• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.159-164
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• 2020

Background: This study aimed to examine the association between educational level and unable to work due to ill-health (UWdIH) among 30- to 79-year-old South Koreans. Methods: A cross-sectional nationwide survey of the 2010-2016 Korea National Health and Nutritional Evaluation Survey was used for analyses. A total of 29,930 participants aged ≥30 and < 80 years, who do not have any disability in their daily life because of health problems, were included. Educational level and reason for nonworking are self-reported with multiple choices. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine an association between education level and UWdIH by setting those who graduated college as their final education (n = 6,997) as a baseline while controlling for potential confounding factors. Results: In the age-stratified result, the ratio of UWdIH was increased as age increases in 3 educational groups (p < .0001). There was a tendency that low-level educated [International Standard Classification of Education (0-2)] participants showed higher ratio of UWdIH than high-level educated [International Standard Classification of Education (5≤)] participants in both sexes (odds ratio: 2.54, 95% confidence interval: 2.12-3.05). Conclusion: There is a clear link between educational level and UWdIH; the less the educated, the more likely to be UWdIH. Policy priority should be given to plans that can help this vulnerable social group to work and enjoy healthy lives.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.314-318
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• 2018

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the health industry are quite common, however, there have only been a few studies regarding physiotherapists, while in Greece, there is an apparent lack of research and data. The aim of this study is to investigate MSDs experienced by physiotherapists in Greece, their causes and specific measures, and good practices followed. Additional emerging risk factors will be examined. Methods: A questionnaire of MSDs followed by individual and workplace characteristics was completed by 252 physiotherapists. It covered the major workplace categories such as public hospitals, private rehabilitation centers, and private practices. Results: Analysis indicated that 89% of the respondents had experienced a work-related MSD; 32.2% of those injuries occurred within the first 5 years of working. The most lumbered physiotherapists were those working as private practitioners and almost half of the injured respondents chose to work while injured. The most common measure taken to tackle work related MSDs was found to be physical therapy sessions. Job satisfaction and psychosocial issues were also identified as side-effects of the economic slowdown. Conclusion: Physiotherapists in Greece were found to suffer from MSDs; workplace musculoskeletal injuries were quite common but under-reported. The body parts most affected were the lower back, the upper back, the shoulders, and the neck. There was a strong correlation between the workplace setting and the number of MSDs. A well-defined occupational safety and health management system and strict administration steering were found to reduce MSDs. The economic slowdown experienced in Greece during the execution of this study placed additional pressure on physiotherapists.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.347-357
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• 2023

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic turned biological hazards in the working environment into a global concern. This systematized review of published reviews aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the specific jobs and categories of workers exposed to biological hazards with the related prevention. Methods: We extracted reviews published in English and French in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. Two authors, working independently, subsequently screened the potentially relevant titles and abstracts recovered (step 1) and then examined relevant full texts (step 2). Disagreements were resolved by consensus. We built tables summarizing populations of exposed workers, types of hazards, types of outcomes (types of health issues, means of prevention), and routes of transmission. Results: Of 1426 studies initially identified, 79 studies by authors from every continent were selected, mostly published after 2010 (n = 63, 79.7%). About half of the reviews dealt with infectious hazards alone (n = 38, 48.1%). The industrial sectors identified involved healthcare alone (n = 16), laboratories (n = 10), agriculture (including the animal, vegetable, and grain sectors, n = 32), waste (n = 10), in addition of 11 studies without specific sectors. The results also highlighted a range of hazards (infectious and noninfectious agents, endotoxins, bioaerosols, organic dust, and emerging agents). Conclusion: This systematized overview allowed to list the populations of workers exposed to biological hazards and underlined how prevention measures in the healthcare and laboratory sectors were usually well defined and controlled, although this was not the case in the agriculture and waste sectors. Further studies are necessary to quantify these risks and implement prevention measures that can be applied in every country.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.236-241
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• 2024

