• International Journal of Quality Innovation
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.22-40
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• 2008

Unnatural working postures usually cause musculoskeletal problems for workers in work field, especially in traditional industry. Many analysis and survey methodologies have been developed to identify unnatural postures and disorder risks in workplaces. The Ovako Working Posture Analyzing System (OWAS) and Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) are the representative methods and applied widely. This study applied the both tools to investigate the work field of a manufacturing factory of the water heater's case. We divided the manufacturing process into nine workshops, took the pictures of working motions by DV camera and analyzed the postures on OWAS. From the OW AS results, we could identify the risks level of musculoskeletal symptoms as four Action Categories (AC). And from the comparison of OWAS and NMQ results, we could provide the suggestions to improve the working methods and environment. From the results of OWAS, we found that the operators' head/neck and back were above AC3 in some workshops. If the situation continued in long period, the operators might have the risk to get musculoskeletal symptoms. From the investigation of NMQ, we also found that the percentage of aches on neck, shoulders and lower back were higher than other parts of body. The correlation between aches and jobs was more than 75%. So we provided some suggestions to improve: work rotation and adjustment of work surface/height to fit in with Ergonomics. Then the risks of musculoskeletal symptoms would be reduced.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.109-116
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of an active tailored exercise program on pain and the Oswestry disability index (ODI) among workers with musculoskeletal symptoms of the lower back in an automobile parts manufacturing company. METHODS: Twenty-two workers with musculoskeletal symptoms of the lower back were included in the study. The experimental group was composed of 15 workers and a control group of seven workers. The experimental group was provided an active tailored exercise program and education on the risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders. The control group was only provided ergonomic education. The exercise program, which consisted of movement pattern correction, muscle stretching and strengthening, and postural correction exercises, was applied twice a week for two months for one hour a day. Pain, which was determined using a visual analogue scale (VAS), and the ODI were measured before and after exercise. RESULTS: After applying the exercise program for two months, the VAS and ODI of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group (p<.05). In the experimental group, the VAS decreased significantly after one month (p<0.05), and the ODI decreased significantly after two months (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Because active tailored exercise programs are effective in improving the pain and disability indices, it is necessary to actively implement such programs among manufacturing workers with musculoskeletal symptoms of the lower back.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 2024

Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate the musculoskeletal symptoms of workers treating electronics industry waste at a recycling sorting plant by case survey. Methods: The musculoskeletal symptoms were investigated by conducting a survey targeting workers treating waste from the electronics industry. Through utilizing the ergonomic evaluation techniques such as RULA, REBA, and OWAS, the four tasks were divided into three detailed processes (sorting, movement, loading) and the work of workers was evaluated for a total of 12 processes. Results: As a result of the questionnaire survey on musculoskeletal symptom, 40% of workers answered that they had musculoskeletal disease symptoms, and the symptom sites were hands(30%), legs(20%), arms(10%), and shoulders(5%). Based on the results obtained from analysis through ergonomic evaluation techniques such as RULA, REBA, and OWAS, 75% of them were found to need improvement or follow-up immediately or immediately after the second stage or higher. As compared to REBA and OWAS, the RULA, which evaluates the upper limb in detail, has a higher score, and in the process of sorting and loading relatively light wastes such as paper and plastic, the waist is raised by repeating the work of bowing and stretching. Conclusions: The heavy wastes such as 200L drums were evaluated as having a low load on the elbows and wrists because body action was relatively lower than moving paper and plastic. In addition, the overall load score was evaluated lower in the moving work compared to the sorting or loading process.

• Journal of the Korean Society for information Management
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.411-429
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• 2024

This study aims to identify the symptoms and related factors of musculoskeletal disorders among teacher librarians, with the goal of raising awareness about their health and safety, and providing foundational data for the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders. An online survey was conducted with teacher librarians working in elementary, middle, and high school libraries, and data were analyzed based on responses from 204 participants. The survey provided by KOSHA was utilized to identify the musculoskeletal disorder symptoms and the collected data were analyzed using the SPSS 29.0 program. Of the 204 librarian teachers, 92.6% have experienced symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders such as pain, soreness, and tingling in relation to their work over the past year. Additionally, 20.6% were classified as normal, 44.1% as requiring management, and 35.3% as reporting pain. By body part, the highest incidence was reported in the hands·wrists·fingers, followed by the lower back, shoulders, neck, arms·elbows, and legs·feet.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.73-82
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• 2004

Objectives : In order to develop the measuring tool of visual display terminal (VDT) syndrome and investigate the variables affecting the development of VDT syndrome. Methods : A questionnaire study accompanied with the evaluation of working environment was performed with 42 VDT users from banking operations. Results : As a results of analysis with data colleted by newly developed questionnaire, VDT syndrome included five factors named as eye-related component, and psychological component. general body discomfort component. musculoskeletal component, and skin-related component. The scores of eye-related symptoms was 15.17, scores of psychological symptoms was 7.36, scores of general body discomfort symptoms was 10.52, scores of musculoskeletal symptoms was 9.38, scores of skin-related symptoms was 3.67, and total scores was 46.10. Scores of 2.05 eye fatigue in the level of eye-related symptoms were higher significantly. Scores 50.52 of female was statistically higher than scores 41.67 of male. Conclusions : The subjective symptoms of VDT syndrome scores was significantly associated with gender and age.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.227-236
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• 2007

