• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• 제35권
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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.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.213-225
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• 2020

Objectives: In order to prepare measures to enhance construction workers' satisfaction with their working environment, the effects of working conditions and the mediating effects of safety and health information on workers' satisfaction with their working environment in the construction industry have been studied. The results of this study can be used as basic data for further studies in this field. Method: Data on 1,361 male construction workers from the 5th Korea Working Condition Survey (KWCS) were used for this study. The effects of working conditions were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 and the mediating effects of health and safety information were analyzed with SPSS PROCESS macro using the bootstrap method. Results: The safety and health management system and the self-determination of break time had a statistically significant positive effect on satisfaction with the working environment. Chemical and ergonomic risk factors had a statistically significant negative effect on satisfaction with the working environment. The provision of safety and health information, the mediating variable, had a statistically significant positive effect on satisfaction with the working environment. Therefore, it had a mediating effect between working conditions and satisfaction with the working environment. Conclusion: In order to enhance construction workers' satisfaction with their working environment, the above results suggest that the safety and health management system should be well established; self-determination of break times should be guaranteed; and chemical and ergonomic risk factors should be controlled. In addition, workers should be provided with necessary health and safety information related to their work. This study will be useful if these findings are used as basic data in further studies in related fields.

• 한국보건간호학회지
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.266-277
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• 2003

In order to investigate the working conditions related to cumulative trauma disorder(CTD) and symptoms of CTD, a survey was conducted covering 305 employees who were working in three furniture manufacturing companies in Kyungin area. Data were collected by using questionnaire of the Personal Ergonomics Profiles. The results were as follows : 1. The mean score of working conditions related to CTD was 0.95. The mean score of working conditions for labor workers were significantly higher than that of clerical workers. Among 4 factors of working conditions, the higher score were shown in the working and environment factors with 1.22 and 1.18, respectively. 2. Symptom prevalence rate of CTD for workers was $81.0\%\;{;}\;82.9\%$ for labor workers and $77.0\%$ for clerical workers. As for symptom of CTD in body part, higher rate were shown in lower back with $50.2\%$, shoulder and neck with $38.4\%\;and\;36.4\%$ respectively. 3. The score of symptom severity of CTD were 3.45. Significant difference was shown in symptom severity of forearm and wrist/hand part between labor and clerical workers. As for symptom severity of CTD in body part the higher score were shown in shoulder, ankle/foot, forearm. lower leg and elbow. and the highest score for labor workers were shoulder and ankle/foot and for clerical workers was lower back. 4. As a whole, symptom of CTD for workers positively correlated to working conditions. 5. Symptom of CTD for workers seemed to be significantly influenced by working factor, sex, working duration and working area factor.

• 한국식품조리과학회지
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• 제25권6호
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• pp.725-738
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of working conditions on internship satisfaction. Hotel & Restaurant management students at universities in Jeonju participated in this study. Out of 156 questionnaires, 149 were analyzed using SPSS 17.0 and descriptive analysis, frequency test, factor analysis, reliability test, chi-square, t-test, ANOVA, duncan's multiple regression analysis, correlation analysis and regression analysis were used. Based on the result of the conducting factor analysis, the working conditions were classified into 2 factors: work suitability and work environment. Internship satisfaction was classified into 3 factors: internship preference, education and work satisfaction, company satisfaction. Cronbach's alpha was calculated for the reliability of the survey instrument. Consequently, the working conditions were shown to affect internship satisfaction. Among the working conditions, work suitability had a lower effect on internship satisfaction than work environment. At the resort used in this study, the salary level was high, but the level of work environment, internship preference, and company satisfaction was low. The students wanted attend an internship program at the desired place to be hired and found that it was more important to be assigned to the desired department than having a higher salary.

• 한국직업건강간호학회지
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of work environment on health problems of nurses. Methods: The subjects of the study were 395 nurses who were wage workers among KWCS (Korean Working Conditions Survey) respondents in 2014. The work environments were measured by the KWCS questionnaire. Results: 48.5% of the 395 nurses had health problems. The prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases (34.7%) was the highest among all health problems. The ergonomic work environment was significantly related to musculoskeletal disorders, headache and eye strain, and fatigue. In addition, the increase in work-individual interface area was significantly related to fatigue. Conclusion: The work environment of nurses affects health problems. It is therefore important to develop strategies that improve the health problems of nurses by reducing ergonomic and psycho-social risk factors.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.53-58
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• 2024

