• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.280-291
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• 2020

Objectives: Hazard classification is a controversial issue in the new MSDS system in which chemical companies have to prepare and submit MSDS for chemicals that they manufacture or import to the competent authorities according to the amended Occupational Safety and Health Act. The aim of this study is to suggest how to apply and manage harmonized hazard classification criteria and results by investigating current hazard classification systems and trends. Methods: The domestic issues about different hazard classification criteria and results were investigated by reviewing the literature and business outcomes regarding KOSHA. We also checked official and unofficial reports from the UN to understand international discussion about the topic. Chemical hazard classification results from agencies providing chemical information were analyzed to compare a harmonized rate between classifications. Furthermore, a field survey of a few chemical companies was conducted. Results: Under the related competent authorities, an integrated standard proposal was developed to harmonize the domestic hazard classification criteria. Although harmonized chemical information is strongly needed, we recognized the uncertainty and difficulty of harmonized hazard classification from the UN global list project review. In practice the harmonization rate of the classification was generally low between the classification in KOSHA, MoE, and EU CLP. Among hazard classes, health hazards largely led the disharmony. The field survey revealed a change of perception that the main body of chemical information production is manufacturers. Approaches and solutions about hazard classification issues differed depending on business size, types of chemical handling, and other factors. Conclusions: We proposed reasonable ways by time and step to apply hazard classification in the new MSDS system. Chemical manufacturers should make and offer chemical information including responsible hazard classifications. The government should primarily accept these classifications, evaluate them by priority, and support or supervise workplaces in order to communicate reliable chemical information.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.32-38
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• 2009

According to the statistics from the Ministry of labor, 70~80 people died by work-related electric shock accidents in the workplace and this number is about 10~20 times higher than those of the foreign countries such as Japan and the United Kingdom in frequencies and rates per 100,000. The electrocution deaths had decreased from several hundred in 1990s to 67 in 2002, since then there has been little change over the last 5 years. To reduce this number of the electrocution death, it is necessary to analyze the sources of the accidents and to implement the suitable measures for preventing the similar accidents from occurring. But there is not any consensus standard method or procedures for accident investigation yet. And the results solely depend on the ability of the investigator. Because of the demand of eliminating technical barrier for free trading, the IEC 60364 is adopted as a regulation for low voltage electrical installations in Korea. The facilities designed and constructed by IEC 60364 are increasing. The facilities by IEC 60364 have different features in comparison with the facilities by Korea eletro technical regulation, and these features combined with parameters of electric shock accident can greatly affect the consequences of the electric accidents. The accident analysis program for electric shock injuries in Terra Neutral(TN) and Terra Terra(TT) system was developed in this paper, which was based on KOSHA Electric Shock Analysis Program(ESAP).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.130-135
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• 2003

This study is planned to investigate the compliance of small sized enterprises of under 5 employees directed by Industrial Safety and Health Act. Occupational safety regulation can be required for employer and employee to comply because that all members of workplace should be involved to protect worker's health. When all members of workplace comply with safety regulation, effectiveness of regulation will be realized as expectation. The study subject is composed of three groups as 501 employers, 501 employees of small sized enterprises of under 5 employees and 107 safety inspectors sampled by stratified random sampling for comparison. Data for analysis is collected from each sample using interview with structured questionnaires. Compliance is measured by 5 point scale composed by 8 sub items such as general perception, understanding, clearness, necessity, relevancy, implementation, penalty, and general compliance of the regulation. Among sub items of employer's compliance, the level of perception of regulation, necessity of regulation, relevancy of penalty are differentiated among three groups. The level of all 8 items of employee's compliance also differentiated among three groups. These results show that strategies for ensuring the same level of compliance among three groups will be needed through education, training and evaluation of regulation and feedback.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.136-142
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• 2003

This study is planned to investigate the attitude toward the safety and health management of contractor company. Under the contract based production system, all of activities including safety and health management in the contractor company are depended upon the contract. How to make contract influence the worker's health of contractor company. Worker's health of contractor company can be protected by efforts of company of contract-out and contractor company, especially their safety managers. The modelling of the effective safety and health management system for contractor company should consider the need of safety manager of each company and employer of contractor company. Data is collected from safety managers of 3 contract out compaines as electronic and electrical manufacturing industry and 55 safety manager, 57 employers of their contractor compaines using self administered survey with structured questionnaire. The most of all respondents want to support from the contract out compaines. The most important items supported from contract out company is the information based on the safety information network between each company. Safety manager and employer of contactor company also itemized safety education and training in the supporting system from contract out company. These results can be generalized to survey on the other industries.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.269-277
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to understand the mechanism of cardiovascular disease (CVD) caused by exposure to hazardous chemicals. We investigated changes in the symptoms of metabolic syndrome, which is strongly related to CVD, and in levels of other CVD risk factors, with a special emphasis on the roles of catecholamines and oxidative stress. The results revealed that neither body mass index (BMI) nor waist and hip circumferences were associated with exposure to hazardous chemicals. Among metabolic syndrome criteria, only HDL-cholesterol level increased on exposure to hazardous chemicals. Levels of epinephrine (EP) and norepinephrine (NEP) were not influenced by exposure to hazardous chemicals; however, the total antioxidative capacity (TAC) reduced because of increased oxidative stress. Both hazardous chemical exposure level and metabolite excretion were related to EP, NEP, and the oxidative stress index (OSI). Logistic regression analysis with these factors as independent variables and metabolic syndrome criteria as dependent variables revealed that EP was associated with blood pressure, and NEP with metabolic syndrome in the chemical-exposed group. In conclusion, the results suggest that reactive oxygen species generated and oxidative stress due to exposure to hazardous chemicals act as mediators and cause changes in the physiological levels of EP and NEP to increase blood pressure. This ultimately leads to the development of CVD through increase in cholesterol, triglyceride, and blood glucose levels by lipid peroxidation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.99-107
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• 2021

