• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.364-370
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• 2017

Background: Labeled noise reduction (NR) data presented by manufacturers are considered one of the main challenging issues for occupational experts in employing hearing protection devices (HPDs). This study aimed to determine the actual NR data of typical HPDs using the objective fit testing method with a microphone in real ear (MIRE) method. Methods: Five available commercially earmuff protectors were investigated in 30 workers exposed to reference noise source according to the standard method, ISO 11904-1. Personal attenuation rating (PAR) of the earmuffs was measured based on the MIRE method using a noise dosimeter (SVANTEK, model SV102). Results: The results showed that means of PAR of the earmuffs are from 49% to 86% of the nominal NR rating. The PAR values of earmuffs when a typical eyewear was worn differed statistically (p < 0.05). It is revealed that a typical safety eyewear can reduce the mean of the PAR value by approximately 2.5 dB. The results also showed that measurements based on the MIRE method resulted in low variability. The variability in NR values between individuals, within individuals, and within earmuffs was not the statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study could provide local individual fit data. Ergonomic aspects of the earmuffs and different levels of users experience and awareness can be considered the main factors affecting individual fitting compared with the laboratory condition for acquiring the labeled NR data. Based on the obtained fit testing results, the field application of MIRE can be employed for complementary studies in real workstations while workers perform their regular work duties.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.341-348
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• 2000

Nowadays we continue to face challenges to the safety of our foods. It seems clear that contaminated meats provide the major route of listeria monocytogenes transmission from the environment to humans. L monocytogenes is the most important species associated with disease in humans among the listeria sp. The current incidence of symptomatic listeriosis caused by L monocytogenes is uncertain. Although the number of reports in the literature on listeriosis are increasing, it is likely that they are actually unrecognized or underreported because of a lack of awareness on the part of some laboratory workers who fail to isolate or identify these organisms. To get the information of sanitary development, we survey various meats (beef, pork, etc) in Kyongbuk area. Samples were collected from local meat shop at Kyongbuk area. Total sixty six case were isolated and identified from one hundreds and seven samples. L innocua was the most abundant in listeria sp. Among U isolates, the number of isolated L innocua was 43 (65.2%). The numbers of isolated L murrayi, L welshimeri, L monocytogenes and L seeligeri were 12(18.2%), 7(10.6%), 3(4.5%) and 1(1.5%), respectively, but L grayi, L iuanouii were not Isolated.

• Hwankyungkyoyuk
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.69-83
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• 1991

The management and disposal of harzardous chemicals from the middle school science class was studied for the safety of student and for the protection of the environment. This study was undertaken by analysis of 5 kinks of current middle school science text book and questionnaire survey, and reviewed on the recommended methods for the disposal of harzardous chemical wastes from science class. There are 237 chemicals determined in the middle school science text books and 87 among them actually used in middle school science laboratory. 51 chemicals are classified as harzardous ones and 49 highly hazardous according to the 'Law of Toxic Chemicals management'. 116 chemicals are defined as water pollutants and 10 are highly hazardous water pollutants according to the 'Water Quality Control Law' as well are 91 chemicals as air pollutants and 19 are highly hazardous air pollutants according to the 'Air Quality Control Law' Questionnaire survey results the identification of toxic chemicals, need for education, awareness of toxic effects and current problems in the management. Disposal of toxic chemicals in middle school science class has been undertaken without any treatment, which could be caused of environmental pollution. Most of science teacher wanted to have opportunities to attend supplement courses for the management and disposal of chemicals for the safety and environmental protection. Simple and applicable methods for the management and disposal of chemicals at middle school science level should be strongly recommended to be installed.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.143-150
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• 2023

