• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.267-275
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• 2017

Background: The mining industry is known worldwide for its highly risky and hazardous working environment. Technological advancement in ore extraction techniques for proliferation of production levels has caused further concern for safety in this industry. Research so far in the area of safety has revealed that the majority of incidents in hazardous industry take place because of human error, the control of which would enhance safety levels in working sites to a considerable extent. Methods: The present work focuses upon the analysis of human factors such as unsafe acts, preconditions for unsafe acts, unsafe leadership, and organizational influences. A modified human factor analysis and classification system (HFACS) was adopted and an accident predictive fuzzy reasoning approach (FRA)-based system was developed to predict the likelihood of accidents for manganese mines in India, using analysis of factors such as age, experience of worker, shift of work, etc. Results: The outcome of the analysis indicated that skill-based errors are most critical and require immediate attention for mitigation. The FRA-based accident prediction system developed gives an outcome as an indicative risk score associated with the identified accident-prone situation, based upon which a suitable plan for mitigation can be developed. Conclusion: Unsafe acts of the worker are the most critical human factors identified to be controlled on priority basis. A significant association of factors (namely age, experience of the worker, and shift of work) with unsafe acts performed by the operator is identified based upon which the FRA-based accident prediction model is proposed.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.20-31
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• 2018

There was an amazing growth in the korean shipbuilding industry considering the industrial magnitude and the technical level. On the contrary of the growth, there are a number of accidents in the shipbuilding yard. According to the statistic data of the industrial accident in the last 7 years, the number of accidental fatalities in shipbuilding industries are 1.48 ‱ which are over more than doubles of the average in the Korean industries, 0.66 ‱. Thus, through an accident investigation of fire and explosion case during painting work in the tank of the crude oil carrier, it have been tried to diagnose actual conditions in the shipbuilding yards.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.446-464
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the task-specific hazards of chemicals used by nail technicians in Daegu Metropolitan City. Materials: A total of 30 nail shops located in Daegu City were surveyed to investigate the major tasks and practices performed by nail technicians and the ingredients listed in nail care products used in shops. We also collected instructions for use and material safety data sheets(MSDSs) of nail care products and compared CAS Nos. of ingredients with the lists of chemicals regulated by the Industrial Safety and Health Act(ISHA) and Chemical Substances Control Act(CSCA). Results: A total of 125 chemical ingredients were found in 468 nail care products used at the 30 nail shops. The most frequently found ingredients were ethyl acetate(72%), followed by n-butyl acetate(71.8%), isopropanol(56%), benzophenone(51.1%), nitrocellulose(46.4%) and ethanol(45.3%). Comparing six tasks, the task of manicuring used the most products at 222 products containing 91 ingredients. Among the 125 ingredients, there are 31 chemicals with occupational exposure limits(OEL) designated by the Ministry of Employment and Labor(MoEL), eight categorized as carcinogens, one mutagen and two reproductive toxic chemicals. In terms of carcinogens, formaldehyde was identified as the only confirmed human carcinogen(1A). We found that there was one chemical with a permissible limit, one special management substance, 18 workplace monitoring substances and ten special health diagnosis substances regulated by ISHA. For CSCA, nine poisonous substances, six substances requiring preparation for accidents and one restricted substance were identified. Conclusions: Based on these findings, formaldehyde was identified as one of the chemicals that should most strictly be controlled for the protection of the health of nail technicians and customers. At the same time, it is necessary to distribute materials with detailed hazardous information of nail care products for nail shop technicians.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.367-373
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• 2016

Many of plastic powders handled in industry are combustible and have the hazard of dust fire and explosion accidents. However poor information about the safe handling has been presented in the production works. The aim of this research is investigated experimentally on explosive characteristics of various plastic powders used in industry and to provide additional data with safety informations. The explosibility parameters investigated using standard dust explosibility test equipment of Siwek 20-L explosion chamber. As the results, the dust explosion index ($K_{st}$) of ABS ($209.8{\mu}m$), PE ($81.8{\mu}m$), PBT ($21.3{\mu}m$), MBS ($26.7{\mu}m$) and PMMA ($14.3{\mu}m$) are 62.4, 59.4, 70.3, 303 and 203.6[$bar{\cdot}m/s$], respectively. And flame propagation velocity during plastic dust explosions for prediction of explosive damage was estimated using a flame propagation model based on the time to peak pressure and flame arrival time in dust explosion pressure assuming the constant burning velocity.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.101-109
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• 2015

