• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제3권3호
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• pp.192-198
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• 2012

Objectives: Slip and fall accidents in the workplace are one of the top causes of work related fatalities and injuries. Previous studies have indicated that fall risk was related to postural and dynamic stability. However, the usage of this theoretical relationship was limited by laboratory based measuring instruments. The current study proposed a new method for stability assessment by use of inertial measurement units (IMUs). Methods: Accelerations at different body parts were recorded by the IMUs. Postural and local dynamic stability was assessed from these measures and compared with that computed from the traditional method. Results: The results demonstrated: 1) significant differences between fall prone and healthy groups in IMU assessed dynamic stability; and 2) better power of discrimination with multi stability index assessed by IMUs. Conclusion: The findings can be utilized in the design of a portable screening or monitoring tool for fall risk assessment in various industrial settings.

• 한국정보통신학회논문지
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.401-406
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• 2008

낙상이 탈골, 골절, 치명적인 머리 부상이나 심지어 죽음과 같은 심각한 결과를 초래하기 때문에 낙상 사건 검출은 특히 혼자 사는 노인들에 대해 가장 일반적인 문제들 중의 하나이다. 낙상이나 낙상과 관련된 부상들을 방지하기 위해서 최근 몇몇 기존 비디오 센서 기반의 방법들은 낮은 낙상 검출율을 보여주고 있다. 낮은 검출율 문제를 개선하고 시스템 성능을 높이기 위해, 본 논문은 실시간 환경에서 연속하는 차영상 간의 차와 시간적 템플릿(temporal templates)을 이용한 노인들에 대한 새로운 낙상 사건 검출 방법을 제시하였다. 제안된 알고리즘은 비록 한 대의 USB PC 카메라에 의해 획득된 낮은 질의 비디오 시퀀스임에도 불구하고 96.43%의 성공적인 검출율과 3.125%의 낮은 false positive rate를 얻었다. 실험 결과는 높은 검출율과 낮은 false positive rate에 관한 매우 기대되는 성능을 보여주고 있다.

• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.477-486
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• 2014

Objective:This study aims to devise industrial injury prevention measures by analyzing industrial injury characteristics including the status of industrial injuries, source of industrial injury and accident type in order to prevent aging workers' industrial injuries that account for more than half in the workplaces in agriculture. Background: Continuous migration from farm to city takes place among young people in rural areas in Korea, a traditionally agricultural country due to rapid industrialization and economic development. The aging rate in rural areas in 2013 was 37.3%, about three times higher than the total aging rate of 12.2% in Korea. According to industrial injury statistics of the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the number of industrial injuries in agriculture shows an uptrend and the industrial injuries of aging workers account for more than 50% each year. Method: Of the 2,970 industrial injury cases occurred in the workplaces in agriculture for five years during 2008 and 2012 offered by a national agency related to health and safety, this study analyzed 1,767 industrial injury cases of aging workers. Results: As a result of an analysis on aging workers' industrial injuries by company size in agriculture, 89.8% of the total number of industrial injuries were analyzed to occur in small scale company. According to aging workers' industrial injuries by source of industrial injury and accident type, the outdoor floor and a fall were analyzed to be the highest at 16.5% and 26.1%, respectively. Conclusion: This study analyzed aging workers' industrial injuries by company size, age, job duration, accident severity, gender, nationality, the source of industrial injury and accident type in order to identify industrial injury characteristics in agriculture. Application: The identification of industrial injury characteristics of aging workers in agriculture is judged to be helpful to devising effective measures to prevent industrial injuries.

• 한국정보통신학회논문지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.336-342
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• 2015

넘어짐은 노인이나 산업현장에서 일하는 사람들에게 심각한 부상을 일으키는 원인이 되기 때문에 센서를 사용하여 넘어짐을 판단하고자 하는 연구가 활발히 진행되고 있다. 최근 들어 스마트폰의 보급이 일반화 되면서 스마트 폰에 내장된 센서를 사용하여 넘어짐을 판단하는 방법이 연구되고 있다. 가속도 센서에서 추출된 가속도벡터의 변화량을 분석하면 넘어짐은 어렵지 않게 판단할 수 있지만, 넘어지는 방향을 판단하기 위해서는 가속도벡터의 크기의 변화나 방향으로의 변화로 판단하기 어렵다. 일반적으로 가속도 벡터의 방향은 물체의 움직임의 방향을 의미하지 않기 때문이다. 한편, 속도 벡터는 물체가 움직이는 방향의 접선방향으로 나타나는 성질을 사용하여 넘어지는 방향을 판단하는 방법을 제안하였다.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.200-207
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• 2024

Background: Workers are often exposed to hazardous heat due to their work environment, leading to various injuries. As a result of climate change, heat-related injuries (HRIs) are becoming more problematic. This study aims to identify critical contributing factors to the severity of occupational HRIs. Methods: This study analyzed historical injury reports from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Contributing factors to the severity of HRIs were identified using text mining and model-free machine learning methods. The Multinomial Logit Model (MNL) was applied to explore the relationship between impact factors and the severity of HRIs. Results: The results indicated a higher risk of fatal HRIs among middle-aged, older, and male workers, particularly in the construction, service, manufacturing, and agriculture industries. In addition, a higher heat index, collapses, heart attacks, and fall accidents increased the severity of HRIs, while symptoms such as dehydration, dizziness, cramps, faintness, and vomiting reduced the likelihood of fatal HRIs. Conclusions: The severity of HRIs was significantly influenced by factors like workers' age, gender, industry type, heat index , symptoms, and secondary injuries. The findings underscore the need for tailored preventive strategies and training across different worker groups to mitigate HRIs risks.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.78-85
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• 2023

