• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.233-244
• /
• 2012

This study investigates the effects on the performance of women workers' work-family relationship. As reduced conflict with maintain a harmonious relationship between work and family of women workers, improving the quality of work of women workers, look into an effective support system for maximizing the effectiveness of women workers. The final sample size for this study was 500. The results were as follows. First, the harmonious relationship between work and family have significant positive effects on the job satisfaction and organizational commitment of women workers. This implies that companies should make an effort to maintain harmonious work-family relationship for women employees and can enhance individual atisfaction and ultimately lead to corporate performance. Second, according to the result of verifying the second hypothesis that conflictive work-family relationship will affect employees' satisfaction negatively, there was partial support. In other words, conflictive work-family relationship influenced job satisfaction negatively, but it showed no correlation with organizational commitment. This result suggests that it has direct relationship with the job that is being actually carried out and indirect relationship with the organization. Third, based on the result of verifying the hypothesis on the moderate effect of non-occupational supporting systems which proved to be partially moderate effect. In short, this study has proved the importance of women workers' work-family relationship. Furthermore, the study results imply that it is necessary to establish supporting systems to minimize women workers' conflictive work-family relationship. It is also particularly urgent for companies to make non-occupational supporting systems.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.190-196
• /
• 2012

The human exposure of lead has usually detected the amount of lead in the whole blood, however, this method has a shortcoming to give the information on the short-term exposure to lead. In that sense, it is desirable to estimates the level of lead in plasma to draw the chronic bio-marker of lead exposure even though it is difficult to measure lead of several ng/L. An inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method was developed for determining lead in plasma as the chronic bio-marker of lead of workers. To minimize the contamination of lead from the environment, we constructed class 1,000 clean room and compared the amount of floating dust before and after the operation of the clean room. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) of lead in fetal bovine serum were 4.3 ng/L and 12.2 ng/L by NIOSH method (statistical calculation method) and 7.0 ng/L and 22.1 ng/L by signal/noise ratio, respectively. The accuracy was in a range of 92.3-101.3%, and the precision of the assay was less than 4% in the samples spiked in the concentration of 20 ng/L and 2,000 ng/L. The method was simple, reproducible and sensitive enough to permit reliable analysis of lead to the ng/L level in plasma and/or serum. The method was also useful for the biological monitoring of chronic exposure to lead.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.135-142
• /
• 2015

This paper analyzed the effects of changes in temporary workers on firm performances, and the effects of different workforce portions of business functions on corporate performances, respectively, using Korean venture business survey conduected in 2013. Results show that the performance of venture businesses decreases significantly, as the portion of temporary workers increases, which is more pronounced in small companies than in medium companies. In addition, the portions of workforce for administration, R&D, production, and sales don't have uniform effect on firm performance, where medium companies are affected significantly by the portions of production and sales, while small companies do not show significant relationship. This analysis implies that innovative firms, based on knowledge workers, need to use caution when they plan to increase temporary workers, which may lead to lower performance. However, we need further research for the basic causes of the possible lower performance.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.41-44
• /
• 2010

Purpose: Along with recent advances in PET/CT instrumentation and imaging technology, the number of patients has also been steadily increasing. This resulted in the increased radiation exposure to radiation workers in PET/CT rooms. In this study, we installed a radiation shield and investigated whether it could reduce radiation exposure to the workers and thus enhance job satisfaction. Materials and Methods: A radiation shield is composed of 5 cm thick lead and has a structure in which a radiation worker sits and watches a patient through lead glass while injecting radiopharmaceutical to the patient. Quarterly absorbed dose of radiation workers was measured using thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLD) and the results were compared for six months each before and after installation of the radiation shield. Exposure dose was also measured using a pocket dosimeter placed at the same location in the front and the back of the radiation shield. In addition, frequency of use of the shield and job satisfaction of radiation workers were investigated using a survey. Results: Quarterly absorbed dose of radiation workers was 2.70 mSv on average before installation of new radiation shield, whereas that dropped to 2.13 mSv after installation of radiation shield, reducing radiation exposure dose by 21%. Exposure dose on the front side of the shield was 61.2 R, whereas that on the back side of shield was 2.8 R. According to the survey, 85% of workers used the shield and were satisfied with the outcome: each radiation worker made injections to patients average of 6.5 times/day and preferred sitting to standing while injecting radiopharmaceutical to patients. Conclusion: Use of radiation shield reduced the exposure dose of radiation workers, which is the ultimate goal of radiation protection to minimize radiation exposure and is an appropriate method for the improvement of hospital working environment. Furthermore, we found that use of radiation shield not only relieves physical and psychological burden of radiation workers but also enhances job satisfaction. This result indicates that use of radiation shield is important for improvement of the radiation workers' job environment in terms of radiation protection.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.235-240
• /
• 2001

