• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.35
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• pp.21.1-21.11
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• 2023

Background: Recently, irregular working hours have become controversial issues in Korea. The health impact of irregular working hours on the work-related musculoskeletal pain (MSP) is scarcely researched before. We sought to investigate the association between irregular working hours and work-related MSP among South Korean workers. Methods: This study used data from the sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey in 2020. The prevalence of work-related MSP was analyzed using the χ² test. A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between irregular working hours and work-related MSP. We conducted stratified analysis by gender, weekly working hours, and workers' control over their working hours. We calculated the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of work-related MSP for irregular working hours combined with weekly working hours. Results: The OR for work-related MSP was significantly higher in the population with irregular working hours than in the population with regular working hours (OR: 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29-1.58). Irregular and long (> 52 hours/week) working hours have the highest risk of work-related MSP in both genders (in men, OR: 3.48 [95% CI: 2.53-4.78]; in women, OR: 2.41 [95% CI: 1.46-4.00]). Conclusions: Irregular working hours were associated with work-related MSP in Korea. The association was magnified with long working hours. Reform of the Korean Labor Standards Act leading to increase irregular working hours may induce adverse health outcome.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.35
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• pp.20.1-20.7
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• 2023

The policy proposal by the current Korean government that proposes flexible overtime rules is causing social controversy. This study has explored the 612 experts' opinions on the occupational safety and health impacts of the policy using an online self-report survey. They expected short-term overwork (87.25%), overwork inequality (86.44%), irregular working hours (84.31%), chronic overwork (84.15%), long working hours (83.66%), and unpredictability of working hours (81.86%) as a result of the policy change. They also responded that the policy change would increase industrial accident deaths (87.25%), mental illnesses (87.09%), deaths due to overwork or cardiovascular diseases (83.84%), and accidents (83.33%). They disagreed that the government's flexibilization policy, while agreeing that the necessity of policies on regulating night work (94.77%), guaranteeing wages to eliminate overtime (90.36%), establishing working time regulations for the bogus self-employed (82.84%), and applying the 52-hour workweek system to all workplaces (76.47%). These expert opinions are consistent with previous research on the health effects of working hours.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.187-193
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• 2012

In order to evaluate the physical and psychological health effects of air pollutants from new building materials, 100 employees who worked in new buildings were given a general health questionnaire, and the prevalence of their subjective complaints was measured. The collected data were classified according to age, gender, smoking status, profession, working time, sleep time, life style, and length of employment. The results obtained were summarized as follows: The THI lie scale scores were significantly higher among the older respondents. Compared to males, females showed a significantly higher level in the depression itemas well asa tendency toward high ratios of physical and psychological complaints. The smoking group showed higher scores regarding health complaints related to most physical and psychological items. Smokers showed significantly increased respiratory organ complaints compared to nonsmokers. Those with a profession showed significantly higher level of nervousness. The group of those working 7 to 10 hours group showed higher rates of complaints in the multiple subjective symptoms and mouth/anus items than the group working less than 2 hours. Those living an irregular life showed a tendency toward higher rates of complaints for most physical and psychological subjective factors. Those who were satisfied with their environments showed significantly lower scores in the mouth/anus, impulsiveness, mental irritability, depression, and nervousness items. In summary, this study shows that the health complaint scores regarding physical and psychological symptoms tended to be higher among the unsatisfied group, the irregular life group, the group who worked long hours, the elderly, smokers, and females. These results can be used to improve the psychosomatic health status and working environments of employees working in new buildings.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.115-125
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• 2006

Purpose: This study analyzed the amount of stress and the different effects according to the working times(hours) of a week in two groups: more than 40 hours a week and less than 40 hours a week. Method: The study was conducted from November 1st 2005 to December 15th 2005. The purpose of the study has already been explained in the experiment objectives. 20 copies of evaluation forms were sent by mail to 50 different health sections of participating work sites. A total of 1,000 copies were sent out and 870 were sent back. Within the forms, sent back 120 copies had insufficient data, so 750 copies of evaluation forms were analyzed. Result: Working stress for under 40 hours of working time showed a total of 46.10 points and 47.18 for over 40 hours of working time. For over 40 hours, job demand and occupational climate was high and under 40 hours showed a high rate of job control. For under 40 hours of working time, the factors that caused stress were female, irregular diet habit, age of 30's, nonmanufacturing, and single. For over 40 hours of working time, the factors that causes stress were age of over 40, when the number of employees is 500~999, high rate of fatigue, when the position of the employee is higher then section chief, and when the work amount is high. Conclusion: The stress rate showed significantly higher in over 40 hours of working time. Therefore, adequate working hour distribution and health promotion programs are needed. The factors that cause stress in both under and over 40 hours of working time differed. Therefore, a distinguished program to control work stress for additional working time is needed.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.104-113
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• 2015

Background: Given the long hours on the road involving multiple and interacting work stressors (i.e., delivery pressures, irregular shifts, ergonomic hazards), commercial drivers face a plethora of health and safety risks. Researchers goal was to determine whether and to what extent long-haul trucker work schedules influence sleep duration and quality. Methods: Survey and biometric data collected from male long-haul truck drivers at a major truckstop in central North Carolina over a six month period. Results: Daily hours worked (mean = 11 hours, 55 minutes) and frequency of working over government-mandated daily HOS regulations (23.8% "frequently or always") were statistically significant predictors of sleep duration. Miles driven per week (mean = 2,812.61), irregular daily hours worked (63.8%), and frequency of working over the daily hour limit (23.8% "frequently or always") were statistically significant predictors of sleep quality. Conclusion: Implications of findings suggest a comprehensive review of the regulations and operational conditions for commercial motor vehicle drivers be undertaken.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.733-744
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• 2010