The global outbreak of COVID-19 has underscored the pressing need for robust infection control practices in pulmonary function laboratories (PFL). However, the existing guidelines and regulatory frameworks provided by relevant authorities in the country have revealed certain deficiencies in effectively addressing this significant public health crisis. This study surveyed the infection control regulations, disposable item usage, ventilation facilities, spatial separation, and the configuration of entrance doors in 51 domestic hospital facilities from Oct 1, 2021, to Nov 2, 2021. The survey findings revealed that while there was a relatively satisfactory adherence to airborne, droplet, and contact precautions with adequate awareness and utilization of personal protective equipment, the environmental disinfection practices exhibited a suboptimal performance rate of 39.22% per patient. Depending on the specific survey domains, substantial variations were observed in the utilization of disposable items (81.05%), ventilation systems (45.75%), dedicated testing spaces (80.39%), separation of administrative areas (15.69%), and the installation of automated doors (19.61%). This study not only highlights the paramount importance of infection control in PFLs within domestic medical institutions but also provides foundational data for developing and enhancing standardized guidelines that align with international benchmarks for infection control in these settings.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.88-95
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• 2015

We propose a weather-related service for fire risk assessment in order to increase fire safety awareness in everyday life. The proposed service offers a fire risk assessment level according to weather forecasts and a degree of fire risk according to fire factors under certain weather conditions. In order to estimate the fire risk, we produced a risk matrix through data mining with a decision tree using investigation data and weather data. Through the proposed service, residents can calculate the degree of fire risk under certain weather conditions using the fire factors around them. In addition, they can choose from various solutions to reduce fire risk. In order to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed services, we developed a system that offers the services. Whenever weather forecasting is carried out by the Korea Meteorological Administration, the system produces the fire risk assessment levels for seven major cities and nine provinces of South Korea in an online process, as well as the fire risk according to fire factors for the weather conditions in each region.

• The Journal of KAIRB
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.37-48
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the operational status and level of understanding among IRB and HRPP staffs at a hospital or a research institute to the HRPP guideline set by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) and to provide recommendations. Methods: Online survey was distributed among members of Korean Association of IRB (KAIRB) through each IRB office. The result was separated according to topic and descriptive statistics was used for analysis. Result: Survey notification was sent out to 176 institutions and 65 (37.1%) institutions answered the survey by online. Of 65 institutions that answered the survey; 83.1% was hospital, 12.3% was university, 3.1% was medical college, 1.5% was research institution. 23 institutions (25.4%) established independent HRPP offices and 39 institutions (60.0%) did not. 12 institutions (18.5%) had separate IRB and HRPP heads, 21 (32.3%) institutions separated business reporting procedure and person in charge, 12 institutions separated the responsibility of IRB and HRPP among staff, and 45 institutions (69.2%) had audit & non-compliance managers. When asked about the most important basic task for HRPP, 23% answered self-audit. And according to 43.52%, self-audit was also the most by both institutions that operated HRPP and institutions that did not. When basic task performance status was analyzed, on average, the institutions that operated HRPP was 14% higher than institutions that only operated IRB. 9 (13.8%) institutions were evaluated and obtained HRPP accreditation from MFDS and the most common reason for obtaining the accreditation was to be selected as Institution for the education of persons conducting clinical trial (6 institutions). The most common reason for not obtaining HRPP accreditation was because of insufficient staff and limited capacity of the institution (28%). Institutions with and without a plan to be HRPP accredited by MFDS were 20 (37.7%) each. 34 institutions (52.3%) answered HRPP evaluation method and accreditation by MFDS was appropriate while 31 institutions (47.7%) answered otherwise. 36 institutions answered that HRPP evaluation and accreditation by MFDS was credible while 29 institutions (44.5%) answered that HRPP evaluation method and accreditation by MFDS was not credible. Conclusion: 1. MFDS's HRPP accreditation program can facilitate the main objective of HRPP and MFDS's HRPP accreditation program should be encouraged to non-tertiary hospitals by taking small staff size into consideration and issuing accreditation by segregating accreditation. 2. While issuing Institution for the education of persons conducting clinical trial status as a benefit of MFDS's HRPP accreditation program, it can also hinder access to MFDS's HRPP accreditation program. It should also be considered that the non-contact culture during COVID-19 pandemic eliminated time and space limitation for education. 3. For clinical research conducted internally by an institution, internal audit is the most effective and sole method of protecting safety and right of the test subjects and integrity for research in Korea. For this reason, regardless of the size of the institution, an internal audit should be enforced. 4. It is necessary for KAIRB and MFDSto improve HRPP awareness by advocating and educating the concept and necessity of HRPP in clinical research. 5. A new HRPP accreditation system should be setup for all clinical research with human subjects, including Investigational New Drug (IND) application in near future.