• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.137-147
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was conducted in order to evaluate the limitations of the regulations on the safety and health standards for special management materials(SMM) under the Industrial Safety and Health Act in Korea. Methods: Hazardous chemicals management systems in Germany(Hazardous Substances Ordinance), the UK(Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations), Japan(Ordinance on Prevention of Hazards due to Specified Chemical Substances) and Korea(Regulation of Occupational Safety and Health Standards, ROSHS) were investigated and compared in terms of 14 items. Results: Among the 14 items, we eventually found seven items which should be amended: 1) definition and scope, 2) general duties clause, 3) principles of management, 4) preventive measures, 5) control measures, 6) risk assessment, and 7) record keeping. The principal limitations of Korean regulations in comparison with those of other countries were that there were no preventive measures such as substitution, and no principles of good practices for the control of exposure to SMM. In terms of control measures, there were no regulations on suitable workplace design, reducing the number of exposed workers, reducing the level and duration of exposure, and reducing the quantity of hazardous substances in ROSHS. Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, ROSHS should be complemented with preventive measures and the principles of management related to SMM. According to the suggestions, an employer who deals with SMM should preferably consider the possibility of substitution and perform substitution so far as is reasonably practicable.

• 대한안전경영과학회지
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.35-45
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• 2021

Activities to prevent industrial accidents can be divided into management of disaster risk factors of production facilities, disaster prevention systems and procedures, and human factors management. Human factor management is the last and most effective means to minimize disaster incidence and loss costs. The key strategy for this is safety and health education. However, formal or fictitious education is still being carried out in the industrial field. In addition, it is true that the application of practical use is insufficient due to the simple theoretical education based on knowledge transfer. In order to change the safety consciousness of employers and workers, we think that the paradigm of education should be changed from the traditional text and video-oriented lecture education method to experience-oriented education. The purpose of this study is to measure and analyze the effectiveness of safety education through education contents using VR(Virtual Reality) and AR(Augmented Reality) technology in keeping with the changing times of the 4th Industrial Revolution, And to suggest the direction of future safety and health education and content development trend.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.445-450
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• 2023

Background: The impact of COVID-19 infection on workers' work function persists even after the acute phase of the infection. We studied this phenomenon in Japanese workers. Methods: We conducted a one-year prospective cohort study online, starting with a baseline survey in December 2020. We tracked workers without baseline work functioning impairment and incorporated data from 14,421 eligible individuals into the analysis. We estimated the incidence rate ratio for new onset of work functioning impairment due to COVID-19 infection during follow-up, using mixed-effects Poisson regression analysis with robust variance. Results: Participants reporting infection between January and December 2021 showed a significantly higher incidence of new work functioning impairment (adjusted incidence rate ratio: 2.18, 95% confidence interval: 1.75-2.71, p < 0.001). The formality of the recuperation environment correlated with a higher risk of work functioning deterioration in infected individuals (p for trend <0.001). Conclusion: COVID-19-infected workers may continue to experience work difficulties due to persistent, post-acute infection symptoms. Companies and society must urgently provide rehabilitation and social support for people with persistent symptoms, recognizing that COVID-19 is not just a transient acute infection.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제9권3호
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• pp.296-307
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• 2018

Background: Safety culture, acting as the oil necessary in an efficient safety management system, has its own weaknesses in the current conceptualization and utilization in practice. As a new approach, resilience safety culture (RSC) has been proposed to reduce these weaknesses and improve safety culture; however, it requires a valid and reliable instrument to be measured. This study aimed at evaluating the reliability and validity of such an instrument in measuring the RSC in sociotechnical systems. Methods: The researchers designed an instrument based on resilience engineering principles and safety culture as the first instrument to measure the RSC. The RSC instrument was distributed among 354 staff members from 12 units of an anonymous petrochemical plant through hand delivery. Content validity, confirmatory, and exploratory factor analysis were used to examine the construct validity, and Cronbach alpha and test-retest were employed to examine the reliability of the instrument. Results: The results of the content validity index and content validity ratio were calculated as 0.97 and 0.83, respectively. The explanatory factor analysis showed 14 factors with 68.29% total variance and 0.88 Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin index. The results were also confirmed with confirmatory factor analysis (relative Chi-square = 2453.49, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.04). The reliability of the RSC instrument, as measured by internal consistency, was found to be satisfactory (Cronbach ${\alpha}=0.94$). The results of test-retest reliability was r = 0.85, p < 0.001. Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that the measure shows acceptable validity and reliability.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.179-207
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• 2000

Hazardous organic solvents management as prescribed by presidential decree in Korea is reviewed. The status of import, manufacture, and circulation of organic solvents was investigated. Problems inherent in the management of organic solvents in the electroplating, metal degreasing, and dry cleaning industries were discussed. The chemical substance management system in Korea was compared to those of foreign organizations. A walk-through check list was developed and then used to assess the actual conditions and potential hazards of chemical substances in these industries. The questionnaire could be used to develop a chemical management system and protect workers from hazardous substances. Based on the results of the site survey, MSDSs were not integrated appropriately into the workers education and were not readily accessible to employees. In the case of the dry cleaning industry, the new dry cleaning solvent used as a substitute includes a lot of potentially hazardous organic solvents. This research is preliminary. It is recommended that a national survey be performed to better identify the current situation. Because chemical substances are regulated by thirteen laws in seven executive branches, management systems often overlap, resulting in ineffective control. Using the above results, a model for managing chemical substances was developed. This will more efficiently provide MSDS information to workers covered by the presidential decree and allow the construction of a management system database for better cooperation with the executive branches in Korea.

