health Habit Assessment scale(LHHA) developed by Pender(1982).The Self-concept scale developed by Choi(1972) and the Health Value scale developed by Wallston, Maides and Wallston(1980) were used for this study. Data was analyzed by percentage, mean. t-test. ANOVA, Pearson Correlation Coefficient, and Stepwise Multiple Regression. The major findings of this study are as follows ; 1. The average level of health promoting behavior practice was 63.2% and possible range was from 62 to 248 point. The mean score of respondent's positive self-concept was 75.8. 81.4% of respondents put a high priority on the importance of health. 2. There was a significant difference between the practice level in the category of general self care and less amount of working hours per day(P=0.000), less amount of working hours per week(P=0.000). There was a significant difference between the practice level in the category of nutrition and age(0.002), marital status(0.000), working hour per day(0.008), working hours per week(0.001), There was a significant difference between the practice level in the category of nutriton and sex(0.000), age(0.000), marital status(0.025), education level(0.000), working hours per day(0.002), working hours per week(0.006). There was a significant difference between the practice level in the category of sleep and rest and age(0.003), marital status(0.002), working hours per day(0.001), working hours per week(0.001). There was a significant difference between the practice level in the category of stress management and working hours per day(0.001), working hours per week(0.002). There was a significant difference between the practice level in the category of self-actualization and working hours per day(0.050). 3. General characteristics influencing the respodent's self-concept were level(P=0.009) and worksite(P=0.001). 4. The results of the hypothesis tests are as follows The first hypothesis, that "The respondent who have more positive self-concept will have higher scores in the practice of health promoting behavior." was supported(r=0.2973, P=0.0001). The second hypothesis that "The respondent who have higher perception level on importance of health will have higher scores in the practice health promoting behavior." was rejected(r=- 0665, P=0.2225). 5. The most important factor that affects health promoting behavior practice was working hours per week(6.0%). The combination of working hours per week, age, education level accounted for 10.0% of the variance in health promoting behavior. In conclusion, the results of this study on industrial workers supported Pender's health promotion model in partial and showed the relatedness between self concept and the practice of health promoting behavior. Further research is required to find factors influencing health promoting behaviors of industrial workers.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.239-254
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• 1996

Health services on industrial noisy environment have been provided only for noise-induced hearing loss management until now. But gradually, modem diseases and death have come to be related to stress and mental health deeply, therefore noise-induced mental disorder, like a stress became very important. In this point, the purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between noise exposure level in worksite and workers' stress symptoms. This study included a survey of 786 manual workers selected from 89 worksites in 21 factories in Puchon. The results were as follows: 1. For demographic characteristics, most of the workers were males(80.8%), the $20\sim29years$ old were 34.5% and those who graduated from high school were 65.3%. The workers whose monthly income ranged from 100,000 to 800,000 won were 37.5% and who have a religion were 47.9%. 2. For occupational characteristics, workers who had worked $1\sim5$ years in the factories were 33.0%. Those who were much for them workload were 43.9% and who worked more than 8 hours a day were 73.9%. Those who were disatisfied with their job and pay were 31.9% and 50.6%. The workers who responsed ventilation condition of their worksites were bad were 51.9% and the dissatisfed with working environment of their worksites were 45.9%. 3. Workers who were suffering from tinnitus were 53.3% and those who perceived hearing loss were 50.1%. Persons who reported they always wore earplugs at work were 35.4%. Those who felt earplugs bigger than their ears were 30.6% and those who experienced eardiseases caused by earplugs were 25.6%. 4. For the noise exposure level in worksite, workers who were exposed to $80\sim90dB$ were 30.3%, $90\sim100dB$ were 26.4% and $50\sim70dB$ were 19.2%. 5. Workers' stress symptoms were significantly related to marital status and their monthly income(p<0.05). Workers who were single and had lower monthly income showed higher PSI (Psychiatric Symptom Index) scores than those who were married and had higher monthly income. Higher PSI scores were also significantly related to $1\sim2$ days hight-work per week, much for them workload, dissatisfaction with their job, and bad relationship with their bosses and coworkers. 6. Higher PSI scores were significantly related to severe tinnitus and perceived hearing losso(p<0.001). Workers who felt the earplugs they use did not fit their ears showed significantly higher PSI scores(p<0.01). Workers who reported that they did not feel they need earplugs showed. significantly higher PSI scores (p<0.05). Increased experience of eardisease caused by earplugs that did not fit were also significantly related to higher PSI scores(p<0.01). 7. The higher noise exposure level in worksite from 80dB was, the more severe stress symptoms including PSI subparts were reported; Anxiety, Anger, Depression, and Cognitive disorder(p<0.001). 5. According to the results of stepwise multiple regression analysis, factors affecting workers' PSI scores were perceived hearing loss$(R^2=0.160)$, noise exposure level in worksite$(R^2=0.110)$, realtionship with coworkers, amount of workload, monthly income and relationship with bosses orderly and the total $R^2$ of this 6 factors was 0.371. 9. The most significant factors that have impact on manual workers' stress symptoms were perceived hearing loss and noise exposure level in worksite, especially noise exposure level in the worksite was the most affective factor on the depression symptom.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 대한기관식도과학회 1972년도 춘계종합 학술대회 초록집
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• pp.7-8
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• 1972

