• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.21-30
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• 2008

The psychosocial stress and musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs) have been one of major health problems for hospital workers. This study tried to understand the relationship between symptoms associated with MSDs and risk factors such as working posture, job stress, psychosocial stress and fatigue. A total number of 655 hospital workers participated in this study. Specifically, REBA was applied for evaluating working posture and a checklist prepared by KOSHA(Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency) was used for symptom survey. A questionnaire from KOSHA was also used for collecting data associated with job stress, psychosocial stress and fatigue. All these data were formulated and modeled by path analysis which was one of major statistical tools in this study. Specifically, path analysis for the data we collected came up with several major findings. The risk scores from working posture based on REBA had indirect effects via fatigue factor(MFS) as well as direct effects on symptoms. The factors associated with job stress (KOSS) and psychosocial stress(PWI-SF) had significant effects on symptoms. Specifically, indirect effect of job stress factors via fatigue factors(MFS) had bigger than that of direct effect of job stress on symptom.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.549-555
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• 2013

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of drilling on the ceiling in three different postures (standing, standing on the ladder and supine on the height adjusted board) and the subjective responses of perceived discomfort after the drilling. Background: Overhead work has been identified as a major occupational risk factor and has been a main research subject. Method: Ten young participants drilled 20 holes at the pre-marked places on the ceiling in three different postures. The drilling duration, resting and drilling heart rate were measured. The levels of perceived discomfort at neck, shoulder, elbow, hand and overall body were asked at the end of each task. Results: The working posture affected the heart rate after the drilling. Perceived discomfort in the neck decreased significantly in supine compared to drilling on the ladder. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that drilling in supine can be an alternative way to reduce the drilling heart rate and the level of perceived discomfort in the neck without sacrificing the productivity. Application: The results of this study would be considered when drilling on the ceiling is required in construction workers.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2016

For the prevention of marine casualties, international bodies have mainly focused on strengthening ship's stability and design, maritime education and training, and improving maritime traffic environment. Statistics analysis on marine casualties showed that most of casualties occurred in coastal waters, especially by human elements. In order to review the conformity of existing prevention measures with the result of the statistics analysis, the IMO's SHELL model was applied to the established measures. As a result, ergonomic approaches were needed for the prevention of human errors in coastal waters, so that the priority should be given to the interface between ship's operator and navigational environment. For this study, Rasmussen's SRK pyramid, which showed decision making mechanism of human, and the US Coast Guard's investigation manual on marine casualties concerning the collapse of safe maritime transportation system were reviewed, and the merits and demerits within the risk assessment tools such as IWRAP, PAWSA, ES model, PARK model, and NURI model were also studied. Although the effectiveness of the existing risk assessment models was proved in ports and approaching channels, it is concluded that the need of new models for converting Korean seafarers' qualitative risk to quantitative risk was proposed so as to print hazard maps which make seafarers instinctively recognize comparative hazard levels of coastal waters.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.83-90
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• 2021

In this paper, effects on industrial accident prevention based on better safety and health environment by utilizing ergonomics expert were studied. This study was mainly based on the data from 'the survey for occupational safety and health trend' conducted by Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute. The number of industries participated in the survey was 2,084. Main results of the study were as follows; 1) Only 22.9% of the industries participated in the survey utilized ergonomics expert. The rest of the industries have never had an ergonomics expert due to the reasons such as lack of knowledge for the field of ergonomics, etc. 2) Specific activities done by the industries with ergonomics expert in order to have better safety & health were 'providing work orders'(94.8%), 'providing monitoring guidelines'(85.5%), 'providing information for dangerous work'(95.8%), 'providing safety education'(96.6%), and 'other safety management'(94.1%). 3) When the odds ratio for the levels of communication and the levels of environmental stability regarding safety & health for the different groups(with experts and without experts), it was found that the group with ergonomics experts had a significant higher ORs(2.391, 95% confidence interval(1.949-2.932) and 2.128, 95% confidence interval(1.786-2.537)) respectively than those of the industries without ergonomics expert. The results suggested that ergonomics expert has been unique in most of time in terms of his/her contributions in the field of industrial safety and health.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.347-353
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• 2016

