• International Journal of Safety
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.33-37
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• 2007

In recent days, the accidents have happened at experimental laboratories in universities or institutes. In order to improve safety assurance of workers in laboratories, it is required to carry out systematic study concerned with evaluation of safety and health level. The safety and health inspection checklists were developed and conducted the case study. The case study was carried out laboratory safety inspection with 5 inspectors by the checklists to become aware of safety and health level. From the evaluation results of the inspection, we could be made quantification of laboratory through evaluation of safety and health level in laboratory. It was found that was recognized present states of the laboratory and established a plan for improvements in laboratory safety facilities from the case study. The safety inspection checklists can be used as basic data to establish evaluation criteria of safety and health level.

• 방사성폐기물학회지
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.419-425
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• 2023

The Radiation and Decommissioning Laboratory of Central Research Institute (CRI) of Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) performs research to technically support the effective management of radiological hazards to avoid risks to civilians, the workers, and the environment from the radiological risks. The laboratory mainly consists of three technical groups: decommissioning and SF technology group, radiation and chemistry group, and radwaste and environment group. The groups carry out various R&D such as decommissioning, spent fuel management, radiation protection, water chemistry management, and radioactive waste management. The laboratory also technically supports the calibration of radiometric instruments as a Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (KOLAS), approval for decommissioning, guidance for radioactive waste management, state-of-the-art technology evaluations, and technology transfer.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.129-135
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• 2010

This study was performed to determine the risk factors associated with increased body mass index (BMI) in 672 heavy industry men workers. Subjects were examined in March, 2010 to September, 2010 in Gyeongnam province. Height, weight, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure were measured. And fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were measured by Olympus AU 680, and their BMIs calculated. Age, smoking statue, and alcohol drinking of the workers were surveyed by questionnairs. The mean total cholesterol levels were $190.06{\pm}36.62mg/dL$, HDL-cholesterol $53.65{\pm}11.92mg/dL$, LDL-cholesterol $104.28{\pm}30.31mg/dL$, triglyceride $151.11{\pm}99.53mg/dL$, and fasting blood glucose $96.92{\pm}19.53mg/dL$. Mean systolic blood pressure was $126.08{\pm}13.78mmHg$, and diastolic blood pressure $71.88{\pm}10.45mmHg$. Subjects were categorized into two BMI groups, BMI ${\geq}23$ and BMI ${\leq}22.9$. The subjects with BMI of 23 or above had significantly higher levels of LDL-cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, and triglyceride, with lower levels of HDL-cholesterol. BMI showed the highest level at the age of thirties, increasing with age. BMI of smokers was higher than BMI of non-smokers, not showing a link between alcoholics and non alcoholics. In conclusion, age, systolic blood pressure, and HDL-cholesterol are mostly relevant to the increase of BMI in this study.

• 대한불안의학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.83-93
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• 2023

Objective : This study aimed to develop a customized EAP program for post office workder, incorporating mindfulness and positive psychology, and to test the effectiveness of the intervention on job burnout and well-being of the postal workers. Methods : Participants were currently working postal employees and were recruited voluntarily through the website of the Korea post human resources development institute. A total of 42 workers participated in the program until the end and completed preprogram and post program questionnaires. Results : The results showed that the mindfulness-positive psychology EAP program significantly improved the participants' mindfulness (t=-5.021, p<0.001), job burnout (t=5.824, p<0.001), self-esteem (t=-4.852, p<0.001), positive affect (t=-4.534, p<0.001), negative affect (t=5.635, p<0.001), and body tension (t=6.355, p<0.001), with statistically significant effects on all measures. Conclusion : The results indicated that the mindfulness-positive psychology EAP class had a significantly positive effect on increasing mindfulness, self-esteem, and positive affect and decreasing job burnout, negative affect, and body tension among postal workers, demonstrating the usefulness of an integrated approach.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.26-33
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to investigate the relationship between exposure of Korean workers to petrochemicals in the refinery/petrochemical industry and lymphohematopoietic cancers. Methods: The cohort consisted of 8,866 male workers who had worked from the 1960s to 2007 at one refinery and six petrochemical companies located in a refinery/petrochemical complex in Korea that produce benzene or use benzene as a raw material. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated for 1992-2007 and 1997-2005 based on the death rate and cancer incidence rate of the Korean male population according to job title (production, maintenance, laboratory, and office workers). Results: The overall mortality and most cause-specific mortalities were lower among these workers than those of the general Korean population. Increased SMRs were observed for leukemia (4/1.45; SMR 2.77, 95% CI: 0.75-7.09) and lymphohematopoietic cancers (5/2.51; SMR 2, 95% CI: 0.65-4.66) in production workers, and increased SIRs were also observed in leukemia (3/1.34; SIR 2.24, 95% CI: 0.46-6.54) and lymphohematopoietic cancers (5/3.39; SIR 1.47, 95% CI: 0.48-3.44) in production workers, but the results were not statistically significant. Conclusion: The results showed a potential relationship between leukemia and lymphohematopoietic cancers and exposure to benzene in refinery/petrochemical complex workers. This study yielded limited results due to a short observational period; therefore, a follow-up study must be performed to elucidate the relationship between petrochemical exposure and cancer rates.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.368-374
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• 2023

