• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.101-107
• /
• 2012

The statistics of industrial accident reported by ministry of Employment and Labor denoted a significant increase of musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs) after 1993, and showed the higher incident rate by 71.3% over the overall worker's disorders. Also, it was expected that Korean society will become the post-aged society in 2026 with 20.8% of elderly who is over 65 years old. The reports suggest possible problems caused by the older worker known to have reduced working ability than the young counterparts. On this basis, the goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between MSDs symptoms and work ability in the shipbuilding industry. To achieve this goal, this study distributed a questionnaire for total 1,244 shipbuilding employers, and used 910 employers' reports which revealed validity for this study. The questionnaire included the MSDs symptoms report developed by the Korean Occupational Safety and Health Association(KOSHA) and the work ability index(WAI) developed by Finnish Institute of Occupational Health(FIOH). Results showed no relationship between MSDs symptoms and age, years of work and exercise. Also, the work ability was increased until 44 years old, but it was decreased after that time because of the reduced physical capacity. Meanwhile, the years of work and exercise have positive correlation with work ability. However, the results revealed significant relationships between WAI and age, years of work, task characteristics and exercise. All together, the MSDs symptoms have a close relationship with the work ability in that the work ability of workers with the MSDs symptoms was reduced. This study may suggest the needs of more efforts and attention on the MSDs prevention to increase the work ability.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.52-60
• /
• 2005

This study was carried to assess the accuracy of material safety data sheets (MSDS) for some water-soluble metalworking fluid (MWF) with respect to mono- ethanolamine(MEA), di-ethanolamine(DEA) and tri-ethanolamine (TEA). 39 fresh and 52 used MWFs for this study were taken from the workplace. The quantification and qualification of MEA, DEA and TEA were done using ion-chromatography. Three main findings of this study were 1) EA that was not addressed in material safety & data sheets (MSDS) was found to be enough higher than 1%, 2) 33.3% of 39 fresh MWF showed ingredient and concentration of MEA, DEA and TEA in MSDS and 3) the concentrations of MEA(20.5%), DEA(41.3%) and TEA(15.4%) were much higher than those indicated in MSDS. Consequently, we concluded that the accuracy on ingredients and concentrations of MEA, DEA and TEA provided in MWF was very low. Our study recommends that the limit concentration of chemical except for carcinogen that employer has to indicate in MSDS should be lowered from 1% to 0.1% .

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.126-133
• /
• 2017

Background: There are many mechanisms in which stress can lead to weight gain thus high a BMI. The endocrine and inflammatory pathway can directly increase abdominal adiposity. Another way in which stress leads to weight gain is through changes in health behaviors. The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among healthy students of Ahlia University, and to determine the relationship between the development of MSDs and academic stressors and body mass index. Methods: Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 94 students aged 18-26 years who were enrolled at various Ahlia University colleges and met other inclusion criteria. The students responded to the standardized Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire and the modified College Student Stress Inventory regarding musculoskeletal symptoms and academic stressors. Height and weight measurements were also obtained to determine body mass index. Results: A total of 77.66% reported MSDs in one or more body part, with the prevalence being higher among women than among men. The 7-day prevalence of MSDs severe enough to interfere with activities of daily living was 60.64%, and 44.68% by female and male students, respectively. There was a significant relationship between academic stress and MSDs in the neck, shoulders, lower back, and hips, while the relationship between MSDs, and body mass index, academic stress, and grade point average was not significant. Conclusions: The prevalence of MSDs among Ahlia University students was found to be high. Apart from the positive correlation between academic stress and MSDs in certain body parts, other correlations were not significant.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.27-33
• /
• 2019

Objective: This study analyzed the status of the application of trade secrets in MSDSs according to size and type of industry. The contents of the MSDS non-public approval policy are summarized. We suggest proactive improvement requirements related to the operation of the MSDS non-public approval policy. Methods: To review this subject, we selected 153 manufacturers and six importers in such fields as organic chemical production. The trade secrets application status and ratio (%) of MSDSs by industry size and industry classification were investigated. Improvements toward a proactive system related to the operation of the MSDS non-public approval policy under the Occupational Safety and Health Act(OSHA) were summarized. Results and Conclusions: According to the results, the trade secret ratio in MSDSs by industry size was 33% in workplaces with less than 50 employees, 23.1% in workplaces with more than 50 but less than 100 workers, 73% in workplaces with more than 100 workers, and 83.4% in workplaces with 300 or more workers. For the trade secret writing rate for MSDSs by industry, the highest was MOCCP (Manufacture of ink, paint, coating and similar products) at 80.9%. MOC (Manufacture of other chemicals) was the lowest at 16.2%. We propose four proactive efforts to minimize the administrative burden of implementation of the MSDS non-public approval policy. The results of this study can be used as basic data for policy improvements to make more effective use of MSDS.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.20-25
• /
• 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 Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.151-156
• /
• 2012