Background: Gasoline, a complex mixture of volatile organic compounds is classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans. Gasoline station attendants, consistently exposed to its hazardous components, may face genotoxic effects. This study aimed to assess the influence of varying work shift durations on DNA damage in gasoline station attendants. Methods: Ninety individuals from three locations in southern México were studied. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated, and DNA damage was assessed using the comet assay. Demographic, occupational, and lifestyle data were collected. Statistical analyses included t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation. Results: Significant differences in DNA damage parameters were observed between exposed and unexposed groups. The impact of tobacco, alcohol, and exercise on DNA damage was negligible. Extended work shifts (12 and 24 hours) showed heightened DNA damage compared to 8-hour shifts and the unexposed group. A novel finding revealed a modest but significant correlation between DNA damage and job seniority. Conclusion: The study highlights the intricate relationship between occupational exposure to gasoline components, DNA damage, and work shift lengths. Extended shifts correlate with heightened genotoxic effects, emphasizing the importance of personalized safety measures. The significant correlation between DNA damage and job seniority introduces occupational longevity as a determinant in the genetic health of gasoline station attendants. This discovery has implications for implementing targeted interventions and preventive strategies to safeguard workers' genetic integrity throughout their years of service. The study calls for further exploration of unconsidered factors in understanding the multifactorial nature of DNA damage in this occupational setting.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.12-26
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• 1998

The occupational health problems are the major issue in the modern industrial society. Especially the small scale industries have many hazardous factors and not any occupational health programs in itself. Fortunately. the government-funded subsidiary program was developed and carried out in the past six years in our country. The purposes of this study were to find out the actual condition of the occupational health personnel's accomplishments for the government-funded subsidiary program for small scale industries and to provide basic data for setting up more developed subsidiary occupational health program. Data were collected through 6 kinds of service records review. These service records were written by 3 occupational health personnels were attached to the one subject center of KIHA. were undertaken during March to December, 1997. at 95 small scale industries which were applied the government-funded subsidiary occupational health program. Results were as follows 1. Concerning 95 small scale industries showed characteristics of a typical small scale industry. 2. A doctor visited in industries total 190 times per year, average 19 industries per month, twice per year and industry. A hygienist visited in industries total 378 times per year, average 38 industries per month, four times per year and industry. A nurse visited in industries total 477 times per year. average 47 industries per month, 5 times per year and industry. 3. 3 occupational health personnels accomplished total 3,869 items. A doctor accomplished total 539 items per year, each time 3 items In an industry. A hygienist accomplished total 1.581 items per year, each time 4 items in an industry. A nurse accomplished total 1.749 items per year, each time 4 items in an industry. 4. The major contents of doctor's accomplishment were 'health consultation for suspicious worker with general & occupational disease', 'a check of the workplace & special health education', 'guidance of special medical examination in the second half of year', etc. The major contents of hygienist's accomplishment were 'pretest & guidance of planning for evaluation of working environment'. 'evaluation for ventilating facilities & suporting self inspection', 'guidance of MSDS recording & chemicals management', etc. The major contents of nurse's accamplishment were 'health counseling of general & special medical examination results'. 'health education of preventing occupational disease & health disorder'. 'guidance of subsidiary program planning', 'selecting & guidance of health monitor', etc. It was concluded that the occupaional health personnels implemented the subsidiary program according to the order of health management guide. The current health management guide of subsidiary occupational health program in which the fixed contents, visiting number & periods is not desirable. That guide is left the characteristics of small scale industries out of consideration. It is suggested that occupational health management guide should be developed according to the general & environmental characteristics of each small scale industry, and on the other hand, the more specific guide for each occupational health personnel should be developed.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.542-550
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• 2016