The effects of noise exposure are of two types: Nonauditory effects and auditory effects. Nonauditory effects of noise exposure are interference with communication by speech, sleeping and emotional behavior. The noise will cause the high blood pressure and rapid pulse, also that decrease the salivation and gastric juice. in experimentaly showed that the Corticoid hormon: Gonatotropic hormone were decrease and Thyrotropic hormoone is increase. Auditory effect of noise exposure. when the normal ear is exposed to noise at noise at hamful intensities (above 90㏈) for sufficiently long periods of time, a temoral depression of hearing results, disappearing after minutes or hours of rest. When the exposure longer or intesity greater is reached the Permanent threshold shift called noise-induced hearing loss. Hearing loss resulting from noise exposure presents legal as well as medical problems. The otologist who examines and evaluates the industrial hearing loss cases must be properly informed, not only concerning the otologic but also about the physical and legal aspects of the problems. The measurement of hearing ability is the most important part of a hearing conservation, both preplacement and periodic follow-up tests of hearing. The ideal hearing conservation program would be able to reduce or eliminate the hazardous noise at its source or by acoustic isolation of noisy working area and two ear protections (plugs and muff type) were developed for personal protection.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• 제56권4호
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• pp.457-473
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• 2023

Asbestos has been produced, imported and used in various industries in Korea over the past decades. Since asbestos causes fatal diseases such as malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer, the use of asbestos has been generally banned in Korea since 2009. However, there are still many asbestos-containing materials around us, and safe management is urgently needed. This study aims to examine asbestos-related trend changes using major asbestos-related keywords based on the asbestos trend analysis using big data for the past 32 years (1991 to 2022) in Korea. In addition, we reviewed both domestic trends related to the production, import, and use of asbestos before 1990 and asbestos-related policies from 2023 to 2027. From 1991 to 2000, main keywords related to asbestos were research, workers, carcinogens, and the environment because the carcinogenicity of asbestos was highlighted due to domestic production, import, and use of asbestos. From 2001 to 2010, the main keywords related to asbestos were lung cancer, litigation, carcinogens, exposure, and companies because lawsuits were initiated in the US and Japan in relation to carcinogenicity due to asbestos. From 2011 to 2020, the high ranking keywords related to asbestos were carcinogen, baseball field, school, slate, building, and abandoned asbestos mine due to the seriousness of the asbestos problem in Korea. From 2021 to present (2023), the main search keywords related to asbestos such as school, slate (asbestos cement), buildings, landscape stone, environmental impact assessment, apartment, and cement appeared.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.381-391
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• 1997

