• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.383-384
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• 2020

• Toxicological Research
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.121-128
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• 1996

Group of 12 male and 12 female rabbits was given daily intravenous injections of different dosage of Ginkgo biloba extract(EGb 761), 7.5 mg/kg/day (low dosage group), 15 mg/kg/day (middle dosage group), or 30 mg/kg/day (high dosage group)for 3 month by ear vein according to Established Regulation of Korean National Institute of Safety Research (1994. 4. 14). Appearance, behavior, mortality, and food consumption of rabbits of treated groups were not affected during the experimental periods. No significant Ginkgo biloba extract(EGb 761)-related changes were found in urinalysis, hematology, serum chemistry, and organ weight. No histopathological lesions were seen in both control and treatment groups. Our results strongly suggest that no toxic changes should be found in rabbit treated intravenously with Ginkgo biloba extract(EGb 761)for 3 month.

• 대한안전경영과학회지
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.83-91
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• 2008

In this study, actual status of safety management for the objects of 173 university, government research institution, and corporate affiliated research center was carried out through questionnaires. For unexpected accident status according to kinds, scale, and types of laboratories, frequency analysis using cross analysis and multiple replies analysis was used. The result of this study is judged to be used for laboratory safety education prevention programs, laboratory environment improvement, investment or improvement of laboratories through the actual safety management status of laboratories such as vulnerable works for generation of unexpected sudden accidents according to kind, scale, and type of laboratories, period of occurrence, prevention education, necessity for preliminary test, and cause of laboratory accidents.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제7권4호
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• pp.381-388
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• 2016

Background: Relationships among portable scanning mobility particle sizer (P-SMPS), condensation particle counter (CPC), and surface area monitor (SAM), which are different metric measurement devices, were investigated, and two widely used research grade (RG)-SMPSs were compared to harmonize the measurement protocols. Methods: Pearson correlation analysis was performed to compare the relation between P-SMPS, CPC, and SAM and two common RG-SMPS. Results: For laboratory and engineered nanoparticle (ENP) workplaces, correlation among devices showed good relationships. Correlation among devices was fair in unintended nanoparticle (UNP)-emitting workplaces. This is partly explained by the fact that shape of particles was not spherical, although calibration of sampling instruments was performed using spherical particles and the concentration was very high at the UNP workplaces to allow them to aggregate more easily. Chain-like particles were found by scanning electron microscope in UNP workplaces. The CPC or SAM could be used as an alternative instrument instead of SMPS at the ENP-handling workplaces. At the UNP workplaces, where concentration is high, real-time instruments should be used with caution. There are significant differences between the two SMPSs tested. TSI SMPS showed about 20% higher concentration than the Grimm SMPS in all workplaces. Conclusions: For nanoparticle measurement, CPC and SAM might be useful to find source of emission at laboratory and ENP workplaces instead of P-SMPS in the first stage. An SMPS is required to measure with high accuracy. Caution is necessary when comparing data from different nanoparticle measurement devices and RG-SMPSs.

• 한국신뢰성학회지:신뢰성응용연구
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.216-223
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• 2016

Purpose: This paper suggests the procedure to enhance the reliability of the software of the medical device that is to cure, treat, diagnose, and prevent a disease or an abnormal health conditions. Methods: After test requirements are classified by the software requirements specification for safety and backgrounds, reliability assessment methods are suggested. Results: Verification and validation for function and safety can be performed whether the medical device software are implemented as intended. Conclusion: Procedure on the static analysis, unit test, integration test, and system test are provided for the medical device software.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.49-58
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• 2017

Background: This study determined current status of laboratory biosafety in Nigerian veterinary research facilities. Methods: A questionnaire was developed to obtain information from researchers across Nigeria from July 2014 to July 2015. Information regarding demographics, knowledge of laboratory biosafety, availability and proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), any priority pathogens researched, attitude on and use of standard laboratory practices, and biosafety awareness was obtained using a numeric scoring system. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results: A total of 74 participants from 19 facilities completed the questionnaire. General knowledge scores ranged from 3 to 28 (out of 28 possible points), with 94.6% of respondents receiving low scores (scores < mean + 1 standard deviation). Very few (17.6%) reported availability or use PPE. Many participants (63.5%) reported no access to biosafety level (BSL)-1-3 facilities. None reported availability of a BSL-4 facility. Knowledge scores pertaining to biosafety management practices ranged from 0 to 14 (out of 14 possible points) with 47.3% of respondents receiving good scores (scores > mean + 1 standard deviation). Only 16.2% of respondents (from four facilities) reported having biosafety officers. Rabies virus was the most researched pathogen (31.1% of respondents). The majority (71.6%) were unaware of laws guiding biosafety. Researchers [odds ratio (OR) = 18.0; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.63, 198.5; p = 0.023], especially in BSL-2 (OR = 258.5; 95% CI: 12.71, 5256; p < 0.001) facility of research institute (OR = 25.0; 95% CI: 5.18, 120.6; p < 0.001), are more likely to have adequate access to and properly utilize biosafety devices and PPE. Conclusions: Current knowledge of laboratory biosafety is limited except among a few researchers.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.256-262
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• 2010