Background: Recognizing that access to safe and healthy working conditions is a human right, the World Health Organization (WHO) calls for specific occupational safety and health (OSH) programs for health workers (HWs). The WHO health systems' building blocks, and the International Labour Organization (ILO), highlight the importance of information as part of effective systems. This study examined how OSH stakeholders access, use, and value an occupational health information system (OHIS). Methods: A cross-sectional survey of OSH stakeholders was conducted as part of a larger quasi experimental study in four teaching hospitals. The study hospitals and participants were purposefully selected and data collected using a modified questionnaire with both closed and open-ended questions. Quantitative analysis was conducted and themes identified for qualitative analysis. Ethics approval was provided by the University of Pretoria and University of British Columbia. Results: There were 71 participants comprised of hospital managers, health and safety representatives, trade unions representatives and OSH professionals. At least 42% reported poor accessibility and poor timeliness of OHIS for decision-making. Only 50% had access to computers and 27% reported poor computer skills. When existing, OHIS was poorly organized and needed upgrades, with 85% reporting the need for significant reforms. Only 45% reported use of OHIS for decision-making in their OSH role. Conclusion: Given the gap in access and utilization of information needed to protect worker's rights to a safe and healthy workplace, more attention is warranted to OHIS development and use as well as education and training in South Africa and beyond.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.747-761
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• 1994