Background: Despite fall prevention strategies suggested by researchers, falls are still a major health concern in older adults. Understanding factors that differentiate successful versus unsuccessful balance recovery may help improve the prevention strategies. Objects: The purpose of this review was to identify biomechanical factors that differentiate successful versus unsuccessful balance recovery in the event of a fall. Methods: The literature was searched through Google Scholar and PubMed. The following keywords were used: 'falls,' 'protective response,' 'protective strategy,' 'automated postural response,' 'slips,' 'trips,' 'stepping strategy,' 'muscle activity,' 'balance recovery,' 'successful balance recovery,' and 'failed balance recovery.' Results: A total of 64 articles were found and reviewed. Most of studies included in this review suggested that kinematics during a fall was important to recover balance successfully. To be successful, appropriate movements were required, which governed by several things depending on the direction and characteristics of the fall. Studies also suggested that lower limb muscle activity and joint moments were important for successful balance recovery. Other factors associated with successful balance recovery included fall direction, age, appropriate protective strategy, overall health, comorbidity, gait speed, sex and anticipation of the fall. Conclusion: This review discusses biomechanical factors related to successful versus unsuccessful balance recovery to help understand falls. Our review should help guide future research, or improve prevention strategies in the area of fall and injuries in older adults.

• 구강회복응용과학지
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.229-236
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to analyze the prevalence of Oral and maxillofacial injuries of elementary school children in Suwon, Korea. The sample consisted of 850 boys and girls in a elementary school children in the city. This study conducted a survey by sending questionnaires to school-aged boys and girls, to study a condition of traumatic injuries of teeth. 1. The students who had a traumatic injuries in a oral & maxillofacial area are 125 persons(14.7%); boys 93 persons(21%), girls 32 persons (7.9%). 2. Incidence of traumatic injuries was 1 time 102 persons(81.6%), 2 times 14 persons(11.2%), others 9 persons(7.2%). 3. The causes of traumatic injuries were fall down 65.6%, blow 10.4%, sports 9.6%, traffic accidents 7.2%, tripping 3.2%, others 4%. 4. The distributions of sports related traumatic injuries were roller blade 7 persons, bicycle 2 persons, football 1 person, baseball 1 person, basketball 1 person. 5. Types of traumatic injuries were soft tissue injury(40.8%), tooth fracture(36.8%), extrusion(8.0%), jaw fracture(3.2%), others(11.2%).

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.7-11
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• 2011

Purpose: Traumatic airway injuries have high rates of mortality and morbidity. Thus, we evaluated the clinical results of trauma-related airway-injury patients. Methods: A clinical analysis was performed for patients with airway trauma who were admitted and treated at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Konyang University Hospital from Dec. 2002 to Dec. 2009. Results: Sixteen patients were admitted and treated. Fourteen patients were male, and the ages of the patients ranged from 16 to 75 years. Six cases were penetrating injuries, 4 were traffic-accident injuries. 3 were fall injuries, and. 3 were other blunt trauma injuries. Anato- mic injuries included 14 trachea cases (87.5%), 1 Rt. main bronchus (6.25%), and 1 Lt. main bronchus cases (6.25%). Diagnosis was made by using computed tomography and bronchoscopy. Five patients were treated with an explothoracotomy, and 7 underwent neck exploration with primary repair. Three patients simply needed conservative management, and 1 patient was treated with a closed thoracostomy. The post-operative mortality rate was 6.25 % (1 patient). Conclusion: Airway trauma is dangerous and should be treated as an emergency, so a high index of suspicion is essential for rapid diagnosis and successful surgical intervention in patients with airway injuries.

• 근관절건강학회지
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.218-229
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to assess and compare the effectiveness of various fall prevention interventions in hospitals through a network meta-analysis. Methods: A network meta-analysis was conducted using the "netmeta" package in R software (v4.1), employing a frequency method. Odds ratios of fall rates and injurious fall rates were utilized to confirm the effects of interventions for fall prevention. Comparative rankings of these interventions were determined using cumulative probability (P-score). Results: Comparative rankings via cumulative probability (P-scores) revealed individualized education as the most effective intervention for fall incidence (P-Score 87.8%). Followed by fall-preventing sensors (60.9%), multicomponent interventions (47.4%), usual care (33.2%), and environmental modification (20.7%). For fall-related injuries, individualized education ranked highest (P-Score 97.1%), followed by multicomponent interventions (76.0%), usual care (47.6%), environmental modification (24.2%), and fall-preventing sensors (5.1%). Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the relative effectiveness of diverse interventions in preventing fall incidence through network meta-analysis. The findings aim to support nurses in making informed decisions when implementing fall prevention strategies in clinical practice.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.252-259
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• 2023

Purpose: Falls are a common cause of unintentional injuries in infants. This study was conducted to examine the patterns of healthcare utilization following infant falls in South Korea. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study utilized an online survey designed to gather information regarding the general characteristics of parents and infants, fall-related variables, and healthcare use. Results: The most serious falls identified by parents occurred at an average infant age of 6.97 months. Most fall incidents took place indoors (95.7%), and many occurred under the supervision of caregivers (68.0%). Following the fall, 36.4% of the participants used healthcare services. Logistic regression analysis revealed that healthcare use following an infant fall was significantly associated with being a firstborn child (odds ratio [OR]=5.32, 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.19-15.28) and falling from a caregiver's arms (OR=4.22; 95% CI, 1.45-13.68). Conclusion: To prevent and decrease the frequency of infant falls, improvements are needed in both the domestic environment and parenting approaches.