• Journal of Wellbeing Management and Applied Psychology
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.25-32
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• 2023

Purpose: This study is to improve awareness of MSDS in order to prevent university accidents and protect university laboratory workers. In order to improve awareness, measures to increase accessibility through auxiliary means (warning signs, One Page Sheet MSDS, etc) and ways to strengthen safety training (improvement and strengthen MSDS training). Research design, data and methodology: A questionnaire survey was adopted as a research method for this study. Question items were selected, modified, and supplemented by referring to the previous paper. Results: As a result of the survey, MSDS found that it was difficult to find the information they wanted and that there were many technical terms and limitations in using it. In addition, MSDS training is underway, but few university laboratory workers felt that training was helping. This shows that the effectiveness of training is virtually insignificant. Therefore, it seems that improvement measures are needed to solve this. Conclusions: One Sheet MSDS, an effective way for university laboratory workers to communicate information, and MSDS information should be provided with warning signs with large phrases and good visibility. In addition, this study proposes a One Sheet MSDS that prioritizes important MSDS items over all items in the MSDS, and in the field of education, several improvements are proposed, such as "To prevent problems and answers from being shared on the Internet" and "To improve the difficulty of checking the online curriculum".

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.196-208
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• 1998

To improve the quality of environmental measurements and evaluation of the workplace air in the pigment manufacturing industries, we analyzed metal(chromium, cadmium, lead, iron, cobalt, manganese, antimony, titanium, arsenic, and selenium) concentrations by ICP-AES in sixty seven samples of inorganic bulk pigments which are produced and/or used in Korea. We also collected MSDS which has to be supplied by manufacturer and/or supplier and posted in the workplace according to the Hazard Communication Standards, and compared the number of metals listed in each MSDS with the number of metals determined by ICP-AES. Results were as followed; 1. Among seventeen yellowish-colored samples, chromium(2~19%) and lead(0.1~61%) were the two major metals. In thirteen reddish-colored samples, iron was the major component with 37~81%. Cobalt and manganese were detected in blue-colored samples with less than 1%, while antimony and titanium were the major two metals in white-colored pigments with 178~300 ppm and with 36~65%, respectively. 2. In area samples collected in workplace air(one pigments producing factory and five retailer stores), iron and manganese were detected but the concentrations not exceeded the TLVs(1 and $5mg/m^3$, respectively). In three of fifteen samples, the concentrations of lead exceeded the TLV ($0.05mg/m^3$). 3. Two out of seven companies provided MSDS, and the average provision rate was 22.4%. And the coincidence rate of the number of metals referenced in MSDS and determined by ICP-AES mostly accorded, but in one sample, different metal was detected from MSDS. In summary, metals have to be concerned in evaluation of the workplace air dealing with compounds of inorganic pigments dust are cobalt, chromium, iron, manganese, lead and antimony, and these are simultaneously determined by ICP-AES. Taking this opportunity, it is needed to reinforce that the personnel is to be concerned about prevention of workers' ill health regarding to provision of MSDS.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.371-380
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• 2022

Objectives: To ensure that employers handling petroleum compounds understand whether petroleum-based UVCB (unknown or variable composition, complex reaction products, or biological materials) substances contain hazardous substances and comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Act, petroleum-based UVCB substances were analyzed and the results from samples were compared with MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) contents. Methods: Twenty-one petroleum samples were analyzed using GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry), targeting ten volatile organic compounds regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Results: The target chemicals were detected in 13 out of 21 samples. All 13 samples were in the naphtha (low boiling point naphthas (gasolines)) group. There were also naphtha group samples containing 2% benzene. Some naphtha samples used as solvents contained about 1% benzene. Conclusions: This study shows that naphtha group petroleum substances contain hazardous chemicals in many cases. In particular, if benzene, n-hexane, and toluene with low occupational exposure limits are contained above the limit concentration. Such information should be delivered in the article on MSDS legal regulations.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.95-104
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• 2024

