• Title/Summary/Keyword: Korea Occupational Health Service

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Moderating Effect of Support on the Relationship between Customer Violence Experience and Mental Health of Customer Service Workers (고객응대 근로자의 고객 폭력 경험과 정신건강과의 관계에서 동료지지의 조절효과)

  • Lee, Miyoung;Lee, Bokim
    • Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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    • v.32 no.3
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    • pp.121-129
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    • 2023
  • Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of encounters with customer violence on the mental health of customer service workers, and to verify the moderating effect of coworker support. Methods: Workers who indicated that they engaged directly with individuals other than coworkers for more than 25% of their working hours, such as customers, passengers, students, and patients, were the focus of the 6th Korean Working Conditions Survey in 2020. A total of 13,682 people were chosen as the final research subjects, responses from dishonest respondents who had picked "don't know/no answer" or indicated "reject" to pertinent topics such mental health level, were discarded. After adjusting for socio-demographic and vocational characteristics that influence mental health in customer service workers, a hierarchical regression analysis was executed, which incorporated input on customer violence experiences, coworker support, and interaction terms on a step-by-step basis. Results: It transpired that interactions with customer violence had a negative impact on workers' mental health. Additionally, it was shown that workers' mental health status as coworker support increased. Conclusion: This study's limitations include differences in the period the questions were posed, and limitations in interpretation to all workers. And it is difficult to determine the relationship between the frequency of customer violence, occupational characteristics and mental health. Despite its limitations, this study makes an important contribution toward fostering an environment where coworkers can continue to help one another.

Survey on Health Effects among Workers in the Humidifier Disinfectant Manufacturing Process (가습기 살균제 제조 공정 근로자 건강영향 조사)

  • Kang, Young Joong;Park, Soon Woo;Eom, Huisu;Kim, Eun-A
    • Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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    • v.44 no.5
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    • pp.409-420
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    • 2018
  • Objectives: An outbreak of humidifier disinfectant-related respiratory disease has not only been a massive disaster for end users, but it is also a concern for the workers of the manufacturers. This study presents the results of a questionnaire survey on the health effects among workers involved in the manufacture of humidifier disinfectants. Methods: Seven sites where humidifier disinfectants were manufactured were identified. A questionnaire survey was conducted to assess the physical symptoms experienced by workers related to humidifier disinfectants. Among a total of 177 workers, 42 subjects were available for the survey. Results: Twenty-one of the 42 respondents reported that they experienced respiratory or skin and mucosal irritation symptoms during work. Of the respondents who experienced symptoms, 14 believed that their symptoms were related to the work process and reported that the symptoms were experienced while working. However, no respondents reported ongoing symptoms or sequelae during the investigation period, and this result could not minimize selection bias due to low response rates. We then compared the characteristics of the group who experienced suspicious symptoms with those of the group without any symptoms. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups. Conclusions: We could not find significant health effects related to the humidifier disinfectant manufacturing process, although 21 respondents experienced stimulant symptoms and 14 respondents believed that the symptoms were related to the work process. Due to the long period of time after occupational exposure and the lack of data, there were many limitations to this study. However, this is one of the few follow-up investigations of workers related to this large-scale disaster in South Korea and the limitations of this study highlight the need to follow up with a nationwide database rather than an occasional survey.

Problems and suggested improvement plans for occupational health service in Korea

