• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.1-26
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• 2008

This essay explores the possibility of risk epistemology based on STS perspective. The starting point is the modern society's dilemma that the more technoscience has been developed, the more modern society has become riskier. The conventional risk epistemology, based on modernist dualism, has a tendency to be negligent of the relationship between risk society and technoscience, since it has only paid attention to either side of objectivity of risk or context of risk. In contrast, STS perspective on risk makes a point of focusing on the need of constructing the comprehensive risk epistemology, instead of the traditional approach based on modernist dualism. Now, this perspective goes ahead through "bridging" between objective risk(nature) and contextual risk(society) toward co-production of risk, as a result that we can no more turn our head from the emergence of new hybrids and, in turn, increase of complexity of heterogeneous networks. As such I suggest the concept of technosphere so as to reflect and display these characteristics of this perspective, and assess the potentiality of the concept.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.105-121
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• 2011

Objectives: This paper presents the framework and protocol design for a construction industry risk management toolbox. The construction industry needs a comprehensive, systematic approach to assess and control occupational risks. These risks span several professional health and safety disciplines, emphasized by multiple international occupational research agenda projects including: falls, electrocution, noise, silica, welding fumes, and musculoskeletal disorders. Yet, the International Social Security Association says, "whereas progress has been made in safety and health, the construction industry is still a high risk sector." Methods: Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) employ about 80% of the world's construction workers. In recent years a strategy for qualitative occupational risk management, known as Control Banding (CB) has gained international attention as a simplified approach for reducing work-related risks. CB groups hazards into stratified risk 'bands', identifying commensurate controls to reduce the level of risk and promote worker health and safety. We review these qualitative solutions-based approaches and identify strengths and weaknesses toward designing a simplified CB 'toolbox' approach for use by SMEs in construction trades. Results: This toolbox design proposal includes international input on multidisciplinary approaches for performing a qualitative risk assessment determining a risk 'band' for a given project. Risk bands are used to identify the appropriate level of training to oversee construction work, leading to commensurate and appropriate control methods to perform the work safely. Conclusion: The Construction Toolbox presents a review-generated format to harness multiple solutions-based national programs and publications for controlling construction-related risks with simplified approaches across the occupational safety, health and hygiene professions.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4815-4821
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• 2014

Background: This study aimed to examine the relationship between respiratory health of Malaysian adolescents with secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and smoke-free legislation (SFL) implementation. Materials and Methods: A total of 898 students from 21 schools across comprehensive- and partial-SFL states were recruited. SHS exposures and respiratory symptoms were assessed via questionnaire. Prenatal and postnatal SHS exposure information was obtained from parental-completed questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of respiratory symptoms was: 11.9% ever wheeze, 5.6% current wheeze, 22.3% exercise-induced wheeze, 12.4% nocturnal cough, and 13.1% self-reported asthma. SHS exposure was most frequently reported in restaurants. Hierarchical logistic regression indicates living in a comprehensive-SFL state was not associated with a lower risk of reporting asthma symptoms. SHS exposure in public transport was linked to increased risk for wheeze (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 16.6; 95%confidence interval (CI), 2.69-101.7) and current wheezing (AOR 24.6; 95%CI, 3.53-171.8). Conclusions: Adolescents continue to be exposed to SHS in a range of public venues in both comprehensive- and partial-SFL states. Respiratory symptoms are common among those reporting SHS exposure on public transportation. Non-compliance with SFL appears to be frequent in many venues across Malaysia and enforcement should be given priority in order to reduce exposure.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.369-389
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• 2011

Changes in ecosystem risks were evaluated using the ecosystem-based fisheries assessment (EBFA) approach of Zhang et al. (2009, 2010) and the comprehensive ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) plan was made for the southern sea of Korea in this study. The risk assessment of the southern sea ecosystem was conducted by establishing ecosystem management objectives and by estimating risk scores (RS) for indicators. To conduct this analysis a number of indicators and their reference points for assessing these risk scores were developed in this study. The number of indicators in the risk analysis was 28 for the quantitative tier 1 analysis and 30 for the qualitative tier 2 analysis. The objective risk index (ORI), species risk index (SRI) and fisheries risk index (FRI) were calculated from the risk scores. Comparing the past (1988) and the current (2008) status of fisheries resources, management implications were discussed. The fishery risk index (FRI) of large purse seine fishery in the southern sea of Korea decreased substantially from 0.972 in 1988 to 0.883 in 2008, and improvement in the management of fisheries operated in the southern sea of Korea.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.2857-2870
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• 2015

