• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.367-376
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• 2016

Objectives: The production and use of nanoparticles have been increased. In 2014 Workplace Survey Results, 335 companies produce and treat nanoparticls. However, lack of data on nano-toxicity and a method for risk management and regulation on nanoparticles and the standard test method are not sufficient. Protective equipment selection guidelines for nanoparticles are not established. It is required to carry out respirator efficiency test against nanoparticles. This study was performed to evaluate filtration efficiency and manikin-based total inward leakage of particle filtering mask using in Korean country challenged with silver nanoparticles. Methods: We investigated filtration efficiency and total inward leakage of 7 respirator with silver nanoparticle. Results: The geometric mean diameters of Silver nanoparticles were 30 nm and number concentration were about $10^6{\sharp}/cm^3$. Filtration efficiency of six of the seven particle filtering masks was more than 98% and one particle filtering masks filtration efficiency was 94.9%. The filtration efficiency of particle filtering masks to 20 nm silver nanoparticels was highest. Artificial breathing machine with manikin based total inward leakage were 7.6% ~ 42.3%. Conclusions: The results of this study nano-silver filter efficiency was high but the total inward leakage was higher than filter penetration. Therefore, education on how to wear a respirator should be demanded. Especially for workers handling nanoparticles and toxic material, user seal checking and fit test must be performed.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.115-124
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• 2023

Anodization is an electrochemical process that electrochemically converts a metal surface into an oxide layer, resulting in enhanced corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and improved aesthetic appearance. Local anodization, also known as selective anodization, is a modified process that enables specific regions or patterns on the metal surface to undergo anodization instead of the entire surface. Several methods have been attempted to produce oxide layers via localized anodic oxidation, such as using a mask or pre-patterned substrate. However, these methods are often intricate, time-consuming, and costly. Conversely, the direct writing or patterning approach is a more straightforward and efficient way to fabricate the oxide layers. This review paper intends to enhance our comprehension of local anodization and its potential applications in various fields, including the development of nanotechnologies. The application of anodization is promising in surface engineering, where the anodic oxide layer serves as a protective coating for metals or modifies the surface properties of materials. Furthermore, anodic oxidation can create micro- and nano-scale patterns on metal surfaces. Overall, the development of efficient and cost-effective anodic oxidation methods is essential for the advancement of various industries and technologies.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

We are investigated about the state of the working circumstances and infection blocking facility within Metropolitan, Chungcheong and Gyeongsang regions in Korea. The result is as follows. The HAV vaccination rate is 35% and the HBV vaccination rate is 50% among the funeral directors. We expected that the infection risk of funeral directors was very high. Significantly, tuberculosis prevalence rate of funeral director was four times as high as the public. The wear rate of gown, mask, gloves showed relatively high than the others. The wear rate of individual protective equipments has decreased with work experience. The funeral directors have shown that there is difficult to get safe protection from infection. The personal hygiene of funeral directors and the infection blocking equipment should be strengthened institutionally. We are thought to recommend institutional support about infection management, individual protective equipment, vaccination of funeral director and guideline to avoid reversion to previous habitual behavior.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.71-86
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• 2021

Purpose - This study examines the awareness regarding the symptoms of COVID-19 exposures and safety distances strategies whether they were useful to resile the businesses a mid of the pandemic. Besides exploring the awareness and safety distances, the effectiveness of offering free use of protective equipment (mask, hand sanitizer, frequent hand washing, etc.) to the customers for visiting the business centers was also examined. Design/methodology/approach - This study collected 264 survey data in Bangladesh which is one of the most densely populated country and very vulnerable for COVID-19 due to its socio-economic condition. The multiple regression analysis is used to analyze the data. Findings - The findings of the study indicate that the awareness about the symptoms of virus exposures (cough, fever, diarrhea, and weakness) has significant affirmative effects to enhance the public movement for business purposes with the lower possibility to be affected by the virus. The study also indicates that safety distances and protective equipment can mediate the significant positive relationship between the awareness of the disease and the businesses' resilient capacity. Research implications or Originality - COVID-19, as an apprehensive health issue in the current world, has sharpened the uncertainty of the businesses. One essential technique as lockdown, has been followed by almost every country to protect the transmission of the virus even though the scholars criticized it due to the substantial adverse effects on the country's economy. Under this circumstances, this study provides implications to the relevant businesses by assessing the nexus between the safety distances and the proper uses of protective equipment with the business resilient.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.350-366
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• 2016

