• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.87-96
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• 2011

In 1967, the problem of occupational lead exposure came to public attention in Korea. Since then, regular progress has been made in lowering workplace lead exposures, instituting new workplace controls, and implementing health examinations of exposed workers. Past serious lead poisoning episodes made it possible to introduce biological monitoring programs on a voluntary basis in high-lead-exposure facilities in Korea. Industry-specific occupational health services for lead workers in Korea during the last 22 years can be categorized into three phases. During the first phase (1988-1993), efforts were directed at increasing awareness among workers about the hazards of lead exposure, biological monitoring of blood zinc protoporphyrin began, and a respiratory protection program was introduced. During the second phase (1994-1997), a computerized health management system for lead workers was developed, blood-lead measurement was added to biologic monitoring, and engineering controls were introduced in the workplace to lower air-lead levels to comply with air-lead regulations. Finally, during the third phase (1998-present), a new biomarker, bone-lead measurement by X-ray fluorescence, was introduced. Bone-lead measurement proved to be useful for assessing body burden and to demonstrate past lead exposure in retired workers. Occupational health service practice for lead workers, including the industry-specific group occupational health system, has brought considerable success in the prevention of lead poisoning and in reducing the lead burden in Korean lead workers during the last several decades. The successful achievement of prevention of lead poisoning in Korea was a result of the combined efforts of lead workers, employers, relevant government agencies, and academic institutes.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.504-511
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• 2019

Objectives: We evaluated the physical and mental health problems of waged workers in Korea who had different classes of occupation. Methods: We used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2017) to examine 22,788 workers who were waged employees and categorized these workers into 5 occupational classes. Results: "Unskilled manual workers" were more likely to be older, less educated, have lower monthly income, and work fewer hours per week. Among men and relative to "managers and professionals" (reference group), "skilled manual workers" were more likely to have physician-diagnosed osteoarthritis, "clerks" were less likely to report suicidal ideation, and "unskilled manual workers" were more likely to report suicidal ideation. Among women and relative to "managers and professionals" (reference group), "service and sales workers" and "unskilled manual workers" were more likely to report physician-diagnosed osteoarthritis, depressive feelings, and suicidal ideation. However, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases did not differ among the occupational classes for men and women. Conclusion: We identified differences between men and women and among those in different occupational classes regarding employment status, physical health, and mental health. "Unskilled manual workers" of both genders were more likely to be older, less educated, have less monthly income, work fewer hours per week, and have suicidal ideation. Female "service and sales workers" were more likely to have osteoarthritis, depressive feelings, and suicidal ideation.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.141-150
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• 2012

The purpose of this study to know the effects of craft programmes on the visual perceptual development of the children with developmental disabilities. Sixty children were diagnosed with developmental disabilities. They divided into two groups that were the experimental group and control group. The children were subjected at K-Rehabilitation Center and C-child Care Center in Gyeong-Ju for 6 weeks from Feb to Apr (twice a seek, total 12 times) in 2011. The development programmes for the children disabilities are based on occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy. The intervention of experimental group included occupational therapy based on the craft programmes, physical therapy, and speech therapy. The one of control group included occupational therapy based on function, physical therapy, and speech therapy. The MVPT-3 and K-DTVP-2 were done before and after the therapy to compare visual perceptual development ability and to know the results of the test. Results were as follow: First, there were significant differences of MVPT-3 score before and after the therapy. Second, there were significant differences of K-DTVP-2 score before and after the therapy. The results mean the craft programmes had a positive effect on the visual perceptual development of the children with developmental disabilities.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.78-87
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of occupational health service(OHS) for the aged workers in small workplace. Method: A single group of pretest-posttest design was used. 608 aged workers of 253 small workplace who had one out of 4 risk factors were randomly selected. The OHS consisted of education, medical checkup, and counseling. Also information was provided by a visiting nurse 4-5 times every 4-5 weeks from March to November, 2009. The data were collected by interview, self report, and monitored by a nurse. Results: The OHS led to significant reduction of the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures of 6.46mmHg and 5.22mmHg, each respectively. The mean total cholesterol, glucose, and BMI were also reduced significantly by 6.35mg/dL, 5.91mg/dL, and 0.31kg/$m^2$. And stages of health behavioral change were moved from 1,2,3 stages to 4,5 stages significantly. Conclusion: The OHS showed an effective intervention to improve the aged workers' health in the small workplaces. Therefore, The OHS by visiting a nurse can be a good strategy to extend to small & medium-sized companies having no in-site health manager.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.405-422
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• 2010

