• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.17-24
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• 2005

The objective of this study is to examine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs) among nursing personnels. A self-reporting survey adapted from Nordic questionnaires was used as diagnostic tool, and conducted for 162 nurses working for a general hospital. The survey was performed five times every three months during a year. The MSDs were defined by using three criteria, depending upon the frequency, duration and pain intensity of the symptoms. The results showed that the 12-month prevalences of MSDs at any body site by criterion 1, 2, 3 were 56.8%, 53.7%, 45.7%, respectively, and that the shoulder was the most susceptible to MSDs, followed by knee/lower leg, lower back, hand/wrist, neck, ankle/feet, finger, etc. Only one statistically significant risk factor of departments or units was identified through the Chi-square test. The prevalence of MSDs was the highest in intensive care unit, second in surgical ward, while the prevalence was the lowest in emergency room. The MSDs prevalence of Korea at any body part or by body part was much lower than that of foreign countries such as Japan, USA, Sweden, etc. This implies that when considering poor working conditions and load in Korea, the incidence rate of MSDs may rapidly increase in Korea in the future.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.407-410
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• 2015

The aim of this study is to review the protective effect of a bicycle helmet on each facial location systematically. PubMed was searched for articles published before December 12, 2014. The data were summarized, and the odds ratio (OR) between the locations of facial injury was calculated. A statistical analysis was performed with Review Manager (The Nordic Cochrane Centre). Bicycle helmets protect the upper and middle face from serious facial injury but do not protect the lower face. Non-wearers had significantly increased risks of upper facial injury (OR, 2.07; P<0.001) and of middle facial injury (OR, 1.97; P<0.001) as compared to helmet users. In the case of lower facial injury, however, only a slightly increased risk (OR, 1.42; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.67-3.00, P=0.36) was observed. The abovementioned results can be attributed to the fact that a helmet covers the head and forehead but cannot cover the lower face. However, helmets having a chin cap might decrease the risk of lower facial injury.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.282-289
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• 2017

Background: The objective of this study was to report on the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in lobstermen in the northeast USA. Methods: Crews were randomly selected from those licensed to fish in Maine and Massachusetts and followed prospectively. The survey used a Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire format to characterize musculoskeletal disorders. Results: A total of 395 individuals participated. One half of the respondents reported low back pain. Back pain was attributed to or exacerbated by lobstering. Low back pain was prevalent among both captains and sternmen, while sternmen reported more hand/wrist pain than captains. Multiple locations for pain were common in individual participants. Conclusion: Equipment or technology to assist material handling should be a priority, as the body segments with high prevalence of pain (back, hand/wrists, shoulders, knees) are all affected by the repetitive and forceful handling of the lobster traps.

• International Journal of Quality Innovation
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.79-88
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to analyze the prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms among the three Taiwan's traditional industries as lathe, electronics and food by the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ). Moreover, the study was also to make a comparison among the aforesaid industries for revealing their differences. The result of the questionnaire indicated that the symptoms appeared on the three industries were all originated from four parts as neck, shoulders, elbows, and wrists/hands. More than 68% of the interviewers thought that their symptoms might be related to their work. However, the rate of harmful influence resulted from life or job was over 50%. As to the respect of the interviewers' attitude in treating their symptoms, more than 80% of them neglected or just treated the symptoms by massaging or cold/hot compressing and resting. From the questionnaire, the proportion of symptoms discussed in each item indicated that the distribution, in perceiving symptom, of interviewers were not quite identical; however the Chi-square test discovered majority did not reach 0.05 levels, hence the difference among industries were not significant.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.16 no.1 s.60
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• pp.31-38
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• 2007

This study investigated and compared regional features of Aalto's buildings and Gaudi's on the assumption that their designs are based on the regional backgrounds. For it, two churches of each one we selected and analyzed about five divided spaces like disposition, the exterior, plan, structure and introduction and use of the sunlight. As result of analysis, following conclusions are induced: first, Aalto's church design and Gaudi's we similar in which they reflected the thought of regionalistic design. Nevertheless they are deferred in which Aalto accepted the international functionalism but Gaudi rejected it due to his deep belief. Second, they followed the tradition of the regional architecture. Third, both of them took in consideration the nature, but due to the difference of the contexts they are deferred in its use. Finally, both gave importance to the sunlight. But Aalto is from the country where lacks the light while Gaudi is from the country where abounds the light, so its use is different. This investigation shows several possibilities of design under the influence of its regional culture, which gets more important in this century.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.130-137
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was designed to define the musculoskeletal pain levels among selected hairdressers and the risk factors for these musculoskeletal pain levels. Methods: A survey was conducted from July 1 to August 10, 2011 among 199 hair dressers working in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do Province using a self-administered Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. The affecting factors for musculoskeletal pain levels were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. Results: The musculoskeletal pain levels by body region were low back(6.19), ankle/foot(6.14), shoulder(5.27), knee(5.27), back(5.23) and wrist/hand(5.18). In stepwise regression, significant actors affecting the level of pain by body region were height on wrist/hand, low back, and knee and age on elbow. Conclusions: Based on these results, in order to prevent musculoskeletal diseases among hair dressers, standing time should be decreased and stretching should be performed regularly to protect the low back and knee.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.33-40
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• 2012

