• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.127-131
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• 2015

This study aimed to calculate the required sample size to monitor food items during risk assessment studies. Based on a data set from a previous study (2,400 data points for heavy metal assessment from 17 food items), the required sample size was estimated by using a single equation with the standard deviation value, error range, and 95%-99% confidence intervals. The required sample size was calculated with each of the heavy metals for the assessment. The results showed that cadmium, lead, and mercury of required sample sizes for further monitoring were range of 7-90, 7-1, 062, and 11-238, respectively. We found that the required sample size varied depending on the standard deviation of the previous monitoring data. This study provides a basic method to determine the minimum sample size required in food monitoring to devise practical sampling strategies.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.217-226
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• 2018

Objectives: Despite the positive effects of Off-site risk assessment (ORA) system such as prevention of chemical accidents, some problems have been constantly raised. The purpose of this study is to analyze the problems that have occurred through the implementation of the ORA system for the past three years and to suggest reasonable directions for improvement in the future. Methods: In order to identify the problems with the methodology and procedure of ORA system, we analyzed statutes, administrative rules and documents related to the ORA system. A survey of ORA reviewers in National Institute of Chemical Safety was conducted to investigate the weight of determinants considered when judging the level of total risk in ORA. Results: In this study, we found out the uncertainty of the estimation of the number of people in the impact range in the procedure of the risk assessment of individual handling facilities, the lack of quantitative risk analysis methods for environmental receptors, and the ambiguity of the criteria for the total risk. In addition to suggesting solutions to the problems mentioned above, we also, suggested a decision tree for total risk in ORA. Conclusion: We anticipate that the solutions including the systematic decision tree for total risk suggested will contribute to the smooth operation of the ORA system.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.124-132
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• 2018

Objectives: All enterprises intending to install and operate hazardous chemical handling facilities should prepare an off-site risk assessment (ORA) report that evaluates the impact of potential chemical accidents on the surrounding environment and population. This study was conducted to introduce the process of development and the functioning of the Korea Off-site Risk Assessment support tool (KORA) developed by the National Institute of Chemical Safety and to suggest manners to increase its utilization. Additionally, this article provided an overview of KORA. Methods: In order to identify problems with and refinements for KORA, the required items for each phase of KORA were derived by analyzing the Chemical Control Act and related administrative regulations. Results: The functions of KORA made receptor-considered assessment of chemical accidents possible, but several limitations were found in particular phases, such as the analysis of impact range, consideration of sensitive receptors, and assessment of environmental receptors. Conclusion: In this study, we suggested manners to increase the utilization of KORA. It is anticipated that the further research suggested in the study could contribute to the stabilization of the KORA system.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.118-125
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to identify issues for an effective safety culture assessment by conducting a case study of an electronics manufacturing plant in Korea. Cooper's safety culture model was used as the assessment method, and Fleming and Hudson's safety culture maturity models were applied as assessment criteria. The results of the safety culture assessment showed that there needs to be a design optimized for study purposes. For example, the correlation between the questionnaire survey and in-depth interview needs to be analyzed. The result of the behavior monitoring should show the relationships with other dimensions. A safety culture maturity model has to be developed to customize the study factors and questions.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2014

Bisphenol A (BPA) is widely used in the production of polycarbonate plastics, epoxy resins, and food and beverage containers. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between urinary concentrations of BPA and waist circumference in Korean adults. A total of 1,030 Korean adults (mean age, $44.3{\pm}14.6$ years) were enrolled in the study on the integrated exposure to hazardous materials for safety control, conducted by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety from 2010 to 2012. Abdominal obesity was defined as having a waist circumference of at least 90 cm and 85 cm for men and women, respectively. The participants were divided into 4 groups according to the urinary BPA concentration quartile. Waist circumference was significantly higher among subjects with a urinary BPA concentration in the highest quartile relative to those in the lowest quartile (p = 0.0071). Linear regression analysis revealed a significant positive association between urinary BPA concentrations and body mass index, body fat, after adjusting for potential confounders. Moreover, subjects with urinary BPA concentrations in the fourth quartile were more likely to be obese compared to those with urinary BPA concentrations in the first quartile (odds ratio, 1.938; 95% CI: 1.314~2.857; p for trend = 0.0106). These findings provide evidence for a positive association between urinary BPA concentration and waist circumference in Korean adults.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.96-101
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• 2019

Chemicals Control Act have been strengthened to control more safely hazardous chemicals from 2015. In particular, the standards for the installation and management of handling facilities was enhanced with specific regulations depending on type of the facilities and the hazardous chemicals. However, some standards for handling facilities caused difficulties in implementing the strengthened standards due to various field conditions, such as lack of physical space. The Ministry of Environment is implementing Safety Assessment System (SAS) to solve these problems since 2018. However, many plants have difficulties in preparing alternative methods to pass the safety evaluation. The purpose of this study was to review and analyze the SAS and to suggest alternative measures in terms of management and technical aspects through the case study of hydrochloric acid storage tanks. The following safety solutions were suggested for handling facilities that had insufficient the space and capacity for the retaining wall due to physical space. Firstly, insufficient space was resolved by introducing equipment relocation or demolition, and retaining wall expansion. Secondly, the wall of the surrounding buildings was used as an alternative to the retaining wall with additional chemical resistant treatment. Finally, sensor installation and facility inspection were suggested as ways to improve chemical safety. Therefore, improvement of chemical accident prevention system is required not only in terms of facilities supplementation but also management aspect. The results of this study are expected to be available for similar facilities and will be based on the preparation of additional safety assessment as alternatives measures in the future.