Occupational musculoskeletal disorders currently account for the largest proportion of the occupational illnesses in Korea. In this research, status of musculoskeletal disorders among the occupational illnesses was examined through workers' compensation claims data. Types and characteristics of musculoskeletal disorders were looked at other data set as well. The data sets included epidemiological investigation data reported by Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, and data collected from occupational disease surveillance reports and Korean occupational health-related scientific journals. Number of cases, incidence rate and insurance benefits for occupational musculoskeletal disorders in Korea are increasing every year. In addition, musculoskeletal disorders occurrence is shifted from large enterprises group to small-and-medium group, from manufacturing to service sector, and from production workers to office and professional workers. Although low back pain is still most common, its occurrence characteristics is gradually shifted from traumatic to cumulative while musculoskeletal disorders are somewhat seemingly moved from lumbar to upper limb body part. Musculoskeletal disorders were observed to be more diverse and prevalent in epidemiological investigations or surveillance data rather in workers' compensation claims data. Musculoskeletal disorders occurrence is related to demographic factors, occupational psychosocial factors, and ergonomic risk factors at workplace for which appropriate preventive measures needed to be made accordingly.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.102-112
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• 2009

The greatest concern of vapor/gas respirators is when to exchange chemical cartridges, but it is very difficult to estimate the breakthrough time of them in the workplace spot due to so many factors influencing on breakthrough. There needs to study on estimating cartridge exchange period available practically in the spot, even if it is not precise. In the previous study, authors suggested the method on estimating service-life of chemical cartridges using cartridges discarded after use. This followed study was to estimate exchange period for chemical cartridges using comparison of concentrations between Korean Occupational Exposure Limits (KOELs) and odor thresholds of chemicals. Chemicals were divided into four groups, I, II, III and IV groups. Group I chemicals are relatively safe if cartridges are just or slightly delayed exchanged when smelling since odor thresholds were less than 0.5 times KOELs. Odor threshold of Group II chemicals are 0.5~2.0 times KOELs and potentially hazardous if cartridges are exchanged when smelling. Those chemicals should be conducted program on estimating service-life of cartridges, which was just previously published (J Kor Soc Occup Environ Hyg 2008;18(3) 204-215). Group III chemicals (odor thresholds are more than 2.0 times KOELs) and Group IV chemicals (odorless or no data for smelling) must be performed the above mentioned program before cartridges. Even if this method on cartridge exchange using odor threshold is practically widely used in the workplace spot in the present, program on estimating service-life of cartridges is recommended for all chemicals to reduce potentially hazards.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.186-199
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• 1998

Necessity for the guidebook of occupational health nursing practice has been perceived by our OH research members since the health management of small scale enterprises(SSE) was controlled by law. Mean-while, developing the OH manual, our team found that the work situation of occupational health nursing(OHN) services should be prior to the construction of the OHN manual. This procedure was regarded as helpful for producing the OH manual which is fitting to the Korean nursing circumstances. Thus, this study was planned and carried out. The study aimed to find out current situation of work performance on occupational health nursing practice perceived by nurses working for health management of SSE. Questionnaire was distributed to the OH nurses working in the 55 group occupational health service(GOHS) agencies throughout the Korea from January to March in 1997. Ninety-seven nurses of the 31 GOHS agencies responded. Descriptive statistics was used in the SAS programme. Four nurses participated to select nursing area investigated in the study. Those area were 'document', 'job orientation', 'OH reference', 'nursing theory', 'group health education', 'health examination', 'work dilemma', 'approach attitude', 'workplace visit', 'health promotion' and 'communication'. Results can be summarized as follow : Types of document were mentioned diversely depending on the GOHS agencies. Job orientation was seen to be performed by nurses in 56% among the 75.3% nurses responded. Sixty five percents of nurses agreed to apply nursing theories into the OH with lack of knowledge on them. Health screening and health education were responded as commonly provided nursing activities with various nursing obstacles as well as indicated in the area of 'work dilemma', 'approach attitude', 'workplace visit', 'health promotion'.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.235-246
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• 2020