This study investigated the working conditions and job satisfaction of school cafeteria, according to their employment type in Chonbuk, South Korea. Self-administered questionnaires were collected from 401 elementary, middle, and high school cafeteria employees. The data showed significant differences between regular and irregular employees. These factors were: previous work experience (p<.001), type of school (p<.001), the style of foodservice at a school (p<.001), the type of foodservice system (p<.05), and the number of meals served each day (p<.001). The working conditions for regular and irregular employees were significantly different with regard to several factors: these were union membership (p<.01), how they were paid (p<.05), their total working hours (p<.01), and difficulty of using their holidays (p<.01). Approximately 80.5% of the subjects were dissatisfied with the working conditions after the introduction of countermeasures for irregular employees. Results indicated that the average employee job satisfaction level was 2.53, but that there were not significant difference in the level of job satisfaction when comparing regular and irregular employees. The item employees were most satisfied with was having responsibility over meals for young students (3.37). They were least satisfied with their salary (2.00). An interesting issue for future study would be to determine the factors that could improve job satisfaction whilst satisfying the employees' needs which in turn would improve the quality of foodservice.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.287-301
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• 2022

Objectives: This study compared the characteristics of the work environment between agricultural and general workers and analyzed the effects of agricultural working characteristics on work-related health problems. Methods: The participants of this study were 2,347 agricultural workers and 48,042 general workers who were selected by applying standardized weights to the raw data of 50,538 respondents from the 6th Korean Working Condition Survey (KWCS). Variables applicable to both worker groups and related to exposure to hazardous risk factors in the working environment, working hours and intensity of work, health problems and work-related status, and satisfaction with the work environment were selected. Chi-square tests and independent sample t-tests were performed to evaluate the differences in the variables between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the effects of work environment characteristics on work-related health problems. Results: Compared to general workers, agricultural workers were more exposed to hazardous environments, irregular work patterns such as working on Saturday/Sunday, and short repetitive tasks. They reported more work-related and general health problems, including back pain, upper extremity muscle pain, lower extremity muscle pain, and general fatigue. Agricultural workers showed lower satisfaction with their work environment than general workers. Factors affecting one or more work-related health problems included gender, working years, hazardous factors, irregular work pattern, working hours, and labor intensity. Conclusions: Our findings showed that agricultural workers were relatively more vulnerable to safety issues compared to other occupational groups. Therefore, it is necessary to establish standardized safety and health standards and strengthen systematic safety and health management policies and services for agriculture.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.248-257
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was designed to search for nursing intervention strategies centering around the meaning structure of the nurse's turnover experience by applying phenomenological methods. Methods: The participants were 6 nurses in small and medium sized hospitals who had experienced at least 1 turnover. Data were collected used MP3 records. The data analysis was done by Giorgi (1985) method. Results: The results were divided into the following categories: 1) Careless decision: wrong decisions, imprudent desire, insufficient patience, unclear future, 2) Inappropriate working environment: irregular working hours, high workload, poor working environment, insufficient understanding of related divisions, lack of opinion collection, low salary, 3) Interpersonal relations problems: discord with colleagues, difficulty in relationships with others, difficulty in daily lives, 4) Lack of specialization: feeling of inertia, lack of role identification, lack of self identification, 5) Inappropriate coping: regret with clinical challenges, difficulty with a new environment, repentance, expectation, relative humility, 6) New self-dignity: expectation, new challenge, relaxing lives, decisions based on future-oriented confidence. Conclusion: The finding of this study will offer profound information on the nurse's turnover experience and provide basic raw materials for improving the quality of nursing performance and contribute to the development of hospital organization.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.351-358
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• 2021

Backgrounds: Irregular and unpredictable work schedules have become more common in most societies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between unpredictable work schedules and depressive symptoms in Korea. Methods: Data from 34,486 workers who participated in the Korean Working Condition Survey in 2017 were used. Unpredictable work schedules were measured by questions about the frequency of changes in work schedule and limited advanced notice. Depressive symptoms were assessed by a single item asking if the participants had depressive symptoms over the last 12 months. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for high depressive symptoms. Results: The OR for depressive symptoms was significantly higher in the workers with unpredictable work schedules compared to those with predictable work schedules after controlling for age, sex, education, salary, marital status, occupation, contract period, full-time versus part-time, shift work, weekly working hours, and having a child under the age of 18 years (OR = 2.43, 95% confidence interval 1.93-3.07). Conclusion: Unpredictable work schedules were associated with depressive symptoms controlling for the other dimensions of precarious employment in a representative working population in Korea.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.1-10
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• 2017

The aim of this survey is to investigate the occupational musculoskeletal disease and stress levels of restaurant cooks and to provide a basic data of programs in order to prevent occupational diseases. A questionnaire survey was conducted on 220 subjects in Gangwon province. The results show that there was no significant difference in the degree of occupational musculoskeletal disease between male cooks and female cooks. However, western cuisine cooks were more likely to have a higher degree of occupational musculoskeletal disease than other cuisine cooks and showed a higher degree of occupational stress from work overload as well as irregular meal stresses. Cooks aged from 30 to 40 years showed a higher level of occupational musculoskeletal disease in the neck, shoulder, and hand/wrist compared to those in other age groups. The job tenure was related to the degree of musculoskeletal disease in knee. Additionally, the hours of working per day were statistically significantly related to musculoskeletal disease in the knee and to the occupational stress levels in irregular meals stress. The findings of this study suggest that it is essential to design customized education for cooks to lessen their occupational musculoskeletal diseases and stresses in order to ensure the health and safety of the culinary workers.