This study was performed to compare the lead levels of 20 quality control standard samples(KOSHA:18-2000) and 72 field samples in lead-acid battery manufacturing plant between ICP and portable-XRF methods. 1. While the proficiencies of 20 quality control standard samples by ICP were 100%, those of analytic result values by XRF were 75%. 2. The correlation coefficient(r) between the reference values for quality control (REF) and the analytic result values by ICP (ICP) was 1.0(p<0.05), and simple linear regression equation and the coefficient(R2) were REF = -0.0009 + 1.016 ICP and 0.9997, respectively. 3. The correlation coefficient(r) between the analytic result values of quality control standard samples by ICP (ICP) and by XRF (XRF) was 0.975(p<0.05), and simple linear regression equation and the coefficient(R2) were ICP = -0.0003 + 1.002 XRF and 0.950, respectively. 4. The correlation coefficient(r) between the analytic result values for lead samples of a lead-acid battery manufacturing plant by ICP (ICP) and by XRF (XRF) was 0.993(p<0.05), and simple linear regression equation and the coefficient(R2) were ICP = -2.058 + 0.996 XRF and 0.987, respectively. 5. While the frequency distributions of XRF /ICP(Ratio) for each ICP concentration levels in a lead-acid battery manufacturing plant revealed high proportion in ratio range of 0.876-1.125 than in ration range of 1.126-1.375. Also, ICP concentration level in ration range of 0.786-1.125 was increased with increase of frequency distribution of XRF/ICP. 6. The limit of detection of XRF on lead was determined to be $6.11{\mu}g$/filter The data presented in this study indicated that relationship for lead level of quality control samples and field samples in a lead -acid battery manufacturing plant by ICP and portable-XRF methods was proved. The practicing industrial hygienist can use portable-XRF to produce a rapid on-site determination of lead exposure that can immediately becommunicated to workers and help identify appropriate levels of personal protection.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.48-53
• /
• 2017

Many construction accidents can be lead to a death occurring at construction sites. These are considerably due to potentially-hazardous equipment and machine or unexpected collapsion at earth work due to land slide and so on. Almost 50% of the total death and injury, occurred in construction sites in 2015. 66% of those serious accidents are due to falling occurring from construction sites when they work. Therefore, causes and recommendations of each accident should be deeply thought and analysed The indirect causes are directly related to safe consciousness of the construction workers. Actually, their safety consciousness are not high, even very low, it is thought. Questionnaire survey sheets have been distributed to Seoul, Incheon, and Gyunggi-Do area, first. And then, the authors have collected those directly at sites, in order to increase collection rate of the sheets. The totally, collected sheets are 295 sheets. And, they are analysed using SPSS version 19 package program. Workers internal consciousness has been investigated and reviewed and analysed by statistical method such as frequency rate, crossed, and correlated analysis. And finally the conclusions for the above analyses are as follows; Heavy weight worth a crew of more than two workers should be necessarily considered for the advanced safety plan and needed for making a highly potential hazard group at construction sites. Safety consciousness, earing p.p.e, workman ship should be mainly considered for investing safety costs with an aspect of human factor.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.137-146
• /
• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the work environment and job satisfaction of hospital workers and to assess their effects on quality of services under the national long-term care hospital evaluation (hereafter, national evaluation), which has implemented since 2008. Methods: A self-administered survey was conducted on 178 hospital workers' at 18 hospitals in Chungcheong province, Korea. Survey questionnaires include questions about respondent' awareness of the national evaluation and any change in work environment and job satisfaction under the national evaluation. We used a path analysis to assess the effects of work environment and job satisfaction on quality of services. Results: Results showed that the effects of the national evaluation on work environment and job satisfaction were positive, which, in turn, leads to better quality of services. Improvements in the work environment under the national evaluation have resulted in increased job satisfaction. High scores for job satisfaction showed a significant association with the quality of services provided in long-term care hospitals. In addition, the national evaluation itself had a positive effect on improving quality of services. Conclusions: In order to facilitate quality improvement activities under the national evaluation, it is suggested that workers be provided with education and training. Continuous efforts to improve work environment and to enhance job satisfaction would lead to provision of better quality of services in long-term care hospitals.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• /
• v.35
• /
• pp.28.1-28.12
• /
• 2023

