• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.81-90
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• 2023

Climate change has resulted in increased frequency and intensity of heat waves, which poses a significant threat to the health and safety of construction workers, particularly those engaged in labor-intensive and heat-stress vulnerable working environments. To address this challenge, this study aimed to propose an interpretable machine learning approach for forecasting personal heat strain by considering the cumulative effect of heat exposure as a situational variable, which has not been taken into account in the existing approach. As a result, the proposed model, which incorporated the cumulative working time along with environmental and personal variables, was found to have superior forecast performance and explanatory power. Specifically, the proposed Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) model achieved a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 0.034 (℃) and an R-squared of 99.3% (0.933). Feature importance analysis revealed that the cumulative working time, as a situational variable, had the most significant impact on personal heat strain. These findings highlight the importance of systematic management of personal heat strain at construction sites by comprehensively considering the cumulative working time as a situational variable as well as environmental and personal variables. This study provided a valuable contribution to the construction industry by offering a reliable and accurate heat strain forecasting model, enhancing the health and safety of construction workers.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.307-316
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• 2016

Background: Resilience engineering (RE) is a new paradigm that can control incidents and reduce their consequences. Integrated RE includes four new factors-self-organization, teamwork, redundancy, and fault-tolerance-in addition to conventional RE factors. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of these four factors on RE and determine the most efficient factor in an uncertain environment. Methods: The required data were collected through a questionnaire in a petrochemical plant in June 2013. The questionnaire was completed by 115 respondents including 37 managers and 78 operators. Fuzzy data envelopment analysis was used in different ${\alpha}$-cuts in order to calculate the impact of each factor. Analysis of variance was employed to compare the efficiency score means of the four abovementioned factors. Results: The results showed that as ${\alpha}$ approached 0 and the system became fuzzier (${\alpha}=0.3$ and ${\alpha}=0.1$), teamwork played a significant role and had the highest impact on the resilient system. In contrast, as ${\alpha}$ approached 1 and the fuzzy system went toward a certain mode (${\alpha}=0.9$ and ${\alpha}=1$), redundancy had a vital role in the selected resilient system. Therefore, redundancy and teamwork were the most efficient factors. Conclusion: The approach developed in this study could be used for identifying the most important factors in such environments. The results of this study may help managers to have better understanding of weak and strong points in such industries.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.303-308
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• 2023

Background: Occupational workers at altitudes are more prone to falls, leading to catastrophic outcomes. Acrophobia, height-related anxiety, and affected executive functions lead to postural instabilities, causing falls. This study investigated the effects of repeated virtual height exposure and training on cognitive processing and height-related anxiety. Methods: Twenty-eight healthy volunteers (age 20.48 ± 1.26 years; mass 69.52 ± 13.78 kg) were recruited and tested in seven virtual environments (VE) [ground (G), 2-story altitude (A1), 2-story edge (E1), 4-story altitude (A2), 4-story edge (E2), 6-story altitude (A3), and 6-story edge (E3)] over three days. At each VE, participants identified occupational hazards present in the VE and completed an Attitude Towards Heights Questionnaire (ATHQ) and a modified State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Questionnaire (mSTAIQ). The number of hazards identified and the ATHQ and mSTAIQ scores were analyzed using a 7 (VE; G, A1, A2, A3, E1, E2, E3) x 3 (DAY; DAY 1, DAY 2, DAY 3) factorial repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: The participants identified the lowest number of hazards at A3 and E3 VEs and on DAY 1 compared to other VEs and DAYs. ATHQ scores were lowest at G, A1, and E1 VEs. Conclusion: Cognitive processing is negatively affected by virtual altitudes, while it improves with short-term training. The features of virtual reality, such as higher involvement, engagement, and reliability, make it a better training tool to be considered in ergonomic settings. The findings of this study will provide insights into cognitive dual-tasking at altitude and its challenges, which will aid in minimizing occupational falls.