  • Dongmug Kang
    • Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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    • v.35
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    • pp.10.1-10.10
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    • 2023
  • The purpose of this paper was to review the problems relating to Korea's occupational health services and suggest ways to improve them. Korea can be classified as a welfare state type of conservative corporatism partially interwoven with liberalism. While experiencing compressed economic growth, the economic sectors of developed (excess areas) and developing (deficient areas) countries are interwoven. Therefore, it is necessary to perfect conservative corporatism along with a complementary reinforcement of liberal contents and to apply a multilayered approach focusing on complementing the deficient areas. It is essential to form a national representative indicator related to occupational health, and a strategy for selection and concentration is needed. The proposed central indicator is the occupational health coverage rate (OHCR), which is the number of workers who have applied for mandatory occupational health services under the Occupational Safety and Health Act in the numerator with the total working population in the denominator. This paper proposes ways to raise the OHCR, which is currently at the level of 25%-40%, to 70%-80%, which is the level of Japan, Germany, and France. To achieve this target, it is necessary to focus on small businesses and vulnerable workers. This is an area of market failure and requires the active input of community-oriented public resources. For access to larger workplaces, the marketability of services should be strengthened and personal intervention using digital health resources should be actively attempted. Taking a national perspective, work environment improvement committees with tripartite (labor, management, and government) participation for improvement of the working environment need to be established at the center and in the regions. Through this, prevention funds linked to industrial accident compensation and prevention could be used efficiently. A national chemical substance management system must be established to monitor the health of workers and the general public.

Relationship of occupational stress and psychosocial stress to health promotion behavior in female office workers and emotional labor workers for sales

  • Han, Won Sun;Lee, Kang-Sook;Lee, Yeji;Gu, Hyejin;Lee, Binna;Cho, Hyun-Young;Park, Yong-Jun
    • Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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    • v.32 no.5
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    • pp.63-72
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    • 2015
  • Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of occupational stress and psychosocial stress to health promotion behaviors depending on characteristics of female office workers and emotional labor workers for sales. Methods: A survey of 207 female service workers engaging in sales of cosmetics in major department stores and 149 females working in the offices of cosmetics companies was carried out using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: It showed a significant difference in job demand and insufficient job control which are sub-domains of stress. The percentage of emotional laborers exposed to a high risk of psychosocial stress was higher than office workers. In office workers, occupational stress stemmed from insufficient job control and low reward of work was significantly related to psychosocial stress. But in emotional labor workers, stress from job insecurity, and organizational system were added. The relevant factors that affect health promotion behaviors were type of occupational stress, psychosocial stress, marital status, educational level and working career. Conclusions: Occupational stress and psychosocial stress were closely associated with health promotion behaviors. It was suggested that the development of health promotion programs which reduce the stress in female office and emotional labor workers.

Strengthening Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Tuberculosis Prevention Capacity among South African Healthcare Workers: A Mixed Methods Study of a Collaborative Occupational Health Program

  • Liautaud, Alexandre;Adu, Prince A.;Yassi, Annalee;Zungu, Muzimkhulu;Spiegel, Jerry M.;Rawat, Angeli;Bryce, Elizabeth A.;Engelbrecht, Michelle C.
    • Safety and Health at Work
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    • v.9 no.2
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    • pp.172-179
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    • 2018
  • Background: Insufficient training in infection control and occupational health among healthcare workers (HCWs) in countries with high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) burdens requires attention. We examined the effectiveness of a 1-year Certificate Program in Occupational Health and Infection Control conducted in Free State Province, South Africa in an international partnership to empower HCWs to become change agents to promote workplace-based HIV and TB prevention. Methods: Questionnaires assessing reactions to the program and Knowledge, Attitudes, Skills, and Practices were collected pre-, mid-, and postprogram. Individual interviews, group project evaluations, and participant observation were also conducted. Quantitative data were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Qualitative data were thematically coded and analyzed using the Kirkpatrick framework. Results: Participants recruited (n = 32) were mostly female (81%) and nurses (56%). Pre-to-post-program mean scores improved in knowledge (+12%, p = 0.002) and skills/practices (+14%, p = 0.002). Preprogram attitude scores were high but did not change. Participants felt empowered and demonstrated attitudinal improvements regarding HIV, TB, infection control, and occupational health. Successful projects were indeed implemented. However, participants encountered considerable difficulties in trying to sustain improvement, due largely to lack of pre-existing knowledge and experience, combined with inadequate staffing and insufficient management support. Conclusion: Training is essential to strengthen HCWs' occupational health and infection control knowledge, attitudes, skills, and practices, and workplace-based training programs such as this can yield impressive results. However, the considerable mentorship resources required for such programs and the substantial infrastructural supports needed for implementation and sustainability of improvements in settings without pre-existing experience in such endeavors should not be underestimated.