Purpose: In Korea, the proportion of female workers among occupational injury is steadily increasing. The purpose of this study was to identify the workplace risk factors that threaten the safety and health of the female workers. Methods: Qualitative study was conducted, using focus group interview. Data were collected from five focus groups of eighteen female workers who were working in the manufacturing, health service, and educational service industries. Results: The seven themes of occupational safety and health risks of women workers are as follows: 1) Workplace with various risks; 2) Sliding, falling, burning, and cutting accidents; 3) Chronically lasting musculoskeletal symptoms; 4) Chemicals that may be harmful to workers; 5) Unprotected infectious disease; 6) Psychological safety accidents(Relationship conflict and emotional labor); 7) Loud, hot, stuffy, scary, and tired. Conclusion: The Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) Act should be rearranged gender sensitively and women's participation in the OSH decision-making process should be guaranteed. OSH education should be properly implemented in the field, and support should be provided for women workers in small businesses. A supportive organizational culture for marriage, pregnancy and childbirth should be established, and the working environment should be provided safely, taking into account gender differences.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.4
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• pp.30-38
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of health services on workers with hypertension in small and medium sized enterprises (20-300 employees). One hundred seventy three workers among 296 workers with hypertension were responded to the questionnaire on general and occupational characteristics, health habits and anti-hypertensive medications. Blood pressure was obtained while seated using a calibrated standard manometer before and after 4 months health services. Statistical analysis was performed using $X^2$-test and logistic regression analysis. The results were as follows ; 1. No significant differences were noted in variables of smoking, glucose intake and sleeping time, while significant differences were showed in variables of exercise time, frequency and amount of drinking and intake of salt, protain, lipid, calcium, vegetable and fruits between groups which was provided and not provided health services. 2. The rate of anti-hypertensive medication was increased and the blood pressure was decreased significantly in group which was provided health services compared with those of group which was not provided. 3. With the logistic regression analysis, significant variables affecting blood pressure change were smoking and anti-hypertensive medication. The results of this study suggested that health services on workers with hypertension in small and medium sized enterprises was effective, and the role of health professionals for health promotion movement in enterprises was important.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.108-120
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• 2002

This study analyzed the managerial efficiency of 11 organizations, the branch centers of a occupational health service organization in Korea, using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method. The DEA is a good method for evaluating health services since it can handle multiple inputs and outputs simultaneously, and also identify the sources and amount of inefficiency. The author approached this study using two efficient models: the monetary value model and the real value model. The DEA method based on the monetary value model included cost factors, while the real value model excluded cost factors. The input variables used were manpower of physicians, medical technicians, nurses, industrial hygienists and administrators; labor, maintenance, and material expenses. The output variables used were the number of medical examinations, workplace evaluations, group health management services and income from each service. The major results were as follows: First, in the monetary value model, 6 out of 11 organizations (54.6%) showed an efficiency score of 1.0, which means that they have been operating in very efficient ways. However, 5 organizations (46.4%) showed themselves to be relatively inefficient. Second, in the real value model, 7 out of 11 organizations (63.4%) showed an efficiency score of 1.0, which means they have been operating efficiently, while 4 organizations (46.4%) showed themselves to be relatively inefficient. Third, the reliability of DEA method were analyzed by comparing the results of the monetary value model and real value model. The results of 8 out of 11 organizations were same in terms of being efficient or not. Thus, the DEA could be a valid application method for occupational health service organizations. Fourth, the organizations that displayed common inefficiency in both the monetary value model and in the real value model 3, 9, and 10, were also considered to be managed inefficiency from expertise opinion. In summary, this study evaluated the efficiency of occupational health service organizations applying the DEA method with different variables, and found that the results of analysis could be valid in terms of both modeling and expert sense. In the future, the DEA method will be used as a useful tool to identify and evaluate the efficiency of occupational health service organizations through more applications and refinements.