• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.61-70
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• 1997

This study is undertaken to investigate the differences of accident characteristics between occupational deaths and nonfatal injuries in overall industry of Korea. The national statistics of industrial accidents in the years 1991-1994 were extracted from the annual publications of Ministry of Labor. To make the statistical comparisons for the accident characteristics, we derived the destributions of occupational deaths and injuries in terms of injured person's age, work experience, tiem of accident, activity at time of accident, accident type, injury type, injured part of body, and agency of accident. The results show that the distributions of the occupational deaths are significantly different from those of the nonfatal injuries in all characteristics investigated in this study. These findings indicate that the accident prevention programs should be developed and implemented by taking into account the characteristics of working environments based on accident analysis.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.187-202
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• 2018

Objective: The study aims to examine fathers' parental stress and the variables effecting parental stress of fathers with infants. Methods: One hundred seventeen fathers with 0 to 2 year-olds were recruited from daycare centers in Daejeon metropolitan city. The Korean version of the Parenting Stress Index Short Form (K-PSI-SF) by Lee, Jung, Park and Kim(2008), The Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short Form (Koss-SF) by Jang and Ko(2005), and the Revised-Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale(RKMSS) by Chung (2004) were used to measure fathers'parental stress, occupational stress, and marital satisfaction. Results: First, the most influential variable that affected father's parental stress was their marital satisfaction. The fathers felt less parental stress when they felt higher marital satisfaction. Second, fathers felt less parental stress when their occupational environments were family friendly. Conclusion/Implications: Ways to improve mariatal satisfacation and a family friendly evironment at work should be sought out in order to lessen the parental stress of fathers raising infants.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2020.06a
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• pp.169-170
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• 2020

Occupational Safety and Health Management Cost, used to protect workers in Korean construction worksites and to create safe working environments, is a legally managed expense item. As this cost item is grounded on the Occupational Safety and Health Act, it is always implemented. However, because there is a ceiling on its rates, insufficient amounts of Safety Management Costs are often allocated to worksites, with the money not being used to areas essential to worker safety. As such, the current study raises the need to develop a set of standards to enable some items under the Occupational Safety and Health Management Costs-appropriated under the rate of indirect costs-to be appropriated as direct construction costs. As a preliminary step in this effort, the current study will provide basic data that can be used to create construction cost calculation standards for items that can be calculated as direct construction costs.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.77-83
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• 2013

There is still a considerable burden of occupational diseases and injuries in the world. It is not well known which interventions can effectively reduce the exposures at work that cause this burden. The objective of this article is to summarize evidence from systematic reviews of interventions to prevent occupational diseases and injuries. We included systematic reviews of interventions to reduce the incidence of work-related cancer, dust-related diseases, occupational asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, noise induced hearing loss, back pain, and occupational injuries. We searched Medline and Embase with predefined search strategies to locate systematic reviews of these interventions. We found 23 systematic reviews of which the results are also applicable to low- and middle income countries. Effective measures to reduce exposure leading to work-related cancer, dust-related diseases, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, noise, and injuries are available. However, better implementation of these measures is needed. Regulation, enforcement of regulation, and incentives for employers are effective interventions to achieve this goal. There is evidence that feedback and rewards for workers help in reducing occupational injuries. There is no evidence in many studies that back pain can be prevented. Personal protective equipment technically has the potential to reduce exposure but this is difficult to put into effect. There is no evidence in the studies regarding the effectiveness of education and training, preventive drugs, or health examinations. There is evidence that the implementation of technical measures enforced by regulation can prevent occupational diseases and injuries. For other interventions such as education or health examinations, there is no evidence that supports their effectiveness. More systematic reviews are needed in the area of injury prevention.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.17-30
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• 2023

