• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.97-102
• /
• 2011

This study was performed to design and develop an ergonomic equipment for strawberry sorting and packing in agricultural working environments. Potential risk of work related musculo-skeletal disorders associated with farm workers performing strawberry sorting and packing was analyzed through interviews, field surveys, work measurement, and working posture evaluation. For the evaluation of working posture, we used REBA, OWAS, and RULA assessment methods to identify multi-factorial risk factors. Based on the result of comprehensive assessment, a new concept of multi-level rotating table for strawberry sorting and packing was proposed to modify awkward working postures and improve the effectiveness of the farm work. Finally, the characteristics and effectiveness of new equipment was discussed in terms of improvements in productivity, safety, and subjective ratings of farm workers. The results of analysis showed that working conditions improved significantly.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
• /
• 2007.05a
• /
• pp.837-842
• /
• 2007

Since construction materials have been towards larger and heavier, the rate of accident associated with installation works of heavy construction materials is increasing. Installation works of heavy construction materials lead to frequent accidents, increasing the WMSDs(Work-Related Musculo-Skeletal Disorders) in construction site. In case of installation work of heavy glass ceiling, the rate of accidents such as falling and collision is increasing as well. This paper describes a ergonomic design of working platform(deck) in a glass ceiling installation robot. As well as, a design of working process is considered to accomplish an efficient installation work. As a result of the design, an installation work of heavy glass ceiling by the robot will be expected safety assurance and retrenchment of the construction cost and period.

• Proceedings of the ESK Conference
• /
• 1997.04a
• /
• pp.100-106
• /
• 1997

The purpose of this study is to measure perceived joint discomfort in the seated and standing position, and to provide a ranking system of joint discomfort measured in this study. Seven male subjects with no history of musculo-skeletal disorders participated in the experiment. Their physical characteristics were: age -$27.6 {\pm}1.8$ years, stature -$171.0 {\pm}5.5cm$, and body weight -$66.4{\pm}9.3kg$. The results showed that perceived joint discomfort was different depending on the human body joints involved in motion and their movement directions, which imply that the human body motions should be classified intoseveral distinct classes that need to be assigned different weights of postural stress. In the seated postion, the hip movement was the most stressful, the back was the second, and the shoulder was the third. Similarly, in standing postures, the hip was given the highest ranking, followed by the back, and the wrist.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.101-128
• /
• 1999

A study on disease treated at oriental medical treatment facilities (OMTF) and patients' satisfaction levels was conducted in order to figure out why the patients visited oriental medical doctors and the level of satisfaction of the patients for the services offered to them by oriental medical doctors. This study was performed from March 2 through May 31, 1998 by interviewing 1.532 persons living in major and small cities in korea. The results obtained were summarized as follows; 1. The general characteristics of subjects. The highest portion of each part was, 66.9% female, persons in the age group of over 60's 22.7%, high school graduated 34.9%, house wife 30.8%, The married 65.0%, Buddhist 36.9%, maj or city residents 60.2%, company covered insurance benefiter 39.0% and etc. 2. 40.5% of subjects visited OMTF for skeletal and connective tissue diseases. 21.5% for digestive system diseases. 16.2% for respiratory system diseases. 13.3% for circulatory system diseases and 9.0% for neurological problems. 3. 42.7% of males visited OMTF for skeletal and connective tissue diseases, which were the highest and respiratory system disorders, digestive system disorders, circulatory system disorders and neurological diseases in order. 39.4% of females visited OMTF for skeletal and connective tissue disorders which were the highest and other conditions such as digestive system, circulatory, respiratory, and neurological disorders in order. 4. The males with circulatory system disorders were treated by herbal medicine, combination of herbal medicine and acupuncture, only in order. The females with the some conditions above were treated by combination of herbal medicine and herbal medical and acupuncture only in order. The males and females with respiratory system and digestive system diseases were treated by herbal medicine, combination of herbal medicine and acupuncture only in order. But the males and females with skeletal and connective tissue diseases were by acupuncture are the highest in order. 5. The females and persons in the age group of over 60' s and house wife. the not married, the unhealthy persons, residents living in small cities, the persons with high income by medical treatments frequency in circulatory system diseases are the highest. 6, The females, middle school graduated and the married, persons in the age group of over 60's, unemployed, sales and service industry workers, Buddhists, major city residents, the unhealthy persons, the persons with middle income by medical treatments frequency in respiratory system diseases are the highest. 7. The females, persons in the age group of over 60's, under graduated or elementary school graduated, the unemployed and house wife, the unmarried, Buddhists, major city residents, the unhealthy persons, the persons with low income by medical treatments frequency in digestive system diseases are the highest. 8. The males, major city residents, old ages, under graduated or elementary school graduated, go earn officials, people grown in small city, the persons who had health insurance policies, the persons with low income, the unhealthy persons by medical treatments frequency in skeletal and connective tissue disorders diseases. 9. 50.8% of the respondents said that the treatments at the OMTF were very effective. 47.7% of them said that the treatments were effective. The males, persons in the age group of 40's, high school graduates, official workes, the married, the persons who did not have religion, major city residents, the persons who had health insurance policies, the persons with high income and the healthy persons said that the treatment effects at OMTF were satisfactory. 10. The patients' satisfaction rate for OMTF on each disease is, 1st. Musculo-Skeletal system(most satisfied), 2nd. the pregnancy & delivery complications, 3rd. Eye & ophthalmics, 4th. Respiratory system, 5th. Mental & bodily disorder, 6th. Digestive system and etc. 11. The factors affect OMTF are age, satisfaction for OMTF, current disease, religion, efficiency of Oriental Medicine, health condition and etc. This explained power of variable were 39.0%. 12. The satisfied factors for OMTF is correlate to educational level, and economical variables.

• Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.779-791
• /
• 1997

The purpose of this study is to measure a perceived joint discomfort in the seated and standing position, and to provide ranking systems of perceived joint discomfort. Nineteen mole subjects with no history of musculo-skeletal disorders participated in the experiment. Their physical characteristics were: age $-25.4{\pm}2.7$years, stature $-171.9{\pm}6.0cm$, and body weight $-67.1{\pm}7.0kg$. The results showed that the perceived joint discomforts were different depending upon the joints involved in motion and their movement directions (degree of freedom of motions), which implied that the human body motions and their degrees of freedom should be classified into several distinct classes that need to be assigned different weights of postural stress. Therefore, three ranking systems based on the perceived joint discomforts were suggested, which were classified by the degree of freedom of motions and joints, by only degree of freedom motions, and by joints involved in motion, respectively. In the seated position, the hip movement was the most stressful, the bock was the second, and the shoulder was the third. Likewise, in the standing postures, the hip was the most, the bock was the second, and the ankle was the third. It was expected that these joint motion ranking systems could be used by practitioners of health and safety to improve the comfort of working postures in industry.

• Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.209-215
• /
• 2011

The objective of this study was to determine whether there are differences in hand muscle activities (APB : abductor pollicis brevis, ED : extensor digitorum, ECU : extensor carpi ulnaris, and EI : extensor indicis) and subjective discomfort according to the three mouse sizes (small, medium, large) and two task types (pointing and scrolling). The mouse size and task type showed significant interaction effects on the total NEMG (p = 0.004) and on the NEMG of the abductor pollicis brevis muscle (p = 0.001). The total NEMG and the NEMG of APB showed the highest value in the 'scrolling' task using the 'small' mouse. However, the NEMG of the EI was different according to the mouse size, and the 'small' mouse showed the lowest value. The subjective discomfort was the lowest in the 'medium' mouse, and all nine subjects preferred the 'medium' size. The hand-size related anthropometric variables showed different correlations according to the task type and mouse size with the NEMGs and subjective discomfort. The results of this study could be used as a basic information for the determination of the proper mouse size according to the hand size.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.75-82
• /
• 2011

The objective of this study was to identify risk factors associated with the occurrence of musculo-skeletal symptoms of cashiers and provide suggestions for an improved workspace design. Workload and exertion of each task were measured using job analysis and posture analysis. The three most time-consuming tasks were waiting (43.8%), scanning (23.5%) and payment transaction (22.9%). It was analyzed that the workspace can be improved by applying Korean anthropometric data to the design of the desk height. The most common posture was a standing posture with neutral back, and bent lower arms and hands. Finally, it was revealed that 'scanning' and 'payment transaction' seemed more stressful than other operations. The result of the ergonomic evaluation would be a useful basis for designing an improved workspace.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.29-46
• /
• 2013