Nanoparticles are commonly used to avoid the opaque white color of TiO₂ based sunscreen. However, a dispersing agent is typically required because of the tendency of the nanoparticles (NPs) to agglomerate. Stearic acid is one kind of dispersing agent often used for sunscreen products. However, according to the MSDS data sheet on stearic acid, stearic acid is highly hazardous to aquatic life and causes irritation on human skin. To avoid this problem, in this study a safer organic dispersing agent extracted from Korean seaweed has been studied to disperse TiO₂ nanoparticles, and further use as an active agent in sunscreen products. The presence of phytochemicals in seaweed extract, especially alginate, can disperse TiO₂ nanoparticles and improve TiO₂ dispersion properties. Results show that seaweed extract can improve the dispersion properties of TiO₂ nanoparticles and sunscreen products. Reducing the agglomeration of TiO₂ nanoparticles improves sunscreen properties, by making it less opaque white in color, and increasing UV protection value. It was also confirmed that adding seaweed extract into sunscreen products had no irritating effects on the human skin, making it more desirable for cosmetics application.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.446-464
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the task-specific hazards of chemicals used by nail technicians in Daegu Metropolitan City. Materials: A total of 30 nail shops located in Daegu City were surveyed to investigate the major tasks and practices performed by nail technicians and the ingredients listed in nail care products used in shops. We also collected instructions for use and material safety data sheets(MSDSs) of nail care products and compared CAS Nos. of ingredients with the lists of chemicals regulated by the Industrial Safety and Health Act(ISHA) and Chemical Substances Control Act(CSCA). Results: A total of 125 chemical ingredients were found in 468 nail care products used at the 30 nail shops. The most frequently found ingredients were ethyl acetate(72%), followed by n-butyl acetate(71.8%), isopropanol(56%), benzophenone(51.1%), nitrocellulose(46.4%) and ethanol(45.3%). Comparing six tasks, the task of manicuring used the most products at 222 products containing 91 ingredients. Among the 125 ingredients, there are 31 chemicals with occupational exposure limits(OEL) designated by the Ministry of Employment and Labor(MoEL), eight categorized as carcinogens, one mutagen and two reproductive toxic chemicals. In terms of carcinogens, formaldehyde was identified as the only confirmed human carcinogen(1A). We found that there was one chemical with a permissible limit, one special management substance, 18 workplace monitoring substances and ten special health diagnosis substances regulated by ISHA. For CSCA, nine poisonous substances, six substances requiring preparation for accidents and one restricted substance were identified. Conclusions: Based on these findings, formaldehyde was identified as one of the chemicals that should most strictly be controlled for the protection of the health of nail technicians and customers. At the same time, it is necessary to distribute materials with detailed hazardous information of nail care products for nail shop technicians.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.423-432
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate asbestos handling history of workers at automobile manufacturing plants in Korea. Methods: National regulations on asbestos and Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency(KOSHA) database on the information of asbestos containing products were reviewed. We investigated asbestos related materials from one automobile manufacturing plant. Material safety data sheets(MSDS) collected in 2010, work environment monitoring results reported from 2000 to 2013, trade union reports and asbestos survey reports were reviewed. We also interviewed workers with long career and did walk-through survey. Results: The Ministry of Labor in Korea has permitted asbestos manufacturing since 1990. In 1997, the use of crocidolite and amosite asbestos were banned. In 2007, the Korean government announced a total ban on the manufacturing, importation and use of all kinds of asbestos, which took full effect in 2009. A total of 174 asbestos products information from KOSHA database was analyzed. Extruded cement panel for building, special brake for crane farm machinery, gasket, joint sheet and thermal insulator were produced until 2007. From automobile manufacturing plant survey, we confirmed that asbestos containing materials(ACM) such as gasket, heating induction materials have been used until 2011. Asbestos containing building materials(ACBM) such as bamlites, slate and ceiling tex were reported at 122 asbestos dismantling projects in 2014. Conclusion: Although the use of all kinds of asbestos were banned from 2009, ACMs and ACBMs installed before 2009 were still found at automobile manufacturing plant until 2011 and 2014 respectively. In particular, asbestos slates should be managed because most of slates had not been removed until 2014.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.554-572
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to analyze the priorities for educational content regarding precautions to be taken to prevent safety accidents for employees in school foodservice using the Borich priority formula and the Locus for Focus model. Methods: A survey was conducted in February 2019 on 194 employees in elementary school and 122 employees in middle- and high school foodservice in the Jeonbuk area. Demographic characteristics, status of safety accidents, safety education, and their importance and performance levels were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. The priorities for the educational content on precautions to prevent safety accidents were based on a 3-step analysis method, including the paired sample t-test, Borich priority formula, and the Locus for Focus Model. Results: The average perceived importance of the precautions to be taken against safety accidents of employees in elementary-, middle-, and high schools was higher compared to the average performance of the employees (p < 0.001). The top priority for elementary school employees was caution against falls during the cleaning of the gas hood and the trench in the kitchen. In addition, 'awareness of chemical signs' was added as one of the top priorities of middle- and high school employees. The second highest priority items were 'do stretching', 'safely adjusting workbench height', 'keeping the right attitude', 'using assistive devices when moving heavy things', and 'checking the material safety data sheet', which were the same for all elementary, middle- and high school employees. Conclusion: Thus, to improve the educational preparedness of employees in the area of safety precautions, eight safety/accident prevention items should be included in the safety education program.