This study evaluated the airborne concentrations of fungi in university laboratories, hospital diagnostic laboratories in Seoul. The incubated fungi was identified by lactophenol cotton blue (LPCB) staining method. Variables such as types of ventilation, temperature and relative humidity were investigated to explain laboratory airborne fungal concentrations. A total of 97 air samples were collected from 10 facilities in two institutions. Aspergilus spp., including Aspergilus niger, Aspergillius flavos and Penicillium spp. were found as predominant species. Airborne fungal concentrations ranged from not detected (ND) to 1,890 CFU/$m^3$. Airborne fungal concentrations were high in general-ventilated facilities and in laboratories where relative humidity ( > 60 %) were high ( p < 0.001). Therefore, we suggest that relative humidity should be maintained to properly reduce the concentration of fungal in university and hospital laboratories.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.178-186
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• 2020

Background: Cognitive impairment is a public health burden. Our objective was to investigate associations between work hours and cognitive function. Methods: Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) participants (n = 2,497; 50.7% men; age range 44-84 years) reported hours per week worked in all jobs in Exams 1 (2000-2002), 2 (2002-2004), 3 (2004-2005), and 5 (2010-2011). Cognitive function was assessed (Exam 5) using the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (version 2), a measure of global cognitive functioning; the Digit Symbol Coding, a measure of processing speed; and the Digit Span test, a measure of attention and working memory. We used a prospective approach and linear regression to assess associations for every 10 hours of work. Results: Among all participants, associations of hours worked with cognitive function of any type were not statistically significant. In occupation-stratified analyses (interaction p = 0.051), longer work hours were associated with poorer global cognitive function among Sales/Office and blue-collar workers, after adjustment for age, sex, physical activity, body mass index, race/ethnicity, educational level, annual income, history of heart attack, diabetes, apolipoprotein E-epsilon 4 allele (ApoE4) status, birth-place, number of years in the United States, language spoken at MESA Exam 1, and work hours at Exam 5 (β = -0.55, 95% CI = -0.99, -0.09) and (β = -0.80, -1.51, -0.09), respectively. In occupation-stratified analyses (interaction p = 0.040), we also observed an inverse association with processing speed among blue-collar workers (adjusted β = -0.80, -1.52, -0.07). Sex, race/ethnicity, and ApoE4 did not significantly modify associations between work hours and cognitive function. Conclusion: Weak inverse associations were observed between work hours and cognitive function among Sales/Office and blue-collar workers.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.87-98
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• 2005

Human exposure to nano-sized particles (NSP) has increased over the last century with anthropogenic sources, and the rapid development of nanotechnology becomes an another source of such exposure. Information regarding the safety of nanotechnology and its product, nanoparticles, is urgently needed when assuming exposure through inhalation, oral intake, and penetration across skin is ever increasing as growing nanotechnology rapidly. The recent advancement of biokinetic studies with NSP and newer epidemiologic and toxicologic studies with ultrafine particles can be the basis for the nanotoxicology. Some concepts of nanotoxicology can be known from the results of these results. Specific small size of NSP, when inhaled, facilitates deposition by difusional mechanism in all regions of the respiratory tract and uptake into cells, ranscytosis across epithelial and endothelial cells into the blood and lymph circulation to reach target sites. Translocation along axons and dendrites of neuron makes an access to CNS and ganglia. These biokinetics are dependent on NSP surface chemistry. Risk assessments of NSP include appropriate and relevant doses/concentration selections, the increase effects in the organism and the benefits of possible desirable effects. An interdisciplinary team approach is desirable for nanotoxicology research and an appropriate risk assessment.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.194-200
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• 2016

Background: The influence of sociocultural factors on human reliability within an open sociotechnical systems is highlighted. The design of such systems is enhanced by experience feedback. Methods: The study was focused on a survey related to the observation of working cases, and by processing of incident/accident statistics and semistructured interviews in the qualitative part. In order to consolidate the study approach, we considered a schedule for the purpose of standard statistical measurements. We tried to be unbiased by supporting an exhaustive list of all worker categories including age, sex, educational level, prescribed task, accountability level, etc. The survey was reinforced by a schedule distributed to 300 workers belonging to two oil companies. This schedule comprises 30 items related to six main factors that influence human reliability. Results: Qualitative observations and schedule data processing had shown that the sociocultural factors can negatively and positively influence operator behaviors. Conclusion: The explored sociocultural factors influence the human reliability both in qualitative and quantitative manners. The proposed model shows how reliability can be enhanced by some measures such as experience feedback based on, for example, safety improvements, training, and information. With that is added the continuous systems improvements to improve sociocultural reality and to reduce negative behaviors.