This study analyzed the direct and indirect effects of job competency education on job goal setting, job preparation behavior and first job satisfaction from the perspective that successful employment requires improving the job ability needed for college students. Data on 5,044 students were analyzed based on the 2013GOMS of Graduates Occupational Mobility Survey(GOMS). The study findings are summarized as follows. First, job competency education not only acted positively on job goal setting but also contributed to promoting job preparation behavior. Second, job preparation behavior contributed to improving satisfaction with the first job. Third, indirect effects of job competency education and job goal setting in first job satisfaction. In conclusion, job competencies enhances the possibility that college students may obtain their wanted job by setting a clear goal for their job and having a positive effect on the required behavior. Accordingly, college student should try to reinforce their special capability to accomplish the given job as career professionals in consideration of their aptitude rather than devoting themselves to reinforcing their basic capability such as linguistic ability. For this purpose, both universities and the government should develop educational programs for college students to grasp their aptitude and cultivate their special ability to become career professionals and provide a foundation for them to become talented professionals armed with special capability by proving support for job ability improvement.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.226-230
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• 2017

The performance of sound barriers was evaluated to determine their technical effectiveness and practicality in reducing noise exposures to operating engineers in construction. Commercially purchased sound dampening mats (SDMats) were installed inside three heavy-equipment engine compartments. Sound pressure levels (SPLs) were measured before and after installing the SDMats while the equipment was on idle and full-throttle settings where it normally operates. SPLs inside the heavy-equipment operator cabs were significantly reduced by 5.6-7.6 dBA on the full-throttle setting following installation of the SDMats (p < 0.01). The evaluated engineering control intervention was simple to install, affordable, and substantially reduced the engine noise reaching the heavy-equipment operator, potentially reducing reliance on hearing-protection devices to protect construction workers from noise exposures.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.33-49
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• 2001

This article is concerned with various aspects of establishing the global standard for occupational safety and health management system (OHSMS). The notion, main features, and brief history of the OHSMS are presented. The OHSAS 18000, its assets and liabilities, are reviewed as a prototype of the global standard. It is also addressed the possibility of combining ISO 9000(quality management system), 14000(environmental management system) and the OHSMS into the integrated management system (IMS) as a whole. The concepts of internal and external customers are presented to explain why the environment, safety and health should be incorporated into the notion of total quality 'Participation of the members' and 'standardization of the 4Ms (Man, Machine, Materials and Method)'are emphasized as the major enablers of the IMS. Finally, the industrial, academic and governmental roles are discussed for developing the IMS and setting it down into the Korean industries.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.53-59
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• 2006

The paper highlights technical advances and introduces recent innovations such as smart curing laminating adhesives for flexible packaging with low migration rates of aromatic isocyanates and amines. Latent reactive one-part systems on the basis of surface deactivated solid isocyanates open up new dimensions for heat setting adhesives and waterborne PU dispersions. The new generation of Purmelt Micro Emission adhesives contains less than 0.1% of MDI monomer, thereby drastically reducing the emission of hazardous isocyanate vapors during processing and setting a significantly improved technical standard in occupational safety. Once again, polyurethane adhesives have demonstrated their unique ability to adapt to new process, product, safety and environmental requirements.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.51-63
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• 2009

In the field of ergonomics, it is evident that participatory action research methodology could contribute to reduce risk factors of work related musculoskeletal disorders(WMSDs). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a participatory ergonomics in reducing the incidence rate and severity of WMSDs in the tire manufacturing company. In this study, an action committee comprising 13 members was organized in the tire manufacturing company. The action group participated at every research process, education and training, assessment and intervention of risk factors, and early detection and management of WMSDs during the 3 years(2004-2006). The prevention programs contributed to an overall reduction in incidence rate by approximately 37.2%, and lost workdays and workers' compensation costs by approximately 55.1%. But, the incidence rate increased 29.0%, and compensation costs increased 59.0% in the first-year setting programs, and both the incidence rate and compensation costs decreased after the second-year managing programs. And, the reduction rates(63.2%) of insurance cases is higher than that(9.7%) of non-insurance cases. The results showed that participatory ergonomics programs may be effective in reducing the incidence and severity rate of WMSDs.