• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.313-323
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• 1998

This study is to develop the model on the joint employment system of occupational health nurse practitioners for medium or small sized enterprises in Korea based on the comparison opinions between employers and occupational health nurses (OHN). The data were collected by questionnaires from Oct. to Nov. in 1997. The number of subjects was 210 OHNs and 176 employers, response rate was 47.1% for OHNs and 23.2% for employers. The SAS PC program was used for the descriptive statistics. The results were as follow: 1. More than three years career was preferred for qualification of OHN by employers and OHNs. OHNs preferred that all instruments and materials should be equipped in each industry, but employers preferred that they should be equipped by OHN. 2. For the limit number of industries and employees per one OHN, employers preferred average 2.25 industries and 307 employees, OHNs preferred average 3.0 industries and 448 employees. Both of them preferred two times visit per week for all day long. 3. OHNs wanted that the local office of Ministry of Labor could act as mediator, but employers preferred direct contact individually. For the average wage, employers preferred 887,000 won per month, but OHNs preferred 1,960,000 won per month. 4. OHNs preferred the Korean Association of Occupational Health Nurse as the recruit agency. Finally, employers and OHNs have the opinions that they can choose this system depending on the condition. There is in need of development of effective strategy for this new system such as manpower development, cost-benefit analysis, establishment of occupational health service standard, advertisement for employers, and government supported project.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.77-85
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• 2002

Recently in Korea, the adolescents' sexual problems including sexual violence have increased, and those phenomena have escalated to be one of the major social issues. This study was conducted to identify the variables related to the sexual harassments of the Korean adolescents. The variables to which the subjects belong were gender, school grade, religion, extracurricular activity, amount of pocket money, school performance traffic mean to school, ownership of PC, internet contact frequency and place, contact to pornography, heterosexual friend, drinking, and smoking. The period of survey was from July 2000 to Dec. 2000. The subjects were 475 middle and high-schoolers in Busan and Kyung-Nam. The instrument to measure sexual harassments of the subjects was questionnaire. That was gained by modifying the three patterns(physical, verbal and visual) in the manual provide by the Ministry of Labor(1999). The degree of sexual harassments was measured by 4-point Likert scale. The collected data was analyzed with t-test and ANOVA by SPSS win(10.0). The findings were as follows ;1. The variables related to the physical harassment were gender, age, pocket money, perceived school performance, traffic means, contact to pornography, having heterosexual friend, experience of drinking and smoking.2. The variables related to the visual harassments were gender, age, perceived school performance, traffic mean, internet contact, contact to pornography, having heterosexual friend, experience of drinking & smoking.3. The variables related to the verbal harassments were gender, age, pocket money, perceived school performance, traffic mean, internet contact, contact to pornography, having heterosexual friend, and experience of drinking & smoking.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.150-164
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• 2000

This study was conducted at occupational health laboratories in Seoul and Gyunggi district area from December, 1999 to January, 2000. The main purpose of this study was to survey the actual condition of safety and health by questionnaire and checklist and to assess the performance of fume hoods and the airborne exposures to chemicals in the laboratories. The chemicals in the cabinet were not classified by hazardous properties and the compressed gases were not stored safely. The prevalences of laboratories having first aid kits, fire extinguishers, and safety showers were found to be 18%, 55%, and 9%, respectively. Most laboratory workers were not educated for safety and health. Also, there was no performance evaluation for hazards and risks. The fume hoods in laboratories had not been annually inspected by checklist and the face velocity had been checked more than one time in the previous year for only 18% of them. Five percent of fume hoods had the face velocity more than 4.0 m/sec and 17% had no capture performance. Detected organic solvents were methylenechloride, acetone, ethylbenzene, isopropanol, xylene, methylisobutylketone, trichloroethylene, and toluene. The concentrations of organic solvents were much less than the occupational exposure limits proposed by the Ministry of Labor in Korea. This study showed that the actual condition of safety and health was not appropriate for laboratory workers. It is recommended that laboratory workers should be educated for the treatment and storage of hazardous chemicals and compressed gases to improve the working environment of the occupational safety and health laboratories.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.85-92
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• 2020

