• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.6-11
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• 2016

Background: A permit to work (PTW) is a formal written system to control certain types of work which are identified as potentially hazardous. However, human error in PTW processes can lead to an accident. Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted to estimate the probability of human errors in PTWprocesses in a chemical plant in Iran. In the first stage, through interviewing the personnel and studying the procedure in the plant, the PTW process was analyzed using the hierarchical task analysis technique. In doing so, PTWwas considered as a goal and detailed tasks to achieve the goal were analyzed. In the next step, the standardized plant analysis risk-human (SPAR-H) reliability analysis method was applied for estimation of human error probability. Results: The mean probability of human error in the PTW system was estimated to be 0.11. The highest probability of human error in the PTW process was related to flammable gas testing (50.7%). Conclusion: The SPAR-H method applied in this study could analyze and quantify the potential human errors and extract the required measures for reducing the error probabilities in PTW system. Some suggestions to reduce the likelihood of errors, especially in the field of modifying the performance shaping factors and dependencies among tasks are provided.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.122-124
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• 2019

Simian malaria is a zoonotic disease caused by Plasmodium knowlesi infection. The common natural reservoir of the parasite is the macaque monkey and the vector is the Anopheles mosquito. Human cases of P. knowlesi infection has been reported in all South East Asian countries in the last decade, and it is currently the most common type of malaria seen in Malaysia and Brunei. Between 2007-2017, 73 cases of P. knowlesi infection were notified and confirmed to the Ministry of Health in Brunei. Of these, 15 cases (21%) were documented as work-related, and 28 other cases (38%) were classified as probably related to work (due to incomplete history). The occupations of those with probable and confirmed work related infections were border patrol officers, Armed Forces and security personnel, Department of Forestry officers, boatmen and researchers. The remaining cases classified as most likely not related to work were possibly acquired via peri-domestic transmission. The risk of this zoonotic infection extends to tourists and overseas visitors who have to travel to the jungle in the course of their work. It can be minimised with the recommended use of prophylaxis for those going on duty into the jungles, application of mosquito/insect repellants, and use of repellant impregnated uniforms and bed nets in jungle camp sites.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.115-126
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency and characteristics of occupational blood and body fluid exposure for operating room personnel during surgical procedures and identify risk factors. Methods: A self-report questionnaire was used to survey 519 operating room personnel who participated in 132 surgeries in an acute care hospital in Seoul between April 12 and 20, 2006. Results: The response rate was 82% (530/646) and analyzed total 519 except for improper 11 questionnaires. Exposure rate was 45.5% (60/132) during operations and 20.4% (106/519) for operating room personnel. By job categories, the exposure rate was as follows; anesthesiologists and nurses 31.2% (44/141), operators and assistants 22.1% (32/145), circulating nurses 12.0% (11/92), scrub nurses 11.4% (14/123). The mucous membrane-eye exposure with a high risk of transmitting infection was 6.6% (7/106) and the most frequent route of exposure was blood and body fluid touching unprotected skin. In multivariate analysis, the risk factors of exposure were services, duration of operation, a patient who had a peripheral arterial catheter line, and job category. Conclusion: Educational programs and appropriate use of personal protective equipment are necessary to prevent operating room personnel from being exposed to blood and body fluid.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5869-5873
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• 2015

Background: Breast and cervical cancers are among the most frequent and most fatal cancers in women. Life span of patients may be increased and quality of life improved through early diagnosis and treatment. This investigation was performed in order to determine knowledge and practices of female health personnel working at a university hospital regarding breast and cervical cancers. Materials and Methods: This descriptive investigation was performed in Erciyes University Hospitals in 2014. A total of 524 female health personnel were included in the study. Data were collected through a questionnaire of 36 questions prepared by the researchers. The Chi square test and logistic regression were used for statistical analyses. Results: The mean age of the study group was $32.8{\pm}6.9$ years, 18.3% being doctors and 81.7% nurses. Of the study group, 60.5% stated that they performed self breast-examination, 4.4% underwent HPV testing, 26.3% thought about taking an HPV test, 34.7% of those who are 40 years and over had mammography regularly and 19.5% of those who were married had a Pap smear conducted regularly. Most important causes of not performing the methods for early diagnosis of breast and cervical cancers are "forget and neglect". Conclusions: It was concluded that female doctors and nurses do not pay sufficient attention to screening programs for breast and cervical cancers. The importance of early diagnosis and treatment should be emphasized during the undergraduate education and in-service training programs. Health condition of personnel and their utilization of preventive health care should be followed by occupational physicians.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.494-502
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to identify the general characteristics of manufacturing workplaces and the characteristics of safety and health organizations, and to determine the impact of safety and health-related communication within these organizations mediated by supervisory safety and health management personnel. Methods: This study is based on the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency's 2018 Occupational Safety and Health data targeting 1,486 manufacturing sites. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test and ANOVA, and mediator variable regression analysis using SPSS 25.0. Results: The average score on communication levels related to safety and health was 11.20 out of 15. The average score of the safety and health management level was 31.04 out of 40. As a result of mediation regression analysis, it was found that safety and health-related communication had an effect on the safety and health management level (𝛽=0.434), and the number of safety and health supervisors was found to mediate the effect of this variable (𝛽=0.069). Conclusions: The level of safety and health-related communication affects the level of health and safety management, and the number of supervisors mediates this influence. Therefore, the role of the supervisor is important in safety and health communication. It is expected that the level of safety and health management can be improved through management and supervisors.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.91-99
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to identify occupational stress and health problems as well as turnover reasons among leavers in novice nurses and to estimate factors which might affect turnover by comparing them to stayers. Methods: In this study, secondary analysis of data gathered from the Shift Work Nurse's Health and Turnover studies, was carried out. The data were collected from 204 stayers who have been working for 18 months since 2018 and 48 leavers who left within the same period at two tertiary hospitals in Seoul. The reasons for turnover, occupational stress, and 8 types of health problems were recorded. The data were analyzed using SAS 9.4 to obtain descriptive statistics. In parallel, Pearson's chi-squared test, Fisher's exact test, and independent t-test were also conducted. Results: The main reasons for turnover were job stress and difficult interpersonal relationships in the workplace. Occupational stress of leavers was higher than stayers, especially in the subscales of interpersonal conflict, organizational system, lack of reward, and occupational climate. Among the 8 types of health problems, the depression prevalence of leavers was higher compared to stayers and showed marginal significance. Unexpectedly, the sleep disturbance prevalence of stayers was significantly higher compared to leavers. Conclusion: To reduce the turnover rate of novice nurses, education on how to cope with occupational stress is needed. A customized program for novice nurses to overcome the difficulties of interpersonal relations would be helpful.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.156-166
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• 2021