SMRs (standardized mortality rates) for major diseases, accidents, cancer are considered in small areas of administrative units such as Eup/Myeon/Dong from years 2005 to 2008. Due to small sample issue in small areas, the precision of directly estimated crude SMR for each area can be low. In this study, we consider the HGLM (hierarchical generalized linear model) with MRF (Markov random field) to account for the spatial correlations among the small areas. The effects of covariates for cause of mortality by Dongs in Seoul and disease maps based on the estimated SMR are presented. The results suggest how we analyze and interpret the difference in mortalities by small areas such as Dongs by revealing the spatial patterns.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.230-239
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify the kinds and exposure levels of health hazards in the metalworking process in relation to acute poisoning accidents caused by methanol in 2016. Methods: The number of industries, workplaces, exposed workers, regional distribution, and exposure level of health hazards in metalworking process were investigated based on employee exposure assessment database provided by KOSHA (the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency), which was collected from workplace hazard evaluation programs in Korea. Exposure metrics for methanol were assessed by RCR (risk characterization ratio). Results: The numbers of processes, workplaces, and exposed workers of metalworking, which include CNC (computer numerical control) were 25, 14,405, and 169,102 respectively. The numbers of samples of chemical hazards including methanol were 91,325, and it was found that workers in metalworking were exposed to 249 kinds of chemical hazards. There were 16 kinds of special controlled substances including beryllium. It is estimated that the number of workplaces involving CNC process was 2,537, and the number of exposed workers was 27,976. In CNC process, the total number of workplaces handling methanol was 36, and 298 workers were estimated to be exposed. There was no exceeded that surpassed the OEL and 49% of samples were below the limit of detection. Methanol exposure concentrations in Gyeonggido Province were statistically significantly higher than in other areas (p <0.0001). Conclusions: In the metalworking process including CNC, there is exposure to a wide variety of health hazards. There was no sample exceeding the OEL for methanol. Therefore, it is necessary to recognize the limits of the employee exposure assessment system and urgently improve measures to prevent the occurrence of events like methanol poisoning.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.99-108
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• 2020

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the regulatory systems for laboratory safety and health management between Korea and Germany and discuss the implications. Methods: Laboratory safety and health regulations for legal enforcement and relevant technical guidelines in Korea and Germany were reviewed. Results: Lab safety and health management is enforced by the Act on the Establishment of Safe Laboratory Environment in Korea. Most provisions focus on supervisory control, that is, the principal's liability is emphasized. In addition, there is a lack of laboratory-specific procedures for safety and health management in the act since it is stipulated that other relevant regulations apply to some technical contents. Non-compulsory technical guidelines for lab safety and health management are also provided by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) in order to enable researchers to follow safe procedures. There is no independent regulation for lab safety and health in Germany, and it is also governed by several regulations. The German Social Accident Insurance Institute provides technical guidelines on lab safety and health, and these contain more specific content to allow them to be followed more easily compared to the KOSHA guidelines. The most remarkable differences between the regulation of each country were contents of the risk assessment and specific protect measures from hazardous agents. Conclusions: Regulatory control is an essential way to prevent accidents, but it is more important to create an environment in which all stakeholders, including individual lab members, are allowed to participate actively in safety and health management activities.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2014

Purpose: This study analyzed the relationship between working hours and the occurrence of industrial disasters based on manufacturing businesses that are members of Federation of Korean Trade Unions.Methods: Repliers were managers of the safety & health department in the union, and 215 surveys out of 300 businesses that agreed to participate in the research were analyzed. Results: 94 out of 300 companies, which counted for 43.7%, replied to have experienced industrial disasters. 56 of those (59.6%) had less than 52 working hours per week, and 38 companies (40.4%) had more than 52 working hours per week. 109 companies, which counted for 50.7%, did not have an incident of industrial disaster. Companies with an average of more than 52 hours of working hours per week were shown to have a 2.29 times (95% CI 1.08~4.87) higher possibility of having industrial disasters than those with less than 52 hours of working hours. Conclusion: As the study showed that industrial disasters were more likely to occur in businesses with working hours longer than 52 hours, ways to reduce working hours need to be developed and various safety measures need to be taken to prevent industrial disasters in case workers are undergoing long working hours.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.5-13
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify Activities of Daily Living(ADL) of industrial accident disabled with a caregiver and to evaluate the degree of satisfaction with services according to kinds of caregiver, professional or non-professional. Method: Data was collected from 178 patients in three workers' accident medical corporations of H, A and D cities from July to August, 2006. Five inspectors interviewed with the disabled by visiting the hospital. Collected data was analyzed for the frequency, percentages, t-test, etc. Results: The average score of ADL which ranged from 1 to 7 was 3.6. The 51.5 percent of caregivers for industrial accident disabled were non-professional and the 48.5 percent of caregivers were professional. 50.9 percent of the reason for the family caregivers was because of economical one. The caregiver satisfaction degree was 3.7 out of 4. The satisfaction degree with the professional caregivers was significantly higher than that with non-professional family caregivers for their excellent knowledge and techniques. Conclusion: A nursing expenses for the industrial accident disabled was intended to provide appropriate nursing services for the patient and so, it should not be a kind of income. So, the system for caring services should be investigated and the qualification of caregivers should be classified according to the health condition of the patient or ADL.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.60-66
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• 2012

With diversification of research and development activity according to fusion of state-of-the-art technology, potential hazard and risk factors in new forms have been increased in the laboratories. Also, as there are many cases where the experimental condition is extremely high/low temperature and pressure, many many accidents producing loss of life and/or injuries occur due to the extreme condition. In this study, The common fact questionnaire as the survey tool for the establishment of the accident prevention countermeasure in laboratory have been developed to safety security of the laboratory workers. The current status of chemical materials and the realization of important on laboratory safety management using the questionnaire investigated by an electronic mail and visiting survey in the laboratories and universities. The collected data was analyzed with Excel program and it can be utilized as basic data for accident prevention in laboratories.