• Title/Summary/Keyword: Health and safety risks

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Economic Values and Implications of Innovation in the Korean Quarantine System on Plant Diseases and Pests

  • Son, Minsu;Kim, Brian H.S.;Park, ChangKeun
    • Asian Journal of Innovation and Policy
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    • v.10 no.1
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    • pp.108-131
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    • 2021
  • The increase of international trade across countries and borders results in increased risks associated with the inflow of new pests and diseases. These risks are likely to be increased more rapidly due to climate change. Some countries implement strict regulations on imports to prevent these risks and protect biosecurity, food safety, and public health. However, the problems arise when the diseases and pests are found in a country where their economic structure largely depends on agricultural exports and cause ripple effects on other industries and ecosystems. Therefore, establishing an effective quarantine system is essential to protect and recover from the damage caused by non-native diseases and pests. This study's objectives are 1) analyzing the agricultural policies relate to the quarantine system on diseases and pests in Korea, 2) evaluating the Korea plant quarantine system's value, and 3) simulating plant quarantine policy strategies. We estimated the Korean quarantine system's benefits on diseases and pests to reach these objectives. The benefits are measured with a willingness to pay from respondents surveyed by the contingent valuation method (CVM). The CVM approach directly asks people how much they would willingly pay for food security. Finally, the Korean quarantine system's values are simulated with several policy scenarios and different scales of infection at the regional level. The results of this study can deliver policy implications on the quarantine system innovation in developing countries including Asia.

A Study on Harmonized Classification and Categorization for Physical Hazards of Chemicals in Korea (국내 화학물질의 물리적위험성 분류·구분 단일화에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, BongWoo;Shin, Dongil
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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    • v.21 no.4
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    • pp.30-41
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    • 2017
  • Although chemical substances have greatly contributed to prosperous human life and industrial development and made a great contribution to humanity, some dangerous substances are harmful to health and the environment. Thus, so long ago developed countries have also established strict safety standards. Korea is growing into a major chemical market, accounting for 3.4% of the global chemical market. The domestic laws related to chemical substances are similar to foreign countries, but there are many differences in detail, posing a lot of risks to safety, health and the environment as well as causing many problems in industry. In order to improve these problems, this study carried out to unify the domestic chemical law and the international standardization system (GHS) and to solve the trade barriers in the export and import by industry. In addition, researchers proposed a unified approach to classification and division of physical hazards, as advanced as developed nations, as a basis for prevention and response to accidents in dangerous goods.

A Study on the Effects of Marine Accidents by Navigation Officers' Fatigue (항해사의 피로가 해양사고에 미치는 영향 평가에 관한 연구)

  • Cho, Jun-Young;Keum, Jong-Soo;Jang, Woon-Jae
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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    • v.16 no.2
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    • pp.201-207
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    • 2010
  • Recently, about 600 cases of marine accidents occur annually in Korea. According to many studies and analyses on occurrence of marine accidents, 70~80% of marine accidents were caused by human factors. Among the human factors, navigation officers' fatigue is very important factor. Although navigation officers' fatigue serves as an important role in marine accidents, there is no method to exactly examine the degree of officers' fatigue. Accordingly, this study analyzed human factors according to types of marine accidents and extracted important five factors affecting navigation officers' fatigue through the questionnaire survey by means of literatures and 5-point scale. In addition, evaluation factors of marine accident risks caused by fatigue factors were divided and structured by using ISM. Lastly, it found out the importance of each fatigue factor drawn by AHP and decided marine accidents that were most highly caused by navigation officers' fatigue in order. At the result, weights were high as sleep time 0.385, stress 0.302, health condition 0.139, rest time 0.099, alcohol and drug 0.074 in fatigue factors, and death and injury 0.328, collision 0.308, grounding 0.195, sinking 0.094, fire accident 0.075 in evaluation factors of marine accident risks. Therefore, the control plan to lower marine accident risks should be prepared on the basis of high weight factors.

Falling Accident Case Analysis on Construction Working Platform and Working Passage (건설현장 작업발판 및 안전통로 관련 추락 및 전도재해 사고사례 분석)

  • Kim, Hyunsoo;Lee, Yong-Soo;Oh, Inhwan;Ahn, Hongseob
    • Journal of the Korea Institute of Construction Safety
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    • v.2 no.1
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    • pp.9-15
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    • 2019
  • Despite the efforts for enhancing the safety record, construction industry has been suffered from higher fatalities than other industries. The poor record of safety in construction industry means that there is a clear need for an effective countermeasure. As mentioned in previous studies, it is important to identify the type of activities or risks that are likely to cause accidents and to develop appropriate safety measures. Considering the large number of accident cases on the temporary installations including work platforms and work passages, the temporary installations should be managed first. To support it, this study aims to analyze falling accident cases on construction working platforms and passages which can lead to develop proper safety measures. Through the analysis of 1663 accident cases in the perspective of cost, progress, activity, and type of workers, this study identifies how the recent accidents occur and what is the cause of the accident occurrence. The identified causes of accident occurrence will help us to improve current construction safety.

