• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.26 no.4 s.44
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• pp.587-598
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• 1993

Hydrofluoric acid is one of the strongest irritating, corrosive and poisonous inorganic chemicals. Hydrofluoric acid burns are occurring with ever-increasing frequency due to the wide use of this acid in industries. Hydrofluoric acid burns are characterized by severe progressive tissue destruction and excruciating pain due to the unique properties of the freely dissolvable fluoride ion. The authors reviewed medical records of 32 cases (36 spells) of hydrofluoric acid burns which occurred in a hydrofluoric acid manufacturing factory from Sep. 1, 1990 to June 30, 1993. The results are as follows; 1. Eleven measurements of air concentrations of hydrofluoric acid by detection tube method from 1990 to 1992 were all below TLV (Department of Labor, R.O. K). 2. There were 19 cases (22 spells) of hydrofluoric acid burns which occurred during the study period among regular employees. The overall incidence density of hydrofluoric acid was 17.8 cases (20.6 spells) per 100 person-year. Incidence density was 19.0 cases (22.0 spells) per 100 person-year among male workers and there were no female cases. Incidence density was 32.9 cases (38.3 spells) per 100 person-year among production workers and 1.9 cases (1.9 spells) per 100 person-years among management workers with the difference being statistically significant (P<0.01). 3. Of 32 cases (36 spells) of hydrofluoric acid burns among workers who were regularly employed or temporarily employed, 26 spells (81.2%) were between age 20 to 39. In 15 spells(41.7%) burns occurred between 12:00 and 17:59 with 16 spells(44.3%) having arrived at hospital within 2 hours after the accident. 4. Of 36 spells, the main cause of hydrofluoric acid burns were by splashes (8 spells, 22.2 %). The most frequent site of burns were fingers and pain was the most frequent symptom. Thirty spells (83.3%) of the hydrofluoric acid burns were treated with local injection of antidote (calcium gluconate). Complete recovery without scarring were observed in most of the cases (34 out of 36 cases, 94.4%). The study results suggest that to prevent hydrofluoric acid burns, environmental control and the wearing of hydrofluoric acid resistant protective clothes and gloves are important. It is also stressed that establishment of an emergency management and a transfer system for hydrofluoric acid burn victims is necessary.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.387-396
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• 2020

Objectives: The lack of advance planning in a public health emergency can lead to wasted resources and inadvertent loss of lives. This study is aimed at forecasting the needs for healthcare resources following the expansion of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the Republic of Kazakhstan, focusing on hospital beds, equipment, and the professional workforce in light of the developing epidemiological situation and the data on resources currently available. Methods: We constructed a forecast model of the epidemiological scenario via the classic susceptible-exposed-infected-removed (SEIR) approach. The World Health Organization's COVID-19 Essential Supplies Forecasting Tool was used to evaluate the healthcare resources needed for the next 12 weeks. Results: Over the forecast period, there will be 104 713.7 hospital admissions due to severe disease and 34 904.5 hospital admissions due to critical disease. This will require 47 247.7 beds for severe disease and 1929.9 beds for critical disease at the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak. There will also be high needs for all categories of healthcare workers and for both diagnostic and treatment equipment. Thus, Republic of Kazakhstan faces the need for a rapid increase in available healthcare resources and/or for finding ways to redistribute resources effectively. Conclusions: Republic of Kazakhstan will be able to reduce the rates of infections and deaths among its population by developing and following a consistent strategy targeting COVID-19 in a number of inter-related directions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.467-475
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to assess doses to ¹⁸F-FDG, a radioactive drug, during PET examinations, to alleviate anxiety about radiation in patients and carers, to minimize the indiscriminate examination progress caused by medical institution personnel and space clearance problems, and health examination. The dose assessment was measured using a thermo-fluorescent dosimeter (TLD) and an electronic personal dosimeter (EPD) at the location of the cervical (hypothyroid), thorax (heart), and lower abdomen (breeding line) which are the three highest tissue areas of the radiation tissue weighting. In addition, spatial dose rates and radioactivity in urine were measured using GM counters and ion boxes. The results are as follows: First, the personal dosimeter TLD was measured 0.0425±0.0277 mSv in the cervical region, 0.0440±0.0386 mSv in the thorax and 0.0485±0.0436 mSv in the lower abdomen, with little difference in the heart dose depending on radiation sensitivity. The EPD was measured at 0.942±0.141 mSv/h immediately after the cervical position, and 0.192±0.031 mSv/h after 120 minutes. Immediately after the thorax position, 0.516±0.085 mSv/h, 120 minutes later 0.128±0.040 mSv/h. Immediately after the lower abdomen position, 0.468±0.091 mSv/h, and after 120 minutes 0.105±0.021 mSv/h were measured. The spatial dose rate at the GM counter was measured immediately at 0.041±0.005 mSv/h, 120 minutes later at 0.014±0.002 mSv/h. The radioactivity in urine using ion chamber was measured at 0.113±0.24 MBq/cc after 60 minutes and 0.063±0.13 MBq/cc after 120 minutes. As a result, ¹⁸F-FDG should be administered, dose re-evaluated two hours after the PET test is completed, and caregivers should be avoided. In addition, it is deemed necessary to provide patients and carers with sufficient explanations and expected values of exposure dose to avoid reckless testing. It is hoped that the data tested in this study will help patients and families relieve anxiety about radiation, and that the radiation workers' exposure management system and institutional improvements will contribute to the development of medical radiation.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this study was to estimate the seropositive prevalence of blood-borne infection in neurotrauma patients who underwent emergent surgical intervention, especially patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), syphilis and human immunodefIciency virus (HIV). Methods: A retrospective review identified 559 patients with traumatic brain injury and spinal trauma who underwent emergent surgery between 2007 and 2014. We reviewed the medical records and extracted data, including age, sex, location of lesion, result of serologic tests, time interval of admission and surgery after presenting to emergency room. Serologic tests for HBV, HCV, syphilis and HIV were performed and analyzed to determine whether the seropositive results were confirmed by the surgeon before surgery. Results: The majority of the patients were male (74.6%), and the mean age was $55.4{\pm}20.2years$. Most patients underwent surgery due to traumatic brain injury (90.0%). Fifty-three patients (10.0%) showed a positive result on at least one serologic test. Seropositive rates according to pathogens were 0.5% for syphilis, 5.2% for HBV and 3.9% for HCV. No positive results were noted on the serologic tests for HIV. HBV in patients with spinal cord injury and age from 40 to 49 years were associated with high serologic positive rate, and that result was statistically significant. However, no statistically significant differences were found in the other variables. Serologic results could not confirmed before surgery in the majority of the cases (62.1%), and 10.4% of these patients showed seropositive results. Conclusion: The results of this study emphasize the importance of taking precautions and conducting rapid serologic testing in preventing the occupational transmission of blood-borne viruses to health-care workers.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.60-66
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• 2015

