• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.128-138
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• 2011

Objectives: It has been pointed out that there are problems in handling and managing chemicals due to trade secrets of Material Safety Data Sheet(MSDS). To date, some company intentionally leave out of several parts and use an inaccurate expression in MSDS. In particular, with the result of the inspection of the government and labour community, it is required that the 2nd section in MSDS included the composition and information on ingredients has to be provided with comprehensive expression to secure more reliability. Methods: Therefore, this study is aimed: 1) to recognize the current status of trade secrets of MSDS in workplaces with both domestic manufacturers of chemical products and multinational corporations; 2) to make contributions to prevention of the industrial accidents by providing the accurate information of MSDS; 3) to improve the risk communication system related with chemicals; 4) to impress workers on the importance of right of known for MSDS. With the result we analyzed the status of trade secrets in MSDS in 73 companies, such as petrochemistry production, paint production, metal processing oil production, detergent production, and international company related with chemicals, we have found that 38,150 (45.5%) have the trade secrets parts in the total number of 83,832 in MSDS. Also, based on the 288 MSDS gathered by the Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute (OSHRI) from 2005 to 2009, 41.7% of the MSDS are classified into the trade secrets. Conclusions: Therefore, to procure an assurance system of MSDS, we suggest that a MSDS picking up and checking system be legislated in the Occupational Safety and Health Act to protect workers from the unidentified chemical hazards due to the secret trade of MSDS.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.265-272
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• 2023

Objectives: Since the material safety data sheets(MSDS) submission and non-disclosure review system was introduced in January 2021, the implementation status of MSDS for chemical manufacturing and importing workplaces being supervised for the first time. Methods: A supervisory team consisting of two labor inspectors and one from the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency directly visited the selected workplaces to check compliance with the MSDS system as a whole. Results: As a result of supervising 214 chemical substance manufacturing/importing workplaces, a total of 241 violations of the law were found in 121 workplaces, or 57% of them. In response, the Ministry of Employment and Labor took legal action on 8 cases in 6 locations, imposed a fines totaling of 249.69 million won on 120 chemical handling workplaces, and took action to correct the violations immediately. Conclusions: Major violations were in the order of non-request for warning signs, non-submission of MSDS, non-execution of MSDS training, and non-posting of MSDS. This shows the reality that employers who handle chemical substances are sufficiently communicating chemical information to workers. In the future, the government will actively implement preparation and submission support and system guidance for the implementation of the MSDS system, while making efforts to ensure that the MSDS system works well in the field through thorough on-site supervision in the future.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.85-91
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• 2001

The regulation of Material safety data sheets(MSDS) was required for the chemicals in use in the workplace from July 1976. Under the provisions of the workplace hazardous materials information system, employers in Korea must be provided with accurate and comprehensive MSDS. To examine the reliability of MSDS for organic solvents, 63 organic solvents and MSDS were collected from the workplace of 39 companies located in Kyonggi province. Manufacture\`s MSDS were compared with the actual composition of the collected samples, and further examined the reliability by checking whether the chemicals analyzed were included in the MSDS correctly. 38 solvents were able to analyze their composition by gas chromatography-mass selective detector(GC-MSD). Among them, 28 solvents were incorrect in their composition and contents. In some case, health hazardous or carcinogenic chemicals which were not included in the MSDS were detected from samples. As a result of evaluating whether the MSDS correspond to the regulation required by Industrial Safety and Health Act (ISHA), the information in the MSDS including hazard classification, occupational exposure level, toxicity, regulatory information were incorrectly provided, and some MSDS did not disclose carcinogenic in their MSDS, and some MSDS were not written in the standard format. From this survey, continuous monitoring and promoting correct MSDS, and analyzing the components of the solvents were required to endure the reliability of MSDS for organic solvents.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.347-362
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• 2009

The United Nation agreed to adopt the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) until 2008 to solve the significant differences enough to result in different labels or MSDS for the same chemical in different jurisdictions. Though the GHS is an ideal solution in the respect of pursuing only one format of a MSDS throughout the world, it may cause confusion at the beginning due to lack of information. So the Korean Ministry of Labor (MOL) revised the Industrial Safety and Health Act (ISHA) and related public notice on the classification & labelling of chemicals according to the GHS in 2006. The transition period for the implementation of the GHS for substances was set until Jun 30, 2010, and for mixtures until Jun 30, 2013. To promote the implementation of the GHS in Korea, we developed an application program for constructing MSDS database and a management program for providing MSDS contents on the web in accordance with the GHS. We analyzed the sixteen sections of MSDS by the GHS guideline, and the result showed the necessity to construct logically connected DB for chemical identifier, hazard classification, label, standard phrases and regulatory information. Each section of a MSDS was divided into sub-databases to update the database efficiently. According to Relational Database Management System (RDBMS), the sub-databases were automatically assembled and subsequently a full MSDS is produced. At present, MSDS database for 6,314 substances has been built and provided through internet as the MSDS Editing program. During the service period from January 1 to March 31, 13,666 users have searched MSDSs for 33,401 substances. During program review, some comments about the classification results and other MSDS element sources were reported but no technical bug reported. We expect that the MSDS DB management system in accordance with GHS will accelerate the implementation of the GHS in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.352-364
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• 2018