Health Risk Assessment due to 137Cs Released into Ocean from the Severe Accident of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plants (후쿠시마 사고로 해양으로 누출된 137Cs에 의한 인체 위해도 평가)

  • Min, Byung Il;Lee, Baek Gun;Suh, Kyung Suk;Park, Kihyun
    • Journal of Radiation Industry
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    • v.8 no.2
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    • pp.123-132
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    • 2014
  • After the nuclear accident of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plants (FDNPPs) on 11 March 2011, a large amount of radioactive materials has been released into the atmosphere and the ocean. A compartment model is used to evaluate the circulation characteristics and the spatiotemporal concentration distributions of radionuclides in the ocean. In the comparison with observed concentrations of $^{137}Cs$ in seawater, calculated concentrations by the compartment model were well agreed with them. On the basis of these results, we performed evaluation of the effective dose and the cancer risk. In the early stage of the accident, the effective doses from ingestion of the seafood near the Fukushima region were much higher than 1 mSv which is the value of the annual effective dose limit to individual recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). However, the effective doses by ingestion of the seafood decreased below 1 mSv as distance from the FDNPPs increased and time passed. In addition, it was estimated that the cancer risks by intake of the contaminated marine products were less than natural occurrence probability of cancer. Consequently, it was inferred that the health risk due to the $^{137}Cs$ was low after since mid-term period of the accident.

Comparison of Occupational Danger and Physical Health Problems of Workers according to the Form of Employment (고용형태에 따른 근로자의 위험 및 건강에 대한 비교)

  • Oh, Changseok;Jeon, Hui Won
    • The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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    • v.14 no.1
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    • pp.111-122
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    • 2020
  • Objectives: The study aims to compare indirect form of employment with direct form of employment on the variables of occupational danger and physical health. Methods: I studied based on the data of 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) which was performed by Occupational Safety & Health Research Institute of Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency in 2017. SAS 9.4 was used for statistical analysis of the final data. Results: Based on the verification result, the hazard is higher for direct employment than for dispatch or subcontract in case of exposure to risks in the health and social welfare industry. Based on cross tabulation, significant differences were found in the proportions of harmful and safe tasks in direct employment and those in outsourcing in the physical health industry. It was found that the risk of hazard is 2.18 times higher in outsourcing jobs than in direct employment. Conclusions: It is necessary to consider a dispatch and subcontract partner as a strategic partner and not simply hand over dangerous or hard tasks to them. Active and aggressive cooperation along with support from the employer enterprise built in the contract is necessary for the safety and health of dispatch or subcontract laborers.

Risk Perception and Need to Regulate towards Environmental Problems in Korea (우리나라 환경문제의 인지 위해도와 정부규제의 필요성에 관한 연구)

  • Lim, Young-Wook;Shin, Dong-Chun;Hwang, Man-Sik;Park, Chong-Yon;Kim, Hwang-Ryong
    • Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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    • v.11 no.3
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    • pp.145-155
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    • 2002
  • A substantial literatures on environmental risk perception have emerged since the late 1960s. Most these works focus on how people form risk perception, on what people believe, on difficulties in communicating information about health, safety, or environmental risks to non-experts. In this study, questionnaire surveys were conducted to sample from stakeholders(general public, environmental specialist, governmental official, non-government officials, journalist) during March and Aprils, 2000. Total number of responses was 1,803 including 773 persons of general public, 353 experts, 390 governmental officials, 111 journalists and 176 NGO members. Risk perception on 26 environmental issues were statistically analyzed to relate with the need to regulate each issues, interest and knowledge, experience of hazard, satisfaction in environmental situation, etc. This research aims to aid risk analysis and policy-making by providing a basis for understanding and anticipating group responses to environmental issues and improving the communication of risk information among general public, lay-people, technical experts, and decision-makers. This study concludes that those who are in charge of promoting and regulating health and safety of citizens should understand how people perceive about and respond to environmental risk. Without such understanding, well-intended environmental policies of governments would be ineffective.

