• 대한안전경영과학회지
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.55-62
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• 2023

Public institutions have a responsibility to ensure the safety of their employees and the public. One way to do this is to implement a systematic safety inspection system based on risk assessments and continuous improvements. This study developed a systematic safety inspection system for public institutions that are ordered construction projects. The proposed system in this study consists of a three-step process: (1) developing safety grade evaluation tables, (2) preparing and conducting safety inspections, and (3) evaluating and improving safety management grades. The first step is to develop safety grade evaluation tables by analysis and diagnosis of the construction site's work type, disaster statistics, and related laws. The second step is to conduct safety inspections using the developed evaluation tables. The third step is to determine the safety management grade based on the results of the safety inspection, and to improve risk factors found during the safety evaluation. The proposed system was implemented in highway construction projects carried out by public institutions. The results showed that the proposed system has two major effects: (1) reducing accident-related deaths and injuries, (2) improving safety management levels by continuous evaluation and improvement. The proposed system can be utilized in construction projects ordered by public institutions to improve the level of occupational safety and health.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.163-169
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• 2022

Background: It is estimated that about 13 million artisanal and small-scale miners carry out their activities under harsh, precarious, unfriendly, and risky conditions. Yet, our understanding of the extent to which these workers use personal protective equipment (PPE) and navigate through the various risks and hazards they face is still limited. This article has two main objectives. First, it explores the extent of usage of PPE among artisanal and small-scale miners for the prevention of hazards and risks. Second, it examines the coping strategies used by these miners as a response to experiences of occupational injuries and risks Methods: A cross-sectional survey of small-scale miners was conducted in six communities across three districts in Ghana, West Africa. The mixed methods approach was adopted. A total of 148 small-scale miners participated in the study. Six focus group discussions (FGDs) were held across the six communities. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Chi-square tests were used to analyse the relationship between some socio-demographic characteristics (sex, age, and educational background) and the usage of PPE. Open-ended questions and responses from FGDs were analysed based on the content and verbatim quotations from miners. Results: Findings suggest that 78% of the miners interviewed do not use the appropriate PPE citing reasons such as cost, and their personal discomfort associated with use of PPE. There was no significant relationship between socio-demographic characteristics (i.e., sex, age, education and major mining activity) and the usage of PPE. The study further revealed four main coping strategies used by miners to handle the risks. These are rest, taking unprescribed medication and hard drugs, registration with health insurance scheme and savings and investments. Conclusion: This study shows that very few artisanal miners use PPE despite the significant hazards and risks to which they are exposed. The study recommends to the government to put in place measures to ensure that miners adhere to health and safety regulations before undertaking mining activities. This means that health and safety plans and use of PPE should be linked to the license acquisition process for miners.

• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.183-196
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this research was to assess the agreement between job physical risk factor analysis by ergonomists using ergonomic methods and physical examinations made by occupational physicians on the presence of musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremities. Background: Ergonomics is the systematic application of principles concerned with the design of devices and working conditions for enhancing human capabilities and optimizing working and living conditions. Proper ergonomic design is necessary to prevent injuries and physical and emotional stress. The major types of ergonomic injuries and incidents are cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs), acute strains, sprains, and system failures. Minimization of use of excessive force and awkward postures can help to prevent such injuries Method: Initial data were collected as part of a larger study by the University of Utah Ergonomics and Safety program field data collection teams and medical data collection teams from the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (RMCOEH). Subjects included 173 male and female workers, 83 at Beehive Clothing (a clothing plant), 74 at Autoliv (a plant making air bags for vehicles), and 16 at Deseret Meat (a meat-processing plant). Posture and effort levels were analyzed using a software program developed at the University of Utah (Utah Ergonomic Analysis Tool). The Ergonomic Epicondylitis Model (EEM) was developed to assess the risk of epicondylitis from observable job physical factors. The model considers five job risk factors: (1) intensity of exertion, (2) forearm rotation, (3) wrist posture, (4) elbow compression, and (5) speed of work. Qualitative ratings of these physical factors were determined during video analysis. Personal variables were also investigated to study their relationship with epicondylitis. Logistic regression models were used to determine the association between risk factors and symptoms of epicondyle pain. Results: Results of this study indicate that gender, smoking status, and BMI do have an effect on the risk of epicondylitis but there is not a statistically significant relationship between EEM and epicondylitis. Conclusion: This research studied the relationship between an Ergonomic Epicondylitis Model (EEM) and the occurrence of epicondylitis. The model was not predictive for epicondylitis. However, it is clear that epicondylitis was associated with some individual risk factors such as smoking status, gender, and BMI. Based on the results, future research may discover risk factors that seem to increase the risk of epicondylitis. Application: Although this research used a combination of questionnaire, ergonomic job analysis, and medical job analysis to specifically verify risk factors related to epicondylitis, there are limitations. This research did not have a very large sample size because only 173 subjects were available for this study. Also, it was conducted in only 3 facilities, a plant making air bags for vehicles, a meat-processing plant, and a clothing plant in Utah. If working conditions in other kinds of facilities are considered, results may improve. Therefore, future research should perform analysis with additional subjects in different kinds of facilities. Repetition and duration of a task were not considered as risk factors in this research. These two factors could be associated with epicondylitis so it could be important to include these factors in future research. Psychosocial data and workplace conditions (e.g., low temperature) were also noted during data collection, and could be used to further study the prevalence of epicondylitis. Univariate analysis methods could be used for each variable of EEM. This research was performed using multivariate analysis. Therefore, it was difficult to recognize the different effect of each variable. Basically, the difference between univariate and multivariate analysis is that univariate analysis deals with one predictor variable at a time, whereas multivariate analysis deals with multiple predictor variables combined in a predetermined manner. The univariate analysis could show how each variable is associated with epicondyle pain. This may allow more appropriate weighting factors to be determined and therefore improve the performance of the EEM.