• 한국안전학회지
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• 제30권6호
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• pp.85-93
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• 2015

Construction sites have various risks, and safety managements are enforced based on the law such as Industrial Safety and Health Act, etc. Safety management by the law saves lives and preserves health of workers by removing and understanding risks in advance. When the emergency situation has come, poor response causes loss of lives and physical damages. This study suggests basic strategy that can mitigate the industrial disaster in all construction sites. A survey was conducted to identify the current safety consciousness and to evaluate first aid ability of coworkers. Finally, four measures were suggested: (1) designating muster points; (2) hiring occupational health managers; (3) increasing the first aid ability of coworkers; and (4) carrying safety brochure. The proposed suggestions can be helpful in mitigating the construction disaster, and in responding the major accident efficiently within a short time.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.339-345
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• 2021

Background: Some researchers state that they are not yet able to provide a deep understanding of the underlying causes of unsafe behaviors (UBs). Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the attitudes and experiences of Iranian workers of UBs. Methods: This present study was conducted in 35 industries using a semistructured interview based on grounded theory. Forty participants were interviewed, including 13 industrial safety and health experts and 27 workers and supervisors. The analysis of the present study consisted of a three-step coding process including open, axial, and selective coding. Results: The results showed that the factors affecting UBs could be classified into three categories: organizational, individual, and socioeconomic factors. Organizational factors were divided into 6 parts: procedure and environmental conditions, communications, monitoring, organizational safety culture, resource allocation, and human resources. Socioeconomic factors had three subcategories: community safety culture, type of organizational ownership, and economic problems. Finally, the individual factors were classified into two categories of personality traits and individual competence. Conclusion: The results showed that organizational factors were the most categorized, and it is estimated that this factor has a more important role in the UBs. Of course, to better understand the close relationship between these factors and find the weight and importance of each factor, it needs to measure it with multicriteria decision systems.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.172-179
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• 2018

Background: Insufficient training in infection control and occupational health among healthcare workers (HCWs) in countries with high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) burdens requires attention. We examined the effectiveness of a 1-year Certificate Program in Occupational Health and Infection Control conducted in Free State Province, South Africa in an international partnership to empower HCWs to become change agents to promote workplace-based HIV and TB prevention. Methods: Questionnaires assessing reactions to the program and Knowledge, Attitudes, Skills, and Practices were collected pre-, mid-, and postprogram. Individual interviews, group project evaluations, and participant observation were also conducted. Quantitative data were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Qualitative data were thematically coded and analyzed using the Kirkpatrick framework. Results: Participants recruited (n = 32) were mostly female (81%) and nurses (56%). Pre-to-post-program mean scores improved in knowledge (+12%, p = 0.002) and skills/practices (+14%, p = 0.002). Preprogram attitude scores were high but did not change. Participants felt empowered and demonstrated attitudinal improvements regarding HIV, TB, infection control, and occupational health. Successful projects were indeed implemented. However, participants encountered considerable difficulties in trying to sustain improvement, due largely to lack of pre-existing knowledge and experience, combined with inadequate staffing and insufficient management support. Conclusion: Training is essential to strengthen HCWs' occupational health and infection control knowledge, attitudes, skills, and practices, and workplace-based training programs such as this can yield impressive results. However, the considerable mentorship resources required for such programs and the substantial infrastructural supports needed for implementation and sustainability of improvements in settings without pre-existing experience in such endeavors should not be underestimated.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.302-324
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• 2022

Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate exposure to occupational carcinogens in the nationwide electronics industries and to establish a strategy for control of occupational carcinogens in South Korea. Methods: We evaluated occupational carcinogens as defined by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) using a nationwide work environment measurement database on the electronics industry in South Korea measured between 2013 and 2017 in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Results: The number of occupational carcinogens found in the electronics industry in South Korea were: 20 for IARC Group 1, 14 for Group 2A, and 30 for Group 2B. The occupational carcinogens (Group 1) most frequently exposed were strong-inorganic-acid mists containing sulfuric acid (sulfuric acid), welding fumes, mineral oils (untreated or mildly treated), nickel compounds, silica dust, crystalline substances in the form of quartz or cristobalite, formaldehyde, arsenic and inorganic arsenic compounds, chromium (VI) compounds, trichloroethylene, cadmium and cadmium compounds, vinyl chloride, ethylene oxide, wood dust, beryllium and beryllium compounds, 1,3 butadiene, benzene, and others. Among them, the carcinogens (Group 1) exceeding the acceptable standard were trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, and ethylene oxide. The working environment measurement system as regulated by Occupational Safety and Health Act is not properly assessed and managed for occupational carcinogens in South Korea. A component analysis for all materials used should be set up to practically reduce occupational carcinogens. A ban on the use of occupational carcinogens and the development of alternative materials are needed. The occupational carcinogens below the acceptable standards should be carefully examined and a new standard for exposure needs to be established. Conclusions: The Occupational Safety and Health Act should be improved to identify and monitor occupational carcinogens at work sites. A strategy for occupational safety and health systems should be provided to give direction to workers' needs and right to know.

• 대한안전경영과학회지
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.17-23
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• 2019

The applications of information and communication technology (ICT) into real industrial fields are getting great attentions in recent years. More and more industrial practitioners and scientific researchers are conducting studies and trying to adopt the technologies into diverse industrial fields. The purpose of this study is to review the technologies such as big data and smart sensors and to provide application cases in order to facilitate grafting the 4th industrial revolutionary technologies onto the safety and health systems. Based on the comprehensive reviews on literature, reports, and industrial cases, we found that big data technology has been used in industries for investigating work related disease. In addition, digital image technology and drone have been applied to establish safety system in construction industry. Lastly, some companies have tried to apply the technologies to build their own safety and health system.