• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.540-549
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• 2018

This study was conducted on 238 dental hygienists working in Daegu and Gyeongbuk area. In order to understand the status of harmful transmission of dental materials by type of work, we compared the differences in exposure time and work environment characteristics of hospital types and investigated the difference in the degree of recognition of material safety data. The results of the study were as follows: In case of hospitals, the exposure time of dust generated from chemicals was the longest. Resin filling, contact with disinfectant. 37 workers (29.4%) and 14 workers (12.5%) answered that they perceive the question about whether they are aware of the material safety data sheet (MSDS) for dental materials. There were 18 hospital workers and 6 clinic workers who had experience reading MSDS before using dental materials. The respondents who answered that they provided the material safety data of the dental materials used had a 2.39 times MSDS in hospital workers. Therefore, by recognizing the health hazards of chemical substances in accordance with the characteristics of each type of hospital and continuing to conduct health and safety education, the work environment should be improved by establishing proper recognition of MSDS information. It suggests the necessity of a system that can strengthen the management of chemical information provision and guarantee the strategic approach and workers' right to know.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.287-298
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• 2013

Objectives: Workers who use chemicals are exposed to safety accidents and occupational diseases. Employers are required to provide workers with Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) in order to prevent accidents and diseases related to chemicals. Thus, it is very important to offer reliable MSDSs. In this paper, we assessed the reliability of MSDSs for chemicals including formaldehyde. Methods: To evaluate MSDS reliability, we collected 14 MSDSs and bulk samples from the chemical industry. MSDS reliability was evaluated by the completeness of details. In order to evaluate the adequacy of the formaldehyde contents in a mixture, bulk samples were collected and analyzed by HPLC. The result of Globally Harmonized System (GHS) classification was confirmed by identifying physical chemical properties, toxicology information and ecological information. Results: The result of the evaluation of 14 MSDSs showed 76.29% average reliability on each item, especially 53.9% average appropriate rate on hazard risk classification. No chemicals failed to match between the content (%) in MSDSs and the result of analysis. Conclusions: To elevate MSDSs reliability, the certified education of MSDS drafters and reorganization of the MSDS circulation system is required.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.185-194
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to understand the dental hygienist's perception of dental materials and to understand the safety status of harmful chemicals. The study was conducted from January to February 2015 for 250 dental hygienists working in Gwangju Metropolitan City. as a result, the degree of recognition of MSDS for dental materials was higher with age (P <0.05) and higher in dental hygienist (P <0.001) working at dental hospital. (P <0.001), and the factors affecting the perception of first aid treatment were positively correlated with experience of hazard education (P <0.001). Therefore, by understanding the MSDS awareness of dental materials by dental hygienists and the safety situation in the handling of hazardous chemical substances, we provide basic data for establishing proper recognition of safety in the handling of harmful chemical substances and developing educational programs to prevent accidents.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.71-76
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) that occur in heavy industrial workers according to the occupational category, prevalence, environment, and number of physical therapy visits. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: For this study, data was collected of workers who were engaged in heavy industry in Korea and who visited the company physicians and received physical therapy in 2016. Data was collected from 855 subjects and was analyzed. With the data collected, analysis of the type and prevalence of MSDs and the number of physical therapy visits that have occurred according to the occupational category and environment was performed. Results: The most common MSDs were lumbar sprains and spasms (31.1%), and shoulder sprain and spasm (19.4%). In addition, the most common type of MSDs according to the occupational category and environment (occupational type) were lumbar sprain and spasms in 11 occupations, including white collar workers, and in milling, inspection, crane operation, and finishing jobs, shoulder muscle sprain and strain were the most common disorders. Also, the prevalence of MSDs according to occupational category and environment (occupational type) was the highest in workers involved with welding, which was 29.7%. Conclusions: Through this study, the type and prevalence of MSDs according to the occupational category and environment of heavy industrial workers have been confirmed. Further studies are necessary to study the future types of the work patterns of industrial workers and to develop a system for preventing and managing MSDs that may occur.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.314-318
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• 2018

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the health industry are quite common, however, there have only been a few studies regarding physiotherapists, while in Greece, there is an apparent lack of research and data. The aim of this study is to investigate MSDs experienced by physiotherapists in Greece, their causes and specific measures, and good practices followed. Additional emerging risk factors will be examined. Methods: A questionnaire of MSDs followed by individual and workplace characteristics was completed by 252 physiotherapists. It covered the major workplace categories such as public hospitals, private rehabilitation centers, and private practices. Results: Analysis indicated that 89% of the respondents had experienced a work-related MSD; 32.2% of those injuries occurred within the first 5 years of working. The most lumbered physiotherapists were those working as private practitioners and almost half of the injured respondents chose to work while injured. The most common measure taken to tackle work related MSDs was found to be physical therapy sessions. Job satisfaction and psychosocial issues were also identified as side-effects of the economic slowdown. Conclusion: Physiotherapists in Greece were found to suffer from MSDs; workplace musculoskeletal injuries were quite common but under-reported. The body parts most affected were the lower back, the upper back, the shoulders, and the neck. There was a strong correlation between the workplace setting and the number of MSDs. A well-defined occupational safety and health management system and strict administration steering were found to reduce MSDs. The economic slowdown experienced in Greece during the execution of this study placed additional pressure on physiotherapists.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.91-99
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• 2018

