• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2017

Considerable effort has been made to address the issue of occupational health and environmental exposure to mercury. This review reports on the current literature of mercury exposure and health impacts on dental personnel. Citations were searched using four comprehensive electronic databases for articles published between 2002 and 2015. All original articles that evaluated an association between the use of dental amalgam and occupational mercury exposure in dental personnel were included. Fifteen publications from nine different countries met the selection criteria. The design and quality of the studies showed significant variation, particularly in the choice of biomarkers as an indicator of mercury exposure. In several countries, dental personnel had higher mercury levels in biological fluids and tissues than in control groups; some work practices increased mercury exposure but the exposure levels remained below recommended guidelines. Dental personnel reported more health conditions, often involving the central nervous system, than the control groups. Clinical symptoms reported by dental professionals may be associated with low-level, long-term exposure to occupational mercury, but may also be due to the effects of aging, occupational overuse, and stress. It is important that dental personnel, researchers, and educators continue to encourage and monitor good work practices by dental professionals.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.28-34
• /
• 2021

Background: Safety management is required to ensure health and safety of personnel in Norwegian fish farming. However, few studies have addressed the status and practical relevance of this risk-reducing measure. Methods: This article provides new knowledge through interviews with 35 employees at different company levels, addressing perceptions of various safety management activities according to managers and operational personnel. Results: The interviews show that managers and operational personnel at fish farms agree that the quantity of measures aimed to improve safety has increased in recent years. However, some activities are perceived to have higher practical relevance than others. In general, measures that fit well with the practical reality are well received by the employees at the fish farms. Conclusion: Suggested improvements include involving operational personnel in the design of procedures, considering all risk dimensions that may affect occupational health and safety, and challenging the value of specific safety activities based on a detailed knowledge of the distinctive characteristics of work practice in fish farming.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.156-167
• /
• 1997

In Korea, based on the Revised Law of Occupational Safety and Health a new entity of institution was set up in 1990 to provide occupational health services to SSE in which three sorts of personnel as a team have to be involved. These institutions, in charge of scores to hundreds of workplace area-wide, have been providing occupational health services without payment from employers or employees, and government reimburses through the Occupational Injury Prevention Insurance since 1993. As a service provider, a team is composed of doctors, nurses and industrial hygienists. Undergraduate and postgraduate educations for the SSE occupational health are not specified and the question on the performance of the personnel has been raised. This study was designed to analyze the facilitating factors of and barriers to the performance and its improvement of these personnel. In 1997, the survey was conducted with all 58 institutions. Structured questionnaires were mailed to 200 personnel who were providing the occupational health service for SSE. The response rate was 51.7% for doctors, 58.6% for nurses, and 60.3% for industrial hygienist, respectively. Results are as follows : 1) There is a guideline for occupational service mandated by the government. Under the guideline, the minimum frequency of visiting workplace is assured with six times of doctors, 17 times for nurse and industrial hygienist in a year. There are one doctor for every 200 factories, one nurse and one hygienist for every 100 factories. 2) All respondents have basic qualification for occupational health service. About 16.7%. of doctors are certified in industrial medicine or preventive medicine, and 64.7% of industrial hygienists had first grade certification. Totally 66.7% of personnel have been involved in occupational health for more than one year. 3) As a support system for the performance improvement, 66.3% respond that they have been provided with educational materials, advice related to industrial environment and guidance of MSDS from Korea Industrial Safety Corporation. Most respondents indicate the lack of concern of employers and employees as a main barrier to the improvement of the service. Also they are in the need of the training opportunity more focused on SSE. The Governments policy for SSE is a principal facilitating factor. Training program focused on SSE situation, manpower, technical support, etc. are areas to be improved to have a better occupational health service for SSE in Korea.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.379-386
• /
• 2022

Emergency medical services (EMS) personnel are at high risk for adverse mental health outcomes during disease outbreaks. To support the development of evidence-informed mitigation strategies, we conducted a scoping review to identify the extent of research pertaining to EMS personnel's mental health during disease outbreaks and summarized key factors associated with mental health outcomes. We systematically searched three databases for articles containing keywords within three concepts: EMS personnel, disease outbreaks, and mental health. We screened and retained original peer-reviewed articles that discussed, in English, EMS personnel's mental health during disease outbreaks. Where inferential statistics were reported, the associations between individual and work-related factors and mental health outcomes were synthesized. Twenty-five articles were eligible for data extraction. Our findings suggest that many of the contributing factors for adverse mental health outcomes are related to inadequacies in fulfilling EMS personnel's basic safety and informational needs. In preparation for future disease outbreaks, resources should be prioritized toward ensuring adequate provisions of personal protective equipment and infection prevention and control training. This scoping review serves as a launching pad for further research and intervention development.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.134-138
• /
• 2015

Background: Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a major preventable occupational health problem with 250 million people worldwide known to have disabling impairment of moderate to greater severity. The aims of the study are to estimate the prevalence of NIHL in the police force; and study its association with age, sex, duration of service (years), smoking and alcohol habits, use of hearing protective devices, as well as preexisting chronic diseases. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 543 police personnel who had undergone periodic medical examination over a 12-month period. The diagnostic criteria for NIHL were (1) history of occupational noise exposure, (2) bilateral hearing loss, (3) hearing loss of ${\geq}25dBA$ at 4,000 Hz in two consecutive audiograms, and (4) no significant medical history affecting hearing. Severity of NIHL was based on the World Health Organization grading. Results: Males (74.8%) made up the majority of the police force. The mean age for police personnel was $35.55{\pm}9.57years$, and the mean duration of service was $14.75{\pm}9.39years$. Compliance with the usage of hearing protective devices was seen in 64.4%. The prevalence of NIHL in this study population was 34.2%, with a higher prevalence in males (37.7%) than in females (23.9%). The study also showed strong associations between NIHL and male sex (odds ratio, 1.9; P < 0.05), and hypertension (odds ratio, 3.3; P < 0.001). Overall, 93% were found to have mild NIHL, 3.5% had moderate NIHL, and 3.5% had severe NIHL. No police personnel were found to have profound hearing loss. Conclusion: The prevalence of NIHL in this study is high compared to other similar studies among police personnel. This study shows that increasing age, male, presence of hypertension, diabetes, and longer duration of service are significant associated factors for NIHL. Preventative strategies include health surveillance, implementation of a hearing conservation program, and legislation.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.55-66
• /
• 2022

