• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.384-388
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• 2019

The horse stable hand workers are one of the most important occupations in horse-racing industry. However, suicide problem of the horse stable hand workers in Korea has raised the necessity of new study on how these workers experience mental health problems such as occupational stress and depression in organizational situation. Therefore, this study investigated the occupational stress and depression level of the horse stable hand workers and identified the structural relationship in the horse-racing industry through a detailed interview. A total of 207 horse stable hand workers participated in this study, and occupational stress and depression level were surveyed using the Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS) and Korean version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). The results of this study showed that the occupational stress level of horse stable hand workers was higher than the median of Korean population. The significant difference in occupational stress among the detail job grade was also identified. In addition, 34% of the horse stable hand workers showed high risk of depression, and job demand, organizational system, and inappropriate compensation as the subfactors of occupational stress were showed to mainly affect depression. Although there are some limitations according to the field survey, this study also has significant meaning in that it identifies the relationship between the occupational characteristics of the horse stable hand workers and the mental health. It will be necessary to study the diverse organizational situation and individual mental health for new occupations.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.97-102
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• 2020

Background: It is well known that the prevalence of obesity in Korea is increasing over time, however it is not known how the trends among occupational groups and sex differ in such increasing trends. This study was designed to provide recent trends of obesity among workers in Korea and to identify whether there were differences among occupational groups. Methods: We used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Phases I to VI (19982015), to analyze trends in the prevalence of obesity in adult Korean workers. Obesity was defined as a body mass index of 25 kg/㎡ or higher. Occupations were classified into 3 groups: (a) nonmanual workers, (b) service/sales workers, and (c) manual workers. Results: During the period of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Phases I to VI, the prevalence of obesity in male workers increased in all occupations (31.1% to 39.5% in manual workers, 32.3% to 38.2% in service/sales workers, and 25.3% to 39.7% in manual workers). However, female workers did not show any particular tendency toward obesity, except for a significant decrease in the prevalence rate in service/sales workers (30.8% to 23.9%, p for trend = 0.0048). Conclusion: The trends of obesity prevalence by sex and occupation were different. For male manual workers, the prevalence rate increased steadily during the data period, while it decreased steadily in female sales/service workers.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.53-85
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• 2020

We examine how certain occupational physical requirements affect labor transitions of disabled workers by exploiting a unique feature of South Korean Disability Insurance (DI), where award rules are based solely on an applicant's medical condition, independent of his previous occupations. We estimate the labor market response to a health shock by constructing a physical intensity measure from O^⁎NET and applying it to longitudinal South Korean household panel data. Our results suggest that health shocks initially lead to a 14 to 20 percent drop in employment and that this effect is greater for workers who previously held physically demanding occupations. Those who remain part of the labor market exhibit higher occupational mobility toward less physically demanding jobs. These findings imply that the magnitudes of income risks associated with health shocks vary depending on occupational and skill characteristics.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.268-283
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• 2016

Among men, depression is often unrecognised and untreated. Men employed in male-dominated industries and occupations may be particularly vulnerable. However, efforts to develop tailored workplace interventions are hampered by lack of prevalence data. A systematic review of studies reporting prevalence rates for depression in male dominated workforce groups was undertaken. Studies were included if they were published between 1990 - June 2012 in English, examined adult workers in male-dominated industries or occupations (> 70% male workforce), and used clinically relevant indicators of depression. Twenty studies met these criteria. Prevalence of depression ranged from 0.0% to 28.0%. Five studies reported significantly lower prevalence rates for mental disorders among male-dominated workforce groups than comparison populations, while six reported significantly higher rates. Eight studies additionally found significantly higher levels of depression in male-dominated groups than comparable national data. Overall, the majority of studies found higher levels of depression among workers in male-dominated workforce groups. There is a need to address the mental health of workers in male-dominated groups. The workplace provides an important but often overlooked setting to develop tailored strategies for vulnerable groups.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.341-347
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• 2020

This study was conducted to identify the oral function problems of workers according to Korean Standard Classification of Occupations (KSCO) and to provide evidentiary material to promote them to revise the Occupational Safety and Health Act so that workers can benefit from the collective oral healthcare project. For the research materials, it was used the 7th raw data (1st and 2nd) of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. It was examined the problems of chewing and speaking for the workers over 19 years old by KSCO. The connection between the types of workers and the problems of chewing and speaking has been confirmed (p<0.05). In order to improve the workers' oral healthcare, the collective oral healthcare project should be implemented. Therefore, the Occupational Safety and Health Act should be revised to hire professional health care manager with expertise, who will be host of the collective oral healthcare project.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.36-49
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• 2023

Since the recently established obligation to implement safety and health measures for specialized workers as outlined in the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) for nine occupations in January 2020 and five occupations in November 2021, there is a need to verify and inspect the on-site operation of related systems. After a comprehensive fact-finding survey and risk factor analysis, it is necessary to examine the responsibility for on-site safety and preventive measures, along with the roles and responsibilities of specialized workers. Stakeholder analysis is essential to identify the fundamental problems related to the responsibility stipulated in the purpose of OSHA and to explore the entity responsible for implementing safety measures. Therefore, in this paper, we discuss the topic of implementation based on legal standards for on-site safety and preventive measures. Additionally, we develop a role model for appropriate safety measures, outlining the dynamic relationship between those who provide labor and those who provide labor in the context of specialized workers.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.488-491
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• 2023