Although the incidence of breast cancer in Asia remains lower than in North America, Western Europe, and Oceania, rates have been increasing rapidly during the past few decades, and Asian countries now account for 40% of breast cancer cases diagnosed worldwide. Breast cancer mortality has also increased among Asian women, in contrast to decreased mortality in Northern America, Western Europe, and Oceania. These increased rates are associated with higher prevalence of breast cancer risk factors (e.g., reduced parity, delayed childbirth, increased obesity) that have accompanied economic development throughout the region. However, Asian regions (western, south-central, south-eastern, and eastern) and countries differ in the types and magnitude of changes in breast cancer risk factors, and cannot be viewed as a single homogeneous group. The objective of this paper was to contrast the heterogeneous epidemiology of breast cancer by Asian regions and countries, and to suggest potential avenues for future research.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.535-545
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• 2012

Recently, drinking water quality has significantly improved with the progress of water treatment technologies, however, customer's trust on tap water is still relatively low. Low trust on water quality is mainly due to vague anxiety. Therefore, to improve customer's trust on drinking water quality new strategy such as water safety plan(WSP) which recommended by WHO and IWA should be introduced. WSP can be defined as an approach which uses comprehensive risk assessment and risk management approach that encompasses all steps in water supply from catchment to consumer to ensure the safety of a drinking water supply. In this study, cases on WSP introduction in other countries as well as strategy for the introduction of WSP in Korea were investigated. In addition, recommendations on the improvement of the current water contamination response manual was suggested based on the analysis of the existing manual at a full scale water treatment plant.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Navigation
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 1993

According to careful study on the COLREGS, 1972, we can easily find out a main point that is to eliminate risk of collision at sea through exercising due regard to all danger of navigation and collision and to any special circumstances including the limitation of the vessels involved, or precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen. This paper, therefore, aims to clarify legal concept concerning the risk of collision so as to easier assimilate and understand by all mariner before being presented with a situation of danger in realty. After such a forethought and understanding the mariner will be in a position timely to implement the due regard or precaution to avoid collision by himself. For the purpose of good guidance, comprehensive legal practices of collision avoidance are adequately summarized by foreign and domestic cases.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.481-485
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• 2002

In these days, as the scale of our technology becomes larger and more highly advanced, the magnitude of an accident tends to be large. For this reason, in some systems whose accident may cause a large-scale and long-term catastrophe, a preliminary and quantitative safety assessment has become required before its construction. A method developed for this requirement is risk assessment. In this study, we focused on the methodology of probabilistic risk assessment, which has been developed mainly in the field of nuclear power industry, and considered the process to adopt this method to railway system in order to establish a scientific and comprehensive way of safety assessment.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2019.11a
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• pp.94-95
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• 2019

Recently, the importance of prevention has emerged for the management of construction safety accidents.. Accordingly, this study collects and quantifies various risk factors at the construction site to represent them as direct risks and to create a predictive process for prevention in advance. These risk figures can be used as comprehensive safety figures to reflect current site conditions and past accidentt cases. The prevention of industrial accidents is managed in advance through the development of applications thatt quantify and predict the risks of individuals working at construction sites. The purpose of the project is to reduce industrial accidents in the construction industry by supporting safety management of site managers and workers.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.183-191
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• 2015

Purpose: For the current article an examination was done as to whether engaging in sexual intercourse before or during adolescence has a negative impact on the suicidal behaviors of suicide ideation, suicide attempt, and suicide lethality and whether the impact varies according to the context of sexual intercourse and/or gender. Methods: Adolescents who experienced casual sex and romantic sex were compared to adolescents who retained their virginity. Data was from samples drawn from the three waves (2010~2012) of the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey. Logistic models were used to adjust for a wide array of confounding variables. Results: Any type of sexual intercourse increases risk of all suicidal behaviors. Sexual intercourse in a romantic relationship exhibits enhanced risk of suicidal behaviors compared to casual sex. Adjusting for experience of sexual violence, however, decreases risk of romantic sex substantially, turning some estimates statistically insignificant. In addition, risks for suicide lethality are greater for girls than boys. Conclusion: Romantic sex put adolescents at higher risk for suicidal behaviors than casual sex owing to prevalent sexual violence in the relationships. Girls suffer more substantively adverse outcomes than boys. These results suggest that adolescents will benefit from comprehensive education on sexuality and sexual behaviors regarding how to form and maintain a romantic relationship that is characterized by personal integrity and mutual respect. It is also important to help victims of sexual violence recover from traumatic events by providing emotional support and effective counseling.