The human reproductive system can be affected by occupational exposure to many physical and chemical risk factors. This study was carried out to review the studies conducted on the issue of the pathophysiological effects of occupational physical and chemical risk factors on the reproductive system of females and males. In this systematic review, the databases such as "Google Scholar," "Pub-Med," "Scopus," and "Web of Science" were used. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020), the studies included in our study were published between 2000 and 2021. In order to extract the required data, all sections of the articles were reviewed. Out of 57 articles we reviewed, 34 articles were related to field studies and 23 articles to clinical studies. Among them, 43 studies dealt with the pathophysiological effects of chemical agents, six studies dealt with the pathophysiological effects of physical factors, and 8 studies dealt with the pathophysiological effects of physicochemical factors on the human reproductive system. Physical (noise, heat, and radiofrequency radiation) and chemical (such as carbamate and organophosphate pesticides, benzene, toluene, xylene, formaldehyde, NO2, CS2, manganese, lead, nickel, and n-hexane) risk factors had pathophysiological effects on the human reproductive system. The presence of these risk factors in the workplace caused damage to the human reproductive system. The rate of these negative pathophysiological effects can be reduced by performing appropriate managerial, technical, and engineering measures in work environments.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study is to investigate the awareness and interest rate of residential environment and to establish basic data for further development of occupational therapy through the results. Methods : This survey was conducted between April 1th and May 31st 2015 and 165 questionnaires were public. The questionnaires of 165 respondents were analyzed through Cosstabs, Descriptive statistics, Frequency study and t-test, ANOVA analysis using SPSS ver. 18.0 Results : Looking for recognition percentage of residential environment improvement, 44.8% of people reply the changing the house structure and 26.8% of people reply the cure method. in contrast to 28.5% of people reply the architect, the only 9.1% of people reply occupation therapist. the most people agree that residential environment improvement is important. but there is no difference about answer between sex and age. 5.9% of people reply that improving live environments may be good for improving life quality but 7.6% of people reply independency may increase, it is not important because it must need lot of money for improving live environments Conclusion : The awareness of the residential environment improvement in short supply, but Things that are significant in the distance, the need for further residential environment improvement was broad consensus. residential environment improvement for people with disabilities in economic assistance and occupational therapists and incursion of correlated to require institutional support.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 2010

Objectives: The level of benzene exposure in the petrochemical industry during regular operation has been well established, but not in turnaround (TA), where high exposure may occur. In this study, the characteristics of occupational exposure to benzene during TA in the petrochemical companies were investigated in order to determine the best management strategies and improve the working environment. This was accomplished by evaluating the exposure level for the workers working in environments where benzene was being produced or used as an ingredient during the unit process. Methods: From 2003 to 2008, a total of 705 workers in three petrochemical companies in Korea were studied. Long- and short-term (< 1 hr) samples were taken during TAs. TA was classified into three stages: shut-down, maintenance and start-up. All works were classified into 12 occupation categories. Results: The long-term geometric mean (GM) benzene exposure level was 0.025 (5.82) ppm (0.005-42.120 ppm) and the short-term exposure concentration during TA was 0.020 (17.42) ppm (0.005-61.855 ppm). The proportions of TA samples exceeding the time-weighted average, occupational exposure level (TWA-OEL in Korea, 1 ppm) and the short-term exposure limit (STEL-OEL, 5 ppm) were 4.1% (20 samples of 488) and 6.0% (13 samples of 217), respectively. The results for the benzene exposure levels and the rates of exceeding the OEL were both statistically significant (p < 0.05). Among the 12 job categories of petrochemical workers, mechanical engineers, plumbers, welders, fieldman and scaffolding workers exhibited long-term samples that exceeded the OEL of benzene, and the rate of exceeding the OEL was statistically significant for the first two occupations (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that the periodic work environment must be assessed during non-routine works such as TA.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.31
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• pp.11.1-11.6
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• 2016

