• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.19-29
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• 2008

Background : Ankle inversion sprains are one of the most common injuries in sports and activities of daily living that mostly concern physically active individuals. In most researches, proprioceptive deficit, muscle weakness and/or absent coordination have been regarded as a contributing factors. Despite the high incidence of ankle sprain and instability, therapeutic approaches to properly manage the symptoms have rarely been investigated. This study aimed to identify the effect of proprioceptive exercise program that is easy to integrate in normal training program. Methods : Subjects were randomly allocated to control group and experimental group consisting of 11 and 10 patients, respectively. The conservative treatment for the control group consisted of hot packs, ultrasound and TENS. In addition, the experimental group performed 7 exercises to enhance proprioceptive function of ankle joint. The therapeutic intervention of the controland experimental groups was performed a total of 20 exercise sessions, averaging 50 hour each, 5 times per week for 4 weeks. To compare the two groups, the level of ankle disability was assessed by using the ankle injury score scale in pre- and post-treatment. Results : On assessment of post-treatment, there were statistically significant differences in the scores of all sub-items, except for ankle laxity and range of motion, and the total score of ankle injury score scale between the two groups(p<0.05). In comparison between pre- and post-treatments, the significant difference in the scores of all sub-items and total score didn't appear for the control group, while the scores of most sub-items and total score of the experimental group were shown the statistically significant difference(p<0.05). Conclusion : The findings suggest that the proprioceptive exercise program is more effective for relieving ankle disability than conservative treatment therefore, the program to improve proprioceptive function should be recommended for prevention and rehabilitation of recurrent ankle inversion injuries.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.251-261
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• 2022

Tuna purse seine fishery (TPF) constitute more than 60% of distant water fishery production in Korea based on a statistic of 2018, and 28 ships from four different companies were under operation at the western and central Pacific Ocean. On this research, common risk factors during TPF were investigated via enumeration of five years Korean fisherman's insurance payment statement, followed by some counterplans to diminish the accident rate. The accident rate of TPF on the Pacific Ocean peaked by 43.0% in 2014 and constantly decreased to 23.0% until 2018, presenting an average of 33.6%. Meanwhile, the accident rate on the Indian Ocean reached the highest point 55.1% in 2014 and declined to 11.6% in 2016, having an average of 24.7%. The average accident rate of the Indian Ocean scored 8.9% lower than the rate of the Pacific Ocean, but no statistic significance was observed. Depending on the process of operation, 'casting or hauling of net' was the most frequent part that people received an injury (40.4%). When the accidents were classified by their types, 'falling down' was the most recurrent cause of the injuries (28.5%). At the point of severity, the worst injuries were induced by crush hazard. Considering aforementioned accident frequency and severity, all the factors on the accident type list were divided into three different groups including high risk, moderate risk, and common risk. This study is expected to contribute to the reduction of occupational accidents during the work of fishermen and establishment of a safety management system for distance water fishing vessels.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2022.06a
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• pp.579-586
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• 2022

Modular building is a fast-growing construction method, mainly due to its ability to drastically reduce the amount of time it takes to construct a building and produce higher-quality buildings at a more consistent rate. However, while modular construction is relatively safer than traditional construction methods, workers are still exposed to hazards that lead to injuries and fatalities, and these hazards could be controlled using emerging smart technologies. Currently, limited information is available at the intersection of modular construction, safety risk, and smart safety technologies. This paper aims to investigate what aspects of modular construction are most dangerous for its workers, highlight specific risks in its processes, and propose ways to utilize smart technologies to mitigate these safety risks. Findings from the archival analysis of accident reports in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Fatality and Catastrophe Investigation Summaries indicate that 114 significant injuries were reported between 2002 and 2021, of which 67 were fatalities. About 72% of fatalities occurred during the installation phase, while 57% were caused by crushing and 85% of crash-related incidents were caused by jack failure/slippage. IoT-enabled wearable sensing devices, computer vision, smart safety harness, and Augment and Virtual Reality were identified as potential solutions for mitigating identified safety risks. The present study contributes to knowledge by identifying important safety trends, critical safety risk factors and proposing practical emerging methods for controlling these risks.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2015.10a
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• pp.127-131
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• 2015

In spite of the socio-economic benefits of the construction industry, it accounts for many deaths, injuries and illnesses in many countries. In developing countries like Vietnam, the situation is even worse. Health and safety (H&S) management plays a crucial role in the efforts to improve H&S performance as it contributes to mitigating the risks of occupational injuries and illnesses. However, within the wider H&S literature in Vietnam, there is no insight into the current state of affairs of H&S management, particularly in terms of the management practices that need attention in order to improve H&S management across the construction sector. This study therefore presents the findings of an inquiry into the H&S management practices of contractors in Vietnam. The study employed a questionnaire survey which yielded 58 responses from contractors, particularly those operating in Southern Vietnam. Some commonly implemented H&S management practices by the contractors are: provision of personal protective equipment (94%), allocation of H&S supervisor on site (90%), and displaying of company H&S policy on construction sites, company website, and head/branch offices (86%). Some of the less implemented practices are: networking/engaging with other companies/institutions (e.g. government offices) about H&S issues (39%), rewarding workers for safe work behaviour (39%), reviewing and updating H&S plans (48%), and displaying regulatory H&S posters on site (45%). The findings have provided some insight into the current state of affairs of the H&S management practices of contractors in Southern Vietnam and could thus inform efforts by industry stakeholders to improve the aspects of H&S management that are lagging.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.167-180
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• 2023

