• 한국안전학회지
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.81-86
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• 2016

The WMSDs are known to occur more in upper extremity than lower extremity, and such a ratio is increasing each year. The motions or repeated work requiring excessive strength beyond worker's maximum grip strength were known as a major cause of the WMSDs in upper extremity. To prevent the WMSDs in upper extremity, research on the grip strength characteristics analysis of field workers that can be used as basic data for work design and manual tool design is needed. The purpose of this study is to identify various variables affecting grip strength and is to find out the impacts of grip strength on WMSDs. This research measured the grip strength of 327 field workers at Heavy Industries, and also conducted a questionnaire survey on individual characteristics and job characteristics. As a result of analyzing grip strength, the grip strength was statistically significant (P<0.1) according to the body surface area (BSA) of the research subjects. The differences between percentile groups of grip strength were statistically significant (P<0.1) according to pain levels of hand/wrist/finger and arm/elbow. The comparison results between the average grip strength of Korean adult males and the average grip strength of the survey-targeted heavy industry workers show that the average grip strength of the heavy industry workers was higher by 9.75 kg. This study analyzed relationship between grip strength and the pain levels of hand/wrist/finger and arm/elbow, and compared the findings in this study with those of existing preceding studies. Also, this research comparatively analyzed the grip strength of Korean adult males and survey-targeted heavy industry workers. The findings of this study can be used as useful data for ergonomic work design and manual tool design to prevent WMSDs at industrial worksites, given that almost no data on the grip strength of workers in the industrial sites are found in Korea.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.71-76
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) that occur in heavy industrial workers according to the occupational category, prevalence, environment, and number of physical therapy visits. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: For this study, data was collected of workers who were engaged in heavy industry in Korea and who visited the company physicians and received physical therapy in 2016. Data was collected from 855 subjects and was analyzed. With the data collected, analysis of the type and prevalence of MSDs and the number of physical therapy visits that have occurred according to the occupational category and environment was performed. Results: The most common MSDs were lumbar sprains and spasms (31.1%), and shoulder sprain and spasm (19.4%). In addition, the most common type of MSDs according to the occupational category and environment (occupational type) were lumbar sprain and spasms in 11 occupations, including white collar workers, and in milling, inspection, crane operation, and finishing jobs, shoulder muscle sprain and strain were the most common disorders. Also, the prevalence of MSDs according to occupational category and environment (occupational type) was the highest in workers involved with welding, which was 29.7%. Conclusions: Through this study, the type and prevalence of MSDs according to the occupational category and environment of heavy industrial workers have been confirmed. Further studies are necessary to study the future types of the work patterns of industrial workers and to develop a system for preventing and managing MSDs that may occur.

• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제34권6호
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• pp.609-622
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• 2015

Objective: This study aims to investigate the correlation between office and work environment satisfaction levels and workers' musculoskeletal symptoms by conducting surveys asking office workers to state their musculoskeletal symptoms and office and work environment satisfaction levels. Background: The increased number of office workers and their indoor work hours using computers have led to new understandings of the importance of office environment including its temperature, humidity, noise levels, lighting and quality of air, and work environment including monitor arrangement, space arrangement and the functions of desks and chairs. Method: Specific details on office work, office environment satisfaction levels, work environment satisfaction levels, musculoskeletal symptoms, absence from work and treatment due to musculoskeletal related symptoms were analyzed based on the survey answers given by 397 office workers who were the subjects of this research. Results: Office workers showed different characteristics of musculoskeletal symptoms depending on their gender, age, work experience, office hours, break time and time spent on computers. Also, differences in symptoms were found for workers'with different satisfaction levels for office environment (temperature, humidity, noise levels, quality of air, lighting) and work environment (location of monitors, area and display of office space, chairs and desks). ANOVA shows the differences between groups of subjects classified by the experience of work-absences and treatments or pain complaints. Conclusion and Application: Relationship between workers' satisfaction levels with the office and work environment and their musculoskeletal symptoms is expected to be served as essential data for systematic management of the workplace.

• 노동경제논집
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.25-52
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• 2004

1998~2000년에 신규로 장해등급이 판정된 남성 산재근로자를 대상으로하여 산재보상 수급자 데이터베이스와 고용보험 피보험자 데이터베이스를 결합함으로써 취업력(labor history)을 재구성하였다. 이 자료에 기초한 분석 결과에 따르면, 먼저 원직장복귀가 산재근로자의 주요한 직장복귀 경로이며 고용유지에도 유효하였던 반면, 요양종결 이후의 취업자들은 상대적으로 높은 이직률을 보였다. 그리고 직장복귀자의 약 6할은 이직을 경험하는 것으로 나타났으며, 이직자 가운데 77%는 이전 직장의 취업기간이 1년 미만이었다. 한편 다중위험모형을 이용한 취업기간 분석에서 사업장 규모가 작을수록 그리고 비자발적 이직의 경우에는 직업탐색기간이 길수록 산재근로자의 취업기간이 짧아진다는 사실을 확인하였다. 뿐만 아니라 요양종결 이후의 첫 직장에서 일자리를 유지하는 기간이 길수록 이후의 취업과 고용유지에도 긍정적인 효과를 보였다.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.182-194
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• 2009