Objectives A hazard assessment of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a commonly used workplace chemical, was conducted in order to protect the occupational health of workers. A literature review, consisting of both domestic and international references, examined the chemical management system, working environment, level of exposure, and possible associated risks. This information may be utilized in the future to determine appropriate exposure levels in working environments. Methods Hazard assessment was performed using chemical hazard information obtained from international agencies, such as Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development-generated Screening Information Data Set and International Program on Chemical Safety. Information was obtained from surveys conducted by the Minister of Employment and Labor ("Survey on the work environment") and by the Ministry of Environment ("Survey on the circulation amount of chemicals"). Risk was determined according to exposure in workplaces and chemical hazard. Results In 229 workplaces over the country, 831 tons of DEHP have been used as plasticizers, insecticides, and ink solvent. Calculated 50% lethal dose values ranged from 14.2 to 50 g/kg, as determined via acute toxicity testing in rodents. Chronic carcinogenicity tests revealed cases of lung and liver degeneration, shrinkage of the testes, and liver cancer. The no-observed-adverse-effect level and the lowest-observed-adverse-effect level were determined to be 28.9 g/kg and 146.6 g/kg, respectively. The working environment assessment revealed the maximum exposure level to be $0.990mg/m^3$, as compared to the threshold exposure level of $5mg/m^3$. The relative risk of chronic toxicity and reproductive toxicity were 0.264 and 0.330, respectively, while the risk of carcinogenicity was 1.3, which is higher than the accepted safety value of one. Conclusions DEHP was identified as a carcinogen, and may be dangerous even at concentrations lower than the occupational exposure limit. Therefore, we suggest management of working environments, with exposure levels below $5mg/m^3$ and all workers utilizing local exhaust ventilation and respiratory protection when handling DEHP.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.73-92
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• 2021

Objectives: The purposes of this study was to describe workers' perceived values and the affecting factors (pros and cons) of the experience education for occupational safety and health and to suggest the strategies and future directions to improve the experience educational quality. Methods: A total of 8 male workers taking the safety and health education of the 7 safety experience education centers involved in this study (5 centers managed by Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA), 2 centers of large commercial companies). This study used Photovoice, a qualitative method, as the study method. We conducted the photovoice-based in-depth interview with the SHOWeD questions and strategy and used the taxonomical analysis. Results: The study participants' perceived values of experience education were strengthening self-efficacy of the safety and health practices, providing practically useful information, and enjoying refreshing experiences different from daily jobs. Positive affecting factors of the experience education (pros) were providing the educational environments and opportunities of direct experiences, teaching practical safety and health contents for the participants, and the trainer's instruction competencies. Negative affecting factors of the experience education (cons) were learner's negative or standing postures during trainer's lecturing, insufficient exercise conditions and facilities for education, and difficult and theory-oriented lecture far from the practical jobs in reality. Conclusions: Major values of exercise education were direct experiences, useful contents and interesting opportunities from the education participants' perspectives. To improve the exercise education quality, overall educational environments such as convenience facilities as well as exercise facilities should be modified altogether. This study partially and conveniently used the photovoice method as the study limitation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.160-168
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• 2014

Objectives: Chemical hazard evaluations are important for workers' health and working environments. Allyl chloride (CAS No. 107-05-1) is used in many industries, leading to concerns about the possibility of threats to the health of workers. Since only insufficient or controversial information is available about potential related hazards, an in vitro mammalian chromosomal aberration (CA) assay was conducted in order to gain additional information concerning any such hazards. Moreover, toxicological information from this study could be applied for workers' rights to know, and to prepare or update the Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for a number of industries. Methods and Results: The assay was performed using the Chinese hamster lung fibroblast cell (ATCC, CRL-1935), by the direct method (-S9) and by the metabolic activated method (+S9 mix). Using the direct method, the seven dosages in the 48-hour treatment group did not show that the frequency of CA is proportionate to the dosage. The frequency of CA is not proportionate to the dosage addition for a six-hour treatment using the metabolic activated method. Conclusions: From these findings, it was decided that this chemical does not induce chromosomal aberrations under the tested conditions.