• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.87-103
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• 1995

Since being granted permission for self-assessment of the work environment by the Department of Labor in 1992, POSCO's Industrial Hygiene Laboratory has participated in domestic and Foreign Quality Control Programs 8 times and has obtained remarkable results. It has made a lot of effort to be a proficient laboratory with the ability to observe and analyse environmental monitoring data. The summary of results is as follows: 1. POSCO's Industrial Hygiene Laboratory has received a "P(Proficient)" grade from the round 115 to round 119 of AIHA/NIOSH PAT Program for analysis of such metals as lead, cadmium, zinc, and chromium, and also has received a "P(Proficient)" grade from its round 119 of for organic solvent analysis, i,e,. Trichloroethylene(TCE), Carbon Tetr-achloride(CTC), 1,2-Dichloroethane(DCE), 1,1,1-Trichloroethane(MCM), Tetrachloroethylene (PCE), Chloroform(CFM), Benzene(BNZ), toluene(TOL), and O-xylene(OXY). 2. In the Quality Control Evaluation Program performed by the Industrial Health Research Institute,Korea Industrial Safety Corporation, POSCO has passed impressively in the3-metal analysis test for lead, cadmium, cupper, and in the 6 organic solvent analysis test for Benzene(BNZ), toluene(TOL), O-xylene(OXY), Trichloroethylene(TCE) and Methyl isobutyl keton(MIBK), n-Hexane with 2 standard deviations. These analytic techniques should be practically applied to various fields, and reliable results of environmental monitoring should be considered to improve the work environment and to keep workers from occupation related diseases.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2016

Background: Several studies have investigated the relationship between specific occupations and suicide mortality, as suicide rates differ by profession. The aim of this study was to investigate suicide mortality ratios across broad occupational groups in Greece for both sexes in the period 2000-2009. Methods: Data of suicide deaths were retrieved from the Hellenic Statistical Authority and comparative mortality ratios were calculated. Occupational classification was based on the International Classification of Occupations (ISCO-88) and the coding for Intentional self-harm (X60-X84) was based on the international classification of diseases (ICD-10). Results: Male dominant occupations, mainly armed forces, skilled farmers and elementary workers, and female high-skilled occupations were seen as high risk groups for suicide in a period of 10 years. The age-productive group of 30-39 years in Greek male elementary workers and the 50-59 age-productive group of Greek professional women proved to have the most elevated number of suicide deaths. Conclusion: Further research is needed into the work-related stressors of occupations with high suicide mortality risk and focused suicide prevention strategies should be applied within vulnerable working age populations.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.229-234
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• 2001

The EDXRF(Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer) technique was applied to the determination of heavy metals in welding fume. The EDXRF method designed in this study was a non-destructive analysis method. Samples were analyzed directly by EDXRF without any pre-treatment such as digestion and dilution. The samples used to evaluate this method were laboratory samples exposed in a chamber connected with a welding fume generator. The samples were first analyzed using a non-destructive EDXRF method. The samples subsequently were analyzed using AAS method to verify accuray of the EDXRF method. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibility of the non-destructive analysis of heavy metals in welding fume by EDXRF. The results of this study were as follow: 1.When the samples were collected under the open-face sampling condition, a surface distribution of welding fume particles on sample filters was uniform, which made non-destructive analysis possible. 2. The method was statistically evaluated according to the NIOSH(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) and HSE(Health and Safety Executive) method. 3. The overall precision of the EDXRF method Was calculated at 3.45 % for Cr, 2.57 % for Fe and 3.78 % for Mn as relative standard deviation(RSD), respectively. The limits of detection were calculated at $0.46{\mu}g$/sample for Cr, $0.20{\mu}g$/sample for Fe and $1.14{\mu}g$/sample for Mn, respectively. 4. A comparison between the results of Cr, Fe, Mn analyzed by EDXRF and AAS was made in order to assess the accuracy of EDXRF method. The correlation coefficient between the results of EDXRF and AAS was 0.9985 for Cr, 0.9995 for Fe and 0.9982 for Mn, respectively. The overall uncertainty was determined to be ${\pm}12.31%$, 8.64 % and 11.91 % for Cr, Fe and Mn, respectively. In conclusion, this study showed that Cr, Fe, Mn in welding fume were successfully analyzed by the EDXRF without any sample pre-treatment such as digestion and dilution and a good correlation between the results of EDXRF and AAS was obtained. It was thus possible to use the EDXRF technique as an analysis method of working environment samples. The EDXRF method was an efficient method in a non-destructive analysis of heavy metals in welding fume.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.448-455
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• 2022

