• Title/Summary/Keyword: Level of Occupational Health

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A Case of Metal Fume Fever Associated with Copper Fume in a Welder (용접공에서 발생한 구리흄에 의한 금속열 1례)

  • Lim, Hyun-Sul;Cheong, Hae-Kwan
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.31 no.3 s.62
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    • pp.414-423
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    • 1998
  • Metal fume fever has been known as an occupational disease is induced by intense inhalation of fresh metal fume with a particle size smaller than $0.5{\mu}m\;to\;1{\mu}m$. The fumes originate from heating metals beyond their boiling point, as happens, for example, in welding operations. Oxidation usually accompanies this process. In most cases, this syndrome is due to exposure to zinc oxide fumes; however, other metals like copper, magnesium, cadmium, manganese, and antimony are also reported to produce such reactions. Authors report a case of metal fume fever suspected to be associated with copper fume inhalation. The patient was a 42-year-old male and was a smoker. He conducted inert gas tungsten arc welding on copper-coated materials without safety precautions such as a protective mask and adequate ventilation. Immediately after work, he felt metallic taste in his mouth. A few hours after welding, he developed headache, chilling sensation, and chest discomfort. He also complained of myalgia, arthralgia, feverish sensation, thirst, and general weakness. Symptoms worsened after repeated copper welding on the next day and subsided gradually following two weeks. Laboratory examination showed a transient increase of neutrophil count, eosinophilia, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and positive C-reactive proteinemia. Blood and urine copper level was also increased compared to his wife. Before this episode, he experienced above complaints several times after welding with copper materials but welding of other metals did not produce any symptoms. It was suggested that copper fume would have induced metal fume fever in this case. Further investigations are needed to clarify their pathogenic mechanisms.

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Effects of Physical Burden and Musculoskeletal Symptoms on Job Stress in Hospital Workers (한 대학병원 근무자의 신체 부담과 근골격계 증상이 직무 스트레스에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Dong-Hyun;Chae, Yoo-Mi;Kim, Hee-Kwang
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.15 no.11
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    • pp.6782-6792
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    • 2014
  • This study examined the effects of the symptoms of musculoskeletal disorder and the burden of the body on work stress in a university hospital workers. The research surveyed 679 subjects. The relevant factors affecting the job stress were found to be female, young people age group, unmarried, shift work, work more than 8 hours, short experience workers. The work stress was significantly higher in the non-smoker (p=0.000), regular exercise/sports(p=0.022) and non-drinking(p=0.038) groups. In addition, the mental fatigue, presence of musculoskeletal symptoms, fatigue level, and marital status increase the risk of the work stress. The results showed that the burden of the body and musculoskeletal disorders are related interactively with each other.

A Study on Safety Inspection Model for Small Scale Construction Field (중.소규모 건설현장 안전점검 모질 연구)

  • 안병수;양광모;강경식
    • Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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    • v.3 no.3
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    • pp.11-21
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    • 2001
  • Domestic construction industry has considerable level of construction performance and technology thanks to the economic development and as the result of performing diverse oversea construction project. However, construction disasters have been steadily increasing, and do severe disasters at faster pace. Most of such disasters happen at small and small medium-sized construction fields, which contract size is less than 10 billion won. small and medium-sized construction fields are not obliged to designate a safety manager, and have limitations in engaging self-regulating disaster prevention activities due to reduced budget for safety facilities. For the small and medium-sized construction sites with less than 10 billion won, the Ministry of Labor has been carrying out mobile inspections of construction safety. However, the effect so far is insignificant and an improvement plan is required. Therefore, in the present thesis, we derive problems appearing in the current construction safety mobile inspection system, investigate and study systems in foreign countries, and suggest an efficient and effective plan to operate safety technology inspections. First of all, we establish a standard to select sites to be inspected that are high in construction risk and disaster occurrence probability In addition, we suggest a plan to take administrative and judiciary measures based on the total score for disaster factors considering the disaster occurrence probability and the illegal practices. Furthermore, a scheme to maximize the effect of disaster prevention is sought by building an organic cooperative system between the Ministry of Labor, Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency and other organizations specialized in instruction of construction disaster prevention. Finally, we induce a research conclusion that leads to self-regulating safety management through checking and instructing systematic management on mobile inspections.

