• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.287-298
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• 2013

Objectives: Workers who use chemicals are exposed to safety accidents and occupational diseases. Employers are required to provide workers with Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) in order to prevent accidents and diseases related to chemicals. Thus, it is very important to offer reliable MSDSs. In this paper, we assessed the reliability of MSDSs for chemicals including formaldehyde. Methods: To evaluate MSDS reliability, we collected 14 MSDSs and bulk samples from the chemical industry. MSDS reliability was evaluated by the completeness of details. In order to evaluate the adequacy of the formaldehyde contents in a mixture, bulk samples were collected and analyzed by HPLC. The result of Globally Harmonized System (GHS) classification was confirmed by identifying physical chemical properties, toxicology information and ecological information. Results: The result of the evaluation of 14 MSDSs showed 76.29% average reliability on each item, especially 53.9% average appropriate rate on hazard risk classification. No chemicals failed to match between the content (%) in MSDSs and the result of analysis. Conclusions: To elevate MSDSs reliability, the certified education of MSDS drafters and reorganization of the MSDS circulation system is required.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 2016

The incidence of occupational injuries and diseases associated with industrialization has declined markedly following developments in science and technology, such as engineering controls, protective equipment, safer machinery and processes, and greater adherence to regulations and labor inspections. Although the introduction of health and safety management systems has further decreased the incidence of occupational injuries and diseases, these systems are not effective unless accompanied by a positive safety culture in the workplace. The characteristics of work in the $21^{st}$ century have given rise to new issues related to workers' health, such as new types of work-related disorders, noncommunicable diseases, and inequality in the availability of occupational health services. Overcoming these new and emerging issues requires a culture of prevention at the national level. The present paper addresses: (1) how to change safety cultures in both theory and practice at the level of the workplace; and (2) the role of prevention culture at the national level.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.75-75
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• 2015

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.12-17
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• 2016

Background: The mining industry is considered as one of the most dangerous and hazardous industries and the need for effective and efficient occupational health and safety management is critical to safeguard workers and the industry. Despite the dangers and hazards present in the mining industry, only few studies have focused on how occupational health and safety and turnover intentions in the mines. Method: The study suing a cross-sectional survey design collected quantitative data from the 255 mine workers that were conveniently sampled from the Ghanaian mining industry. The data collection tools were standardized questionnaires that measured occupational health and safety management and turnover intentions. These scales were also pretested before their usage in actual data collection. Results: The correlation coefficient showed that a negative relationship existed between dimensions of occupational health and safety management and turnover intention; safety leadership (r = -0.33, p < 0.01); supervision (r = -0.26, p < 0.01); safety facilities and equipment (r = -0.32, p < 0.01); safety procedure (r = -0.27, p < 0.01). Among these dimensions, safety leadership and safety facility were significant predictors of turnover intention, (${\beta}=-0.28$, p < 0.01) and (${\beta}=-0.24$, p < 0.01) respectively. The study also found that turnover intention of employees is heavily influenced by the commitment of safety leadership in ensuring the effective formulation of policies and supervision of occupational health and safety at the workplace. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that safety leadership is crucial in the administration of occupational health and safety and reducing turnover intention in organizations.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.256-256
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• 2016

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.90-98
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• 2016

Objectives: The aim of this study is to analyze the status of implementation of occupational safety and health education and evaluate the relation between the implementation of education and occupational accidents. Methods: This study used data on occupational safety and health education from the 2012 Current Status of Occupational Safety and Health survey by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency. The sample is 7,010 persons working in relation to occupational safety and health in industry. An ANOVA test is used to analyze the status of and need for education. Poisson regression is used to evaluate the relation between education and occupational accidents. Results: The rate of implementation of education is 53.3% for periodic education on workers holding office positions, 68.3% for periodic education for workers not holding office positions, 60.3% for periodic education for persons holding managerial and supervisory positions, 65.5% for education provided upon hiring, 50.5% for education provided upon changes in work activities and 37.2% for special education. In the Poisson regression, these data strongly suggest that the probability of occupational accidents occurring with education implemented is much lower than without the implementation of any kind of safety and health education. Conclusions: It is clear that implementation of education has a positive effect on reducing occupational accidents, although its application in domestic industry is insufficient. Thus, it is concluded that education on occupational safety and health should be strengthened for the prevention of occupational accidents.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.263-273
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• 2010

Occupational exposure to wollastonite can occur during its mining, processing and using. Wollastonite was analyzed for its physicochemical properties by transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer. Wollastonite fibers were 3.3${\mu}m$ in diameter(av.) and were 30.5${\mu}m$ in length(av.). The atomic composition of wollastonite was Si 56.41% and Ca 43.59%. Respiratory toxicity of wollastonite has been studied in term sequential in Sprague-Dawely rats. UICC chrysotile (average diameter 0.03${\mu}m$, average length 2.93${\mu}m$) was applied as the positive control. The effects of 2mg wollastonite on respiratory system and pathological changes were evaluated after 1, 4, 8, 12 weeks instilled into rat lungs. Inflammation response broke out from 1 week after instilled with wollastonite and the pathological examination further showed increased legions of granulomatous inflammation after 4 weeks, but decreased granulomatous inflammation after 8 weeks, whereas chrysotile induced progressive interstitial granulomatous inflammation and fibrosis as a function of time.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-2
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• 2022

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.546-548
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• 2021

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.229-236
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• 2019

Background: Emerging reports suggest the potential for adverse health effects from exposure to emissions from some additive manufacturing (AM) processes. There is a paucity of real-world data on emissions from AM machines in industrial workplaces and personal exposures among AM operators. Methods: Airborne particle and organic chemical emissions and personal exposures were characterized using real-time and time-integrated sampling techniques in four manufacturing facilities using industrial-scale material extrusion and material jetting AM processes. Results: Using a condensation nuclei counter, number-based particle emission rates (ERs) (number/min) from material extrusion AM machines ranged from $4.1{\times}10^{10}$ (Ultem filament) to $2.2{\times}10^{11}$ [acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and polycarbonate filaments). For these same machines, total volatile organic compound ERs (${\mu}g/min$) ranged from $1.9{\times}10^4$ (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and polycarbonate) to $9.4{\times}10^4$ (Ultem). For the material jetting machines, the number-based particle ER was higher when the lid was open ($2.3{\times}10^{10}number/min$) than when the lid was closed ($1.5-5.5{\times}10^9number/min$); total volatile organic compound ERs were similar regardless of the lid position. Low levels of acetone, benzene, toluene, and m,p-xylene were common to both AM processes. Carbonyl compounds were detected; however, none were specifically attributed to the AM processes. Personal exposures to metals (aluminum and iron) and eight volatile organic compounds were all below National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-recommended exposure levels. Conclusion: Industrial-scale AM machines using thermoplastics and resins released particles and organic vapors into workplace air. More research is needed to understand factors influencing real-world industrial-scale AM process emissions and exposures.