A survey conducted on 1,103 patients or caretakers visited Korean medical clinics and hospitals between August 25, 2011 to September 30, 2011 by the Ministry of Health and Welfares and Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs was analyzed and obtained following results: 1. For sociodemographic distribution, female(813) outnumbered male(290) patients with majority of patients ranging from 30s to 60s. Married patients(793) outnumbered unwed(150) patients and 65.0% with higher than high school education. Statistical significance was seen in gender, age, marital status, and education level but no significant difference for status of employment, income level, and types of insurance between the clinics and hospitals. (P<0.05). 45.1% had less than \2,000,000 in monthly salary and most of coverage was provided by either regional or work insurance. 2. 67.9% of the patients rated health conditions to be better than average and 32.1% listed as poor. People in good health showed tendency to visit Korean medical facilities. Musculo-skeletal conditions such as arthritis, ankle sprain, lumbago, muscular injury, and frozen shoulder were common conditions, followed by gastric disorders, common cold and herbal tonics. No significant difference was observed between the clinics and hospitals for above conditions, but significance was seen in atopic dermatitis, stroke, and sequela from traffic accidents (P<0.05). 3. Ten most common conditions addressed at Korean medical facilities were lumbago, arthritis, muscular injury, back sprain, gastric disorders, ankle sprain, common cold, herbal tonics, frozen shoulder and stroke. Major treatment modalities rendered were herbal medicine, herbal supplements, acupuncture and moxibustion, cupping, tuina, and Korean midical physical therapy. No significant difference existed between the clinics and hospitals. 4. All modalities showed at least 85% effectiveness. No statistical significant difference between the clinics and hospitals except for herbal decoction. (P=0.0452) 5. 88.3% of responses showed treatment satisfaction with significant difference between the clinics and hospitals (P=0.002). The occurrence of side effects was at 2%, mostly corning from treating digestive, skin, kidney disorders and neurological issues. No significant difference was observed between the clinics and hospitals. From the above results, the typical population visiting Korean medical facilities can be summarized as being middle aged female with relatively higher education and moderately low income. The health condition is generally good and the purpose of visit is to receive traditional treatments of acupuncture, herbal medicine, and physical therapy. Treatment efficacy and satisfaction were high with no significant differences between the clinics and hospitals.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.35-43
• /
• 2004

The purpose of this study is to redesign a letter sorting station and to present the optimal work-space through the ergonomic analysis of the sorting station for reducing the 'Work-Related MusculoSkeletal Disorders(WMSDs)'. We surveyed the work environment in terms of the reason causing WMSDs. According to the survey results, Deltoid on the arm, Trapezius on the shoulder and Erector Spinae on the waist are most frequent attacking parts. Accordingly, We classified sorting stations by the horizontal work-space(Level 1, Level 2, Level 3) and the vertical work space(Level 1, Level 2) based on the criteria of ergonomic optimal work-space. In addition we improved the sorting station through investigation and analysis of the work-load regard the each defined work-space. In order to analyze the effect of the horizontal and vertical work-space, subjects carried out simulated sorting tasks. Each level(Level 1, Level 2, Level3) of the horizontal work-space is significant regarding each muscles(the shoulder, arm and waist), and each level(Level 1, Level 2) of the vertical work-space is significant regarding the arm and waist, but not shoulder. Finally, we founded the difference of work-load according to the work-spaces. Then, it is necessary to improve the work-space causing the high work-load(Level 3 of the horizontal work-space). Then, this study presented the specification of a sorting station which is suitable to the korean body size, and constructed the 3D shaped model of the stations by the ergonomic analysis.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.225-239
• /
• 2010

A high prevalence of farmer's work-related musculo-skeletal disorders (MSDs) have been reported in precedent studies. Risk factors - physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic risk factor etc. - in farm-work were identified by previous studies. To prevent farmers from exposing to them and reduce, Agricultural Safety Technology were introduced and used on farm. The purpose of this study is to review and summarize the agricultural safety technology on farm in Korea. According to strategy principles, this technology is classified as four criteria - workload reduction by reducing awkward posture, workload reduction by using manual material handling aids, Comfort improvement by protecting worker from hot, cold environment and work efficiency improvement by workplace redesign and cultivation modification. This technology includes transporting tools, working cloth, personal protective equipment, and pesticide-proof Clothing. Anthropometric study of Korean farmers was also carried out to support the development of equipment and clothes. In long terms, it needs to precaution activity from risk factors by using cultivation modification and working improvement. Although working condition gets better and workload reduce by this technology, it required customized safety technology in each crops - rice cultivation, horticulture and livestock farming. And farmers should use the assistive technology and participate voluntarily in ergonomic intervention program.