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A Study on Classification of Explosion Hazardous Area for Facilities using Lighter-than-Air Gases (공기보다 가벼운 가스 사용시설의 폭발위험장소 설정방안에 대한 연구)

  • Yim, Ji-Pyo;Chung, Chang-Bock
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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    • v.29 no.2
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    • pp.24-30
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    • 2014
  • There have been controversies over whether explosion hazardous area(EHA) should be classified for facilities which use lighter-than-air gases such as city gas, hydrogen and ammonia. Two view points are confronting each other: an economic piont of view that these gases are lighter than air and disperse rapidly, hence do not form EHA upon release into the atmosphere, and a safety point of view that they are also inflammable gases, hence can form EHA although the extent is limited compared to heavy gases. But various standards such as KS, IEC, API, NFPA do not exclude light gases when classifying EHA and present examples of EHA for light gas facilities. This study calculates EHA using the hypothetical volume in the IEC code where the hole sizes required for the calculation were selected according to various nominal pipe sizes in such a way to conform to the EHA data in the API code and HSL. Then, 25 leakage scenarios were suggested for 5 different pipe sizes and 5 operating pressures that cover typical operating conditions of light gas facilities. The EHA for the minimum leakage scenario(25 mm pipe, 0.01MPa pressure) was found to correspond to a hypothetical volume larger than 0.1 $m^3$(medium-level ventilation). This confirms the validity of classifying EHA for facilities using lighter-than-air gases. Finally, a computer program called HACPL was developed for easy use by light gas facilities that classifies EHA according to operating pressures and pipe sizes.

Validity of the Self-report Assessment Forecasting Elderly Driving Risk (SAFE-DR) Applicable to Community Health Convergence (지역사회 보건 융합에 활용 가능한 노인 운전자용 자가-보고식평가(SAFE-DR)의 타당도 연구)

  • Choi, Seong-Youl
    • Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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    • v.9 no.6
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    • pp.175-182
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    • 2019
  • This study was conducted to test the assessment validity and examine the cut-off scores for driving risk as a part of the Self-report Assessment Forecasting Elderly Driving Risk (SAFE-DR) development project. The 132 senior drivers were categorized as either risky of 58 or safe of 74 drivers through the Drivers 65 Plus. Based on this initial assessment, we analyzed the risk prediction cut-offs. Furthermore, we tested the construct, content, and predictive validity. The cut-off score for the prediction of driving risk was found to be 74.5 points. The positive predictive value was 88.6%, and the negative predictive value was 86.3% about the cut-off score, signifying an excellent level of discrimination. Convergent validity, nomological validity, and content validity were found to be appropriate. Therefore, this study confirms that SAFE-DR is an appropriate assessment that can be used to screen dangerous elderly drivers.

The Impact of the Middle Age's Positive Psychological Capital to Reemployment (신중년의 긍정심리자본이 재취업의지에 미치는 영향)

  • Lee, Han-Seok;Lee, Young Gyun
    • Journal of Digital Convergence
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    • v.17 no.5
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    • pp.33-40
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    • 2019
  • It is important meaning that the middle ages are to reenter the labor market. The middle age's reemployment give an opportunity to provide mental health improvement and to get self-confidence in their life. If governments make full use of the middle age's capital, it bring about. having a good opportunity to reduce finance burden. In this respect, this study is to design for investigating the impact of the middle age's positive psychological capital to reemployment. Thus, this study has conducted the survey on a random sample of the middle age who has lived in Uijeongbu cities. The findings are the follows. (1) The middle age's educational level has positive relationship to reemployment will. To this, in order to revitalize the reemployment, we have to develop suitable occupational category and to operate educational program systematically. (2)The middle age's positive psychological capital has an effect on reemployment will positively. In this respect, in order to improve the middle age's reemployment we need to energize self-esteem, the effort of obtaining reemployment information, and social network.