Workers' periodic health examination is the main tools used to manage the health problems of most workers in Korea. The most common health problem found in workers' periodic health examination is liver disorder. Liver disorder is also one of the most common health problems in general population and one of the leading causes of mortality in adult population. Regulation proposed by government (No. 207, Ministry of Labor, 1992) defines the criteria for selection of workers with the liver dysfunction for further evaluative examination and the examination items used for diagnosis of the workers with liver dysfunction. This study was designed to evaluate the proficiency of each examination items presently defined in Regulation and propose the optimal examination items for detection of the liver disorders found by workers' periodic health examination. Study subjects are 186 workers with abnormal liver function tests in screening examination of workers' periodic health examination. Questionnaire survey including past history of liver disorder, drinking history, height and weight was done. Physical examination by physician, routine test items defined by Regulation (SGOT, SGPT, $\gamma$-GTP, protein, albumin, total and direct bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, $\alpha$-feto protein, HBsAg and anti-HBs), anti-HCV antibody test and liver ultrasonography were done. Results are as follows; 1. Result of evaluative examination utilizing only the items defined in Regulation was; There were 75 workers with suspected live. disorder(40.3%), 63 with no liver dysfunction (33.9%), 13 with suspected hepatitis B(7.0%), 10 workers with hepatitis B(5.4%), 10 workers with hepatitis B carrier state(5.4%), 10 with alcoholic liver disorders(5.4%), 5 with fatty liver(2.7%). When alternative diagnostic criteria applying additional examination items (drinking history, body mass index, anti-HCV antibody and ultrasonography) diagnosability of liver disorder was increased. When all four items were included, final results were; 23 workers (17.8%) with hepatitis B (10 carriers, 13 suspects and 10 hepatitis B), 10 (5.4%) with hepatitis C(4 carriers, 5 suspects and 1 hepatitis C), 13(7.0%) with alcoholic liver disorder, 45(24.2%) with fatty liver (40 suspects, 5 fatty liver), 410%) with suspected liver disorders and 44 (23.7%) with normal liver. 2. Of examination items defined by Regulation, only SGOT, SGPT, $\gamma$-GTP and HBsAg were significantly different in abnormal rate and mean value, and all other laboratory findings did not showed significant difference between two groups. Drinking history, body mass index and anti-HCV antibody test which are the items that authors included in this study, also showed significant difference between two groups. Utilization of body mass index (BMI) for abnormal liver function group in diagnosis of fatty liver had high specificity (97.6%) but sensitivity (22.3%) was low. Therefore we suggest that SGOT, SGPT, $\gamma$-GTP, HBsAg, alcohol drinking history, BMI and anti-HCV Ab were useful for diagnosis of liver disorders among worker's periodic health examination.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.111-117
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to provide the basic guidelines of spatial and physical environment for the planning and design of clinical laboratory by analysing the extent of satisfaction of clinical laboratory scientists. The data for this analysis was gathered from March to May 2005 by the questionnaires of 208 clinical laboratory scientists who work in the 13 hospitals. All the collected data was analyzed by the SPSSWIN program. In this study, the satisfaction measurement tool was composed with 8 items and 5 score scale. The mean score of satisfaction for spatial and physical environment was 2.89 out of 5.0, "noise" was the lowest 2.40, "temperature and moisture of the lab." was 2.72, "lab. area, service area and administration area" was 2.77, "passageway space" was 2.94, circulation of workers was 2.94, "color of finish" was 3.19, "lighting of lab." was the highest 3.39. In conclusion, various factors, noise, temperature and moisture, clinical lab area, were evaluated to moderate dissatisfaction. Noise was especially the first serious problem in clinical lab. Considering the high growth of the number of tests, the planning of the clinical laboratory size should be considered not only to provide the optimal size but how it will correspond to the growth of the number of tests. Therefore the arrangement of each section need to be flexible in arrangement which is inevitable in expansion and reconstruction in the future.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제51권4호
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• pp.495-503
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• 2019

본 연구는 채혈실의 적정인력에 대한 표준산출모형을 제시하기 위하여 임상병리사의 채혈 업무량 평가에 따른 적정인력 규모를 산정하였다. 연구대상으로 600에서 2,000병상 사이의 11개 대학병원을 선정하였다. 표준산출모형을 위한 채혈 관련 주요 인자를 선정하고 국내현황조사, 인자의 병원 간 분석, 표준채혈시간을 제시하여 채혈 적정인력을 산정하였다. 연구대상으로 600에서 2,000병상 사이의 11개 대학병원을 선정하였다. 소아와 노인을 제외한 20세 이상~60세 미만의 성인 외래채혈환자를 대상으로 측정한 14단계 표준채혈시간은 4분 8초이었다. 하루 8시간 기계적 채혈을 한다고 가정할 경우 1명의 임상병리사가 채혈 할 수 있는 최대건수는 100건으로 분석되었다. 결론적으로 채혈에 종사하는 임상병리사의 1일 적정채혈 환자 건수는 100건 이하로 하는 것이 적정할 것으로 사료된다. 그리고 채혈적정인력은(채혈업무 100% 비중)=연간적정건수/((1일 근로시간/건당 소요시간)×연간 근무일수)이므로 채혈 적정인력(채혈업무 100%비중)=연간적정건수/(100×연간 근무일수)라 할 수 있다.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.372-377
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• 2020

Infection risks of handling specimens associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by public health laboratory services teams were assessed to scrutinize the potential hazards arising from the work procedures. Through risk assessments of all work sequences, laboratory equipment, and workplace environments, no aerosol-generating procedures could be identified except the procedures (mixing and transfer steps) inside biological safety cabinets. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as surgical masks, protective gowns, face shields/safety goggles, and disposable gloves, together with pertinent safety training, was provided for laboratory work. Proper disinfection and good hand hygiene practices could minimize the probability of SARS-CoV-2 infection at work. All residual risk levels of the potential hazards identified were within the acceptable level. Contamination by gloved hands was considered as a major exposure route for SARS-CoV-2 when compared with eye protection equipment. Competence in proper donning and doffing of PPE accompanied by hand washing techniques was of utmost importance for infection control.