Background: Owing to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, being exposed to work from home and work during nonwork time simultaneously can lead to sleep disturbance; however, their combined effect is unclear. We aimed to investigate the combined effect of work from home and work during nonwork time on sleep disturbance. Methods: This study used data from the Sixth Korean Working Condition Survey and included 27,473 paid workers. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between work from home, work during nonwork time, and sleep disturbance according to sex. We re-classified participants into 4 groups based on their working from home (No/Yes) and working during nonwork time (No/Yes). The relative excess risk due to interaction was calculated to examine the effect of exposure to both telecommuting and non-regular work hours on sleep disturbance. Results: Workers exposed to work from home and work during nonwork time had significantly higher risks of sleep disturbance for all, men, and women workers (OR [95% CI]: 1.71 [1.46-2.02], 1.79 [1.43-2.23], and 1.64 [1.29-2.08] for work from home and 3.04 [2.70-3.42], 3.61 [3.09-4.22], and 2.41 [2.01-2.90] for work during nonwork time, respectively). Compared to those who were not exposed to both factors, when workers had both job factors, the ORs (95% CI) of sleep disturbance for all, men, and women were 3.93 (2.80-5.53), 5.08 (3.21-8.03), and 2.91 (1.74-4.87), respectively. The relative excess risk due to interaction of work from home and work during nonwork time was not significant for sleep disturbance. Conclusions: Work from home and work during nonwork time were each associated with sleep disturbance, but the interaction between the two factors on sleep disturbance was not observed in both men and women.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.208-227
• /
• 2013

Twenty-seven bronze bowls excavated from the Goryo burial complex at Deobu-gol were examined for their microstructure and chemical composition to characterize the bronze technology practiced by commoners at the time. Results showed that the objects examined can be classified into four groups: 1) objects forged out of Cu-near 22%Sn alloys and then quenched; 2) objects cast from Cu-below 10% Sn alloys containing lead; 3) objects cast from Cu-10%~20% Sn alloys containing lead and then quenched; 4) objects forged out of Cu-10~20% Sn alloys containing lead and then quenched. This study revealed that the fabrication technique as determined by alloy compositions plays an important role in bronze technology. The use of lead was clearly associated with the selection of quenching temperatures, the character of inclusions and the color characteristics of bronze surfaces. It was found that the objects containing lead were quenched at temperatures of $520^{\circ}{\sim}586^{\circ}C$ while those without lead were quenched at the range of $586^{\circ}{\sim}799^{\circ}C$. The presence of selenium in impurity inclusions was detected only in alloys containing lead, suggesting that the raw materials, Cu and Sn, used in making the lead-free alloys for the first group were carefully selected from those smelted using ores without lead contamination. Furthermore, the addition of lead was found to have significant effects on the color characteristics of the surface of bronze alloys when they are subjected to corrosion during interment. In leaded alloys, corrosion turns the surface light green or dark green while in unleaded alloys, corrosion turns the surface dark brown or black. It was found that in fabrication, the wall thickness of the bronze bowls varies depending on the application of quenching; most of the quenched objects have walls 1mm thick or below while those without quenching have walls 1mm thick or above. Fabrication techniques in bronze making usually reflect social environments of a community. It is likely that in the late Goryo period, experiencing lack of skilled bronze workers, the increased demand for bronze was met in two ways; by the use of chief lead instead of expensive tin and by the use of casting suitable for mass production. The above results show that the Goryo bronze workers tried to overcome such a resource-limited environment through technological innovations as apparent in the use of varying fabrication techniques for different alloys. Recently, numerous bronze objects are excavated and available for investigation. This study shows that with the use of proper analytical techniques they can serve as a valuable source of information required for the characterization of the associated technology as well as the social environment leading to the establishment of such technology.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.24 no.4 s.36
• /
• pp.516-530
• /
• 1991

A case-control study was conducted to investigate the effect of low-level blood lead on the blood pressure. The plasma renin activity(PRA) was measured also to investigate one of the possible mechanisms by which lead nay play a role to influence on the blood pressure. Seventy-two hypertensive and sixty -nine control study subjects were selected from the workers who had no history of b-related lead exposure, in Ulsan city and it's vicinity, Korea. In addition to measuring blood lead levels and PRA, body mass index(BMI), hematocrit, serum sodium, potassium, creatinine, ionized calcium, and cholesterol were measured. Also, the habits of smoking, alcohol drinking and family history of hypertension were checked. The blood lead level of the hypertensive group was $19.8{\pm}5.5{\mu}g/dl$, which was significantly higher than that of the control group, $12.5{\pm}4.7{\mu}g/dl$(p<0.01). On multiple logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio of blood lead level on the occurence of high blood pressure was 1.38, also statistically significant (p<0.01). There was no significant differences between the hypertensive and the control group in the PRA or In (PRA), but there was a marginally significant linear relationship between blood lead and PRA in the hypertensive group(p<0.1). In conclusion, blood lead level which has been known to be within normal limits may be one of the possible risk factors of hypertension and PRA alteration by lead may act as one of the mechanisms.