Activities of Daily Living and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living of Elderlies in Chollabuk-Do Area (일부 전북지역 노인들의 일상생활동작능력과 수단적 일상생활동작능력)

  • Lee, Ki-Nam;Jeung, Jae-Yeal;Jahng, Doo-Sub;Lee, Sung-Kook
    • Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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    • v.25 no.1
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    • pp.65-83
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    • 2000
  • To know the relationship of general characteristics with activities of daily living(ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living(IADL), we carried out the study on the elderies living in Chollabuk-Do area during 6 months, from June to December in 1999. Study subjects were 281, women and men were 195(69.6%) and 85(30.4%) respectively. Mean ages of women and men were 71.9 and 70.8 respectively. 81.1% elderies has disease and 18.9% were disease free. Disease prevalences of movement joint disease, others, circulatory disease, digestive disease, dental disease, respiratory disease were 50.1%, 25.0%, 10.5%, 9.4%, 8.5%, and 6.3% respectively. The percentages to the use of medical institution in recent were 40.0% for hospital, 16.8% for oriental hospital, 14.5% for public health center, 10.9% for drug store, 10.0% for others, and 7.8% for dental service. The percentages to the improvement of symptom after the use of medical institution were 62.3% for normal, 19.4% for improvement, and 18.2% for non-improvement. The percentages to the health situation were 37.1% for bad, 35.7% for good, and 27.1% for normal. Activities of daily living were 67.1% for 6 scores, 27.9% for 5 scores, 2.1% for 4 scores and ADL of women was lower than the men's. Instrumental activities of daily living were 50.4% for 5 scores, 19.3% for 3 scores, 12.1% for 4 scores and IADL of women was lower than the men's. Frequencies of disability in ADL were 28.9% for incontinence, 6.1% for bathing, 2.9% for meal, 2.5% for walking around house, 1.8% for toilet use, 1.4% for dressing and disability frequencies of women in 6 items of ADL were higher than the men's. The percentages of high, intermediate, low ADL in activities of daily living were 67.1%, 32.5%, 0.4% respectively and decrease of high ADL, increase of intermediate ADL were found with the increasing of age. Frequencies of disability in IADL were 42.9% for payment in and out, 31.8% for payment of written claim, 21.1% for shopping, 16.4% for preparation of meal, and 11.8% for use of bus. All items of women in IADL was higher than the men's but preparation of meal. The percentages of high, intermediate, low IADL in instrumental activities of daily living were 50.4%, 42.5%, 7.1% and decrease of high IADL, increase of intermediate IADL were found with the increasing of age. Mean of ADL with the general characteristics was 5.56 and 2 variables of level of education, health situation were statistically significant. Mean of IADL with the general characteristics was 3.76 and 8 variables of age, sex, level of education, occupation, presence of spouse, duty of living cost, health situation, category of ADL were statistically significant. With the result of stepwise regression, ADL was statistically related with religion, health situation and ADL was statistically related with level of education, living together with family, duty of living cost, health situation.

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Analysis of Cause of Fire and Explosion in Internal Floating Roof Tank: Focusing on Fire and Explosion Accidents at the OO Oil Pipeline Corporation (내부 부상형 저장탱크(IFRT) 화재·폭발사고 원인 분석: OO송유관공사 저유소 화재·폭발사건을 중심으로)