Background: While the organizational factors that account for firefighters' burnout have been extensively explored, the individual factors related to how they regulate interpersonal conflicts and emotions remain to be investigated. Previous research has demonstrated the association between emotional intelligence and conflict management styles and burnout, but no study has looked at the interrelationships among these factors in high-risk sectors. The present exploratory study aimed to fill this research gap by investigating the relationships between conflict management style, emotional intelligence and burnout in a sample of firefighters. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 240 French firefighters. Measures comprised validated scales of conflict management styles, emotional intelligence and burnout. Results: Results showed that the integrating conflict style reduced burnout. They also revealed the effects of emotion regulation on burnout, whereby the awareness and management of one's own emotions reduced burnout. Moreover, awareness of one's own emotions moderated the relationship between integrating conflict resolution style and burnout, whereby the effect of integrating style on reduced burnout was higher when awareness of one's own emotions was high. Conclusion: These results reveal that strategies used by firefighters to regulate their emotions in order to meet the emotional demands specific to their job are important for reducing the emotional exhaustion component of burnout. Training programs for conflict and emotion management are needed to preserve the mental health of firefighters and ensure the safety of interventions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.455-463
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• 2023

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop an air sampling and analytical method for estimating worker exposure to linear carbonate solvents and to evaluate the method. Methods: The target substances were three linear carbonates: DMC, DEC, EMC. GC/FID was used for sample analysis. Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine desorption solvents and sample capacity, and to evaluate storage stability, accuracy, and precision. Results: Coconut Shell Charcoal (CSC, 100/50 mg) was used as the air sampling media, and a desorption solvent of 5% methanol/95% dichloromethane was selected. Recommended sampling capacities were 1~11 ℓ for DMC, 1~18 ℓ for DEC, and 1~24 ℓ for EMC. The stability of three linear carbonates was demonstrated over 30 days in a refrigerator (4℃). Detection limits were determined as follows: DMC 0.26 ㎍/sample, DEC 0.24 ㎍/sample, and EMC 0.25 ㎍/sample. The total coefficient of variation was calculated as DMC 0.064, DEC 0.079, and EMC 0.07. Conclusions: This sampling and analysis method is suitable for estimating personal exposure to linear carbonates in the workplace.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.147-152
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• 2008

Due to the development and expansion of industries and medical standards, the number of workers who handle organic solvents within hospitals is increasing. The authors in this study intended to investigate the actual conditions of the handling of the solvents and to encourage the recognition that the exposure to such solvents may be possible because of insensitivity to safety. In order to investigate the actual conditions of exposure of workers within hospitals, the experimental group included the three sections (Pathology department, Central Supply Room, and Operating Room), which handle organic solvents most frequently. Meanwhile, university interns were selected to be the control group. This study was conducted between May 1 to May 30, 2007, and urine was taken as samples. Hippuric acid, mandelic acid, methylhippuric acid, and phenylglyoxylic acid were analyzed through gas chromatography, and a total of 52 subjects of the experimental and the control groups were performed of the analysis. As for the results of the analysis of the experimental group, the exposure to benzene was $42.27{\pm}3.70mg/g$ creatinine, that of xylene was $1.30{\pm}0.18g/g$ creatinine, and that of toluene was $2.36{\pm}0.24g/g$ creatinine. Meanwhile, the results of the analysis of the control group showed that the exposure to benzene was $15.54{\pm}2.85mg/g$ creatinine, that of xylene was $0.52{\pm}0.02g/g$ creatinine, and that of toluene was $0.85{\pm}0.20g/g$ creatinine. The amount of exposure to benzene, xylene, and toluene was shown to be under the maximum permitted level, but as for Pathology department, it was required to educate on working conditions, to educate workers on prevention management about their health, and to install fume hood and exhaust system to improve the environments.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.347-357
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• 2023

