• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.50-58
• /
• 2003

The purpose of this study was to develop the certification system, analyze the job profile of occupational health nurses, plan the education program and suggest the political recommendations. Many materials of KAOHN (Korean Association of Occupational Health Nurses) were collected and analyzed and many times of meetings and workshops were held to coordinate the various opinions from related organizations. The results were as follows; 1. The certification of occupational health nurse will be available to the nurses who have the careers more than three years, graduate the education program for certified occupational health nurse, and pass the certified occupational health nurse examination. 2. Two types of education program will be needed, one will be the one-year program for diploma nurses and the other will be master program for baccalaureate nurses. 3. The plan was made for 2000 occupational health nurses to be certified by 2010. By 2007, annually 200 occupational health nurses will graduate from one-year program and 40 occupational health nurses will graduate from master program. After than, 260 occupational health nurses will graduate from master program and 40 or 80 occupational health nurses will graduate from one-year program. 4. To facilitate the usage and motivation of certified occupational health nurse, political recommendations were suggested; revision of the related laws and regulations, the incentives for employers, and financial supports for the certified occupational health nurse educations by the government.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.125-129
• /
• 2019

The ultimate goal of the quality control program for special periodic health examination agencies is to diagnose the health condition of a worker correctly, based on accurate examination and analysis skills, leading to protect the worker's health. The quality control program on three areas, chemical analysis for biological monitoring since 1995, and pneumoconiosis, audiometric testing since 1996, has contributed to improve the reliability of occupational health screenings by improving the issues including standardization of testing methods, tools, diagnostic opinions, and reliability of analysis for biological monitoring. It has contributed to improving the reliability of occupational health monitoring by rectifying the following issues associated with previous monitoring: absence of standardized testing methods, testing tools that are not upgraded, mismatching diagnostic opinions, and unreliable results of biological specimen analysis. Nevertheless, there are issues in need of further improvement such as lack of expertise or the use of inappropriate method for health examination, and passive and unwilling participation in the quality control. We suggested solutions to these problems for each area of quality control program. Above all, it is essential to provide active support for health examiners to develop their expertise, while encouraging all the health screening agencies, employers, and workers to develop the desire to improve the system and to maintain the relevance.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.34-43
• /
• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop the curriculum model for occupational health nurse specialist in Korea. Method: Internet searching was conducted to analyze the type of master program for occupational health nurses in the U. S. To identify the importance of occupational health nurse specialist (OHNS)'s role, self-administrative questionnaire survey was done to335 occupational health nurses through postal mail and continuing education in 2003. SPSSWIN 10.0 was used for data analysis. Results: In the U. S., two main types of nurse practitioner program and nurse manager program are separately operated for occupational health nurses as master level. Under the governmental support, geographical and financial barrier can be decreased through the distance learning and the appointment of regional ERC. Most occupational health nurses recognized importantly the role of OHNS as direct care provider, educator, consultant, and manager. Conclusion: It is recommended that the job standard for OHNS needs to be developed, and regulation has to be changed for the diverse curriculum based on the need of occupational health nurses, and governmental support must be strengthened for occupational health nurses to apply more easily to the program.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.322-326
• /
• 2017

In 1992, the quality control program was introduced in Republic of Korea to improve the reliability of the work environment monitoring, which was introduced in the 1980s. The commission entrusted by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute has conducted the program for industrial hygiene laboratories including designated monitoring institutions and spontaneously participating agencies. The number of institutions that participated in the program has increased from 30 to 161. The initial conformance ratio in the participants was 43% (organic solvents) and 52% (metals). Thereafter, the conformance ratio increased rapidly and it has remained in a stable state at more than 89% since 1996. As subject materials, 13 kinds of organic solvents and 7 kinds of metals were used. To improve the capability of measurement and analysis of private institutions, educational courses were conducted annually. An assessment at the actual sites of participants was additionally introduced into the program in 2013. Thus, the program turned into a system that administrates the overall process of participants. For the future, the scope of target materials will be extended through additional items. Thus, the reliability of the results of the work environment monitoring is expected to increase accordingly.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
• /
• 2003.06a
• /
• pp.150-151
• /
• 2003