• 의료법학
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.169-208
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• 2016

의료분쟁의 해결을 위해 "의료사고 피해구제 및 의료분쟁 조정 등에 관한 법률"이 제정되어 한국의료분쟁조정중재원에서 2012. 4. 8.부터 조정 중재 절차가 시행되었는데, 최근 3개년의 평균 조정절차 개시율은 43%이하로 나타났다. 이에 한국의료분쟁조정중재원은 조정절차 개시율을 높이기 위해 특정 요건에 해당하는 경우 자동개시가 될 수 있는 방안을 고안하였고, 2016. 5. 국회 본회의를 통과하여 같은 달 30.에 공포되었다. 그러나 근본적으로 조정절차 개시율이 오른다고 하더라도, 반드시 현행과 같이 조정성립률이 오를 것이라 단정할 수 없다는 것이다. 오히려 한국의료분쟁조정중재원에서 이와 같은 수치를 높일 계획이라면, 자동개시만이 해법이 아니라 주요 보건의료기관 개설자가 참여하지 않은 근본 이유를 살피고 그에 관한 신뢰를 회복하는 게 주요 과제라할 것이다. 또한 의료인의 안정적인 진료환경을 위해, "의료사고 피해구제 및 의료분쟁 조정 등에 관한 법률" 제51조에서 형법 제268조의 죄 중 업무상과실치사와 단서 조항도 반의사불벌죄가 적용될 수 있도록 개정하여야 한다. 또한 의료기관 개설자나 보건의료인이 대불청구를 할 수 있도록 요건을 신설하는 등 그 외 의료기관의 입장에서, 한국의료분쟁조정 중재원의 조정 절차가 안정적으로 정착할 수 있도록 운영상의 미비에 관하여 제도를 보완할 수 있도록 고언(苦言)한다.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.81-89
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Modified Constraint-Induced Therapy (MCIT) on the effected upper extremity of children with hemiparesis. Four children with hemiparetic upper extremity caused by brain injuries were trained by MCIT for ten weeks. During the same period, all of the subjects were also involved in thirty-minute regular physical therapy and occupational therapy. During the treatment period, the unaffected upper extremities of the subjects were restrained by a specially designed hand splint or a mitten for five hours a day, five days per week. For two hours out of the five-hour restraint period, the affected upper extremities were intensively trained by performing various functional tasks, which were individually structured to emphasize use of the affected arm. A single-subject design with A-B-A reversal was employed in this study. The affected limb motor ability was evaluated by Melbourne Assessment, measuring the time to grasp and release nine pegs, and measuring grasping power. As a consequence of this study, the affected limb motor test scores of all four subjects in the baseline period were improved during the treatment period. Furthermore, the treatment effect was maintained during a one-month follow-up period. The results of this study support the assumption that MCIT is an effective therapeutic method to improve the sensory and motor abilities of hemiparetic children. It also increases the frequency of functional use of the hemiparetic hands of brain-injured children. Based on the results of this study, it can also be assumed that the modified CIT method is especially beneficial to these children by reducing the negative emotional effects of forceful restraint of the unaffected upper extremity. To optimize the functional recovery of the paretic upper extremity by CIT, the restriction period per day should be decided individually, according to the characteristics of the individual.

