• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.52-56
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• 2011

Objectives: The occupational accident rate was officially reported to be 0.77 per 100 workers in 2001 and 0.70 in 2009. The stagnant decrease in accident rate raises a question about the effectiveness of prevention activity because there have been active prevention efforts in the past 10 years. It is also necessary to know the exact status of occupational injuries to direct a prevention strategy. Methods: The author re-analyzed occupational injury statistics to find the reason for stagnant decreases in occupational injuries. Compensated occupational injuries cases were used to calculate fatal and non-fatal injury rates. Injuries from commuting accidents and sports activities were excluded as well as occupational diseases. The number of workers was adjusted to that of full time equivalent employees. Results: The fatal injury rate excluding injuries associated with commuting accidents, sports activities, and occupational diseases decreased from 12.59 in 2001 to 8.20 in 2009. In 2007, 67.5% of accidents that involved being caught in objects, which are mostly caused by machines and equipment, occurred in the manufacturing industry; this type of incident has decreased since 2001. The fatal and non-fatal injury rates in the manufacturing industry have continuously decreased while the rates in the service industry have not changed from 2001 to 2009. Non-fatal injuries might not be reported in many cases. The number of insured workers was underestimated as long working hours were not adjusted for in the reporting system. Conclusion: The occupational fatal injury rate has decreased and the non-fatal injury rate might have decreased during the last 10 years, although the statistics show stagnancy. The decrease of the injury rate was countervailed by various factors. Hence, the current accident rate does not reflect the actual situation of accidents in Korea. Korea needs to develop an improved system to more accurately calculate occupational fatal and non-fatal injury rates.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to assess the ambient level of Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs), oil mist of the metalworking fluids(MWFs), especially in heat treat industry and non heat treat industry. And we assessed the relationship of the pattern of exposed PAHs with oil mist during survey day. The study population of heat treat industries contained 98 workers, non-heat treat industry contained 40 workers. Personal samples were taken for ambient monitoring of PAHs and oil mist. PAHs was to analyze the relationship of airborne oil mist. The geometric mean of airborne total PAHs was $3.44{\mu}g/m^3$ in heat treat industry and $0.13{\mu}g/m^3$ in non heat treat industry, Pyrene and Benzo(a)pyrene was detected from heat treat industry and Naphthalene in heat treat industry was significantly detected higher than in non heat treat industry. The geometric mean of airborne oil mist was $0.19{\mu}g/m^3$ in heat treat industry and $0.70{\mu}g/m^3$ in non-heat treat industry. The correlation between oil mist and total PAHs was shown below, total PAHs in workers of non heat treat industry and heat treat industry were not significantly correlated with oil mist

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.249-255
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• 2014

The Purpose of this study is to compare occupational accident rate of unionized and non-unionized company and to investigate influences of labor relations on occupational accident rate in Korean manufacturing and construction Industry. Data in 2011 Occupational safety and Health Trend Survey were analyzed for this study. Results show that the occupational accident rate was lower in unionized company than non-unionized company. And amicable labor relationship reduces the occupational accident rate. The policy should be needed to support labor union and improve labor relationship to prevent industrial accidents.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 2021