• International Journal of Railway
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.175-181
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• 2012

This study proposes a model for railway safety assessment with which the safety of whole railway system can be evaluated. The purpose of the assessment model is to generate safety indicators which quantitatively represent the degree of railway safety. Safety indicators were proposed as three indicators according to their functions; accident indicators, safety management indicators, and safety culture indicators. This paper describes the first result on the safety target which will be a key starting point toward the development of safety assessment model. It is recommended that the safety target to be composed of several sub-targets are apportioned to constituent components. It is concluded that the classification of safety target has influence on deciding components or attributes that constitute each sub-indicators; accident indicators, safety management indicators, and safety culture indicators. Based on this study, a railway safety assessment model will be developed in the following study.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.78-87
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• 2022

In the risk assessment of urban railway systems, a hazard log is created by identifying hazards from accident and failure data. Then, based on a risk matrix, evaluators analyze the frequency and severity of the occurrence of the hazards, conduct the risk assessment, and then establish safety measures for the risk factors prior to risk control. However, because subjective judgments based on the evaluators' experiences affect the risk assessment results, a more objective and automated risk assessment system must be established. In this study, we propose a risk assessment model in which an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), which is combined in artificial neural networks (ANN) and fuzzy inference system (FIS), is applied to the risk assessment of urban railway systems. The newly proposed model is more objective and automated, alleviating the limitations of risk assessments that use a risk matrix. In addition, the reliability of the model was verified by comparing the risk assessment results and risk control priorities between the newly proposed ANFIS-based risk assessment model and the risk assessment using a risk matrix. Results of the comparison indicate that a high level of accuracy was demonstrated in the risk assessment results of the proposed model, and uncertainty and subjectivity were mitigated in the risk control priority.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.179-186
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• 2017

For more efficient and proactive safety control of imported food, new trend in U.S. is emerging, which assesses the food safety control systems of exporting countries using Systems Recognition Assessment Tool and helps ensure safety of imported foods. This study examines trends in development and application of assessmemnt tool and country assessment reports in U.S. where an active discussion on this issue is in progress. The expert interviews were also conducted. U.S. Systems Recognition Assessment Tool was developed by FDA to recognize the potential value in leveraging the expertise of foreign food safety systems and help ensure safety of imported food. The tool is comprised of ten standards and provides an objective framework for determining the robustness of trading partners' overall food safety systems. Using its own tool, the U.S. FDA conducted a preliminary assessment of the food safety control systems of New Zealand and Canada. According to the U.S.-New Zealand and the U.S.-Canada assessment reports, the overall structure of the systems was similar between the countries. In summarizing the opinions of experts, such a trend in National Food Safety Control System Assessment may be utilized in the sanitary assessment and the control of imported food border inspection frequency before importing food. It would contribute to more effective distribution of national budget and increased public trust. Additionally, international collaboration as well as securing of qualified experts and sufficient budget appear to be crucial to further increase the utility of National Food Safety Control Systems Assessment. In conclusion, firstly, it is critically important for the competent authority of South Korea to proactively respond to international trend in National Food Safety Control System Assessment by identifying the details of its background, assessment purpose, core assessment elements, and assessment procedures. Secondly, it is necessary to identify and complement the weaknesses of Korea's food safety control system by reviewing it with U.S. Systems Recognition Assessment Tool. Thirdly, by adapting the assessment results from imported countries' food safety control systems to the imported food inspection intensity, the resources previously used in inspecting the imported food from accredited countries can be redistributed to inspecting the imported food from unaccredited countries, and it would contribute to more efficient imported food safety control. Fourthly, the competent authority of South Korea should also consider developing its own assessment tool designed to reflect the unique characteristics of its food safety control system and international guidelines.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.82-88
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• 2016

The current risk assessment system do not reflect workers' various opinion. However, the worker actually are in the center of work field and are exposed to accidents. In this regard, this study suggests enhanced risk assessment by 'safety circle discussion' on workers' hand. The self-administered surveys on supervisors and workers were done for the effect analysis of the safety circle discussion. According to the question investigation, even though the current risk assessment causes difficulties in preventing accidents by unsafe behaviors, the worker-oriented safety circle discussion establishing measures for risk factors of each work type will be able to prevent accidents more effectively. Also, it can positively contribute to safety health awareness, industrial accident prevention, accurate recognition on risk factors, improving safety facilities/work conditions, workers' compliance to safety health rules. Lastly, most respondents agreed that it is necessary to form organic relationship through circle discussion and deriving safety inspections that workers participate.