This study analyzes the differences in definitions and concepts of terms used in the statistical indicators of fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers among countries included in the ILOSTAT data explorer. In addition, improvement measures focusing on the limitations in international comparison are proposed. Five countries-the Republic of Korea, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, United States-- were comparatively analyzed. These countries were selected according to the significance of differences in their definitions of workplace injuries, workers, and compensation insurance, and their reporting systems. Considering these differences before directly comparing statistical indicators of fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers among countries is necessary because the range of comparison groups and the definition of fatal occupational injury are different for each country. While one can also compare trends by country, it is necessary to investigate beforehand whether the criteria and methods for processing statistics have changed. Misinterpretation can be minimized by properly understanding the process and limitations of fatal occupational statistical indicators that may differ from country to country.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.35
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• pp.40.1-40.10
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• 2023

Background: Efforts for the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in workers have been actively pursued. Obesity is one of the important risk factors related to CVDs. Obesity has various metabolic characteristics, and some individuals can be metabolically healthy. Body composition including skeletal muscle mass is known to have protective effect in obesity. The study aims to investigate the association between skeletal muscle mass and Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) CVD risk among obese male manufacturing workers in Korea and to identify appropriate indicators of skeletal muscle mass for predicting risk of CVDs. Methods: The study was conducted on 2,007 obese male workers at a manufacturing industry aged more than 19 years. Skeletal muscle mass, skeletal muscle index (SMI), skeletal muscle mass percent (SMM%) and skeletal muscle to body fat ratio (MFR) were used to evaluate body composition and these indicators were divided into quartiles. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the KOSHA CVD risk groups according to quartiles of skeletal muscle mass indicators were estimated using ordinal logistic regression analysis. Results: The OR for the KOSHA CVD risk groups in the highest quartile of SMI was 1.67 (95% CI: 1.42-1.92), while the ORs for the KOSHA CVD risk groups in the highest quartiles of SMM%, SMM/body mass index (BMI), and MFR were 0.47 (95% CI: 0.22-0.72), 0.51 (95% CI: 0.05-0.76), and 0.48 (95% CI: 0.23-0.74), respectively. Conclusions: We found that high SMI increase the likelihood of high risk of CVDs, while high SMM%, SMM/BMI, and MFR lower the likelihood of high risk of CVDs. Accurate evaluation of skeletal muscle mass can help assess the cardiovascular risk in obese male workers.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.415-420
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• 2015

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the correlations between food intake behavior and job stress level and neuropeptide hormone concentrations. Job strain and food intake behavior were first identified using a self-reported questionnaire, concentrations of neuropeptide hormones (adiponectin, brain derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF], leptin, and ghrelin) were determined, and the correlations were analyzed. In the results, job strain showed significant correlations with adiponectin (odds ratio [OR], 1.220; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.001~1.498; p < 0.05) and BDNF (OR, 0.793; 95% CI, 0.646~0.974; p < 0.05), and ghrelin exhibited a significant correlation with food intake score (OR, 0.911; 95% CI, 0.842~0.985, p < 0.05). These results suggest that job stress affects food intake regulation by altering the physiological concentrations of neuropeptide hormones as well as emotional status.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.19 no.4 s.68
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• pp.94-100
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• 2004

This study delivers the actual condition of investment for industrial accident prevention based on survey of 500 construction sites from 'reports for industry safety and health' published by Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency (KOSHA). The various research techniques were used such as technical statistic analysis for construction industry, cost comparison of industrial accident prevention and accident loss. A formula was deduced to calculate accident loss and accident frequency by accident prevention cost through regression analysis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.111-116
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• 2012

This study analyzed the accidents and researched on risk of the actual condition in roof works. This study revealed that 68% of accidents in roof works occurred on small sized construction sites. And 79% of accidents are caused by fall. It is simply because most laborers do not wear the safety harness and the mounted equipment is not properly installed. According to our research, we realize that most of roof works have some risk of the fall accidents. Most of roof working sites have the danger of falling at ladder and temporary walkway. In oder to prevent accidents in roof works, the basic rule such as wearing the safety harness must be followed.