• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.447-454
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• 2023

Objective: This study aims to investigate the impact of changes in working conditions on job-related stress and musculoskeletal disorders using the results of seven surveys conducted at a single workplace from 2004 to 2022 regarding factors hazardous to the musculoskeletal system. Additionally, the study aims to propose alternative methods of investigating factors hazardous to the musculoskeletal system. Methods: A car parts manufacturing plant where the same survey was taken seven times from 2004 to 2022 was selected and the survey data was analyzed. The main contents of the survey were weekly working hours, Borg's scale, work intensity, job-related stress, and the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms. The statistical analysis was performed using SAS (version 9.4). Results: The results of this study are as follows. Firstly, changes in working conditions have an impact on job-related stress. Secondly, changes in working conditions have an impact on work intensity indicators. Thirdly, changes in working conditions have an impact on the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms. Fourthly, even with an increase in age and length of service, job-related stress and musculoskeletal symptoms were alleviated when working conditions were improved. Conclusions: In order for measures to reduce musculoskeletal disorders to be successful, working conditions must not deteriorate, and it is necessary to demand revisions to regulations, etc. to reflect these points in the investigation of hazardous factors to the musculoskeletal system.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.73-84
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• 2005

Musculoskeletal Disorders are usually caused or aggravated by poor work processes and unsuitable working conditions - that involve repetitive or forceful movements or the maintenance of constrained or awkward postures. The condition is characterized by discomfort and persistent pain. Case and Demographic Characteristics for Work-related Injuries and Illnesses Involving Days Away From Work, 2003. U.S" was examined. Causes of musculoskeletal disorders for assembly line workers were carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS), tendonitis, low back pain, and occupational stress. Recommendations of improvement for productivity are redesign of working conditions, exercise, prevent of musculoskeletal disorders and avoiding stress.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.3-16
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• 2008

Musculoskeletal Disorders are usually caused or aggravated by poor work processes and unsuitable working conditions - that involve repetitive or forceful movements or the maintenance of constrained or awkward postures. The condition is characterized by discomfort and persistent pain. An investigation on the risk factors of musculoskeletal should have done one time per three years. Cause of musculoskeletal disorders for assembly line worker was a low back pain(LBP). Recommendations of improvement for productivity are redesign of working conditions, exercise, prevent of musculoskeletal disorders and avoiding stress.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.85-91
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• 2009

While musculoskeletal disorders increased, its prevention efforts were rather decreased or its operation was insufficient. This study aims to examine the actual conditions of musculoskeletal disorders at Electronics Company in Korea, analyze occupational danger factors related to musculoskeletal disorders through analysis of components of wrong workplaces and works, evaluate degree of danger of factors examined, analyze association between danger factors and musculoskeletal disorders, accumulate data of musculoskeletal disorders which are not enough in Korea and further prepare the foundation of improving working environment and developing prevention/management program of musculoskeletal disorders.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.243-262
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• 2011

The aim of this study was to investigate musculo-skeletal symtoms and working conditions of university library's librarians to search for the risk factors related to musculo-skeletal symptoms. The study subjects were 266 librarians who were working at 20 university libraries. A self-recording questionnaire was used to investigate the general characteristics, working conditions, job intensity, job satisfaction and stress, education of musculoskeletal disorders and nature of musculoskeletal symptom. Statistical analysis was done by using t-test and multiple regression analysis. The complaint proportion of self-reported positive musculoskeletal symptoms was 62.5% and that of severe musculoskeletal symptoms was 26.1%. Multiple regression analysis showed that low satisfaction of working conditions, high job intensity, irregular mealtime, job stress were closely related to the positive rate of musculoskeletal symptoms. Therefore, it will be necessary to make efforts to reduce the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders improving working conditions and mitigating the job intensity.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.7-15
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• 2009