  • Koo, Chae-Chil;Choi, Jae-Wook
    • Fire Science and Engineering
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    • v.34 no.2
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    • pp.86-93
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    • 2020
  • This study aims to maintain the safety of an outdoor storage tank through the fundamental case analysis of explosion and fire accidents in the storage tank. We consider an accident caused by the explosion of fire inside the tank, as a result of the gradual spreading of the residual fire generated by wind lamps flying off a workplace in the storage tank yard. To determine the cause of the accident, atmospheric diffusion conditions were derived through CCTV image analysis, and the wind direction was analyzed using computational fluid dynamics. Additionally, the amount of oil vapor inside the tank when the floating roof was at the lowest position, and the behavior of the vapor inside the tank when the floating roof was at the highest position were investigated. If the cause of the explosion in the storage tank is identified and the level of the storage tank is maintained below the internal floating roof, dangerous liquid fills the storage tank, and the vapor in the space may stagnate on the internal floating roof. We intend to improve the operation procedure such that the level of the storage tank is not under the Pontoon support, as well as provide measures to prevent flames from entering the storage tank by installing a flame arrester in the open vent of the tank.

The Relationship Between Self-compassion and Depression of Correctional Workers: The Double Mediating Effect of Job Stress and Job Autonomy (교정공무원의 자기자비 능력과 우울과의 관계: 직무스트레스와 직무자율성의 이중매개효과)

  • Kim, Hyun-Jin
    • The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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    • v.21 no.9
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    • pp.632-643
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    • 2021
  • The purpose of this study was to examine how the level of self-compassion of correctional workers influenced depression and the simple and double mediating effects of job stress and job autonomy. Although correctional officers experience high levels of stress and depression, there are limited strategies to protect their job performance. The total of 210 correctional workers in S. Korea were included in the final analysis using SPSS PROCESS Macro model 6. For the analysis, Korean Self-Compassion Scale (K-SCS), Korean occupational stress scale (KOSS), and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESDS) were used. The results of the study were as follows. First, the correlation analysis showed statistically significant relationships between the variables(p<.01). Second, the simple mediating effect of job autonomy was found in the relationship between the self-compassion and depression as well as the double mediating effect of job stress and job autonomy. The influences of low level of self-compassion on mental health (depression) could be modified by improving the level of work related empowerment (job autonomy) as a protective factor. Based on the results of the study, the further study suggestions and limitations were discussed.

Comparison of Three Ergonomic Risk Assessment Methods (OWAS, RULA, and REB A) in Felling and Delimbing Operations (벌도 및 가지제거작업에서 세 가지 인간공학적 위험 평가기법의 비교분석)

  • Cho, Min-Jae;Jeong, Eung-Jin;Oh, Jae-Heun;Han, Sang-Kyun
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.110 no.2
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    • pp.210-216
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    • 2021
  • Musculoskeletal disorders affect workers' safety in most industries, and forest operations are classified as a musculoskeletal burden according to the Occupational Safety and Health Act in South Korea. In particular, felling and delimbing operations are mainly conducted by manpower, and then, it is necessary to evaluate ergonomic risk assessment for safety of felling and delimbing workers. Three ergonomic risk assessment methods, such as Ovako Working posture Analysis System (OWAS), Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), are available for assessing exposure to risk factors associated with timber harvesting operations. Here, three ergonomic risk assessment methods were applied to examine ergonomic risk assessments in chainsaw felling and delimbing operations. Additionally, exposure to risk factors in each method was analyzed to propose an optimal working posture in felling and delimbing operations. The risk levels of these operations were evaluated to be highest in the RULA method, followed by the OWAS and REBA methods, and most of the exposed working postures were examined with a low-risk level of two and three without requiring any immediate working posture changes. However, two significant working postures, including the bending posture of the waist and leg in felling operation and standing posture on the fallen trees in delimbing operation, were assessed as the high-risk level and needed immediate working posture changes. Low-risk work levels were examined in the squatting posture for felling operation and the straightened posture of the waist and leg for delimbing operation. Moreover, the slope in felling operation and the tree height in delimbing operation significantly affected risk level assessment of working posture. Therefore, our study supports that felling and delimbing workers must operate with low-risk working postures for safety.