• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.136-138
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• 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is a newly emerging infectious disease worldwide, can be categorized as an occupational disease, because employees, particularly in the healthcare system, can be infected at the workplace. As of December 15, 2020, we summarized the occupational safety and health practices in selected countries on the recognition of COVID-19 as one of the occupational risks. The situation has differed among countries, including the recognition status and whether a specific regulation existed. International organizations, namely the International Labour Organization, World Health Organization, and European Union, should plan and conduct studies on the work-relatedness of COVID-19, propose criteria for recognition, and add the infection to the occupational disease list to provide a basis for specific country regulations. Stakeholders should also act to adjust country-level legislation.

• 한국산업간호협회지
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.20-23
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• 2010

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.353-363
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• 2020

Objectives: Occupational diseases that occur due to or aggravated by work have commonly been recognized in the manufacturing industry, but there are now more incidences happening in the service industry due to changes in the industrial structure. Health workers are exposed to direct factors and various other causes of occupational disease at work, such as physical, chemical, biological, and psyco-social factors. This study aims to identify work-related diseases affecting health workers that are recognized as occupational diseases. Methods: The research is based on the data of workers whose diseases were accepted as work-related by the Industrial Accidents Compensation Insurance, and filed by the Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency. Amongst the approved claims during 2011 to 2015, we focused on healthcare workers and health-related workers of the Korean Standard Classification of Occupations. Descriptive statistics were performed. Results: The number of health workers(HWs) with approved work-related disease was 1,707 over 5 years. The number of healthcare workers(HCWs) excluding caregivers was 370 (21.7%) and of health-related workers (HRWs) it was 736 (43.1%). Out of HWs who were approved for their illnesses, females were 80% of HCWs and 88% of HRWs. The most common occupational disease in HWs was musculoskeletal diseases, while that of nurses was infectious disease. Conclusions: HWs are exposed to various risks from their profession and are affected by occupational diseases. It is necessary to focus on this issue and provide preventive measures.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.507-511
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• 2022

Law enforcement officers (LEOs) often encounter rapidly changing and uncontrolled situations that expose them to various hazards. A law enforcement agency requested an evaluation by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) when multiple LEOs reported illness after executing a search warrant and taking a suspect into custody. NIOSH investigators interviewed LEOs and reviewed medical records, forensic laboratory results for collected evidence, and environmental testing results of samples taken after the operation. Two-thirds (25 of 38) of LEOs who participated in the operation reported ≥1 symptom. Eleven LEOs met a case definition for influenza-like illness (ILI). Members of one unit were more likely to have ILI than non-members (prevalence ratio (PR), 4.1; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3-13.0; p = 0.01). Influenza vaccination was associated with a lower prevalence of ILI (PR, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.1-0.9; p = 0.02). Preventing employees from working while ill and annual influenza vaccination might prevent similar occurrences.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제8권3호
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• pp.246-249
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• 2017

Health-care workers are at risk of exposure to occupational infections with subsequent risk of contracting diseases, disability, and even death. A systematic collection of occupational disease data is useful for monitoring current trends in work situations and disease exposures; however, these data are usually limited due to under-reporting. The objective of this study was to review literature related to knowledge, risk perceptions, and practices regarding occupational exposures to infectious diseases in Malaysian health-care settings, in particular regarding blood-borne infections, universal precautions, use of personal protective equipment, and clinical waste management. The data are useful for determining improvements in knowledge and risk perceptions among health-care workers with developments of health policies and essential interventions for prevention and control of occupational diseases.

• 대한지역사회작업치료학회지
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.39-49
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• 2016

