• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.34
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• pp.6.1-6.12
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• 2022

Background: To date, little is known about the effects of factors linked to work-related fatigue on vibration-exposed workers. Thus, the purpose of this study was (1) to assess the effects of vibration exposure time per week and work-related fatigue on workers and (2) to identify factors associated with work-related fatigue caused by long-term exposure to occupational vibration. Methods: This study used data collected from the 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey. A total of 34,820 non-vibration-exposed and 10,776 vibration-exposed employees were selected from the data. The χ² and multiple logistic regression were used to determine the effect of vibration exposure time per week and the effects of factors of work-related fatigue on workers. Results: The prevalence of work-related fatigue in vibration-exposed workers (30.5%) was higher than that of non-exposed workers (15.9%). The prevalence of work-related fatigue was higher for female and workers with depression, anxiety, and shift work, and those with authority to control their work pace had statistically significantly higher odds than those who did not. The employees who had the authority to control their order of work (odds ratio [OR]: 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.81-0.95) and method of work (OR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.82-0.98) had statistically significantly lower odds than those who did not. The OR of workrelated fatigue symptoms was highest among employees whose vibration exposure time per week were 30.0%-40.0% (OR: 2.36; 95% CI: 1.96-2.83). Lower OR was observed as vibration exposure time per week decreased. Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest an association between occupational vibration and work-related fatigue and longer vibration exposure time per week, causing an increased prevalence of work-related fatigue symptoms. Measures to protect workers exposed to occupational vibration from work-related fatigue must be taken.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2014

Exposure factors based on the Korean population are required for making appropriate risk assessment. It is expected that handbooks for exposure factors will be applied in many fields, as well as by health department risk assessors. The present article describes the development of an exposure factors handbook that specifically focuses on human activities in situations involving the possible risk of exposure to environmental contaminants. We define majour exposure factors that represent behavioral patterns for risk assessment, including time spent on routine activities, in different places, on using transportation, and engaged in activities related to water contact including swimming, bathing and washing. Duration of residence and employment are also defined. National survey data were used to identify recommended levels of exposure factors in terms of time spent on routine activities and period of residence and employment. An online survey was conducted with 2073 subjects who were selected using a stratified random sampling method in order to develop a list of exposure factors for the time spent in different places and in performing water-related activities. We provide the statistical distribution of the variables, and report reference levels of average exposure based on the reliable data in our exposure factors handbook.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.913-924
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to investigate the sensibility of body exposure in contemporary fashion. 31 kinds of costume samples have been selected from photographs in fashion magazines. Those were divided into part of exposed body, the way of exposure and kinds of exposure. I have measured them by using Semantic Differential method. The subjects were 120 male and 120 female in twenties. The obtained data were analyzed by factor analysis, ANOVA, MDS and regression analysis. The results of analysis are as follow; 1. Factor analysis has extracted four factors which consist of the sensibility of body exposure. These factors are Attraction, Activity, Boldness, Simplicity. 2. There were significant differences in design of body exposure and demographics. 3. Evaluative dimensions of the sensibility of body exposure were identified by Hard-Soft, Active-Elegant. 4. Preference was related to words which are buying desirable, attractive, simple, natural, active appealed by design of body exposure costume and buying desirable was related to words which are favorite, modest, beautiful, natural appealed by mood of exposure costume.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.325-331
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• 2023

Background: Heat stress is a harmful physical hazard in many occupational settings. However, consequences of occupational heat exposure among workers in a sugarcane factory in Ethiopia are not well characterized. This study aimed to assess the level of occupational heat exposure-related symptoms and contributing factors. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, five workstations were selected for temperature measurement. Heat stress levels were measured using a wet-bulb globe temperature index meter. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select 1,524 participants. Heat-related symptoms were assessed using validated questionnaires. Results: The level of occupational heat exposure was 72.4% (95% CI: 70.2%-74.8%), while 71.6% (95% CI: 69.3%-74.9%) of participants experienced at least one symptom related to heat stress. The most common heat-related symptoms were swelling of hands and feet (78%), severe thirst (77.8%) and dry mouth (77.4%). The identified risk factors were a lack of reflective shields (AOR: 2.20, 95% CI: 1.53, 3.17), not-enclosed extreme heat sources (AOR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.23, 2.51), a lack of access to shade (AOR: 9.62, 95% CI: 6.20, 14.92), and inappropriate protective clothing provision (AOR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.27, 2.71). Conclusions: The burden of occupational heat exposure and heat-induced symptoms was high. Lack of reflective shields, the absence of enclosed extreme heat sources, a lack of access to shade, and inappropriate protective clothing provision were considerable attributes of heat stress. Therefore, the use of mechanical solutions to stop heat emissions at their sources and the key factors identified were areas for future intervention.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.51-54
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• 2006