Purpose: Cultivator accidents are frequent and often lead to abdomino-perineal organ injury and, if severe, to death. This study presents the clinical characteristics, outcomes, and factors associated with mortality in patients who sustained an abdomino-perineal organ injury in cultivator accidents. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 53 patients who visited the emergency department of a tertiary hospital with abdomino-perineal organ injuries caused in cultivator accidents from April 2005 to March 2010. Results: All 53 patients had visited other medical institutions before visiting our hospital. Their mean age was $64.0{\pm}11.1$ (range, 20-80) years and 32 (60.4%) patients were 65 or older. The male-to-female ratio was 46:7. The chief complaint was abdominal pain (38 cases, 71.7%). The 53 patients included 41 cultivator operators (77.4%), 11 passengers (20.8%), and 1 passerby (1.9%). The causes of the injuries included a direct impact of the handlebar in 20 cases (37.7%), a rollover in 21 cases (39.6%), a fall in 10 cases (18.9%), and a wheel in two cases (3.8%). Several of the 53 patients had injuries to multiple abdomino-perineal organs, and the injured organs included the liver (23 cases, 26.4%), spleen (16 cases, 18.4%), pancreas (7 cases, 8.0%), small bowel (7 cases, 8.0%), mesentery (6 cases, 6.9%), adrenal gland (5 cases, 5.8%), and other organs. According to the abbreviated injury scale (AIS) dictionary, a thoracic injury was the most frequent co-injury (33 of 53 cases, 62.3%). Abdomino-perineal surgery was performed in 31 cases (58.8%) and angio-embolization was performed for six liver and two kidney injuries. Thirteen patients died (24.5%); all were males. The Injury Severity Scale (ISS) was lower in the survivors ($17.8{\pm}8.5$ vs. $27.0{\pm}16.0$; p=0.010). Conclusion: With the aging of agricultural workers, safety education programs should be implemented. Furthermore, the patient transfer system in agricultural areas must be improved.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.371-380
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• 2019

Electromygram was measured in three different cases; not wearing of a helmet, wearing of a 920g helmet, and wearing of a 1310g helmet, and it was revealed that there was a high level of muscle activities on the opposite side (sternocleidomastoid muscle) while the head and the neck were moving right and left and muscle activities of the curve and of the hyperextension were found to be not significant. Especially, the presence of a helmet seemed to cause a difference in a level of muscle activities on the deltoid and erector spine muscles while lifting or lowering with a weight placed on the deniz backboard. Therefore, it would be possible to assume that this newly developed smart helmet would not affect muscles around the necks of paramedics if they do not move their necks and heads right and left while lowering or lifting a patient using the deniz backboard. In addition, in case of the deltoid and erector spine muscles, it is shown that an increase in the degree of movement could lead to an increase in the level of muscle activities on the muscles controlling of the corresponding action, which are waist and back muscles. Despite it, it would be possible to prevent possible injuries and/or muscular and skeletal diseases around the lumbar by fully complying with a basic rule of straightening of the waist while making a power-lifting motion.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.520-529
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• 2019