Dentists are known to be highly exposed to the musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). The present study investigated the prevalence of MSD among Korean dentists and association between their MSD and physical workload. In addition, detailed causes related to the physical workloads were identified in dental operation, and needs for improvement of dental instrument and environment were collected from Korean dentists. The standardized Nordic questionnaire was used to survey body troubles and three types of questionnaires were made to investigate the physical workloads, causes of the physical workloads and improvement priority of dental equipments, respectively. A total of 104 Korean dentists were participated in the survey. Neck trouble (82%) was the most prevalent in Korean dentists, and shoulder (68%) and low back trouble (56%) followed, while low back trouble was reported to be most frequent in previous studies. The body troubles were related to the physical workload of the corresponding body parts, although they were not associated with personal characteristics. Most Korean dentists selected 'to keep direct view inside patient's mouth' and 'no support of the hand with dental instruments' as the causes of awkward and strenuous work postures. They wanted design improvement for some equipment in their operating room such as operating light and arrangement of workplace.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.80-87
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• 2020

Background: Residential and commercial cleaning is a part of our daily routine to maintain sanitation around the environment. Health care of professionals involved in such cleaning activities has become a major concern all over the world. The present study investigates the risk of musculoskeletal disorders in professional cleaners involved in floor mopping tasks. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 132 mopping professionals using a modified Nordic questionnaire. The Pearson correlation test was implemented to study the association of perceived pain with work experience. The muscle strain and postural risk were evaluated by means of three-channel electromyography and real-time motion capture respectively of 15 professionals during floor mopping. Results: Regarding musculoskeletal injuries, risk was reported majorly in the right hand, lower back, left wrist, right shoulder, left biceps, and right wrist of the workers. Work experience had a low negative association with MSDs in the left wrist, right wrist, right elbow, lower back, and right lower arm (p < 0.01). Surface EMG showed occurrence of higher muscle activity in upper trapezius and biceps brachii (BB) muscles of the dominant hand and flexor carpi radialis and BB muscles of the nondominant hand positioned at the upper and lower portion of the mop rod, respectively. Conclusion: Ergonomic mediations should be executed to lessen the observed risk of musculoskeletal injuries in this professional group of workers.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.18-27
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• 2008

This study investigated social relief schemes for serious adverse drug reactions in foreign countries and deduced lessons and implications for Korea to implement the scheme. A social relief scheme for serious adverse drug reactions provides reliefs for diseases and such health effects as disabilities or deaths that were caused by adverse reactions to pharmaceuticals prescribed at hospitals and clinics as well as those purchased at pharmacies notwithstanding their proper use. The US and the UK do not have specific relief schemes for adverse drug reactions but apply rules of strict liability or negligence. New Zealand and Nordic countries provide no-fault compensation schemes for health effects or injuries caused by medical treatments or medicinal products. Japan and Taiwan have operated the schemes since 1980 and 2000, respectively. In designing the scheme in Korea, we suggested that cases eligible for relief be confined to serious adverse reactions such as death or disability and then extended to diseases. It is desirable to encourage the reporting system of adverse drug reactions and quality use of medicines for the relief scheme to work efficiently.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.92-99
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• 2012

The Norwegian architect, Sverre Fehn who was born in 1924 and died in 2009 designed various buildings in his country. Since he studied architecture, he had been interested in the domestic/local architectural environment as well as international modern movement such as CIAM. Pavilion of the Nordic Nations designed in 1960s gave him world reputation for the peculiar design characteristic in which Scandinavian tradition and modern design were integrated. Fehn introduced his unique architectural philosophy that is called 'Platform Architecture'. This concept is based on the Fehn's long-term interest in the philosophy of Genius Loci and place-specificity. It consists of three theoretical elements: Tectonic of Place, Horizontality of Space and Visual-Perception by Light. This paper focuses on three case projects: Villa Busk in 1990, Norwegian Glacier Museum in 1991, Aukrust Museum in 1993. It is aimed to discover differences as well as similarities of the projects, and ultimately to summarize the cases under the light of 'Platform Architecture'. As a conclusion, it is found that each case project has unique spatializing method to organize the given place and program by 'Platform' architectural design. 'Platform Architecture' is still relevant in the contemporary architecture and interior design because of its deep consideration on place, environment and human.