This study aims to ascertain occupations potentially at greatest risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 based on pre-lockdown working conditions in France. We combined two French population-based surveys documenting workplace exposures to infectious agents, face-to-face contact with the public, and working with colleagues just before the pandemic. Then, for each 87-level standard French occupational grouping, we estimated the number and percentage of the French working population reporting these occupational exposure factors, by gender, using survey weights. As much as 40% (11 million) of all workers reported at least two exposure factors. Most of the workers concerned were in the healthcare sector. However, army/police officers, firefighters, hairdressers, teachers, cultural/sports professionals, and some manual workers were also exposed. Women were overrepresented in certain occupations with potentially higher risks of exposure such as home caregivers, childminders, and hairdressers. Our gender-stratified matrix can be used to assign prelockdown work-related exposures to cohorts implemented during the pandemic.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.202-212
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• 2021

Objectives: The reproductive health of female workers has been extensively investigated in South Korea and other countries worldwide. However, few studies have discussed the reproductive health of male workers. In this study, we reviewed the recent literature that reports on the effects of occupational exposure on the reproductive health of male workers and the health of their children. Methods: In May 2020 we used the PubMed search engine to search the literature over the last 10 years and chose case-control, cohort, and cross-sectional studies and reviews. We selected epidemiological studies that investigated the association between pre-pregnant occupational exposure and the reproductive health of male workers and the health of their children. We excluded case reports, non-epidemiological studies (animal experiments, cellular-level experiments, and similar articles), and studies that described postnatal occupational exposure. Results: We eventually selected 23 studies. The studies that included exclusively male workers reported that those employed in the agricultural sector or those exposed to pesticides showed lower blood levels of reproductive hormones and a high risk of lympho-hematopoietic system cancer in their children. Male workers exposed to complex organic solvents and organic compounds showed a high risk of poor semen quality, increased time to pregnancy, decreased blood levels of reproductive hormones, and a high risk of lympho-hematopoietic system cancer in their children. Male workers employed in occupations that involved significant social contact, or in the leather and livestock industries, and in occupations with high levels of exposure to lead and organic solvents showed a high risk of malignancies, including lympho-hematopoietic system cancer, neuroblastoma, and central nervous system tumors in their children. Studies that investigated both male and female workers reported that children of male smelters showed a high risk of premature birth, and children of male workers exposed to metals showed a high risk of hypospadias and cryptorchidism. Children of male welders and workers employed in the glass, ceramic, and tile industries showed a high risk of premature birth. Conclusion: The findings of this study will serve as basic data for further research on male workers' reproductive health and provide a scientific basis for the development of strategies to protect the reproductive health of males employed in high-risk occupations. Moreover, the results of this study may provide guidelines to improve the understanding of and knowledge on male workers' reproductive health.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 1981

Korean Medical Insurance Cooperation executed the physical checkup intended for all the members of public officials, school personnel in private schools, and the insured as a national-wide event in 1980. This is the result of a part of Taegu district and its contiguous country this hospital took charge of. Physical checkup method was divided into the first health examination and tile second health examination. The second health examination was executed for those who needed reexamination according to the result of the first health examination. After that, we passed judgement on the result finally. The total number of the first health examination was 10,779; 4,606 in public officials, 2,327 in police constables, 3,976 in school personnel in private schools. The classification of physical checkup is as follows; A group: normal groups B group: those who do not require immediate medical care but require preventive measures or who are doubtful of disease or who had undetermined diagnosis (attention) C group: those who require immediate medical care but who are able to be on duty (simple recuperation) D group: those who require immediate medical treatment and recuperation (suspension from office and recuperation) Total B group to the in the first health examination was 4.73%, that of total C,D groups 2.21%. That of total C,D groups to the total in the first health examination by occupation was 2.30% in public officials, 2.19% in police constables, 2.04% in school personnel. Consequently there was no different among occupations. Total C,D groups of hypertension to the total in the first health examination was 1.68% and hypertension was 76.05% to all disease. These rates mentioned to above were higher than any other rate in disease. Subsequently, being low, the rate of diabetes was 15.54%. From the view point of age, the higher rate appeared in men and women over 35 years old of B group and over 45 years old of C,D groups in three occupations in comparison with other ages and the older men were, the higher men who took a disease were.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.110-128
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• 2021

Purpose - The essential purpose of this study is to analyze the possibility of substitution of an individual job resulting from technological development represented by the 4th Industrial Resolution, considering the different effects of digital transformation on the labor market. Design/methodology - In order to estimate the substitution probability, this study used two data sets which the job characteristics data for individual occupations provided by KEIS and the information on occupational status of substitution provided by Frey and Osborne(2013). In total, 665 occupations were considered in this study. Of these, 80 occupations had data with labels of substitution status. The primary goal of estimation was to predict the degree of substitution for 607 of 665 occupations (excluding 58 with markers). It utilized three methods a principal component analysis, an unsupervised learning methodology of machine learning, and Ridge and Lasso from supervised learning methodology. After extracting significant variables based on the three methods, this study carried out logistics regression to estimate the probability of substitution for each occupation. Findings - The probability of substitution for other occupational groups did not significantly vary across individual models, and the rank order of the probabilities across occupational groups were similar across models. The mean of three methods of substitution probability was analyzed to be 45.3%. The highest value was obtained using the PCA method, and the lowest value was derived from the LASSO method. The average substitution probability of the trading industry was 45.1%, very similar to the overall average. Originality/value - This study has a significance in that it estimates the job substitution probability using various machine learning methods. The results of substitution probability estimation were compared by industry sector. In addition, This study attempts to compare between trade business and industry sector.