Objective: The Korean Industrial Hygiene Association(KIHA) held a forum on "Improvement of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) regulations for enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency in the field" at its 2018 Winter Conference(February 2, 2018). This article summarized the major consensus opinions developed at the forum. Methods: Since the initial implementation of the MSDS system, the contents of the system have changed and related studies have been reviewed. Before the forum, online questionnaires were developed and opinions on the effectiveness of MSDS program were collected from various strata of the occupational health field. We also summarized the key opinions of companies, trade unions, experts, and government officials as discussed at the forums. Results: A total of 265 opinions were gathered through online questionnaire surveys from safety and health managers, trade unions, government officials, and health professionals. The results of online surveys and discussions showed some differences of opinion, but it was a common perception that the current MSDS system is not working effectively in the workplace. It was considered necessary to strengthen MSDS education and to make it easier for workers to understand and deliver the necessary information. In addition, it was confirmed that the supply of and education on MSDS to small- and medium-sized enterprise workers is not being well executed. In particular, MSDS training for subcontract workers should be carried out under the responsibility of the contracting employer. Conclusions: In order for the MSDS system to serve more effectively in the field in the future, it needs to be improved in terms of the effective education and training considering the type of industry and employment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.404-410
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• 2016

Objectives: This study aimed to examine and analyze the material safety data sheet(MSDS) information for photoresist chemicals used in certain processes in semiconductor plants. Methods: After collecting MSDS for 178 chemical products currently used in certain processes in semiconductor plants, we analyzed Sections 2, 3, 11, and 15 of each MSDS with reference to the guidelines for evaluating the reliability of MSDS provided by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency. In addition, we reviewed the recorded uses and the ratios of trade secrets. Results and Conclusions: We studied a total of 178 chemical products. An MSDS was available for 176(98.9%) of them and all adhered to the Globally Harmonized System(GHS) regulations. There were 37 cases of errors in Hazard Identification, pertaining to 20.8% of all products surveyed. There were 64 cases of errors in the current legal circumstances, pertaining to 36.0% of all products. There were a total of 407 trade secrets across 52.2% of products. We believe that a government-led education and certification system needs to be introduced to improve the transfer of MSDS information. The government, chemical manufacturers and suppliers all need to make an effort to produce reliable MSDS.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2012

Objectives: Hazard identification is the most important step in occupational health monitoring at the workplace. This paper reviewed the several related stuffs to the hazard identification in the semiconductor industry. Methods: I checked the MSDS system, chemical toxic informations, trade secrets and by-products by experience and the literature used in semiconductor industry. Results: I found and experienced as follows; (1) There are a few inventory and history of chemicals used in workplace. Toxic information of chemicals to be available is very limited. (2) There are many trade secrets in MSDS for chemical mixtures. It is difficult to identify the accurate information from MSDS. (3) By-products is necessary to identify that they will produce in workplace. Conclusions: It is necessary to regulate the obligations of employers which check the inventory and history of chemicals used in workplace. It is necessary to amend the trade secrets in MSDS system.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.69-75
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• 2009

This paper was proposed to show the comprehensive review of laws and regulations on the musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) that are being established and carried out in various countries. Ten countries including USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, and 6 European countries which were regarded as the leaders in the prevention of MSDs were selected for review. Comparative analysis were performed on the laws, regulations, and guidelines of MSDs among different countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of the various efforts of the advanced countries concerning on preventing MSDs and suggest the improvement factors that might be introducible to Korean policies. Some recommendations were made to improve the appropriateness and efficiency of our MSDs prevention policies based on the comprehensive review and comparative analysis. It is expected that the results of this study would be used as valuable information when revising relevant legal system.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.209-215
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• 2015

Following the semiconductor industry's growing, various types of toxic gases and caustic chemicals, HF(Hydrofluoric acid), HCI (Hydochloric acid), $H_2O_2$ (Hydrogen peroxide), $H_2SO_4$ (Sulfuric acid), and Piranha, were using on the semiconductor manufacturing process. Therefore many gas leakage accidents that produce huge losses of lives were caused by the processes. This research deeply considers two basic solutions that the necessity of MSDS education on university for reducing damage of lives and protecting life from chemical leak accidents such as a HF accident in Gumi, Korea and the use of GHS, REACH and the comprehension of propriety about using MSDS for keeping safety from conflagrations by released poison chemical materials.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.79-86
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• 2021

Purpose : This study was conducted to provide fundamental data to prepare for countermeasure to protect health of workers in the dental clinics from hazardous chemical substance, and to assess effecting factors on management of Material Safety Date Sheet(MSDS) and handling of hazardous chemical substance among workers in dental clinics. Methods : This study was carried out a survey with structured self-administered questionnaire which was consisted of 7 questions about the management of MSDS, 9 questions about recognition and practice of hazardous chemical substances in dental clinics, and 7 questions about general characteristics. Total subjects of this study were 204 adult who workers in dental clinics located in Busan and Gyeng-nam province area. The collected data were analysed using the SPSS statistical package program (ver. 23.0). Results : The factor that positively affected factor on recognition and practice of hazardous chemical substances in dental clinics has experience that has been institutional health-care accreditation. The factor that positively affected the management of MSDS has experience that has been institutional health-care accreditation. Conclusion : It is necessary to prepare countermeasures such as campaign and education on cognition of general chemical substances, and also the author concern that it should be perform the education on handling of hazardous chemical substances in dental clinics for more effecting management of MSDS. In order to improve the management of MSDS and improve the awareness and safety of chemicals, it is necessary to encourage the implementation of the institutional health-care accreditation system or prepare guidelines for the management of MSDS.