Objectives: From a policy perspective, the introduction of confidential information reviews is a vital task for expanding workers' right to know and improving hazardous materials information communication. In this study, rational methods for introducing and administering confidential information reviews were examined as a part of advancing chemical information communication. Methods: The domestic status, social demands, and control cases from other countries about confidential information in material safety data sheets(MSDSs) were all examined. Additionally, principles for introducing MSDS confidential information review, what needs to be revised prior to its introduction, and procedures and manners of reviewing confidential information were suggested. Results and Conclusions: When composition information on MSDS needs to be protected in the EU and Canada, confidential information should be claimed and then approved by competent authorities with a principle of reviewing confidential information prior to rescinding information from MSDS. Applying the same principle, certain information on an MSDS that needs to be protected should be reviewed and approved in Korea. As a result, the MSDS is communicated with approval numbers replacing composition information. MSDS confidential information review has five steps, including deciding whether chemicals claimed to be confidential are excluded from applying for a confidentiality exemption, the names and concentration ranges of ingredients are adequate, and the claimed information is valid in terms of confidentiality.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.297-302
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• 2011

Many WMSDs(work-related-musculoskeletal disorders) have been reported in diverse industries and have also attracted much attention in recent years. Neck-related MSD is generally known as one of common WMSDs, especially it happens to workers who are working at the automobile assembly plants and/or shipyards. The awkward posture is considered as a main cause of neck-related MSDs. A neck supporter was developed to prevent neck-related MSDs, and 10 males were recruited to evaluate the newly developed neck supporter by measuring subjective discomfort ratings of whole body, shoulder, neck and neck-muscle activities. Muscle activities from four neck muscle groups(left/right sternocleidomastoid and upper/middle trapezius) were measured while simulating an automobile assembly task. Results showed that the neck supporter help to significantly improve subjective discomfort for whole-body, shoulder as well as neck body parts. The analyses of muscular activities also showed that the activities of left/right sternocleidomastoid muscles were statistically decreased with the neck supporter in this study. The muscle activities of upper/middle trapezius in case of wearing the neck supporter were not significantly different with the muscle activities in case of no-wearing the neck supporter. Overall findings verified that the neck supporter might help to prevent neck-related MSDs based on the current study.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.97-103
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• 2006

Severities of musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) have been recognized at the regular work such as manufacturing but incidence of MSDs are increasing also at the atypical work. The examples of those are health medical workers, office workers and service workers etc. Nurses among health medical workers are accomplishing to manage and recover the patients' health in the first place. Therefore, they are exposed to very stressful work conditions during caring the patients. This study was performed to analyze the musculoskeletal burdened work among nurses at a university hospital, in order to grasp the realities of the MSDs, analyze and prevent MSDs. We surveyed risk factors for ward, intensive care unit, delivery room, newborn room, operation room, function test room and central supply room at a university hospital in Seoul. It was executed for 2 months as the field study that was composed of simulation, real measurement, work motion assessment and subjective assessment. And the results were analyzed into ergonomics techniques. Works according to the criteria of musculoskeletal burdened work by the Ministry of Labor were scrub in operation room and heart ultrasonic function test. And a lot of works that need attention and management were also detected. So it should be required the education and systematic managements of MSDs for nurses.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.42-47
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• 2009

The flash point and the AIT(auto-ignition temperature) are the most important combustible properties used to determine the potential for the fire and explosion hazards of flammable material. In order to know the accuracy of data in MSDS(Material Safety Data Sheet), the flash point of n-acids were measured by using Pensky-Martens closed cup tester(ASTM D93), Setaflash closed cup tester(ASTM D3278), Tag open cup tester(ASTM D1310) and Cleveland open cup tester(ASTM D92). Also, the AIT of n-acids were measured by using ASTM E659-78 tester. The measured the flash points and the AIT were compared with literatures and MSDS in KOSHA. The measured the flash points and the AIT were different from those in literatures and MSDS. Therefore, This paper shows that it is needed to investigate the MSDS compatibility of n-acids for the fire safety objectives.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.322-325
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• 2016

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a common problem among carpet weavers. This study was undertaken to introduce affecting personal and occupational factors in developing the number of MSDs among carpet weavers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed among 862 weavers in seven towns with regard to workhouse location in urban or rural regions. Data were collected by using questionnaires that contain personal, workplace, and information tools and the modified Nordic MSDs questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed by applying Poisson and negative binomial mixed models using a full Bayesian hierarchical approach. The deviance information criterion was used for comparison between models and model selection. Results: The majority of weavers (72%) were female and carpet weaving was the main job of 85.2% of workers. The negative binomial mixed model with lowest deviance information criterion was selected as the best model. The criteria showed the convergence of chains. Based on 95% Bayesian credible interval, the main job and weaving type variables statistically affected the number of MSDs, but variables age, sex, weaving comb, work experience, and carpet weaving looms were not significant. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that occupational factors are associated with the number of MSDs developing among carpet weavers. Thus, using standard tools and decreasing hours of work per day can reduce frequency of MSDs among carpet weavers.