• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.35
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• pp.8.1-8.12
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• 2023

Background: Prolonged use of visual display terminal (VDT) can cause eyestrain, dry eyes, blurred vision, double vision, headache and musculoskeletal symptoms (neck, shoulder, and wrist pain). VDT working hours among workers have greatly increased during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between VDT working hours and headache/eyestrain in wage workers using data from the sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) (2020-2021) conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We analyzed the sixth KWCS data of 28,442 wage workers aged 15 years or older. The headache/eyestrain that occurred in the last year was assessed. The VDT work group included workers who use VDT always, almost always, and three-fourth of the working hours, while the non-VDT work group included workers who use VDT half of the working hours, one-fourth of the working hours, almost never, and never. To analyze the relationship between VDT working hours and headache/eyestrain, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using logistic regression analysis. Results: Among the non-VDT work group, 14.4% workers experienced headache/eyestrain, whereas 27.5% workers of the VDT work group experienced these symptoms. For headache/eyestrain, the VDT work group showed adjusted OR of 1.94 (95% CI: 1.80-2.09), compared with the non-VDT work group, and the group that always used VDT showed adjusted OR of 2.54 (95% CI: 2.26-2.86), compared with the group that never used VDT. Conclusions: This study suggests that during the COVID-19 pandemic, as VDT working hours increased, the risk of headache/eyestrain increased for Korean wage workers.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.45-65
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• 2016

Global competition and unstable economic situation in recent years have brought in adverse working conditions such as proliferation of temporary or part-time workers and new shift system. In this study we use exploratory data analysis method to find the relationship between some of the important variables which are related to working hours in KWCS (Korean Working Conditions Survey) and EWCS (European Working Conditions Survey). Next, working hours are explored in terms of sex, employment type, occupation and industry using 2006, 2010, 2011, 2014 KWCS data as well as 2010 EWCS data. Lastly, respondents are divided into two groups of healthy and nonhealthy workers and their working hours are explored in terms of the same categories as above. Finally, simple regression analysis is used to find the effect of health on weekly working hours and adjustment of the effect of health on weekly working hours is made using multiple regression analysis with some other independent variable such as sex, age and employment type included in the model.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.290-299
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among physical and psychosocial risk factors, mental health, and presenteeism of South Korean hairdressers. Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of data extracted from the 2014 Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS), conducted by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency. For the present analysis, 920 hairdressers were selected. Based on existing literature, a set of variables was chosen from the KWCS. A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association among risk factors in working place, mental health, and presenteeism. Results: The prevalence of poor mental health and presenteeism was 45.1% and 36.0%, respectively. The results of multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that 'repetitive hand or arm movements,' were significant predictors of mental health (OR: 0.63, CI: 0.41~0.97), and 'role clarity' was a significant predictor of presenteeism (OR: 1.86, CI: 1.10~3.13). Conclusion: Based on these results, we suggest to improve the clarification of the role of hairdressers as a strategy to reduce their presenteeism.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.156-165
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare working condition and health status between parcel delivery workers (PDW) and food delivery workers (FDW) and to examine the factors influencing their health status. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of data collected from the fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS). Based on existing literature, a set of variables was chosen from the KWCS. Results: The proportion of PDW who carryied/moved heavy loads and experienced high job stress and lack of rest time was significantly higher than that of FDW. However, more FDW than their counterparts worked atypical hours. The differences in fatigue and well-being between PDW and FDW were not statistically significant. The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed low temperature, tobacco smoke, standing for long periods, and job stress were significant predictors of fatigue or well-being of FDW. Among PDW, noise, tobacco smoke, sitting for long periods, quantitative demands, hiding emotions, support from colleagues, job stress, no recovery period, and night work were significant predictors of fatigue or well-being. Conclusion: The findings of this study may be useful in developing nursing interventions for disease protection health promotion of delivery workers.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.211-221
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify work-related risk factors associated with upper extremity symptoms among construction workers using the fourth Korean Working Condition Survey(KWCS). Methods: Subjects were 2,724 construction workers selected from 50,007 respondents in the 2014 KWCS. The presence or absence of upper extremity symptoms and work-related risk factors, including individual, physical, and psychosocial factors, were used as variables. A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed in order to evaluate the relationship of the upper extremity symptoms with work-related risk factors. Results: Upper extremity symptoms were significantly associated with: employment type(OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.18~2.09); job satisfaction(OR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.33~3.18); verbal abuse(OR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.33~3.18); tiring or painful posture(OR: 2.33, 95% CI: 1.73~3.15); carrying or moving heavy loads(OR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.23~2.24); repetitive hand or arm movement(OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.06~1.91) Conclusions: In order to prevent the upper extremity musculoskeletal disease in the construction industry, it is necessary to stabilize employment, enhance job satisfaction, and eliminate violence in the workplace and improve physical work environment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.517-529
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• 2019