The aim of this study is to explore the factors that influence the health care utilization of disabled workers who returned to their original workplace after an occupational accident. The study sample consisted of 457 workers who suffered from occupational accidents and were rated as disabled based on the data from the PSWCI in 2021. Data analysis was performed using a hierarchical multiple regression analysis with SPSS WIN 26.0. The study findings revealed that the number of outpatient visits was affected by factors such as daily wage payment, economic status, physical activity limitations, subjective health status, and chronic diseases. Moreover, health care expenditures were determined by factors such as having a caregiver for daily living, burn injuries, and physical activity limitations. Therefore, to increase the accessibility of health care utilization for disabled workers, the role of nurses in the workplace should be expanded, employers should include a health care utilization plan when developing a return-to-work plan, and research on the introduction of a paid sick leave system that allows workers to rest when they are sick is needed. It is also necessary to alleviate the economic burden by increasing the coverage of benefits for burn and rehabilitation treatments.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.237-245
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• 2017

Background: Solar furnaces are used worldwide to conduct experiments to demonstrate the feasibility of solar-chemical processes with the aid of concentrated sunlight, or to qualify high temperature-resistant components. In recent years, high-flux solar simulators (HFSSs) based on short-arc xenon lamps are more frequently used. The emitted spectrum is very similar to natural sunlight but with dangerous portions of ultraviolet light as well. Due to special benefits of solar simulators the increase of construction activity for HFSS can be observed worldwide. Hence, it is quite important to protect employees against serious injuries caused by ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in a range of 100 nm to 400 nm. Methods: The UV measurements were made at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne and Paul-Scherrer-Institute (PSI), Switzerland, during normal operations of the HFSS, with a high-precision UV-A/B radiometer using different experiment setups at different power levels. Thus, the measurement results represent UV emissions which are typical when operating a HFSS. Therefore, the biological effects on people exposed to UVR was investigated systematically to identify the existing hazard potential. Results: It should be noted that the permissible workplace exposure limits for UV emissions significantly exceeded after a few seconds. One critical value was strongly exceeded by a factor of 770. Conclusion: The prevention of emissions must first and foremost be carried out by structural measures. Furthermore, unambiguous protocols have to be defined and compliance must be monitored. For short-term activities in the hazard area, measures for the protection of eyes and skin must be taken.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.292-297
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• 2020

Background: Ankle sprain is one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries in the sports population or during usual daily life activities. The sprain can cause functional ankle instability (FAI), and it is very important to treat FAI. However, the optimum intervention method for FAI has yet to be determined. Objects: This study investigated the impact that virtual reality (VR) training program on balance with ankle kinesio taping for FAI. Methods: Twenty-two people were selected for the study and randomly divided into the experimental (n = 11) and the control group (n = 11). The experimental group had attached kinesio taping on the ankle and then implemented a virtual reality exercise program for 30 minutes a day. Nintendo Wii Fit Plus was used for the VR intervention three times a week for four weeks. The control group performed only two measurements without intervention. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in overall, anterior-posterior (AP), medial-lateral (ML) index of the static balance, and significant differences in overall, AP, ML index of the dynamic balance when taping and VR exercise were applied at the same time (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in overall and ML index of static and dynamic balance compared with before and after assessment between the experimental and the control group, and found differences in AP index of static and dynamic balance (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Kinesio taping may not influence the balance of FAI as great as people expected. VR approach does not affect the static balance of FAI, but it influences dynamic balance in overall, AP, ML index. The authors suggest that VR-based exercises can be used as an additional concept in clinicians for FAI or as part of a home program because the exercises still have limitations.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.79-87
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• 2020

PURPOSE: Physical therapists are always exposed to work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Although kinesio taping can support the joints and assist movement, studies of the effects of kinesio taping on these physical therapists are lacking. This study examined the effects of Kinesio-taping on pain, grip strength, range of motion and daily living skills in physical therapists with work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Pain was measured using a 100 mm VAS. The grip strength was measured using a handgrip dynamometer. The range of joint motion was measured using a goniometer. Living skills were measured by patient-rated wrist evaluation. METHODS: Twenty physical therapists with wrist pain (Kinesio taping: n = 10, Sham taping: n = 10) received taping for each group, and measured the pain, grip strength, range of motion and daily living skills before (Baseline) and after taping (Nine hours). RESULTS: All data were analyzed using Repeated Measure ANOVA (p < .05). In the Kinesio group, resting pain (-14.9), movement pain (-20.5), and daily living skills (-9.55) were improved significantly compared to the baseline (p < .05). The grip strength and range of motion were not changed (p > .05). The sham group showed no significant change in all variables (p > .05). CONCLUSION: Physical therapists with work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the wrist should apply kinesiotaping to improve the occupational tasks.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2013

Background: To determine the influence of lifting speed and type on peak and cumulative back compressive force (BCF) and shoulder moment (SM) loads during symmetric lifting. Another aim of the study was to compare static and dynamic lifting models. Methods: Ten male participants performed a floor-to-shoulder, floor-to-waist, and waist-to-shoulder lift at three different speeds [slow (0.34 m/s), medium (0.44 m/s), and fast (0.64 m/s)], and with two different loads [light (2.25 kg) and heavy (9 kg)]. Two-dimensional kinematics and kinetics were determined. A three-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used to calculate peak and cumulative loading of BCF and SM for light and heavy loads. Results: Peak BCF was significantly different between slow and fast lifting speeds (p < 0.001), with a mean difference of 20% between fast and slow lifts. The cumulative loading of BCF and SM was significantly different between fast and slow lifting speeds (p < 0.001), with mean differences ${\geq}80%$. Conclusion: Based on peak values, BCF is highest for fast speeds, but the BCF cumulative loading is highest for slow speeds, with the largest difference between fast and slow lifts. This may imply that a slow lifting speed is at least as hazardous as a fast lifting speed. It is important to consider the duration of lift when determining risks for back and shoulder injuries due to lifting and that peak values alone are likely not sufficient.

• 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.