We investigated the factors which influence the musculoskeletal symptoms in diagnostic medical sonographer. The Korean Society of Medical Sonographer conducted a survey through e-mail. Of the 400 subjects, 124 subjects responded(31%). The number of abdominal sonographer was 72(71.3%), obstetrics sonographer was 20(19.8%), echocardiographer was 9(8.9%) for effective 101 participant among themselves. According to the NIOSH diagnostic criteria, 86 subjects(85.1%) had musculoskeletal symptoms on their shoulders/neck, 73 subjects(72.3%) on their hands/wrists/arms/elbows, 44 subjects(43.6%) on their lower back. The factor of musculoskeletal symptoms were analyzed by the logistic regression analysis. The factors of symptoms for the hands/wrists/arms/ elbows were official autonomy, number of scans performed per week. The factors of symptoms for the shoulders/neck and the lower back were work break. However scan type were not observed as a significant factor. The study came to conclusion that many study subjects experienced musculoskeletal symptoms. These measures should be taken properly and promptly by the hospital's administrators.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.264-273
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• 2012

This cross-sectional study was investigated musculoskeletal discomfort symptoms and related factors on some middle high school teachers. Self-questionnaire of KOSHA CODE H-30-2003 was done with 250 teachers from 1st to 15th October, 2010, the data from 231 teachers (68 male, 163 female) was statistically analyzed to search the factors related to musculoskeletal discomfort symptoms. According to NIOSH rate of musculoskeletal discomfort symptoms by body parts was 36.8%. Musculoskeletal discomfort symptoms related to age, school types, subjective health status, housekeeping time, VDT work time and regular rest. After adjusting for related variables, odds ratio (OR) of musculoskeletal discomfort symptoms was correlation significantly to subjective health status unhealthy (OR 11.75, 95% Confidence Interval, CI, 3.56-378.78). In addition, ORs (95% CI) of age (40-49) and housekeeping time (${\geq}3$) were 4.63 (1.82-26.18) and 4.33 (1.97-19.34). Analysis of the factors influencing the musculoskeletal discomfort symptoms vary in different parts of the body. The most discomfort symptoms by parts was neck (26.0%) and shoulder (30.0%). In the neck region was related to subjective health status and regular rest. In the shoulder and waist region was subjective health status and sex. Age was wrist/finger, leg/foot was related to subjective health status, sex and VDT work time. Age, school types, subjective health status, housekeeping time, VDT work time and regular rest related to musculoskeletal discomfort symptoms and the most discomfort symptoms by parts was neck and shoulder.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.1463-1469
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• 2012

This study aims to identify the relations between self-reported symptoms of industrial workers work-related musculoskeletal disorders and psychosocial factors. The subjects of the study were 120 male workers who were using the rehabilitation center of K company and they were voluntarily interviewed with a use of organized questionnaire. Except the responses from eighteen subjects whose responses were insincere and who had disorders in musculoskeletal areas, the responses of 102 ones were decided for the final analysis. The results showed that there were significant differences in self-reported symptoms of work-related musculoskeletal disorders between the subjects according to smoking, physical burden and self-efficacy. To prevent and control work-related musculoskeletal disorders, multi-characteristic aspects of how the disorders appeared and psychological factors, in particular, self-efficacy, should be carefully considered. Then, as psychosocial factors affect musculoskeletal disorders, relations between the disorders and factors should be analysed through long-term follow-up studies, psychosocial factors should be actively intervened, and the effect should be evaluated.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.15-25
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• 2003

Recent studies indicate potential links between various psychosocial factors and work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). In this research, the effects of job stressors on the WMSDs symptoms were investigated using questionnaire in the largest automotive company in Korea. It was found that perception of workload, over time and shift work, and working using powered hand tools were significant factors for the symptoms of WMSDs, along with smoking habit, periodic exercise, and interpersonal relationship. Practical applications of this research include practitioners taking into account psychosocial work factors and job stress in their efforts to reduce and control WMSDs.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.293-302
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• 2015

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in auto workers of a mission assembly plants. Background: Most studies of musculoskeletal disorders have used car assembly line workers as their participants. However, little research has been done on musculoskeletal disorders afflictions of mission assembly line workers. Method: Through a focus group interview with an ergonomist and a manager at a mission assembly plant site, a questionnaire was developed for musculoskeletal disorders. The questionnaire consisted of five parts, demographic factors, musculoskeletal disorder symptoms, and musculoskeletal disorder experiences; 137 workers participated in this survey. The surveys were analyzed by correlation and Chi-squared analysis. Results: Musculoskeletal disorder symptoms and serious pain were reported in the neck, shoulder, back, and fingers. These problems were statistically related to various demographic factors, such as age, stature, stretching, and work satisfaction. Conclusion: Treatment of musculoskeletal disorders should consider the workers' traits. If there is no specific cause of the pain, developing stretches and exercises before and after work should be applied to prevent musculoskeletal disorders. Application: The results of this study can be used to develop guidelines to prevent injury in auto workers at mission assembly plants.