• International Journal of Contents
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.1-6
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• 2008

Pre schools with state of the art facilities that would provide not just academic excellence but also ensure the safety and provide efficient healthcare to their pupils relative to Atopic Dermatitis with Asthma is the main objective of this research One of the most promising applications of sensor networks is for human healthcare monitoring. Due to recent technological advances in sensor, low power microelectronics and miniaturization, and wireless networking enable the design and proliferation of this wireless sensor networks capable of autonomously monitoring and controlling environments. Thus, this research presents the utilization of such microelectronic sensor and plots the hardware and software architecture of a wireless sensor network system with real-time pupil monitoring that integrates vital sign sensors, location sensor and allergen sensor. This proposed architecture for wearable sensors can be used as active tags which can track pupil's location within the school's premises, identify possible atopic dermatitis with asthma allergens, it would monitor and generate a health status report of the pupil.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.101-122
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• 2001

To take maximum advantage of computers without compromising the health of library staffs and users, it is important that the computer workstation be adapted to the needs of the users. While the topic of occupational safety and health is a major industry concern, it is not commonplace in libraries. Therefore, this study is to apply the ergonomic principles to library computer workstations and suggest the ergonomic models for computer table and chair, monitor and keyboard placement, posture and motion. lighting, and other environments.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.125-133
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• 2012

Objectives: We used participatory mapping as a tool for empowerment training for promoting health and safety of farmers. We would like to introduce the application of participatory mapping method and report our experiences in a rural community in Korea. Methods: A one-day workshop was offered in six rural villages which were designated as 'safe farm zones'. Each workshop started with an orientation session, followed by a village rounding, presentations of best cases, a group exercise to draw and present a healthy village map. Participants were requested to express their ideas and experiences about healthy and safe residential and working environments on their map. Results: A total of 206 farmers(100 male, 106 female) participated in the workshops. In each workshop, an average of 34.3 farmers participated, and their mean age was 59 years. In the six workshops, the participants proposed a total of 137 action plans. The action plans included improvement of co-working condition, building facilities for recreation, improving traffic safety measures, and improving residential environment. Conclusions: Participatory mapping was successfully developed and applied as a tool for empowering Korean farmers. The participants were able to express their ideas and thoughts about healthy and safe village and action plans on the map. Moreover, some of the actions in the action plans were carried out immediately after workshop.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.343-359
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• 2016

Objective:In this study, we designed working clothes for livestock farmers to wear in spring and autumn to improve their work efficiency, conducted a physiological test on their performance, and evaluated their comfort. Background: In recent years, livestock farming in Korea has expanded, yet farmers' safety and sanitation levels remain low in hazardous environments that include organic dust, toxic gas, and heat stress, as well as the risk of accidents. Furthermore, most livestock farmers wear ordinary or dust-resistant clothes that are unsuitable for rearing livestock and compromise their safety and health. Thus, it is important to design specialized working clothes for livestock farmers that are comfortable and that minimize their health and safety risks. Method: To this end, we examined the literature on livestock (poultry, swine, and cattle) farmers' safety and sanitation issues, designed appropriate working clothes, and tested them in terms of sensory feel, physiological response, and subjective comfort. Results: The respondents expressed satisfaction with the new working clothes. The results of a physiological test showed a decline in temperature and humidity inside the clothes, a lower pulse rate, and a lower oxygen intake compared to the measurements taken when famers wore their previous working clothes. This indicates a fall in heat stress and fatigue, which was mostly consistent with the results of the assessment of subjective comfort. Conclusion: The results of the analysis show an improvement in the comfort of the new working clothes compared to the dust-resistant clothes that are widely worn. Based on this study, the new working clothes need to be further tested and evaluated to improve the design. Application: This study is expected to contribute to designing better working clothes for livestock farmers.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.417-427
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• 2010