In an epidemiological study of metal workers exposed to metalworking fluids (MWF), the prevalence time of Evolution, seasonal occurrence and clinical type of contact dermatitis were investigated. Compostional analysis of MWF with HPLC, dermatological examination and two consecutive questionnaire surveys were conducted. Study population was divided into two groups ; workers contact to cutting oil and workers contact to rust preventive oil. In the analysis of MWF, aliphatic hydrocarbons, having 12-20 carbons, was most common composition(49.04%) of cutting oil otherwise, major contents (90.99%) of the rust preventives oil were aliphatic hydrocarbons composed of 6-9 carbons. The frequency (point prevalence) of contact dermatitis(CD) was 7(12.7 per 100 subjects) in the dermatological examination of 55 workers. As the result of second survey for contact dermatitis, cumulative prevalence of oil working full-time and recent 1 year prevalence in two groups were 28.0, 16.7 and 15.1, 12.5 per 100 subjects. There were no difference in the prevalence of CD by oil, age, oil contact duration. Summer is the most common evolution season in workers exposed to cutting oil, but not in workers exposed to rust preventive oil. Major clinical type of CD was erythematous papules in both groups. It presents the importance of preventive measures that 51.1% suffer from contact dermatitis had medical care at their own expense, and 47.1% of them felt serious about their contact dermatitis. From the fact that 68.6% think cotton gloves protective apparatus, we emphasize the need for health education.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.131-145
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• 2003

This study was conducted to estimate the incidence and the degree of cigarette smoking and drinking among working men, and then to investigate the effects on blood pressure, various hematological indices and blood chemistry. The sample consisted of 2,287 male workers who had undertaken a general health check-up during the two-year period from January, 2000 to December, 2001. Such factors as blood pressure, blood glucose, lipid profiles, and liver function tests were determined and then analyzed with respect to the subjects smoking and/or drinking status. The major findings from this study are: 1. The drinking and smoking status have shown that 52.7% of participants were in the habit of both drinking and smoking while 11.6% were not associated with either. On the other hand 25.4% were involved only in drinking and 10.2% only in smoking. In the group smoking over 21 cigarettes per day over 30, the age group occupied the largest proportion at 20.1%. 2. Regarding the relationship between smoking and/or drinking status, and blood pressure, hematology and blood chemistry, the smoking and/or drinking group had significantly higher levels of blood pressure, both systolic and diastolic, Hb & Hct, TG, LDL-C, SGOT, and ${\gamma}$-GTP, than the non-smoking and/or non-drinking group. But HDL-C was significantly lower in the smoking group and significantly higher in the drinking group than the non-smoking/non-drinking group. 3. Regarding amount smoked, a larger number of cigarettes per day was significantly associated with the higher levels of blood pressure, systolic and diatolic, TG, TC, LDL-C, Hb, Hct, and ${\gamma}$-GTP. As for the amount druck, an increasing amount of alcohol intake was associated with rising levels of blood pressure, systolic and diatolic, TG, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, Hb, SGOT, and ${\gamma}$-GTP. 4. Regarding the correlation among all the variables stated above, the smoking and drinking amount was shown to be in the positive correlation with blood pressure, both systolic and diastolic, TG, TC, Hb, and ${\gamma}$-GTP. On the contrary, LDL-C and HDL-C was in a positive correlation only with the amount drunk amount, and Hct only with the amount smoked. 5. As with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, the odds ratio of the smoking group was 2.35 and 2.58 compared to the non-smoking/drinking group. whereas it was 1.47 and 1.75 in the smoking/drinking group. Concerning serum lipids, the smoking/drinking group had 1.97 times the levels of TG in the non-smoking/non-drinking group, though the smoking group had 1.55 times the levels of HDL-C in the non-smoking/non-drinking group. As with liver function test results, the drinking group had 2.50 times and the smoking/drinking group had 4.41 times the levels of ${\gamma}$-GTP in the non-smoking/drinking group. respectively. The above results revealed that smoking and alcohol intake were effected the results of blood pressure and laboratory tests. Specifically, not only the smoking/drinking group but also those only smoking or only drinking were not as desirable as the non-smoking and non-drinking group to the results of blood pressure and laboratory tests.