Wet Scrubber reacts the incoming pollutant gas with cleaning water (water + absorbent) to absorb pollutants and release the clean air to the atmosphere. Wet scrubbers and packed tower scrubbers using this principle are widely used in businesses that emit acid gases. In particular, in the etching process using hydrochloric acid (HCl), alkaline washing water (NaOH) having a pH of about 8 to 11 is used to absorb a large amount of acid gas. However, These salts are attached to the injection nozzle (nozzle), filling material (packing), and the demister (Demister), causing air pollution, human damage, and inoperability due to clogging and acid gas discharge. Therefore, In this study, an improvement plan was proposed to manage the washing water with pH 3~4 acidic washing water. The test method takes samples from the Wet Scrubber flue measurement laboratory twice a month for 1 year. Hydrogen chloride (HCl) concentration (ppm) was measured, and nozzle clogging and scale conditions were measured, compared, and analyzed through a differential pressure gauge and a pressure gauge. As a result of the check, it was visually confirmed that the scale was reduced to 50% or less in the spray nozzle, filler, and demister. In addition, the emission limit of hydrogen chloride in accordance with the Enforcement Regulation of the Air Quality Conservation Act [Annex 8] met 3 ppm or less. Therefore, even if the washing water is operated in an acidic pH range of 3 to 4, it is expected to reduce air pollution and human damage due to clogging of internal parts, and it is expected to reduce maintenance costs such as regular cleaning or replacement of parts.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.315-322
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was conducted in order to prepare fundamental data and assess the short-term effects of applying cerebrovascular disease prevention programs by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) in Korea. Methods: The number of study subjects was 2,676 workers (58.5%) who were able to evaluate the level of incidence risk at pre- and post-applications of the program, among the 4,576 total workers who were enrolled in the cerebrovascular disease prevention program during 2011. The guidelines for this prevention program were adopted from KOSHA GUIDE H-1-2010. To determine the program' effectiveness, the workers'risks for cerebrovascular disease were assessed pre- and post-application of the program. Results: The blood pressure level was significantly reduced by 4.09 mmHg for the mean systolic blood pressures and 5.47 mmHg for diastolic blood pressures, respectively. The mean level of total cholesterol and BMI were also reduced significantly by 2.07 g/dl and 0.1 $0.1kg/m^2$. The rate of smoking was decreased by 4.0% and the percentage of workers engaging in regular exercise was increased by 29.8%. The level of overall cerebrovascular disease risk was reduced among 1,451 (70.7%) of 2,052 workers at low risk and above. The level of cerebrovascular disease risk was lower in the improved group for health behavior than the unimproved group (odds ratio =1.7, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The author considers that the application of the cerebrovascular disease prevention program by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency reduced cerebrovascular diseases risks among workers who were enrolled in the cerebrovascular disease prevention program and it must be accompanied by an improvement in health behavior for prevention of cerebrovascular disease.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.446-464
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the task-specific hazards of chemicals used by nail technicians in Daegu Metropolitan City. Materials: A total of 30 nail shops located in Daegu City were surveyed to investigate the major tasks and practices performed by nail technicians and the ingredients listed in nail care products used in shops. We also collected instructions for use and material safety data sheets(MSDSs) of nail care products and compared CAS Nos. of ingredients with the lists of chemicals regulated by the Industrial Safety and Health Act(ISHA) and Chemical Substances Control Act(CSCA). Results: A total of 125 chemical ingredients were found in 468 nail care products used at the 30 nail shops. The most frequently found ingredients were ethyl acetate(72%), followed by n-butyl acetate(71.8%), isopropanol(56%), benzophenone(51.1%), nitrocellulose(46.4%) and ethanol(45.3%). Comparing six tasks, the task of manicuring used the most products at 222 products containing 91 ingredients. Among the 125 ingredients, there are 31 chemicals with occupational exposure limits(OEL) designated by the Ministry of Employment and Labor(MoEL), eight categorized as carcinogens, one mutagen and two reproductive toxic chemicals. In terms of carcinogens, formaldehyde was identified as the only confirmed human carcinogen(1A). We found that there was one chemical with a permissible limit, one special management substance, 18 workplace monitoring substances and ten special health diagnosis substances regulated by ISHA. For CSCA, nine poisonous substances, six substances requiring preparation for accidents and one restricted substance were identified. Conclusions: Based on these findings, formaldehyde was identified as one of the chemicals that should most strictly be controlled for the protection of the health of nail technicians and customers. At the same time, it is necessary to distribute materials with detailed hazardous information of nail care products for nail shop technicians.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.111-115
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• 2009