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relation between key strike forces and musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS). Moreover, this study presents a key strike force measurement method to be used in a workplace setting. The correlation between key strike force characteristics and MSS was previously studied, but the measurement methods used either a single-key switch or force platforms applied under the keyboard. Most of the studies were conducted in a laboratory setting. The uniqueness of measurement methods in the current study is their ability to measure forces applied to a specific key in a workplace setting and to provide more information about specific key strike forces during typing. Methods: Twenty-four healthy computer workers were recruited for the study. The demographic questionnaire, and self-reported questionnaires for psychosocial status (General Nordic Questionnaire for Psychological and Social Factors at Work) and for detecting MSS were filled up, which later helped in dividing the participants into two groups (12 participants with pain and 12 without pain). Participants typed a predetermined text that utilized the instrumented keys multiple times. The dynamic forces applied to the keys were recorded and collected, using four thin and flexible force sensors attached to the preselected keys according to their location. Results: The results demonstrated that participants with high levels of MSS, specifically in the back and neck, in the last year exerted significantly higher key strike forces than those with lower levels of symptoms (p < 0.005). Conclusion: The key strike force exerted while typing on a keyboard may be a risk factor for MSS, and should therefore be considered in ergonomic evaluations and interventional programs.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.209-219
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• 2019

Objectives: This study investigated musculoskeletal symptoms in upper limbs according to the working environment (job stress) of dental hygienists and examine their relationship with upper limb functions. Methods: The subjects include 198 dental hygienists in dental hospitals and dental clinics in Pusan and Gyeongnam. The questionnaire was consisted of general characteristics of the subjects, job stress, musculoskeletal symptoms in upper limbs and function (Disability Measurement Tool for Upper Extremity Disorders-11, DASH-11). Results: The study was analyzed their musculoskeletal symptoms in upper limbs according to their general characteristics and found that the symptoms occurred in the neck (39.4%), the shoulders (54.6%), elbows (14.7%), and the hands (50.0%). Job stress was associated with upper limb functions (DASH-11) (model 3, B=5.210, p=0.012) and repeated elbow bending and spreading posture was associated with DASH-11 (model 3, B=6.561, p=0.029). Elbow symptoms were associated with DASH-11 in the upper limbs (B=10.679, p=0.003). Conclusion: Dental hygienists are experiencing limitations of upper limb function due to job stress. In particular, even if the correction of their uncomfortable posture is significantly related to the job stress and upper limb function, in order to improve the upper limb function of the dental hygienist, efforts to reduce the job stress as well as the uncomfortable posture are necessary.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.239-247
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• 2008

In order to study the occurrence of symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders of radio-technologists employed at metropolitan general hospitals and the factors that influence such occurrence, standardized questionnaire by NIOSH that was modified and supplemented to be suitable for conditions in Korea was used. Answers collected from 143 radio-technologists in two weeks from June 13, 2007 were analyzed and the results are as follows. Factor that influence symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders by area were analyzed through multiple logistic regression analysis and the results found that in the neck area, risk increased as the burdening work category 2(Korea ministry of labor)(OR=3.94) and burdening work category 9(Korea ministry of labor)(OR=4.72) increased. In the shoulder region, risk increased as burdening work category 2(Korea ministry of labor)(OR=5.36), burdening work category 7(Korea ministry of labor)(OR=3.90), and burdening work category 9 (Korea ministry of labor)(OR=5.76) increased. In the arm/hand/wrist regions, risk increased as burdening work category 2 (Korea ministry of labor) (OR=6.91), and burdening work category 9 (Korea ministry of labor)(OR=3.76) increased. In the lower back region, risk increased as burdening work category 2 (Korea ministry of labor) (OR=3.06), and burdening work category 8 (Korea ministry of labor)(OR=8.14) increased. In the leg/knees/foot regions, risk increased as burdening work category 2 (Korea ministry of labor) (OR=3.63), and burdening work category 9 (Korea ministry of labor)(OR=2.96) increased. Conclusively, in factors that influence musculoskeletal disorder symptoms in radio-technologists, influence of subjective health conditions, total work experience, experience in current division, and burdening work category 2, 7, 8, and 9 (Korea ministry of labor) were most significant. Therefore, for preventive management, in addition to ergonomic and educational intervention for correcting improper posture during work, efforts for break time adjustment and stress reduction is needed, and encouragement and support for regular exercise is needed.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.95-104
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to analyze internal research trends of work-related musculoskeletal disorders(WMSDs) and provide problems of researches forward. Methods : 6 Korean databases were searched for articles of WMSDs published from 2000 to 2012, and 264 research were systematic reviewed. An analytical method was used descriptive statistics, an actual number and percentage. Results : The results of distribution by year were reported more than 20 articles after 2004, and 45 articles in 2009. Industrial classification distribution of research subjects the manufacturing industry was many most at the 84. Research contents in most description were 147 whether it was risk factor and relation. Research design type of articles was most description survey research 226. In the research field 89 articles were reported to the journal related to technologies. Conclusions : It is considered to be necessary that ergonomic approach would cooperate with other approaches such as integrated health management system as well as industrial medicine considering psychosocial factors.