The objective of this study is to survey the working environmental conditions and musculoskeletal workload(DMQ) in red pepper farmers. 155 full-time farmers(males=91, females=64) lived in Chungnam and Jeonbuk participated in the study. To offer the fundamental data for agricultural improvement of red pepper farms, information about working farm conditions, health condition, musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs), labor intensity and musculoskeletal workload was obtained by questionnaire and interviews. The results are as follows: 1. The farmers reported sunlights, high temperature and cold/ draught as uncomfortable work environment. 2. Physical and mental fatigue in females is higher than that of males. 3. The prevalence rates of medical diagnosed diseases are higher in order of osteoarthritis, herniated nucleus pulposus(HNP), and chronic gastritis/gastric ulcer. 4. Prevalence rates of musculoskeletal symptoms more than standard 1 among the various pain areas are higher in order of low back, shoulders and knees. These results can be used practically for agricultural improvement of red pepper farms to prevent MSDs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2011.05b
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• pp.73-75
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• 2011

Unlike other craft workers, construction craft workers perform their work under diverse working conditions, which means that their working pattern and postures continuously change. While construction craft workers are vulnerable to musculoskeletal disorders, due to the unique factors of their working conditions, their actual condition has not yet been accurately investigated. For this reason, this research aims to develop a method of measuring the musculoskeletal load of construction workers by reviewing various motion measuring methods to which state-of-the-art sensors are applied. This research is expected to serve as the basis for developing a system to measure the musculoskeletal load of construction workers.

• Proceedings of the Safety Management and Science Conference
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• 2009.04a
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• pp.69-78
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• 2009

The goal of this study is to propose the effective method of investigating the injurious factors and making improved plans that prevents the workers against musculoskeletal disorders at an autoparts company and the same business field with similar working conditions and process. A questionnaire were adopted to analyze the symptoms of workers' musculoskeletal disorders, and an ergonomic assessment method such as RULA, OWAS were performed to find out harmful factors of workplace and working posture. Based on the result of the evaluation, to enhance the working environment, improvement of worktable, working space, tools, and outfit was suggested, and induction of mechanical system was also suggested. It can be concluded that the method and process described in this paper could be helpful for diagnosing the musculoskeletal disorders and making improvement plans to the autopart company and the same business field with similar working conditions and process.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.3-15
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• 2006

Musculoskeletal Disorders are usually caused or aggravated by poor work processes and unsuitable working conditions - that involve or repetitive or forceful movements or the maintenance of constrained or awkward postures. The condition is characterized by discomfort and persistent pain. Case and Demographic Characteristics for Work-related Injuries and Illnesses Involving Days Away From Work, 2004. U.S" was examined. Causes of musculoskeletal disorders for assembly line workers were carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS), tendonitis, low back pain, and occupational stress. Recommendations of improvement for productivity are redesign of working conditions, exercise, prevent of musculoskeletal disorders and avoiding stress.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2021

Background: The objective of this study was to elucidate the relationships musculoskeletal pains with combined vulnerability in terms of age, gender, and employment status Methods: The fifth European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) in 2010 (43,816 participants aged 15 years and over) analyzed for European employees and the third Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) in 2011 (50,032 participants aged 15 years and older) analyzed for Korean employees. In this study, three well known vulnerable factors to musculoskeletal pains (older age, female gender, and precarious employment status) were combined and defined as combined vulnerability. Associations of musculoskeletal pains with combined vulnerability were assessed with prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) estimated by Poisson regression models with robust estimates of variance. Results: The prevalences of musculoskeletal pains were lower but the absolute and relative differences between combined vulnerabilities were higher among Korean employees compared with the European employees. Furthermore, the increased risk of having musculoskeletal pains according to combined vulnerability was modestly explained by socioeconomic factors and exposure to ergonomic risk factors, especially in Republic of Korea. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the labor market may be more unfavorable for female and elderly workers in Republic of Korea. Any prevention strategies to ward off musculoskeletal pains, therefore, should be found and implemented to mitigate or buffer against the most vulnerable work population, older, female, and precarious employment status, in Republic of Korea.