Objective: In 2010, the rate of injuries and illnesses in the shipbuilding industry was 1.20, about 1.74 times higher than the average of overall industries(0.69). Musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs) became a major problem since 2000 in shipbuilding industry. The purpose of this study was to provide efficient implementation management through evaluating the economic effectiveness of the Musculoskeletal Disorders Prevention Program(MDPP). Successfully implementing the MDPP in the workplace may decrease the risk of MSDs and therefore reduce MSDs related costs. Methods: Occupational accident index (frequency rate, severity rate, and frequency severity indicator), estimated direct costs, and total occupational accident occurrence rate were provided by analysis of MSDs, statistical analysis of MDPP decreed companies, and data analysis of implementation. Results: The study shows the number of MSDs for MDPP decreed companies decreased 76.2% from 2,319 in 2004 to 551 in 2008. Above all, the number of MSDs decreased 78.7% in Shipbuilding industries. Forty companies (85.1%) showed a decreasing tendency and 27.7% of those had an $R^2$ > 0.7. Similar results were found in severity rate and frequency severity indicator. From these results, it appears there are a number of advantages in implementing the MDPP. Conclusion: MDPP effectiveness was demonstrated by analysing implementation and occupational accident index. A more effective and efficient implementation would take into account business sector, size, policy, and organization of the company.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.40-45
• /
• 2009

In order to investigate the compatibility of data in MSDS(Material Safety Data Sheet), the flash point of xylene isomer was measured by using Pensky-Martens closed cup (ASTM D93), Setaflash closed cup(ASTM D3278), Tag open cup(ASTM D1310), and Cleveland open cup (ASTM D92) testers. Also, the AITs(autoignition temperatures) of xylene isomers were measured by using ASTM E659-78 tester. The measured the flash points and the AITs were compared with literatures and MSDS in KOSHA(Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency). The measured the flash points and the AITs were different from those in literatures and MSDS. As a result, this paper is shown that it is needed to investigate combustion characteristics of xylene isomer for the fire safety objectives.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.17-25
• /
• 2009

This study was aimed to analyze of characteristics of Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) based on the industrial accident statistics which were extracted from the Ministry of Labor. In this study all MSDs cases in 2007, 7,723 cases, were investigated. First of all, for the analysis of a wide view point concerning the characteristics of MSDs, We have inspected characteristics of the user population (i.e. age, gender, employed periods, etc.). Secondly, work-related risk factors such as repetitive motions, awkward postures, manual material handling were analyzed in terms of disease code, injured part of body, types of business, etc. Next, characteristics of handling of heavy materials were analyzed according to weight, types of handling, agency of cause, etc. Finally, we have compared and analyzed the features between the period of hospitalization and other variables. In addition to that we also conducted statistics analysis. The study results showed that there were significant characteristics of MSDs that could be used as basis data for the MSDs prevention policy.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.196-208
• /
• 1998

To improve the quality of environmental measurements and evaluation of the workplace air in the pigment manufacturing industries, we analyzed metal(chromium, cadmium, lead, iron, cobalt, manganese, antimony, titanium, arsenic, and selenium) concentrations by ICP-AES in sixty seven samples of inorganic bulk pigments which are produced and/or used in Korea. We also collected MSDS which has to be supplied by manufacturer and/or supplier and posted in the workplace according to the Hazard Communication Standards, and compared the number of metals listed in each MSDS with the number of metals determined by ICP-AES. Results were as followed; 1. Among seventeen yellowish-colored samples, chromium(2~19%) and lead(0.1~61%) were the two major metals. In thirteen reddish-colored samples, iron was the major component with 37~81%. Cobalt and manganese were detected in blue-colored samples with less than 1%, while antimony and titanium were the major two metals in white-colored pigments with 178~300 ppm and with 36~65%, respectively. 2. In area samples collected in workplace air(one pigments producing factory and five retailer stores), iron and manganese were detected but the concentrations not exceeded the TLVs(1 and $5mg/m^3$, respectively). In three of fifteen samples, the concentrations of lead exceeded the TLV ($0.05mg/m^3$). 3. Two out of seven companies provided MSDS, and the average provision rate was 22.4%. And the coincidence rate of the number of metals referenced in MSDS and determined by ICP-AES mostly accorded, but in one sample, different metal was detected from MSDS. In summary, metals have to be concerned in evaluation of the workplace air dealing with compounds of inorganic pigments dust are cobalt, chromium, iron, manganese, lead and antimony, and these are simultaneously determined by ICP-AES. Taking this opportunity, it is needed to reinforce that the personnel is to be concerned about prevention of workers' ill health regarding to provision of MSDS.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.31-45
• /
• 2014

Objective : This study was intended to provide information pertaining to reasonable consumption of medical services based on comparative analysis of the characteristics of musculoskeletal diseases(MSDs) among outpatients of Korean medical institutes, and furthermore help lay groundwork for mapping out effective Korean medical policies. Method : Based on the data of 3,889 outpatients of Korean medical institutions which were obtained from the Ministry of Health and Welfare's 2011 Report on usage of Korean medicine, the analysis was carried out by using the SAS 9.2. Results : 68.2% of subjects were found to use Korean medicine(KM) for the treatment of MSDs. Patients with MSDs were older than those with nonmusculoskeletal diseases(NMSDs). And married state, education, employed state and incomes are effected on MSDs and NMSDs. Subjective health status, number of outpatient treatments, medical cost, medical treatment satisfaction, and habitue status are depend on MSDs or NMSDs. Acupuncture and physical therapy is Major treatments of subjects investigated to have the highest treatment effect. It was found that they had high degree of satisfaction with Korean medicinal outpatient treatments, and those with MSDs were found to have significantly greater satisfaction than those with NMSDs. Conclusion : Although aforesaid results suggest significant satisfaction with KM and high treatment effects for MSDs. Accordingly it is considered necessary to develop various services related to KM for treatment of MSDs and to plan for cost down of KM. Moreover, in-depth research into NMSDs is required for utilization growth of KM.