• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.20 no.4 s.58
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• pp.69-75
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• 2005

Professional taxi driver exposure to indoor air pollutants has been a subject of concern in recent years because of higher levels of air pollutants, comparing to the surrounding atmosphere. This study evaluated the potential exposure to respirable suspended particulate (RSP), nitrogen dioxide $(NO_2)$ and volatile organic compounds (VOCs; benzene and toluene) for professional taxi drivers inside each of 10 vehicles in Pusan, comparing weekday (Monday and Thursday) and weekend (Saturday). Indoor mean concentrations of RSP inside vehicle were $53.88\;ug/m^3\;and\;75.52\;ug/m^3$ on weekday and weekend, respectively. Measured indoor $NO_2$ concentrations were 28.32ppb and 40.69 ppb, respectively. Benzene and toluene mean concentrations inside vehicle were 5.41 ppb and 11.36 ppb, respectively. Considering no smoking of taxi drivers inside vehicle, closed window in winter, and increased usage of taxi on weekend, source of indoor air pollutants inside taxi might be mainly suggested from the number of passenger's carried, faulty exhaust systems, and engine and carburetor evaporative emissions.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2014

For professional drivers, there is a possibility to have musculoskeletal disorders on ankle joint due to repetitive pedaling operation. Therefore, this study have focused to examine ankle active range of motion (AROM), dorsiflexor strength, and pressure pain threshold (PPT) of tibialis anterior muscle (TA) in taxi drivers compared to a age-matched control group. Thirty male taxi drivers with at least 10 years of driving experience and thirty male sedentary workers were evaluated for ankle AROM, dorsiflexor strength, and PPT of TA. Multiple independent t-tests were used to identify significant differences between two groups. For the results, taxi drivers had significantly less AROM in dorsiflexion and greater AROM in external tibial rotation compared to the control group. Also, dorsiflexor strength and PPT of TA in taxi drivers was significantly lower than in the control group. This study indicates that the repetitive ankle movements associated with driving have an effect on ankle AROM, dorsiflexor strength, and PPT of TA and may lead to work-related musculoskeletal disorders on ankle. Professional drivers may need to be educated to prevent a potential musculoskeletal disorders associated with repetitive movement.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.454-461
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• 2018

Background: Working conditions and psychosocial work factors have acquired an important role explaining the well-being and performance of professional drivers, including those working in the field of public transport. This study aimed to examine the association between job strain and the operational performance of public transport drivers and to compare the expositions with psychosocial risk at work of three different types of transport workers: taxi drivers, city bus drivers, and interurban bus drivers. Method: A sample of 780 professional drivers was drawn from three transport companies in Bogota (Colombia). The participants answered the Job Content Questionnaire and a set of sociodemographic and driving performance questions, including age, professional driving experience, work schedules, and accidents and penalties suffered in the last 2 years. Results: Analyses showed significant associations between measures of socio-labor variables and key performance indicators such road traffic accidents and penalties. Furthermore, multiple linear regression analysis contributed to explain significantly suffered accidents from key variables of the Job Demand-Control model, essentially from job strain. In addition, throughout post-hoc analyses, significant differences were found in terms of perceived social support, job strain, and job insecurity. Conclusion: Work stress is an issue that compromises the safety of professional drivers. This research provides evidence supporting a significant effect of job strain on the professional driver's performance. Moreover, the statistically significant differences between taxi drivers, city bus drivers, and interurban bus drivers in their expositions to work-related stress suggest the need for tailored occupational safety interventions on each occupational group.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.299-302
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• 2005

Vehicle occupant exposure to air pollutants has been a subject of concern in recent years because of higher levels of air pollutants inside gasoline or diesel-using vehicle, comparing to the surrounding atmosphere. This study evaluated the potential exposure to respirable suspended particulate (RSP), nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), comparing weekday (Monday and Thursday) and weekend (Saturday). Indoor mean concentrations of RSP inside vehicle were 51.2 $ug/m^3$ and 75.52 $ug/m^3$ in weekday and weekend, respectively. Measured indoor NO$_2$ concentrations were 14,8 ppb and 20.8 ppb, respectively. Benzene and toluene mean concentrations inside vehicle were 5.4${\pm}$2.4 ppb and 23.8${\pm}$33.8 ppb, respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Vision Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.505-511
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• 2018

Purpose : This study investigated the visual functions of drivers aged over 65 year olds and drivers aged 50~65 year olds. In addition, difference of visual functions between professional drivers and normal drivers were investigated. Methods : Forty Driver aged over 65 year olds and 67 drivers aged less than 67 year olds were participated. All participants had more than 5 years of driving experiences and had no ocular pathology. Demographic data(gender, job, age, body condition) and visual functions such as contrast sensitivity(CS), stereopsis, glare recovery time and discomfort glare index were measured. Results : Constrast sensivity under photopic condition was higher with bus driver group. In addition, difference of CS at 12cpd and 18cpd were signifcantly different between normal drivers(1.57) and bus drivers(1.70) (p<0.05). There was no significant difference for glare recovery time, despite of trend of longer recovery time with age. Discomfort glare index was significantly different that normal drivers with more than 65 year olds had 3, taxi and truck driver presented almost 5 index score (p<0.05). Conclusion : Analysis of visual function of elderly drivers, it was confirmed that their visual functions decreased with age. Therefore, visual function tests such as CS, discomfort glare index and stereopsis in addition to current available test may need to be considered for drivers aged over 65.