Objectives: The necessity of samples for analysis requested by working environment monitoring institutes (WMIs) has grown recently. The collection of samples of a few chemical substances requested by WMIs is allowed under the current occupational safety and health act in Korea, leading to an expansion of samples for analysis requested by institutes (SRIs). The objective of this study was to identify the number of institutes for analyzing requested samples (IARS), SRIs, and their participation in a non-mandatory proficiency test. Methods: Questionnaires were completed by all WMIs. The collected information was quantity of analysis equipment, sorting of chemicals from SRIs, and the number of SRIs. This was compared in terms of the participation in the non-mandatory proficiency test. Results: All WMIs in Korea responded to the survey, establishing a 100% response rate. There were 52 (29%) IARS among the 179 WMIs in Korea. The total number of samples of acid for ion chromatograph (IC) analysis requested by WMIs was 21,165, which is the most. Even the number of IARS for crystalline silicon oxide was less than other top-five IARS. The total amount of samples was 13,863, which was the second most. The calculated participation score for IARS was significantly higher than other WMIs (p<0.001). According to participation in the non-mandatory proficiency test by type of substance, such as crystalline silicon oxide and formaldehyde among IARS, the number of SRIs from those IARS was significantly higher than IARS that did not participate in the proficiency test (p<0.05). Conclusions: IARS had a high frequency of participation in the non-mandatory proficiency test and the number of SRIs at IARS participating in the proficiency test was higher among IARS. With the revision of the occupational health and safety act in Korea, the number of IARS participating in the non-mandatory proficiency test might increase.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.229-234
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• 2001

The EDXRF(Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer) technique was applied to the determination of heavy metals in welding fume. The EDXRF method designed in this study was a non-destructive analysis method. Samples were analyzed directly by EDXRF without any pre-treatment such as digestion and dilution. The samples used to evaluate this method were laboratory samples exposed in a chamber connected with a welding fume generator. The samples were first analyzed using a non-destructive EDXRF method. The samples subsequently were analyzed using AAS method to verify accuray of the EDXRF method. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibility of the non-destructive analysis of heavy metals in welding fume by EDXRF. The results of this study were as follow: 1.When the samples were collected under the open-face sampling condition, a surface distribution of welding fume particles on sample filters was uniform, which made non-destructive analysis possible. 2. The method was statistically evaluated according to the NIOSH(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) and HSE(Health and Safety Executive) method. 3. The overall precision of the EDXRF method Was calculated at 3.45 % for Cr, 2.57 % for Fe and 3.78 % for Mn as relative standard deviation(RSD), respectively. The limits of detection were calculated at $0.46{\mu}g$/sample for Cr, $0.20{\mu}g$/sample for Fe and $1.14{\mu}g$/sample for Mn, respectively. 4. A comparison between the results of Cr, Fe, Mn analyzed by EDXRF and AAS was made in order to assess the accuracy of EDXRF method. The correlation coefficient between the results of EDXRF and AAS was 0.9985 for Cr, 0.9995 for Fe and 0.9982 for Mn, respectively. The overall uncertainty was determined to be ${\pm}12.31%$, 8.64 % and 11.91 % for Cr, Fe and Mn, respectively. In conclusion, this study showed that Cr, Fe, Mn in welding fume were successfully analyzed by the EDXRF without any sample pre-treatment such as digestion and dilution and a good correlation between the results of EDXRF and AAS was obtained. It was thus possible to use the EDXRF technique as an analysis method of working environment samples. The EDXRF method was an efficient method in a non-destructive analysis of heavy metals in welding fume.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.281-288
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was to investigate the relationship between IBS and nurses' occupational stress. Method: We used the modified Rome III criteria to measure the relationship between IBS and nurses' occupational stress. This questionnaire is composed of 9 areas and 43 items related to the stress. We collected the data of 395 respondents from W hospital. The survey was done from July 10th to July 31th, 2009. Results: The morbidity of IBS showed 24.3%. It was significantly influenced by night shift, and hospital visits and medication because of abdominal discomfort for the past 6 months. The causes of the nurses' occupational stress, which influenced the difference between IBS and non-IBS group, were "conflict with doctors" "difficulties in human relationships" "dealing with guardians and patients". The IBS group's stress was higher that of the non-IBS group. Also 96.9% of the IBS group and 79.3% of the non-IBS group responded there was relationship between IBS and nurses occupational stress. Conclusion: We found the relationship between IBS and nurses' occupational stress. And such stress could be reduced through the education about IBS.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.304-311
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the self-reported symptoms of occupational asthma, occupational rhinitis, and respiratory symptoms between a direct exposure to flour dust group and a non-exposure group from the bakery industry. Methods: The participants were 62 workers directly exposed to flour dust and 30 non-exposed workers. The survey was composed of questions related to general characteristics. Korean self-reported respiratory symptoms(SNU-93), occupational asthma, and occupational rhinitis data was collected from April to July 2017. Results: The smoking rate among the direct exposure to flour dust workers was 67.7% and the mean of working hours(11-12) was 96.8%. The SNU-93 questionnaire revealed that respiratory symptoms in the chest and wheezing or whistling were significantly higher among the direct-exposure group than non-exposure group. The response for occupational asthma symptoms was significantly higher in the direct exposure group(2.4 points) than in the non-exposure group(1.6 points). Conclusion: In order to decrease the symptoms of these respiratory diseases among bakery workers exposed to flour dust, it is necessary to reduce working hours and the smoking rate. The performance of periodic medical examinations is needed to find abnormal respiratory diseases. In addition, workers who have been diagnosed with asthma and rhinitis should consider switching to a process that is not exposed to flour dust.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2019