• 대한임상독성학회지
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.22-30
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the evidence regarding injury and poisoning associated with the clinical mercury thermometer. Methods: Electronic literature searches were conducted for identification of relevant studies and case reports of injury and poisoning associated with the clinical mercury thermometer. The search outcomes were limited to literature with English and Korean languages published from 1966. Studies related to occupational mercury exposure, or mercury exposure from sphygmomanometer, barometer, and fluorescent light were excluded. Results: A total of 60 reports, including 59 case reports, were finally included. Of those, nine cases pertained to an intact thermometer as a foreign body, 25 injuries were related to a thermometer, and 26 cases involved exposures to mercury from a broken thermometer. Case reports were classified according to severity into 16 mild, 41 moderate, and two severe cases. Two cases of mortality were reported, one was deliberate intravenous injection of mercury and the other was acute vapor inhalation of mercury from broken thermometers. Conclusion: Findings of this systematic review suggested that the mercury thermometer could cause various forms of poisoning and injury. In particular, inhalation of mercury vapor from a broken thermometer can lead to systemic toxicity requiring chelating therapy.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.78-83
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the intrinsic foot muscle training method can improve the medial longitudinal arch in patients with chronic ankle injury and with pronated feet, as well as to investigate for the most effective exercise method for these patients. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty men and women with pronated feet had participated in this study and were allocated to either the short foot exercise group (SFEG) or the towel curl exercise group (TCEG) randomly. SFEG and TCEG underwent exercises three times a week for 8 weeks, with three sets per day, totalling up to 5 minutes per day. The navicular drop test (NDT) was used in order to assess for changes in the medial longitudinal arch and the Cumberland ankle instability tool (CAIT) was used to assess for ankle instability of the chronic ankle sprain patients. Results: There was a significant increase in CAIT scores in the SFEG (p<0.05) and a significant difference between groups was presented (p<0.05). The NDT scores were significantly decreased in both groups (p<0.05). In the SFEG, the NDT scores were more decreased than in the TCEG (p<0.05). Conclusions: These results suggest that short foot exercises are more effective in providing intrinsic foot muscle training for patients with pronated feet among chronic ankle sprain patients. Furthermore, short foot exercises may be used to provide ankle stability.

• 한국건설관리학회논문집
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• 제6권3호
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• pp.120-127
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• 2005

건설현장에서 발생하는 재해의 상당부분은 근로자가 작업과관련하여 이동하는 과정에서 발생한다. 본 연구는 건설현장에서 근로자들이 이동하는 과정에서 발생한 재해의 예방과 저감을 위하여 최근 3년간의 중대재해보고서에서 근로자가 이동시 발생한 재해를 대상으로 하여 직종별로 어떠한 위험요인에 의해 재해가 발생했는지 분석하였다. 그 결과 직종과 위험상황에 따라 의미 있는 차이점이 있음이 파악되었으며, 결과적으로 각 직종별로 이동과정에서의 리스크의 강도가 다르다는 것을 알 수 있었다. 따라서 근로자들이 이동하는 과정에서 발생하는 재해를 줄이기 위해서는 이러한 직종별 리스크 특성을 고려하여 작업진도계획 및 안전계획을 수립하고 이를 관리과정에서 반영해야 할 것으로 판단된다. 본 연구에서 제시된 결과는 건설현장 근로자과 안전관리자에게 이동작업시의 위험성을 이해하는데 도움을 주고 공사계획 및 관리에 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• 대한물리의학회지
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.41-47
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• 2007

Purpose : This study was to find the effects of conservative therapy and sling therapy program of strength exercise and Gymnic Ball therapy program of stabilizer exercise and to find the effects of pain relieve through visual analogue scale(VAS) in chronic low back pain patients (male; 18, female;22). Methods : The measurement of pain was performed to both group by VAS from pre treatment to one to seven weeks. Results : 1. By the result of one-way ANOVA, Both group was the statistical significance in VAS during seven weeks(p<.05). 2. By the result of paired t-test, Both group was not statistical significance between the values of pre treatment and treatment after six and seven weeks but was statistical significance one week to seven weeks(p<.05). Conclusion : It was concluded that low back pain would be relieved by the progressive exercise and education for low back pain, and that the interventions would be helpful to prevent additional injuries by increasing the flexibility and muscular endurance.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.71-80
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• 2016

Background: Functional capacity evaluations (FCEs) are designed to systematically assess the capacity to perform work-related tasks and to determine worker's ability to return to the previous job following work-related injuries. These evaluations may be rated either by clinician or worker. There has been a lack of consensus between the two scoring methods. Objects: This study aimed: 1) to confirm if the data are fit to the Rasch rating scale model and 2) to investigate the item-level concordance rate between the ratings of clinician and injured worker of the FCE. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample (n=124) of a rehabilitation program with the Occupational Rehabilitation Data Base for workers with low back pain. The functional capacity evaluation at admission and discharge was administered to clinicians and workers. The data were analyzed using both classical test theory-based Pearson's r and intra-class coefficient followed by item-level analysis with Rasch rating scale model. Results: All items of the FCE, except sitting items rated by clinician at admission and handling items rated by both clinician and worker throughout admission and discharge, were acceptable fit statistics with minor out of ranges for a misfit criterion. This may indicate that the items of the FCE overall fit to the Rasch rating scale model. Few problematic items responding differently to clinician and worker both at admission and discharge were detected with the differential item functioning analysis despite the excellent concordance rate using the two conventional statistics-sitting and handling items at admission and handling item at discharge. Conclusion: The item-level speculations using Rasch analysis of the FCE demonstrate that the ratings of clinician and self ratings of worker were psychometrically acceptable though there was an apparent discrepancy between the raters both at admission and discharge.