This study is intended to provide basic data for health management of firefighters in the future by empirically looking into health hazard factors of firefighters in Busan City. It was revealed that firstly, the danger of harmful chemicals in a fire was perceived the most by firefighters, who extinguish a fire in person on the scene of a fire, and it was followed by the danger of falling while putting out a fire. This study is intended to provide basic data for health management of firefighters in the future by empirically looking into health hazard factors of firefighters in Busan City. It was revealed that firstly, the danger of harmful chemicals in a fire was perceived the most by firefighters, who extinguish a fire in person on the scene of a fire, and it was followed by the danger of falling while putting out a fire. Moreover, the danger of shift work was perceived the most by paramedics. This corresponds to the existing studies arguing that shift work is harmful to health. Next, the overload of patient transport was recognized as the second biggest hazard factor. This demonstrates they are worried about various second accidents that may happen due to a lot of patient transport works. In addition, the possibility of causing a traffic accident was perceived as a hazard factor too, since they must drive ambulance cars quickly to transport patients. Lastly, rescue workers regarded these hazard factors to be most dangerous. This is associated with their occupational characteristics, because rescue workers are the closest to diverse risks including a fire.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2024

Objectives: Presenteeism is known to be a much more economically damaging social cost than disease rest while going to work despite physical pain. Since COVID-19, social discussions on the sickness benefit have been taking place as a countermeasure against presenteeism, and in particular, farmers and fishermen do not have an institutional mechanism for livelihood support when a disease other than work occurs. This study attempted to examine the relationship between agricultural, fishing, and forestry workers and presenteeism using the 6th Korean Work Conditions Survey. Methods: From October 2020 to January 2021, data from the 6th working conditions survey conducted on 17 cities and provinces in Korea were used, and a total of 34,981 people were studied. Control variables were gender, age, self-health assessment, education level, night work, shift work, monthly income, occupation, working hours per week, and employment status. Results: As a result of the analysis, farmers and fishermen showed the characteristics of the self-employed and the elderly, and as a result of the regression analysis, when farmers and fishermen analyzed the relationship with presenteeism tendency compared to other industry workers, farmers and fishermen increased by 23% compared to other industry groups. Conclusion: This study is significant in that it has representation by utilizing the 6th working conditions survey and objectively suggests the need for a sickness benefit for farmers and fishermen who may be overlooked in the sickness benefit.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.386-392
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• 2017

Background: Fire service workers often implement multiple duties in the emergency conditions, with such duties being mostly conducted in various ambient temperatures. Methods: The aim of the current study was to assess the firefighters' physiological responses, information processing, and working memory prior to and following simulated firefighting activities in three different hot environments. Seventeen healthy male firefighters performed simulated firefighting tasks in three separate conditions, namely (1) low heat (LH; $29-31^{\circ}C$, 55-60% relative humidity), (2) moderate heat (MH; $32-34^{\circ}C$, 55-60% relative humidity), and (3) severe heat (SH; $35-37^{\circ}C$, 55-60% relative humidity). It took about 45-50 minutes for each firefighter to finish all defined firefighting activities and the paced auditory serial addition test (PASAT). Results: At the end of all the three experimental conditions, heart rate (HR) and tympanic temperature (TT) increased, while PASAT scores as a measure of information processing performance decreased relative to baseline. HR and TT were significantly higher at the end of the experiment in the SH ($159.41{\pm}4.25beats/min$; $38.22{\pm}0.10^{\circ}C$) compared with the MH ($156.59{\pm}3.77beats/min$; $38.20{\pm}0.10^{\circ}C$) and LH ($154.24{\pm}4.67beats/min$; $38.17{\pm}0.10^{\circ}C$) conditions (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in PASAT scores between LH and MH (p > 0.05). Nonetheless, there was a measurable difference in PASAT scores between LH and SH (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These consequences demonstrate that ambient temperature is effective in raising the physiological responses following firefighting activities. It is therefore argued that further increase of ambient temperature can impact firefighters' information processing and working memory during firefighting activity.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.299-306
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to provide current the recent information on indium-related adverse health effects and the Korean indium-related industries. Methods: Peer review papers were searched in environmental, occupational and medical journals with the keyword of 'Indium' and 'ITO' and reviewed. To determine the indium related industries and indium consumption amounts, references and database were investigated and analyzed. In addition, field walk-through surveys and interviews were conducted in order to collect field data and to ascertain the field situation for the processes and industries. Results: A total of 10 cases of indium lung diseases have been reported in series since the first case reported in 2001. Seven cases were found in Japan, two cases in the United States, and one in China. No indium lung case has been reported yet in Korea, but it is believed that there are high potential risks among workers in indium-related industries. There are four categories in indiumrelated- industry; indium production and smelting, manufacturing of indium products such as ITO target, the production of thin films of flat panel display, and indium recovery industry. We found that all these types of industries are operating in Korea. Therefore, it is necessary for industrial hygienists to understand the processes and industries related to indium as well as the adverse health effects of indium. Conclusions: It was found that all four categories of indium-related industry from the indium production to recovery industry are active in Korea. However, the adverse health effects of indium are not well recognized. Therefore, it is believed that there is a high risks in indium-related industry, and it is necessary to make emergency interventions.