Objectives: This study was conducted to develop a Korean version of the Participatory Action Oriented Training (PAOT) program and training materials for improvement of agricultural working environments. Methods: The PAOT manual and checklist were developed on the basis of the original English version of the training materials, a questionnaire survey of agricultural health and safety professionals, and a brainstorming conference. Good example pictures were collected through visits to agricultural workers' houses, and an easily understandable picture was drawn by an animation specialist. A PAOT action manual and five types of action checklists were developed for use in different agricultural environments. Each action checklist contained six categories and 38 items of agricultural health and safety principles; the six categories were material storage and handling, work stations and tools, machine safety, physical environment, working schedule and organization, and basic health and safety management. Incorporating these training materials, a one-day Korean PAOT program was developed. Results: Among 307 candidate agricultural workers from four rural Korean villages, 94 workers (59 males, 35 females) participated in a PAOT from July 2007 to Oct 2008. The PAOT program was successful and the mean self-estimated satisfaction score of the participants was greater than 90%. Conclusions: A Korean PAOT program and training materials were successfully developed and applied to Korean agricultural workers. Although more studies are needed, it is expected that PAOT will greatly contribute to the improvement of agricultural working conditions and health and safety through the use of agricultural workers' self initiatives.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.491-497
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• 2005

In this study, we investigated $PM_{10},\;NO_2$, and l-hydroxypyrene(1-OHP) in urine at indoor environments which are 35 houses and 20 hospitals for using air cleaner and non-using air cleaner in Seoul metropolitan area and Kyoung-gi province from April, 2003 to February, 2004. Moreover, we examined effect of improvement for indoor air quality and health effect by concentration of 1-OHP also we investigated removal efficiency by air cleaner for $PM_{10},\;NO_2$, and 1-OHP that were 28.5\%,\;27.4\%,\;and\;42.1\%$ respectively. Concentration of$PM_{10},\;NO_2$, and 1-OHP were $19.02\pm18.14{\mu}g/m^3,\;8.66\pm3.06ppb,\;and\;0.19\pm0.18{\mu}g/g$, creatinine when air cleaner was no worked. The concentration for $PM_{10},\;NO_2$. and 1-OHP were $13.60\pm10.79{\mu}g/m^3,\; 6.29\pm2.71ppb,\;and\;0.11\pm0.10{\mu}g/g$ creatinine, respectively. It was significant statistically. Therefore, it is considered using the air cleaner to remove the partial pollutants in indoor environment and is positive effect for health.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.13-29
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to describe about elders with dementia, their families, and their living environment by visiting the households where demented elders resided. The findings will be used as a basis to develop future individualized adjustment programs for demented elders and their families living in communities. The study participants were 64 demented elders and their families who were registered to a dementia counseling center at Nam-Gu community health center located in Inchon, Korea. Data were collected for two months, from May to June 2001. The length of data collection for each home visit ranged from 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Conclusion are as follows based on these study findings: Those demented elders had more than one chronic health problem in addition to their pre-existing dementia condition. Two thirds of the demented elders were not receiving any specific treatment for dementia. They showed a moderate level of independence in basic ADL, but were mostly residing at home because of lack of ability to perform more delicate and complicate routine daily activities by themselves. In addition, the primary caregivers were not well adjusted to the care-giving activities for their demented family members due to the lack of knowledge and information about dementia. The caregivers were mostly women including daughters-in-law, woman spouses and daughters, over a half of whom perceived their physical and mental health status as poor. Their image toward the demented elders was considerably negative. while their level of knowledge on dementia was moderate. The burden for the care-giving was high, whereas their coping method was passive. As the difference in image toward elderly before and after the onset of dementia in their family member increases, the caregiver burden also increased. The main resource of social support for the caregivers was their children. The caregivers showed high level of needs for knowledge and information on dementia, and day care service was the most preferred type of service by the caregivers. There was lack of safety in the living environments for the demented elders and their families, and in the surrounding environments to prevent dementia-related symptoms. Considering that home-based family care-giving is the most culturally appropriate model of providing care for the demented elders in Korea, we need to develop and apply an individualized adjustment program for the demented elders and their families.