A Study on Selecting Personal Protective Equipment for Listed Hazardous Chemicals (2): Analysis Using an Exposure Risk Matrix (사고대비물질 개인보호구 선정에 관한 연구(2): 노출위해성 매트릭스에 의한 분석)

  • Han, Don-Hee;Chung, Sang-Tae;Kim, Jong-Il;Cho, Yong-Sung;Lee, Chung-Soo
    • Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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    • v.42 no.6
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    • pp.430-437
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    • 2016
  • Objectives: The new Chemical Control Act from the Korean Ministry of Environment (2014-259) simply states only in basic phrases that every worker handling the listed chemicals should wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and does not consider the different hazard characteristics of particular chemicals or work types. The purpose of this study was to produce an exposure risk matrix and assign PPE to the categories of this matrix, which would be useful for revising the act to suggest PPE to suit work types or situations. Methods: An exposure risk matrix was made using hazard ranks of chemicals and workplace exposure risks in the previous study. For the 20 categories of exposure risk matrix PPE, levels A, B, C, D as classified by OSHA/EPA were assigned. After 69 hazardous chemicals were divided into 11 groups according to their physiochemical characteristics, respirators, chemical protective clothing (CPC), gloves and footwear were suggested on the basis of the assigned PPE levels. Results: PPE table sheets for the 11 groups were made on the basis of work types or situations. Full facepiece or half-mask for level C was recommended in accordance with the exposure risk matrix. Level A was, in particular, recommended for loading or unloading work. Level A PPE should be worn in an emergency involving hydrogen fluoride because of the number of recent related accidents in Korea. Conclusion: PPE assignment according to the exposure risk matrix made by chemical hazards and work type or situation was suggested for the first time. Each type of PPE was recommended for the grouped chemicals. The research will be usefully used for the revision of the Chemical Control Act in Korea.

The Occupational Health and Safety of Migrant Workers and the Migrantisation of Risk: A Case Study of the UK Construction Industry (이주노동자의 산업안전보건과 위험의 이주화: 영국 건설업 사례를 중심으로)

  • Julia Jiwon Shin;Junho Chae
    • Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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    • v.27 no.1
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    • pp.18-37
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    • 2024
  • This study examines migrant workers' occupational health and safety issues through a case study of the UK construction industry, focusing on structural vulnerabilities. Migrant workers are at the bottom of the hierarchically fragmented labour market, performing outsourced hazardous work. Structural vulnerability focuses on the social structures that create hierarchies and increase risk in the workplace, rather than on individual responsibility or 'cultural' differences of migrant workers. The study considers the structural factors that perpetuate the migrantisation of risk in the UK construction industry, focusing on the structural necessity of low-wage migrant labour, precarious employment and the legal status of migrant workers, and discusses how these three factors interact to increase migrant workers' vulnerability to health and safety. The migrantisation of risk is not only a matter of occupational health and safety or universal workers' compensation, but also of the intertwining of labour migration policies with employment structures that rely on low-wage, low-skilled labour. This calls for proactive measures to address structural risks that go beyond passive declaratory policies that do not exclude migrant workers from education, training or legal systems.

A Study on the Nutrition Setting for the Quality Certification of adult's Favorite Food

  • LEE, Jaemin
    • The Korean Journal of Food & Health Convergence
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    • v.6 no.4
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    • pp.7-9
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    • 2020
  • The purpose of this study is to prepare a systematic implementation of safety management for adult's foods through recommendations and guidelines for nutrition and hygiene standards for food quality certification system preferred by adults. To achieve this goal, the study studied the current status of adult preferred foods sold near the university, elicited the risks and problems of such foods, and selected nutritional and hygiene risk factors from those foods. To provide quality certification standards and guidelines for adult food preferences, this study looked at practical examples of relevant domestic and international policies and standards. The nutritional standards for food quality certification for sugars, fats, sodium, additive microorganisms and pathogenic bacteria, which are nutrients that can impair health when consumed in large quantities, and dietary standards limited to less than 100 kcal per serving were studied. One excessive amount of caffeine is reported to cause loss of calcium and potassium in the body, suggesting that if an adult is continuously exposed to high concentrations of caffeine, it could lead to imbalance in the resolution in the body and be flavored by growth and foot moon. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare an individual banner based on feasible food types, which is coordinated with the nutritional aspects that fit the purpose of presenting right amount, safe food through the quality certification system for adult's favorite foods and practical aspects that can induce companies' response and voluntary impacting efforts.