목적 : 부산 지역 내 작업치료사를 대상으로 작업치료실의 감염성 질환 감염 실태와 감염예방 관리 실태에 관하여 알아보고자 하였다. 연구방법 : 2016년 6월 한 달 동안 감염성 질환 감염 실태, 감염예방 관리 및 감염관리 인식도의 네 파트로 구성된 설문지를 부산 지역 내 작업치료실 23 곳, 작업치료사 111명을 대상으로 실시하였다. 결과 : 34.8%의 의료기관에서 작업치료사들이 옴, 결핵, C-diffficile, MRSA, HFM 등의 감염성 질환을 경험하였다. 작업치료사는 대부분의 감염예방 관리 항목에서 수행도가 높으나, '15초 이상 손 씻기'와 '장갑 착용 전 후에 손 씻기', '치료 시 마스크 착용'과 '사용한 마스크 즉각 버리기', '화장실 이용 시 시트 클리너 사용하기' 에서 낮은 수행도를 보였다. 그 외 '피, 침, 고름 및 분비물로 오염된 세탁물을 일반 세탁물과 분리 세탁하기'항목에서 낮은 수행도를 보였다. 또한 대부분의 작업치료사는 작업치료 임상에서 감염관리 교육은 중요하고 교육이 필요하다고 인식하고 있지만 현재 감염교육은 대부분 근무처에서만 이루어지고 있는 것으로 나타났다. 결론 : 감염예방 관리 수행 향상을 위해서는 치료사 개인의 노력이 필요할 뿐만 아니라, 제도적인 뒷받침이 이루어져야 한다. 또한 본 연구는 차후, 작업치료사들을 대상으로 하는 감염관리 교육 시, 활용할 수 있는 기초자료가 될 수 있을 것이다.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제6권4호
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• pp.353-356
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• 2015

Background: In 2012, the Alaska Section of Epidemiology investigated personnel potentially exposed to a Brucella suis isolate as it transited through three laboratories. Methods: We summarize the first implementation of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2013 revised recommendations for monitoring such exposures: (1) risk classification; (2) antimicrobial postexposure prophylaxis; (3) serologic monitoring; and (4) symptom surveillance. Results: Over 30 people were assessed for exposure and subsequently monitored for development of illness. No cases of laboratory-associated brucellosis occurred. Changes were made to gaps in laboratory biosafety practices that had been identified in the investigation. Conclusion: Achieving full compliance for the precise schedule of serologic monitoring was challenging and resource intensive for the laboratory performing testing. More refined exposure assessments could inform decision making for follow-up to maximize likelihood of detecting persons at risk while not overtaxing resources.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제12권4호
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• pp.530-535
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• 2021

Background: Despite the lack of official COVID-19 statistics, various workplaces and occupations have been at the center of COVID-19 outbreaks. We aimed to compare legal measures and governance established for managing COVID-19 infection risks at workplaces in nine Asia and Pacific countries and to recommend key administrative measures. Methods: We collected information on legal measures and governance from both general citizens and workers regarding infection risks such as COVID-19 from industrial hygiene professionals in nine countries (Indonesia, India, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Republic of the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand) using a structured questionnaire. Results: A governmental body overseeing public health and welfare was in charge of containing the spread and occurrence of infectious diseases under an infectious disease control and prevention act or another special act, although the name of the pertinent organizations and legislation vary among countries. Unlike in the case of other traditional hazards, there have been no specific articles or clauses describing the means of mitigating virus risk in the workplace that are legally required of employers, making it difficult to define the responsibilities of the employer. Each country maintains own legal systems regarding access to the duration, administration, and financing of paid sick leave. Many workers may not have access to paid sick leave even if it is legally guaranteed.

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.95-107
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• 2019

Objective : The aim of this study was to investigate the infection management awareness and infection prevention management status of students who participated in occupational therapy and clinical practice. Methods : The study was carried out from June 27th to August 4th, 2017, to survey the awareness and practice of infection control in 11 practice institutes among 193 students who had experience in 8 universities. Results : A total of 93.3 % of the respondents said that they needed education about infectious diseases, but 53.3 % of them did not receive infection prevention education at school or in clinical trial institutes. Hygienic practices for infection prevention and infection control practices related to handwashing were high, but the use of protective equipment was poor in the observation of swallowing disorder treatment. It is also important to educate students who have been trained in infection control. However, infection prevention training at universities and training centers is insufficient suggesting the importance of future infection education. Conclusion : Infection control education to prevent infection is necessary not only for clinicians but also for students participating in on-the-job training. Effective efforts are also needed in universities and clinical practice institutes so that infectious disease prevention education can be implemented. This study provides basic data for infection control education in universities and practice educational institute that perform clinical training and occupational therapy.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.247-253
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• 2010

Recycling is a main issue in protection of the environment and waste collection and sorting have much higher value in current recycling policies than they did previously. Waste collectors, like firefighters and policemen, are working for the public benefit, however, waste collection is more dangerous than either police or firefighting work. In the USA, waste collectors are 10 times more likely than the average worker to die on the job. Waste collectors also suffer from musculoskeletal disorders, infectious diseases and various injuries. If we truly appreciate the worth of waste collectors, we need to improve their working environment and personal hygiene. Furthermore, abolishing discrimination will be a very important step towards greater protection for waste collectors.