This study was conducted to evaluate health status and to propose health protection measures of irregular plant construction workers in Yoesu National Industrial Complex (YNIC). The status of safety and health management was examined in five areas including safety and health education, work environment monitoring, health examination, health management record, and personal protective equipment (PPE) for plant construction workers. The safety training rate for plant construction workers was reached high at 91%, The training was mostly consisted of safety accident related things, but training on hazardous materials was found to be insufficient. Workplace monitoring results showed that the compliance rate for work environment for irregular construction workers was 54% and workplace monitoring during turnaround (TA) period with high risk of exposure to hazardous agents has not been implemented. While 61.4% of irregular workers received the general health examination but only 36.8% received the special health examination. The special health examination was found to be conducted only upon welders from 2-3 years ago. The issue of health management record upon irregular construction workers was not being implemented. In case of PPE, basic safety protective equipments such as safety shoes, safety belt, safety helmet were being supplied well while the supply rate of respirator for organic vapor was relatively low at 40%. Based on this study, two suggestions to maximize the utilization of the current safety and health program were made while boosting its effectiveness in protecting workers' health. First, the role of owners (petrochemical plant) related to safety and health should be strengthened. Second, in consideration of the characteristics of construction workers who usually engage in short term employment and frequent movement, community based health management organization is suggested that can overcome such structural problem and carry out the implementation of health examination and sustained health management.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.91-102
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• 1996

Low back pain patients and controls of shipyard workers were surveyed between June 1995 and September 1995 to identify risk factors of industrial low back pain. The patients were 17 male workers who had got medical treatment for over 3 days because of industrial back pain. Controls were 51 male workers who had not have musculoskeletal disorder for one year before the survey. By univariate analysis, the workers who did overtime work 4 times or more for the last 2 weeks showed odds ratio of 3.67 on low back pain with the workers who did less overtime work. Carrying heavy materials was also associated with the low back pain and the odds ratio increased with the increase of carrying weight. Work space and work posture were not associated with the low back pain significantly. The welder had higher odds ratio than the other workers on low back pain. The duration of employment and job satisfaction did not affect the risk of low back pain. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that frequency of overtime work for the last 2 weeks and carrying heavy materials among the risk factors were associated significantly with the low back pain. We found that important risk factors of low back pain of shipyard workers are work intensity factors such as overtime work and carrying heavy weight.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.465-473
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• 1994

This study was carried out to evaluate the relations between sociodemographic, work-related factors and health related behaviors in a group of 1,042 workers in Taejeon and Chungnam area. The results were as followings: The older workers took more irregularly meals, more cigarette and more alcohol than the younger. Men had more appropriate sleeping time, more regular exercise than women, but more frequent alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking. The married had more regular sleeping habit than the unmarried. The group of married were smoking more and obese. In view of monthly income which represent the socioeconomic state of workers, the group of more than 1 million won had more frequent alcohol ingestion, more heavier body weight than another group of less than 1 million won. Workers having their work hours exceed 9 hours had inappropriate sleep duration, and shift workers took more irregularly meals. The group having poor self-rated health status showed more regular diet, exercise and overweight. Workers recently experienced chronic illness were more overweight and lesser smokers. Above results showed that the health related behaviors were related to the sociodemographic characteristics and occupation-related characteristics. The study for relationship between variant factors affecting health behavior and disease or mortality is need and it should be emphasized that the publicity and education of health related behavior for industrial workers is necessary.

• 지역사회간호학회지
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.67-76
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• 1993