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to contribute to the prevention of occupational diseases through the development of an automatic analysis program for evaluating workers' exposure to hazardous chemical substances. Methods: The authors selected chemical substances that caused occupational disease in Korea and chemical substances that are frequently used in industrial sites as target substances for a GC-MS automatic analysis program. The target substances are organic compounds which can be measured by a passive sampler. The automatic analysis program was studied using various raw data obtained from GC-MS analysis for the target substances. Results: A total of 48 organic compounds that can be measured with a passive sampler were selected as target substances for the GC-MS automatic analysis program. The selected compounds included substances that caused occupational disease, substances related to C1 and D1 in special health examinations, and substances for which work environment measurements have been frequently conducted. The GC-MS automatic analysis program was developed by combining information mainly on retention time and mass spectrum. The GC-MS automatic analysis program is designed to analyze unknown samples by comparing the mass spectrum and retention time of the samples to those of reference materials. To evaluate the stability of the program, samples at about the 30-50% level of OELs were prepared and analyzed with the GC-MS automatic analysis program, resulting in stable results for all 48 organic compounds. Conclusion: An automatic analysis program for a total of 48 organic compounds was developed using a GC-MS system that can analyze organic compounds. Unknown samples that contain the 48 organic compounds can be automatically analyzed by the developed program. It is anticipated that it can contribute to the prevention of occupational diseases through an GC-MS automatic analysis program that can quickly provide workers with information on exposure to chemical substances.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.72-111
• /
• 1996

Background: Group occupational health program by non-for-profit agency, started five years ago, for management of health problems in small and medium sized industries, is one of the measures to cope with limited human and financial resources in occupational health. The program has been rapidly expanding to include 54 participating institutions, private as well as public, all over the country. In spite of its potential impact on health of employees and practice of occupational health in small and medium sized industries, comprehensive evaluation in terms of quality has not been tried. Objectives : The aim of this study are to develop and apply criteria to assess quality of newly developed Korean group occupational health program. Methods : By defining occupational health services, in particular for small and medium sized industries, as one of the primary health care, we included followings as core elements of sound occupational health program; accessibility, continuity, intersectoral collaboration, comprehensiveness, community participation, technical quality, adequacy, focus on preventive services, acceptability, and workers' satisfaction. Again we divided each elements into five major components of national health system infrastructures developed by World Health Organization; development of health resources organized arrangement or resources, delivery of health care, economic support, and management. In turn, we categorized each component into input, process and outcome aspects. After discussions in expert panel, several criteria were selected for evaluation of program. The criteria were modified according to each group of interviewees. Results: We developed five sets of questionnaire that evaluate the quality of 'Group occupational health program'. Conclusion : The refining of the measurement tool and the continuing evaluation process for the 'Group occupational health institute' should be done further.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.107-111
• /
• 2010

This paper provided a brief summary of the current strategic goals, activities, and impacts of the NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) occupational injury research program. Three primary drivers (injury database, stakeholder input, and staff capacity) were used to define NIOSH research focuses to maximize relevance and impact of the NIOSH injury-prevention-research program. Injury data, strategic goals, program activities, and research impacts were presented with a focus on prevention of four leading causes of workplace injury and death in the US: motor vehicle incidents, falls, workplace violence, and machine and industrial vehicle incidents. This paper showcased selected priority goals, activities, and impacts of the NIOSH injury prevention program. The NIOSH contribution to the overall decrease in fatalities and injuries is reinforced by decreases in specific goal areas. There were also many intermediate outcomes that are on a direct path to preventing injuries, such as new safety regulations and standards, safer technology and products, and improved worker safety training. The outcomes serve as an excellent foundation to stimulate further research and worldwide partnership to address global workplace injury problems.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.140-147
• /
• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the types of worksite health promotion programs. Method: Data were collected from the excellent 35 cases chosen at the contest for worksite health promotion held by Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency. Result: Out of all the health promotion programs, the exercise program recorded 35.0%, the nutrition program 29.4%, the smoking cessation program 28.0%, and the alcohol reduction program 7.6%. The major element of worksite health promotion programs were awareness raising intervention. Behavior change intervention and supportive environment intervention occupied a small portion of the health promotion programs. Evaluation of health promotion programs was made mainly by indicators of health behavior change and clinical symptom. Yet economical indicator was not used at all. Conclusion: Use of various evaluation indicator and development of various interventions including behavior change and supply of supportive environment are required to encourage worksite health promotion program.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.132-149
• /
• 2002

Purpose: This study was conducted to provide the fadamental information to prepare better Occupational Health Program for SSI based on the evaluation of the experience of nurse who were working in the Government-funded subsidized occupational health program for SSI. Method: The focus group method was used. Data was collected using focus group interviews and analyzed in the framework of the Grounded theory method as mapped by Strauss and Corbin(1990). The subjects were 14 nurses. Result: We identified 60 concepts, 30sub-categories and 6 categories(Table 1). Categories were Various services, Difficulties in implement Services, Successful strategies, Program Evaluation, Alternative Plans and Adaptation to new field. Conclusion: Nurses evaluated the effect of this program that autonomous health management ability has not changed although the possibility for the small scale industries to start the health management arose by acknowledging the importance of the health management of the workplace. In spite of many difficulties in implement services, nurses provided various health services using successful strategies. They suggest that various programs such as a model set-up suitable for the quality of workplaces and a role model set-up of the occupational health nurse for SSI as well as various efforts for the activated this program were needed. Nurses had a hard time in unfamiliar field when they began this program and overcame this difficulties with various strategies.