Proposed Data-Driven Approach for Occupational Risk Management of Aircrew Fatigue

  • Seah, Benjamin Zhi Qiang;Gan, Wee Hoe;Wong, Sheau Hwa;Lim, Mei Ann;Goh, Poh Hui;Singh, Jarnail;Koh, David Soo Quee
    • Safety and Health at Work
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    • v.12 no.4
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    • pp.462-470
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    • 2021
  • Background: Fatigue is pervasive, under-reported, and potentially deadly where flight operations are concerned. The aviation industry appears to lack a standardized, practical, and easily replicable protocol for fatigue risk assessment which can be consistently applied across operators. Aim: Our paper sought to present a framework, supported by real-world data with subjective and objective parameters, to monitor aircrew fatigue and performance, and to determine the safe crew configuration for commercial airline operations. Methods: Our protocol identified risk factors for fatigue-induced performance degradation as triggers for fatigue risk and performance assessment. Using both subjective and objective measurements of sleep, fatigue, and performance in the form of instruments such as the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale, Samn-Perelli Crew Status Check, Psychomotor Vigilance Task, sleep logs, and a wearable actigraph for sleep log correlation and sleep duration and quality charting, a workflow flagging fatigue-prone flight operations for risk mitigation was developed and trialed. Results: In an operational study aimed at occupational assessment of fatigue and performance in airline pilots on a three-men crew versus a four-men crew for a long-haul flight, we affirmed the technical feasibility of our proposed framework and approach, the validity of the battery of assessment instruments, and the meaningful interpretation of fatigue and work performance indicators to enable the formulation of safe work recommendations. Conclusion: A standardized occupational assessment protocol like ours is useful to achieve consistency and objectivity in the occupational assessment of fatigue and work performance.

Current Status and Future of Parkinson's Disease Rehabilitation Service in Busan (부산지역 파킨슨병 재활서비스의 현황 및 분석)

  • Kim, Min-Soo;Heo, Jun-Ho;Jung, Dae-Youn;Kim, Min-Ji;Kim, Do-Yeon;Jeon, Ho-Hyeon;Kim, Kyung-Min;Park, Su-Bin;Kim, Hee-Young
    • PNF and Movement
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    • v.18 no.1
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    • pp.143-154
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    • 2020
  • Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the current and future status of Parkinson's disease rehabilitation service in Busan. Methods: A literature search of domestic journals was conducted using the keywords "Parkinson's", "exercise", "rehabilitation", and "physical therapy". The chosen databases were Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), e-articles, and Korean studies Information Service System (KISS). International literature was searched in PubMed, Pedro, DOI, Publisher, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), and PsycINFO using the same combination of keywords. Results: The results of this study showed that 33 medical institutions provide Parkinson's disease rehabilitation service and five do not. Regarding the composition of Parkinson's disease rehabilitation teams, 15 medical institutions provide physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy as their rehabilitation program, 15 medical institutions provide physical therapy and occupational therapy, and three provide only physical therapy. The study found that muscle-strengthening, flexibility, endurance, and balance exercises were commonly provided in all 33 medical institutions for Parkinson's disease. Additional exercises were provided in only three medical institutions. The frequency was five times a week in 20 medical institutions. Conclusion: Medical institutions located in Busan provide a variety of Parkinson's disease rehabilitation services, not only in general hospitals but also in multiple medical institutions, although the composition of their Parkinson's disease rehabilitation teams and the frequency of treatment vary.