Introduction: Although shift work is an inevitable form of labor in modern society, it has been identified as a cause of many ailments, such as cancer and musculoskeletal disorders. Meanwhile, previous studies have also shown that musculoskeletal disorders account for a large proportion of total industrial accidents and a high prevalence rate of these ailments has been found in shift workers. Methods: Among the respondents to the 5th Korea Working Conditions Survey(KWCS) 3,916 shift workers(2,658 of whom have not experienced musculoskeletal pain and 1,258 who have experienced musculoskeletal pain) were asked how the work regularity of shift workers affected musculoskeletal pain. Results: The results of a dichotomous logistic regression by correcting the demographic characteristics of the study subjects showed a lower prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in the 'High' regularity group compared to the 'Intermediate' regularity group for the criterion 'Regularity of Time Fixation'. A lower prevalence of musculoskeletal pain was shown in the 'High' and 'Moderate' regularity group compared to the 'Very Low' regularity one. Conclusions: Based on these findings, it was found that musculoskeletal pain occurs less when the work regularity of shift workers is 'Very high' or 'Intermediate', and the effect of working regularity on musculoskeletal pain varies for each shift type of work. It is deemed that more precise observation and understanding are required when managing the working environment of shift workers, and further study of regarding this issue is needed.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.111-116
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• 2013

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of the Second Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS), focusing on its validity and reliability. Methods: The external validity was evaluated by the assessment of sampling procedures and the response rate, in order to investigate the representativeness of the sample. The content validity was evaluated by the assessment of the development of the questionnaire, and the consistency of questions for the selected construct. The test-retest method was used to evaluate the reliability by means of a phone call survey of 30% of the respondents, who were randomly selected. The respondents' satisfaction regarding the survey procedures and interview time were analyzed to evaluate the quality of survey data. Results: The external validity was assured by an acceptable sampling procedure, rigid multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling. The content validity was also guaranteed by a reasonable procedure for the development of the questionnaire with a pretest. The internal consistency of the questions for work autonomy was maintained, with 0.738 of Cronbach's alpha. The response rate of 36% was lower than that of the European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS), with a contact rate of 66%, compared to 76% for the EWCS. The matching rates of the five retested questions were more than 98% reliable. Conclusion: The quality of the second KWCS was assured by the high external and content validity and reliability. The rigid sampling procedure and development of the questionnaire contributed to quality assurance. The high level of reliability may be guaranteed by the sophisticated field survey procedures and the development of a technical manual for interviewers. The technical strategies for a high response rate should be developed for future surveys.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.289-294
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• 2015

Background: The type of payment is one of the important factors that has an effect on the health of employees, as a basic working condition. In the conventional research field of occupational safety and health, only the physical, chemical, biological, and ergonomic factors are treated as the main hazardous factors. Managerial factors and basic working conditions such as working hours and the type of payment are neglected. This paper aimed to investigate the association of the type of payment and the exposure to the various hazardous factors as an heuristic study. Methods: The third Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) by the Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute in 2011 was used for this study. Among the total sample of 50,032 economically active persons, 34,788 employees were considered for analysis. This study examined the relation between the three types of payment such as basic fixed salary and wage, piece rate, and extra payment for bad and dangerous working conditions and exposure to hazardous factors like vibration, noise, temperature, chemical contact, and working at very high speeds. Multivariate regression analysis was used to measure the effect of the type of payment on working hours exposed to hazards. Results: The result showed that the proportion of employees with a basic fixed salary was 94.5%, the proportion with piece rates was 38.6%, and the proportion who received extra payment for hazardous working conditions was 11.7%. Conclusion: The piece rate was associated with exposure to working with tight deadlines and stressful jobs. This study had some limitations because KWCS was a cross-sectional survey.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.237-254
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• 2021

Objectives: This study aims to classify the latent profiles in the exposure to hazard factors of salaried employees and test the determinants. Methods: Latent profile analysis(LPA) was conducted using data from the fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey(KWCS). 30,050 of salaried employees were the subjects of this study. After classifying the employees, multinomial logistic regression was used to test the determinants. Results: Salaried employees were classified with three latent profiles based on the exposure to the hazard factors. Employees included in class 1(32.8%) tend to experience low level of physical hazard factors, moderate level of psychological hazard factors, and high level of office work hazard factors. Employees included in class 2(61.8%) tend to be exposed to the moderate to high level of physical hazard factors, moderate to low level of psychological hazard factors, and low level of office work hazard factors. Employees included in class 3(5.4%) tend to experience high level of psychological and physical hazard factors, and moderate level of office work hazard factors. After classification, the demographic, health-, and employment-related variables were tested. Conclusions: This study clarified the features of each class, and proved that employees in class 3 are quite hazardous in that they are exposed to physical and psychological hazard factors much more frequently than other employees. Thus, this study can be used in predicting the high-risk employees and taking preemptive measures for preventing industrial accidents.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.523-531
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• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate the relation between working conditions and occupational injuries among Korean employees. This study was based on the 4th Korean Working Conditions Survey(KWCS) and a total of 36,292 data were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate the relation of working conditions and occupational injuries after controlling for individual variables. After control of personal factors, perception of the threat to health or safety(OR=3.77, 95% CI=2.934-4.844), 49-59 working hours(OR=1.63, 95% CI=1.023-2.601), 60 hours or more per week(OR=2.66, 95% CI=1.683-4.197), and manual occupation type(OR=1.76, 95% CI=1.218-2.536) were associated with occupational injuries. Our results indicate that working conditions influence occupational injuries, and the focus should be on prevention and management strategies for occupational injuries to vulnerable workers.