The purpose of this study was to find the status of health examination and health management of industrial companies located in Taegu and Kyung book areas. It will provide basic information for the provision of effective health management of industrial workers. 49 companies were selected as a study sample group, and data was collected by using a structured Questionnaire which was developed by the members of the Community Health Nursing Academy of Korean Nursing. The health managers of the companies filled out the Questionnaire. The data was gathered from Dec 20, 1992 to Jan 20. The results of the study was as follows : 1. The Study sample showed 85.7% manufacturing companies having 300 or more workers. 2. All the companies had health managers, and companies which had 1,000 or more workers had industrial physicians and nurses. Only 12.2% of the industrial physicians were full time employees, and almost all industrial nurses were full time employees. Except for industrial physicians and nurses, the proportion of hygienists (6.1%), nurses aids (4.1%), and environmental engineers (22.4%) with full time employment statuss was very low. The mean age of industrial physicians was 49.2 while that of industrial nurses was 27.2. The length of work experiences currently ranges for 1 to 3 years for all health workers: physicians, nurses, hygienists, and environmental engineers. 3. Health examination and follow up care 94.31% took general health examinations. Of those, the proportion of the workers, who were determined as C grade(in need of close examination) was 43.86%. The proportion of the workers who were determined as D grade was 22.19%. 13.28% of the workers evaluated at the D grade were taken as a gauge for temporary leave from work. While 8.7% and .09% of them were taken as gauge for a change in job, and or shortening work hours respectively. The proportion of workers who must have taken special examination was 65.04% and of those the proportion of the workers who actually took, the examination was 98.55%. 75% of the workers who were recommended for follow up care were given follow up care. The special examinations were done the most frequently to detect the effects of physical agents (59.2%). Direct notice to individual workers was used the most frequently as a method of notification after a special examination (61.2%). The length of time taken to receive the result of a special examination was less than 1 month (38.9%) and 36.7% had taken up to two months (36.7%.). Most results of special examination were obtained within 2 months. The referral rate of consulting special examination by health managers was estimated at 95.9%. 4. 89.8% of the companies had. their own company dispensaries and 75.5% of those. had separate dispensaries. 32.7% of the companies designated local clinics for health management of workers. Industrial nurses performed health examination the most frequently(1.4 points). Health appraisal for work places were. done the least(0.83 points).

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제5권4호
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• pp.222-226
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• 2014

Background: Focusing on the respiratory function for health effect indices, we conducted a cross-sectional study on workers who did and did not handle toner to compare the longitudinal changes. Methods: Among 116 individuals who worked for a Japanese business equipment manufacturer and participated in the study, the analysis included 69 male workers who we were able to follow up for 4 years. We categorized the 40 workers engaged in toner-handling work as the exposed group and the 29 workers not engaged in these tasks as the referent group, and compared their respiratory function test results: peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), vital capacity (VC), predicted vital capacity (%VC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$), and forced expiratory volume in 1 second as a percent of forced vital capacity ($FEV_1%$). Results: The cross-sectional study of the respiratory function test results at the baseline and at the $5^{th}$ year showed no statistically significant differences in PEFR, VC, %VC, $FEV_1$, and $FEV_1%$ between the exposed and referent workers. Also, respiratory function time-course for 4 years was calculated and compared between the groups. No statistically significant differences were shown. Conclusion: Our study does not suggest any toner exposure effects on respiratory function. However, the number of subjects was small in our study; studies of larger populations will be desired in the future.

• 보건교육건강증진학회지
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.16-32
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• 1994

Health Education is very important not only in school or community fields but also in industrial fields. And health education is most fundamental and enthusiastic area in industrial health. The purpose of this study was to analyze the workers' health education needs and the factors which could affect them. The subjects for this study was 855 workers selected from 57 factories in Inchon. The results were as follows: 1. For demographic variables, sex, age, educational level, and income of the workers were investigated. Most of the workers were males (80.2%). Of the respondents, 30∼39 years old were 41.3%. Approximately 62% of the workers were high school graduates. In additions, those who reported they earned 500,000∼800,000 won monthly were 41.9%. 2. Behavioral characteristics of the workers investigated in this study included smoking, drinking and physical activities. Of the respondents, 55.9% were smoking cigarettes, and 26.8% of the workers reported they drank alcohol once or twice a week. The workers who were taking any form of exercise regularly were 31.6%. 3. Occupational characteristics of the workers included working period working hours a day, medical examination, and so on. About 37.6% of the workers had worked 1∼5 years and 53.6% of the respondents were working less than 8 hours a day. More than half of the workers in this study were taking special medical examination(59.3%) and 59.6% of the respondents were working at the production line in the factories. And most of the respondents (69.0%) were mere members of the staffs. 4. For perceived health status of the respondents, 41.1% answered they were healthy. And for the level of health status, health grade 20.4% of the workers were unhealthy. 5. Health education areas the workers in this study wanted to learn were as follows: 1) Mental health 2) Worksite environment 3) Safety control 4) Disease contol. 6. Those who reported having ever received health education in the factories were 20.9%. 7. Women had more health education needs in personal health care, disease control and family health areas than men. Each age group had different health education needs in all health areas and the differences were significant statistically. 8. The workers who had received special medical examination had more health education needs in worksite environment, safety control, and disease control areas than those who had received general medical examination. The lower the satisfaction of the work and the working environment was, the higher the health education needs of worksite environment area were. 9. For the levels of health status healthy workers were more likely than unhealthy workers to have health education needs in all health areas.