As shown in the accident analysis from 2007, it has been found that causes of accidents on large-scale projects are different from those found in general construction projects. A 300-question survey regarding systematic and practical aspects of safety problems at construction sites was distributed to ten (10) different companies. Participants were to respond subjectively, so that the results could be used to assemble the first formal questionnaire survey. They were collected and compiled by an advisory committee for this study. The resulting surveys were then sent to the division chiefs of the top 100 construction companies in Korea, in order to improve the response rate. The Department of Safety & Health Direction, and the :Ministry of Labor, ROK sent the same sheets to medium and small construction companies that placed within 101-200th of all Korea construction companies. The above safety engineers were classified into four (4) levels, from 1st to 4th, followed by the project dollar amount and risk level. Formulae were developed to assign safety engineers to construction sites by engineer level, the project dollar amount, and the project risk level. Conclusions are summarized as follows: 1) Reviewing the assignment system of experienced safety engineers to large scaled projects - The more experienced the engineers assigned to a project, the higher the level of accident prevention. 2) Enforcing the assignment of advanced level safety engineers to large-scaled sites - At least one advanced-level safety engineer should be assigned to construction sites with projects valued at $15million USD (15,000,000,000). 3) For assigning safety engineers by risk level - Twenty models have been developed to calculate the number of safety engineers to be assigned by risk level. In the future, risk level for each job should be established by the government (as is now the practice in Germany).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.87-96
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• 1995

It is only three(3) years since we applied brackets for scaffolding in the construction area. Unfortunately, there is no structural criteria on how to install those in the site so far, despite the fact that those brackets have been applied into the site by the firms already. It is shown that resistant capacity of each bracket type has been investigated, analyzed from this experimental study. Accident-concerning data on construction site analyzed by the Ministry of Labor, show temporary structure involves 18.6% of the total industrial accident, which the accidents from scafold-supporting brackets have rate of 42.5% of the ones occurred from the temporary structures. There are two main aspects to be observed : one is how much resistant capacity the brackets have themselves, the other is how exactly to install those without eccentricity. But practically, nobody does check of this bolt-installing conditions in the site and no check of tightening level of nut because there is no available tool to check torque amount for this kind of nut. We just have to rely on scaffolders experience of this tightening. This experiment involves just this variable of tightness at site. Eventually this insufficient tightness causes to collapse those scaffolding structures. The bracket might have less the one than its original capacity due to this insufficient tightness. Three(3) times of PIVOT tests show that fractured condition of two(2) row brackets has occurred mostly at lower bolt due to shear force. Therefore, tightness of bracket-installing bolt, tensile strength of the bolt, shear strength of the bolt, loading condition with equal two point or inequal two point loads, are mainly investigated as variables in this study.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.250-260
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• 2013

Objectives: The aim of this study is to analyze the current status of the possession of measurement and analytical instruments among work environment monitoring organizations that have been designated by the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MoEL) in Korea. Methods: Data for measurement and analytical instruments were gathered by inspectors who had been assigned by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) and MoEL during the evaluation program for designated work environment monitoring service providers in 2012. Data for 11 monitoring instruments and nine analytical instruments were collected from 108 organizations. Basic data such as the type of service provides and the size of employment were also recorded by the inspector. Results: The total number of personal air samplers including high and low flow rates operated in Korea was 5,418, with average of 50.2. Average operation number of noise dosimeters was 35.0, while 3,780 dosimeters were used in 108 work environment monitoring organizations. There were 10,488 monitoring instruments in total. All service providers possessed at least one AAS and GC in their analytical laboratory. Total number of HPLC/MS was five, followed by ICP/MS of seven, with an average of 0.07. Conclusions: Based on the data, domestic work environment monitoring service providers possessed relatively reasonable measurement and analytical instruments. Nearly all instruments had been imported from advanced countries such as USA, UK and Japan. Periodic gathering of data on these instruments may help maintain good workplace monitoring results and the health of workers at the sites.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.472-481
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• 2015

Objectives: Welding is a major task in shipbuilding yards that generates welding fumes. A significant amount of welding in shipbuilding yards is done on steel. Inevitably, manganese is present in the base metals being joined and the filler wire being used and, consequently, in the fumes to which workers are exposed. The objective of this work was to characterize manganese exposure associated with work area, total and particle size-selective mass concentration, and compare the mass concentrations obtained using a three-piece cassette sampler, size-selective impactor sampler and blood manganese concentrations. Materials: All samples were collected from the main work areas at one shipbuilding yard. We used a three piece cassette sampler and the eight stage cascade impactor sampler for the airborne manganese mass concentration of total and all size fractions, respectively. In addition, we used the results of health examination of workers sampled for airborne manganese. Results: The oder of high concentration of airborne manganese in shipbuilding processes was as follows; block assembly, block erection, outfitting installation, steel cutting, and outfitting preparation. The percentages of samples that exceeded the OES of the ministry of employment and labor by the cassette sampling method was 12.5%, however 59.1% of sampled workers by the impactor sampling method exceeded the TLV of the ACGIH. Conclusions: Even though the manganese concentrations in blood of workers exposed to higher airborne manganese concentration were higher than among those exposed to lower concentrations, there was no difference in blood manganese concentrations among work duration. The data analyzed here by characterizing size-selective mass concentrations indicates that the inhaled manganese of welders in shipbuilding yards could be mostly manganese-containing respirable particle sizes.