Distribution of Korean safety and health professionals from the perspective of gender equality

  • Jeongim Park;Sohyeon Choi;Yeji Sung;Jinjoo Chung;Sangjun Choi
    • Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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    • v.34
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    • pp.12.1-12.11
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    • 2022
  • Background: Gender equality in the workplace remains a challenge. This study aimed to investigate the gender gap of human resources in the field of occupational safety and health (OSH) in Korea. Methods: Several national statistical data that can confirm the gender distribution of personnel in the OSH sector were reviewed. The gender distribution of industrial technical manpower statistics, professional certificate holders in the OSH field, and the status of the appointment of safety and health managers by industry was analyzed. Results: The distribution of professionals in the OSH sector in Korea had a large gender gap with a small number of women. In particular, the proportion of women in the safety field was lower than that in the health field. In the younger age group, while the proportion of women is increasing, the gender gap tends to decrease. Conclusions: Few data are available to understand the gender-related aspects of OSH professions. Nevertheless, our results provide basic information for initiating a discussion on the necessity of establishing gender-sensitive culture and policies in the OSH sector.

Cancer Perceptions Among Smokeless Tobacco Users: A Qualitative Study of US Firefighters

  • Jitnarin, Nattinee;Poston, Walker S.C.;Jahnke, Sara A.;Haddock, Christopher K.;Kelley, Hannah N.
    • Safety and Health at Work
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    • v.11 no.3
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    • pp.284-290
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    • 2020
  • Background: Prevalence rates of smokeless tobacco (SLT) use among firefighters are remarkably high and substantially higher than similar occupational groups and the general U.S. population. The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of fire service personnel regarding cancer and its associations with tobacco and SLT use. Methods: This descriptive study used a qualitative approach. Key informant interviews were conducted in 39 career firefighters and fire service administration from across the U.S. Discussion were recorded, transcribed verbatim and transferred to NVivo software for narrative analysis. Topics explored included cancer perceptions, attitudes and beliefs, and cultural factors related to SLT use behaviors. Results: Major themes that emerged among fire service personnel included concerns about cancer and its risk factors including firefighting tasks, such as fire overhaul operations, and from their lifestyle behaviors, such as alcohol and tobacco use. Firefighters also suggested a number of reasons for their increased SLT use, such as fire department tobacco-free policy and fire service culture. Conclusion: The current study provides a rich foundation for future research, prevention, and intervention efforts for the fire service and research communities regarding tobacco and SLT use and cancer risk. Additional research on firefighters' cancer beliefs deserves future research in order to improve messaging about the risks of cancer due to firefighting.

Evaluation of the Possession of Measurement and Analytical Instruments in Domestic Work Environment Monitoring Service Providers (II) (국내 작업환경측정기관의 측정 및 분석장비 보유실태에 대한 고찰 (II))

  • Jang, Jae-Kil
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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    • v.24 no.2
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    • pp.182-192
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    • 2014
  • Objectives: The aim of this study is to analyze the current status of possession of measurement and analytical instruments at work environment monitoring organizations and their relationships with human resources, including the number of professional engineers and evaluation scores resulting from evaluation programs in 2012. Materials: Data for measurement and analytical instruments were gathered by inspectors who had been assigned by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency(KOSHA) and the Ministry of Employment and Labor(MoEL) during the evaluation program for 2012. Data for 11 monitoring instruments and nice pieces of analytical equipment were collected from 103 organizations. Additional data such as the type of service provides and the number of professional engineers employed were also recorded by the inspectors. Evaluation scores could be acquired from KOSHA. Results: Comprehensive Occupational Health Service Providers showed good operation quality, while University or Hospital Subsidiary and Work Environment Monitoring Organizations recorded relatively poor results. Evaluation scores correlated well with the possession of measurement instruments and human resources for each organization. High yields provided by professional engineers also showed statistically-associated contributions to evaluation scores and monitoring instrument possession. Compared with monitoring instruments, the amount of analytical equipment had little positive impact on organizations' competence. Conclusions: The evaluation results for domestic monitoring organizations revealed that human resources, possession of instruments, and the quality of employees were critical factors for operating the corporations. Each organization should give considerable effort to improving their ability to strengtheninternal quality, resulting in high-yield production for workers and employers by providing improved workplace monitoring services.