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic turned biological hazards in the working environment into a global concern. This systematized review of published reviews aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the specific jobs and categories of workers exposed to biological hazards with the related prevention. Methods: We extracted reviews published in English and French in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. Two authors, working independently, subsequently screened the potentially relevant titles and abstracts recovered (step 1) and then examined relevant full texts (step 2). Disagreements were resolved by consensus. We built tables summarizing populations of exposed workers, types of hazards, types of outcomes (types of health issues, means of prevention), and routes of transmission. Results: Of 1426 studies initially identified, 79 studies by authors from every continent were selected, mostly published after 2010 (n = 63, 79.7%). About half of the reviews dealt with infectious hazards alone (n = 38, 48.1%). The industrial sectors identified involved healthcare alone (n = 16), laboratories (n = 10), agriculture (including the animal, vegetable, and grain sectors, n = 32), waste (n = 10), in addition of 11 studies without specific sectors. The results also highlighted a range of hazards (infectious and noninfectious agents, endotoxins, bioaerosols, organic dust, and emerging agents). Conclusion: This systematized overview allowed to list the populations of workers exposed to biological hazards and underlined how prevention measures in the healthcare and laboratory sectors were usually well defined and controlled, although this was not the case in the agriculture and waste sectors. Further studies are necessary to quantify these risks and implement prevention measures that can be applied in every country.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.117-129
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• 2017

Chronic disease rates have become more prevalent in the modern American workforce, which has negative implications for workplace productivity and healthcare costs. Offering workplace health interventions is recognized as an effective strategy to reduce chronic disease progression, absenteeism, and healthcare costs as well as improve population health. This review documents intervention and evaluation strategies used for health promotion programs delivered in workplaces. Using predetermined search terms in five online databases, we identified 1,131 published items from 1995 to 2014. Of these items, 27 peer-reviewed articles met the inclusion criteria; reporting data from completed United States-based workplace interventions that recruited at-risk employees based on their disease or disease-related risk factors. A content rubric was developed and used to catalogue these 27 published field studies. Selected workplace interventions targeted obesity (n = 13), cardiovascular diseases (n = 8), and diabetes (n = 6). Intervention strategies included instructional education/counseling (n = 20), workplace environmental change (n = 6), physical activity (n = 10), use of technology (n = 10), and incentives (n = 13). Self-reported data (n = 21), anthropometric measurements (n = 17), and laboratory tests (n = 14) were used most often in studies with outcome evaluation. This is the first literature review to focus on interventions for employees with elevated risk for chronic diseases. The review has the potential to inform future workplace health interventions by presenting strategies related to implementation and evaluation strategies in workplace settings. These strategies can help determine optimal worksite health programs based on the unique characteristics of work settings and the health risk factors of their employee populations.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.39-47
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• 2007

An industrial injury prevention has a basis on fundamental spirit of human respect rather than only injury prevention in company. The employer should recognize employee as a core part of an industrial management and use as a starting point of safety and health management rather than means of production. There are many reason for unsafety action without safety operation. The reason is no standard safety operation in company or the workers never get a enough education. Standard safety operation is prepared by paper for accurate directions and orders and operators must read the paper to prevent an error of action. Also an essential particular is safety of equipment and machine must be assumed to establish standard safety operation then safety of operations will be possible.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.1149-1155
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• 2020

Silage is one of the main feed components of ruminants around the world and can make up about 50-80% of the rations of dairy cows during the winter. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usability of oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) aqueous and ethanol extracts to improve the hygienic quality of perennial ryegrass, red clover and blue alfalfa silage samples and estimate their effect on mycotoxins concentrations. Under laboratory conditions, 63 silage samples (21 perennial ryegrass, 21 blue alfalfa, 21 red clover) were fermented with inserted aqueous and ethanol extracts of oregano and thyme and two commercial inoculants with mesophilic lactic acid bacteria. After 96 days of fermentation, in silage samples were established fermentation parameters, microbiological status and mycotoxins concentrations. It was determined that the best results for achieving hygienic quality of perennial ryegrass and red clover silage samples was by insertion of aqueous and ethanol extracts of oregano and thyme. In blue alfalfa samples, the best results of silage hygienic indicators were determined by inserting aqueous and ethanol extracts of oregano. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEA) and T-2 toxin concentrations in perennial ryegrass, red clover and blue alfalfa silage samples were best reduced by inserting aqueous and ethanol extracts of oregano and thyme. The present study shows that these extracts can be used to improve silage hygienic quality, reduce mycotoxins concentrations and thus ensure the wellness of cattle.