Background: As social distancing persists and interest in work-life balance grows, more companies are adopting flexible work policies. While there have been studies on sleep disorders associated with different types of work, such as shift work, research exploring the relationship between flexible work schedules and sleep disorders is still limited, particularly among Korean workers. Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of the 6th Korean Working Conditions Survey, focusing on 31,243 paid workers out of a total of 50,538 participants. We defined flexible workers as those who set their own working hours. Sleep disorders were divided into three categories: 'difficulty falling asleep,' 'frequent waking during sleep,' and 'waking up feeling exhausted and fatigued.' Using scores derived from three specific symptoms, the Minimal Insomnia Symptoms Scale (MISS) was calculated to assess the prevalence of insomnia. We used chi-square tests to analyze demographic and job-related differences. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to identify any relationship between flexible work schedules and sleep disorders. Results: Significant differences were found between flexible and non-flexible workers regarding age, income level, education level, and job type. Flexible workers reported sleep-related symptoms significantly more often. The odds ratio for insomnia was 1.40 (95% CI 1.21-1.61). For males, the odds ratio was 1.68 (1.36-2.08). Conclusion: This study establishes a correlation between flexible work schedules and sleep disorders among Korean salaried workers. Potential causes could include changes in circadian rhythm, increased work demands, and extended working hours. To precisely determine causality and associated diseases, further research is required.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.267-271
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• 2023

Background: The objective of this study is to identify the working conditions and health status of Vietnamese male migrant workers in Republic of Korea, in comparison to the Korean general population. Methods: We conducted our survey through the Migrant People Center, and we received completed questionnaires from 87 male Vietnamese migrant workers. The questionnaire employed was identical to those used in the Korean Working Conditions Survey and the 2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The collected data from the Vietnamese migrant workers was then compared with the Korean reference population using indirect age-standardization. Results: Vietnamese male workers demonstrated a higher prevalence of health problems including hearing problems (age-standardized prevalence ratio (aSPR) 13.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.07-20.4), skin problems (aSPR 13.49, 95% CI: 8.07-20.4), and low back pain (aSPR 8.40, 95% CI: 6.50-10.69). Elevated exposure to workplace hazards such as chemicals (aSPR 2.36, 95% CI: 1.51-3.51), organic solvents (aSPR 2.22, 95% CI: 1.44-3.28), handling of heavy objects (aSPR 1.67, 95% CI: 1.24-2.21), and high temperatures (aSPR 1.96, 95% CI: 1.46-2.57) was observed among them. Additionally, they faced a higher risk of no personal protective equipment (aSPR 2.53, 95% CI: 1.26-4.52) and a greater prevalence of unmet medical needs (aSPR 7.14, 95% CI: 4.74-10.32). Conclusion: Our findings highlight the elevated workplace hazards, health problems, and unmet medical needs among Vietnamese male workers compared to the Korean reference population. These findings underscores the urgency for enhanced scrutiny over working conditions and protective equipment provision, coupled with efforts to improve healthcare accessibility and worker education.

• 한국직업건강간호학회지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.89-96
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to discover the influence of the working conditions on women workers' occupational stress. Methods: Descriptive method is used to identify women's stress depending on their general working features and conditions by conducting a survey of them in women-dominated service industries. SPSS 18.0 program is used for data analysis and descriptive statistics is presented with standard deviation, frequency and percentage. ${\chi}^2$-test is used as an analysis tool. To figure out factors that influence their stress, logistic regression analysis is used for general features and working conditions as independent variables, and occupational stress as a dependent variable. Results: As a result, among the independent variables, employment status, weekly working hours, career, shiftwork, and work-family-balance are meaningful factors that influence their stress. Temporary workers' stress is 3.65 times higher (p<.001), and workers working over 48 hours a week have 1.97 times higher stress (p<.003). Workers with over 5 years' career are under 1.73 times higher stress (p<.046) and shift workers are under 3.51 times higher stress (p<.001). Work family balance results in 1.93 times higher stress (p<.009). Conclusion: It is necessary to seek how to prevent and manage women workers' stress considering features.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제32권4호
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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.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제46권5호
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• pp.539-547
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• 2020

Objectives: This study was performed to emphasize improvement of the perception of dental hygienists' environmental working conditions by analyzing various factors. Methods: Two hundred ninety-eight female dental hygienists working at 35 medical institutions in Daegu City and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province participated. A self-recording type survey was done in October 2016. Results: Factors influencing the perception of infection control was length of career. Dental hygienists with more experience have a higher level of perception. Factors influencing the perception of working posture was the number of patients per day and career level. Dental hygienists seeing 50 or fewer patients per day and senior staff showed higher levels of this perception. Factors influencing the perception of noise in the working area were length of career and lunchtime break. The perception level was high in the group with longer careers and dental hygienists who rest at lunch time. Factors influencing chemical exposure during work were the number of patients per day and the type of institute. Dental hygienists working in dental clinics or dealing with more patients had lower levels of perception. Conclusions: The sociodemographic and working characteristics of dental hygienists influence the perception of dental hygienists' environmental working conditions.