Objectives : To express an opinion on the controversy about the cold exposure as one of the risk factors of Bell's palsy. Results & Conclusions : It is widely assumed that there is a causal relationship between Bell's palsy and herpes family virus. Regarding cold exposure as one of the risk factors of Bell's palsy, however, some physicians do not accept that cold exposure could be one of the risk factors of Bell's palsy. There is no evidence supporting the hypothesis that the virus causes Bell's palsy, and it has yet to be confirmed. As there are some experimental and clinical reports suggesting that Bell‘s palsy is related to the cold exposure, we cannot exclude the possibility that the cold exposure may be one of the important risk factors of Bell's palsy. It would be necessary to undertake further studies to determine this.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.165-174
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• 2023

This study used Korean work environment surveys data to confirm the relationship between exposure to harmful and risk factors and absenteeism of manufacturing workers according to the survey period. Accordingly, 8,318 workers in the manufacturing industry were analyzed for the same questions of harmful and risk factors in 2011 (3rd), 2017 (5th), and 2020 (6th). Work-related hazards and risks, vibration, noise, high temperature, dust inhalation, vapor inhalation, chemical handling, and infectious material handling were found to affect absenteeism more than 3/4 of the time of exposure in 2020 compared to 2011. In conclusion, it was found that non-exposure to work-related hazards and risk factors increased one survey after another, and that the time of exposure to work-related hazards and risk factors affected absenteeism.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.23-33
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• 2024

This study was conducted to analyze the characteristics of three high-exposure tasks performed by radiation workers in Korean pressurized water reactors (PWRs) and to identify factors that reduce their exposure during work. Three high-exposure tasks were selected based on a previous study. In this previous study, nozzle dam installation and removal, eddy current testing, and manway opening and closing were determined as high-exposure tasks through normalization (radiation dose per unit time). Based on the analysis of the characteristics of the high-exposure tasks in this study, the high-exposure tasks were steam generator-related tasks performed inside and outside the water chamber. This study analyzed the reduction factors for high-exposure tasks and suggested improvements in terms of time, distance, and shielding. The use of the characteristics of high-exposure tasks and their dose reduction factors enables Korean PWRs to optimize radiation protection for workers who receive relatively high doses.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.280-297
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• 2017

Objectives: We assessed pesticide exposure levels according to cultivation and crop type and investigated agricultural factors related to exposure. Methods: The participants, 341 male and 127 female farmers, were divided into three groups by cultivation crop type: chili greenhouse, cucumber greenhouse, and orchard. We collected questionnaires, socioeconomic characteristics and agricultural factors, and spot urine. Pesticide exposure was examined using four organophosphate and four pyrethroids urinary metabolites: dimethylphosphate, dimethylthiophosphate, diethylphosphate, diethylthiophosphate, Cis and Trans-3-(2-2dichlorovinyl)-2, 2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid, 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), Cis-3-(2-2dibrmovinyl)-2, and 2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid. Each metabolite was summed ${\Sigma}DAP$ and ${\Sigma}PY$ according to the chemical class. Results: Urinary metabolite detection rates and concentrations were similar between the greenhouse groups, but the orchard group was different. Similar 3-PBA detection rates were found in the three groups, but the geometric mean was very high in the orchard group compared to the two greenhouse groups. 3-PBA concentration in the orchard group was $4.11{\mu}g/g$ creatinine; the chili and cucumber greenhouse groups were 1.27 and $1.16{\mu}g/g$ creatinine, respectively. ${\Sigma}DAP$ was significantly associated with cultivation crop type and seasonal variation, but ${\Sigma}PY$ was not relevant. Conclusions: Our results suggest that cultivation and crop type may be correlated with different pesticide types and exposure levels. Furthermore, seasonal factors were related as potential factors influencing the level of organophosphate metabolites, but not for pyrethroid metabolites.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.466-476
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the under-reporting rate and related factors after blood and body fluid (BBF) exposure among hospital employees. Methods: Fifteen hundred l employees were conveniently sampled from ten university and acute care hospitals. The survey questionnaire consisted of 37 items. Data were collected from September 10 to November 30, 2008. Results: The survey response rate was 88.7%. The 47.9% (638/1,331) of hospital employees were exposed to BBF and the mean number of exposure was $4.7{\pm}5.942$ within the previous year. Under-reporting rate after BBF exposure was 69.4% (443/638). By multi-variate logistic regression analysis, the exposure number, exposure type, infectious disease and hospital were independently related to the under-reporting of BBF among hospital employees. Conclusion: The under-reporting rate after being exposed to blood and body fluids was relatively high. To address this problem, educational programs are needed to decrease the under-reporting rate for healthcare workers. Further, it might be helpful if other factors related to under-reporting be investigated in future studies.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.137-145
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• 2012

This study was planned to analyze the effect of the types of employment on work-related injury experience. The types of employment may have influenced on working conditions including the exposure to risk factors. Korean Working Conditions Survey have collected the various working conditions as household survey with structured questionnaire. The probability of work-related injury of self-employed is more than that of regular worker. But there is no difference of probability of work-related injury experience between regular and irregular worker controlled by general characteristics and the exposure to risk factors. Authors have found that the type of employment have indirect effect on work-related injury experience via the exposure to risk factors. The result of this study may be heuristic one because of data limitation as cross sectional survey data. In future, well designed survey data can evaluate the effect of the type of employment on safety and health status.