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the factors influencing health personnel's occupational stress on turnover intention regarding healthcare accreditation. Methods: A survey was conducted from May 17 to May 31, 2021, among participants to examine occupational stress and turnover intention among health personnel working at a 188-bed specialized hospital in Seoul that is preparing for healthcare accreditation. Results: Occupational stress regarding healthcare accreditation was found to have a positive correlation with turnover intention (r=.698, p <.001), and influenced turnover intention the most, which explains the variance of 55.8% (F=29.015, p <.001). There were significant differences between occupational groups in job stress (F=13.292, p<.001) and turnover intention (F=10.930, p <.001) in the healthcare accreditation. Conclusion: Occupational stress regarding healthcare accreditation is higher in nursing than in other occupations, indicating the need to lower the turnover intention of nurses by preparing a national institutional standard for nursing manpower and also put in place an appropriate compensation system for each hospital seeking accreditation.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.118-122
• /
• 2024

To understand biosafety's current situation in laboratory animal research and risk factors affecting occupational health. Compliance surveys were conducted by questionnaire via Questionnaire Star (an application app on the Internet) in Chinese. Thirty-nine anonymous questionnaires were collected. The surveyed institution has established 24 types of ABSL (Animal Biosafety Laboratory) and biosafety management organizations and systems equipped with safety equipment. Our study also suggests that the principal of the laboratory establishment fails to perform supervision and inspection responsibilities, the inappropriate design of the animal biosafety laboratory, non-standardized personnel training and health management, non-strict waste management, and insufficient emergency management. The administrative department and work units should address certain safety and occupational health risks in laboratory animal research. The author proposes control strategies based on organizational guarantee, personnel management, emergency management, etc., to help prevent risks and ensure occupational health. Due to regional limitations and small sample size, the results may not be generalisable to all parts of the world. However, some of the key common issuesmay also be present in other regions, sowe believe that this research still has some relevance.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.176-192
• /
• 1999

The purpose of this study is to analysis change of industrial health and safety before and after economic crisis(1997~1998). The data were obtained through mail interview with health supervisor(occupational health nurses) during February, 1999. The final sample was consisted of 127 respondents, 97 are selected in this study. The major findings were as follows: First, the percent of industries whose empl safe supervisors, physicians and industry hygi decreased in number is 79.4%, 3.8%, 50.0 21.5% in each. Second, man receiving over 1.5 million won as an average wage of health supervisor is 27.5% in 1997, but it decreased to 25.3% in 1998. Man receiving under 100~150 million won is 48.4% in 1997, but this percent decreased to 36.3% in 1998 and 13.6% of health supervisor regularly were transformed to contingent worker in 1998. Third, especially, budgets for health and saf work place decreased to 13.8% in 1998 than 19. Fourth, industrial accident case, unre accident case, occupational disease decreased than 1997, but mortality from industrial a increased in 250%. Fifth, according to the health diagnosis report, number of case with evidence of disease increased in liver disease, tuberculosis and so on, and number of case with evidence of occupational disease increased in noise induced hearing loss, pneumoconiosis. organic solvent poisoning and so on. Sixth, this survey shows that health council, health education in duty of health supervisor was conducted passive in 1998 thin 1997, and percent of hold two or more positions is 47.6% in medical insurance, 10.7% in accountant's business 8.3 in secretory. 7.1% in telephone operator awl 22.6% in etc. Seventh, distress of health supervisor after economic crisis is 30.9% in employment instability, 19.8% in hold two or more positions and decrease of budgets. For subjugation of the trouble, the respond of active policy of government occupied most.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.110-119
• /
• 2001

This study was performed to review applying the case management to the occupational health nursing as a cost-effective way for injured workers. The case management for injured workers is a comprehensive management system, which is composed of planning and implementing in cooperation with employee, employee' family, medical service provider team, employer and case manager, to provide high quality health services to employee and their family. The case management process for injured workers is similar to the nursing process. It thus appears that the occupational health nurse is best personnel to perform the role of case manager for injured workers in workplace. As a case manager in workplace. the occupational health nurse would be expected to get both knowledge and experiences, to get trusted from the employee and employer, and to expand professional domain in changing health care environment.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.125-133
• /
• 2012

Purpose: This study is to identify factors associated with performance of occupational health services in small-sized workplaces in Korea. Methods: The data were collected from a random sample of 1,158 occupational health managers working for small-sized workplaces across the nation in which occupational health services were supported by Korean Industrial Health Association. A structured questionnaire was self-administrated by occupational health managers about characteristics of workplaces, occupational health managers, and performance level of occupational health services. Results: Stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed that factors associated with performance of occupational health services in small-sized workplaces included supervisor being designated, occupational health manager having received safety and health training, and employer's concern with activities of health management. Conclusion: Government should make efforts to raise the level of employer's concern to occupational health activities. And it is needed to promote health managing staff as a core personnel to self-management for occupational health system.