Objective: This study analyzed the status of the application of trade secrets in MSDSs according to size and type of industry. The contents of the MSDS non-public approval policy are summarized. We suggest proactive improvement requirements related to the operation of the MSDS non-public approval policy. Methods: To review this subject, we selected 153 manufacturers and six importers in such fields as organic chemical production. The trade secrets application status and ratio (%) of MSDSs by industry size and industry classification were investigated. Improvements toward a proactive system related to the operation of the MSDS non-public approval policy under the Occupational Safety and Health Act(OSHA) were summarized. Results and Conclusions: According to the results, the trade secret ratio in MSDSs by industry size was 33% in workplaces with less than 50 employees, 23.1% in workplaces with more than 50 but less than 100 workers, 73% in workplaces with more than 100 workers, and 83.4% in workplaces with 300 or more workers. For the trade secret writing rate for MSDSs by industry, the highest was MOCCP (Manufacture of ink, paint, coating and similar products) at 80.9%. MOC (Manufacture of other chemicals) was the lowest at 16.2%. We propose four proactive efforts to minimize the administrative burden of implementation of the MSDS non-public approval policy. The results of this study can be used as basic data for policy improvements to make more effective use of MSDS.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.7
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• pp.235-241
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the nonverbal voice component of the occupational therapist on the respondent's attitude of acceptance The study method was to randomly selected and provided 4 voice samples which were from the current female occupational therapist and adjusted its pause and tempo to participants who visited the local health center. After providing voices, the participants were asked to complete the survey including the questions about the acceptance attitude according to voice components. The study results showed that there were statistically significant differences in attitudes of "likeability", "credibility," "concentration", "expertise", "comprehension" (p<.05). Findings suggested that client's attitude of acceptance may change according to non-verbal voice components of the therapist.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.71-76
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• 2012

Malignant mesothelioma is an uncommon but rapidly fatal disease for which the principal aetiological agent is exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma is of particular significance in Australia where asbestos use was very widespread from the 1950s until the 1980s. Exposure to asbestos includes occupational exposure associated with working with asbestos or in workplaces where asbestos is used and also 'take-home' exposure of family members of asbestos exposed workers. Asbestos exposure may also be nonoccupational, occurring as a consequence of using asbestos products in non-occupational contexts and passive exposure is also possible, such as exposure to asbestos products in the built environment or proximity to an environmental source of exposure, for example an asbestos production plant. The extremely long latency period for this disease makes exposure assessment problematic in the context of a mesothelioma registry. OccIDEAS, a recently developed online tool for retrospective exposure assessment, has been adapted for use in the Australian Mesothelioma Registry (AMR) to enable systematic retrospective exposure assessment of consenting cases. Twelve occupational questionnaire modules and one non-occupational module have been developed for the AMR, which form the basis of structured interviews using OccIDEAS, which also stores collected data and provides a framework for generating metrics of exposure.