Purpose: This study verified the characteristics and types of perceptions and attitudes toward a positive image of nurses, as perceived by new nurses, by applying Q-methodology. Methods: Participants were 37 new nurses serving at tertiary hospitals accommodating over 300 beds. Data were collected from April 1~30, 2021. Results: A positive image of nurses was categorized into four types: professional leadership, skilled empathy, experienced responsiveness, and cooperative sincerity. It is believed that this study will help establish a professional view of nurses by verifying the positive image of new nurses, who are likely to lead the future. Conclusion: Furthermore, by reducing the turnover of new nurses and increasing their job satisfaction, it would be possible to secure professional nursing personnel and the public's perception of good nurses, thereby contributing to the enhanced social status of nurses.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.8-16
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• 2020

In Article 311 of the Regulation on Occupational Safety and Health Standards requires the use of Korean Industrial Standards Act in accordance with the Industrial Standardization Act. However, the classification, inspection, maintenance, design, selection, and installation of explosion hazard locations for explosion and explosion prevention and internalization of 'safety' in the performance maintenance phase of electrical machinery and equipment There is no technical and institutional management plan for remodeling and alteration. Analysis of actual conditions and problems related to the installation, use, and maintenance of explosion-proof equipment, comparative analysis of domestic and international technical standards and systems, technical, institutional and administrative systems and systems related to installation, use, and maintenance of explosion-proof equipment, technical personnel and qualifications, etc. It is to propose legislation, system improvement, and technical standard establishment related to the maintenance of explosion-proof facility performance through improvement of the necessity and feasibility study for establishment of the legal status of the management site and management plan. As technical measures, KS standard revision (draft), KOSHA guide (draft) and explosion-proof facility performance maintenance manual were presented. In addition, the institutional management plan proposed the revised rule on occupational safety and health standards, the revised rule on the restriction of employment of hazardous work, and the manpower training program related to the maintenance of explosion-proof facilities and the qualification plan. Enhance safety at the installation, use, and maintenance stage of explosion-proof structured electrical machinery. It is expected to be used to classify explosion hazards, select related equipment, and to update and standardize standards related to installation, use and maintenance.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.3
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• pp.21-30
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• 1993

For the purpose of disclosing the magnitude of low back pain problems of hospital nursing personnel and its possible causes, a questionaire survey was carried out on 418 nurses and nurse aides if a university hospital in Seoul. The results were as follows : 1. Of 418 nurse and nurse aides, 268 persons(64.1%) have experienced 1,145 spells of low back pain during 6-month period. 2. The pain and/or discomfort was mostly limited to the back, although 19% of the episodes accompanied radiating pain to the low extremities. 3. Of those with low back pain, 23 persons(8.6%) were medically diagnosed and 17 persons(6.3%)-underwent medical treatment. Those who sick leave amounted to 8 persons(3.0%). 4. The occurrence of low back pain showed significant association with assignment of duties(wards) and work shifts, while the association was not significant in terms of ranks, careers and overtimes. 5. The occurrence of low back pain was closely associated with lifting and carrying of loads, standing and twisting postures as well as the amount of work. 6. Among the nonoccupational factors, drinking showed statistically significant association with the occurrence of low back pain.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.35
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• pp.44.1-44.11
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• 2023

Background: A series of breast cancer cases were recently reported in a tertiary university hospital in South Korea. Nurses are generally exposed to risk factors for breast cancer such as night shift work, antineoplastic agents, and job strain. However, the epidemiological evidence of excess incidence among nurses remains lacking. This study aims to investigate the excess incidence of breast cancer among nurses in a tertiary university hospital and provide epidemiological evidence of occupational risk factors. Methods: A retrospective cohort was developed using personnel records of female workers in the nursing department who worked from January 2011 to June 2021 in a tertiary university hospital in South Korea. Sick leave records were used to identify cases of breast cancer. The standardized incidence ratio of breast cancer among nurses was compared to the general population. Results: A total of 5,509 nurses were followed up for 30,404 person-years, and 26 breast cancer cases were identified. This study revealed a significantly increased breast cancer incidence among all included nurses, with a standardized incidence ratio of 1.65 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-2.41), compared to the general population. Workers, who handle antineoplastic agents in their representative department and current and/or former department, had significantly elevated breast cancer standardized incidence ratios of 2.73 (95% CI: 1.008-5.94) and 3.39 (95% CI: 1.46-6.68), respectively. Conclusions: This study provides significant evidence of increased breast cancer risk among nursing staff in a hospital setting, particularly those who handle antineoplastic drugs. Measures that reduce exposure to risk factors should be implemented, especially anticancer drugs, to protect healthcare professionals. Further research at a national level that focuses on healthcare workers is necessary to validate breast cancer incidence and its contributing factors.