Objectives: No 3D anthropometric analyses have been conducted for Korean children's faces for the purpose of designing respiratory protective devices. The aim of this study was to develop masks against yellow dust and fine particulates, particularly for children in Korea. Methods: This study utilized a 3D scanning method to obtain 16 facial anthropometric data from children, ages of 5 to 13 years old. A total of 144 boys and girls were recruited from the kindergarten, elementary schools and middle schools in Seoul. With facial dimensions obtained, cluster analysis was performed to categorize them into similar facial groups. For each cluster, an optimal mask was designed and manufactured using a 3D printer. In addition, lung function data were obtained from 62 subjects and compared with those of normal adults. The pulmonary physiological results were subsequently used to suggest a test method for mask certification. Results: Facial shapes were classified into tree clusters: small, medium, and large. The face width and length for the first group were small with high nosal protrusion. The face width and length for the second group were the largest among the three clusters. The third group had the largest angle of nose root - gnathion(n-prn-gn). Age was the most significant variable in the facial dimensions. Children's pulmonary physiological capacity was about 60% of adults' capacity. The results of fit test using the prototype masks developed showed very good fits for children. Conclusions: For Korean children, three mask sizes will be sufficient and practical for providing protection against yellow dust and fine particulates. Anthropometric data obtained using digitalized 3D face analysis can be very effective for designing respiratory devices. 3D images can be accurate and easily measured for multiple dimensions, particularly for curved areas of the face. It is imperative to adopt different test methods for certifying respiratory protective devices for children, since their pulmonary physiological capacity is inferior compared with that of adults.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.454-468
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the actual condition of the farm work environment and personal protective equipment as part of the effort to improve livestock work for the safety and health of poultry farmers and provide basic data for establishing plans to improve and develop personal protective equipment. Methods: For this purpose, a questionnaire survey on general information about stables, the poultry work environment, accidents, the wearing of work clothes and personal protective equipment, and the level of awareness related to personal protective equipment was conducted among 148 poultry farmers. Results: As a result, it was found that poultry workplace environment was exposed to such risks as fine dusts; organic dusts; poisonous gases; odorous substances; chicken excrement; contact with chickens, bacteria or viruses; and accidents related to machine operation. Thirteen percent of respondents suffered severe respiratory diseases, and the most frequently injured sites due to accidents were the hands (25.7%), knees (23.8%), arms (17.3%), and head (10.9%). The most frequent type of accident was collisions between the body and obstacles or machinery during movement (36.4%), followed by erroneous machine operation such as feeders and electric shocks (8.5%). Regarding the wearing of work clothes and personal protective equipment, 51.7% of the respondents wore worn-out clothing or everyday clothes, whereas only 32.0% wore work clothes. The percentage of farmers who wore proper protective equipment for the work environment during poultry work was 48.4%. The most frequently used type of protective equipment was boots (38.9%), followed by mask (36.7%), gloves (36.3%), appropriate work clothes (22.6%), quarantine clothes (17.6%), helmets (13.4%), and goggles (12.6%). The rate of wearing goggles was low because they were considered inconvenient and lowered work efficiency. Furthermore, they purchased everyday products available on the market for their personal protective equipment which were not appropriate for maintaining safety in an actual harmful environment and its consequent risks. As a result of the survey of the awareness level related to personal protective equipment, their levels of awareness of accidents and attitude proved to be average or higher, but the practice of wearing protective equipment and the level of knowledge and management of personal protective equipment were lower. Conclusion: This survey found that the wearing status of personal protective equipment among poultry farmers was insufficient even though they were exposed to risks. Most respondents were aware of the necessity of wearing personal protective equipment and of the potential for accidents, but they did not wear proper protective equipment. Their wearing rate was low due to a lack of knowledge about protective equipment, as well as the inconvenience of wearing it. Therefore there is a need to improve and develop specialized personal protective equipment for respiration, hands, and eyes, as well as work clothes that can protect farmers from major harmful matter that is generated in the poultry workplace. Based on the results of this investigation, we will conduct further studies on the required performance and design directions of personal protective equipment while collecting more objective data through field-oriented assessments.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.71-78
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• 1985

This research is designed to systemize the protection theory as well as to supplement the missing theory by organizing various studies on the protective functions of celothes by domestic and foreign scholers of clothing. Human environments is classified two standpoints : (1) Physical environments, and (2) man built psychological environments including socio-physical environments, socio-biological environments, behavioral environments, socio-psychological environments and institution environments. Clothes acting as a physical protection might be of (1) extreme air temperature: Parka; (2) high relative humidity: raincoat; (3) air movement: windbreaker; (4) radiation: space suit; (5) atmospheric pressure: deep sea diver suit; (6) mechanical agent: bullet proof vest; (7) physical agent: (8) chemical agent: (9) biological agent: surgeon's gown, cap, and mask. Also dresses act to support the body comfort, health and the well-being; corset for bad back patient, wrist band for people with weak wrist, bottom half of pressure suit for people with low blood pressure. Clothes acting as a psychological protection might be of (1) influence of magic and of spirits: (2) moral danger; (3) the general unfriendliness of the world as a whole; a reassurance against the lack of love. Clothes should provide the maximum of satisfaction in accordance with the full recognition of reality. The reality should aim at the formulation of general laws concerning the most pleasing forms, colors, and styles to suit. The complex physiological anatomical and psychological aspects of individual personalities.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.378-385
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• 2023

The importance of wearing respiratory protective equipment has been highlighted even more during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even if the suitability of respiratory protection has been confirmed through testing in a laboratory environment, there remains the potential for leakage points in the respirators due to improper application by the wearer, damage to the equipment, or sudden movements in real working conditions. In this paper, we propose a method to detect the occurrence of leak holes by measuring the pressure changes inside the mask according to the wearer's breathing activity by attaching an IoT sensor to a full-face respirator. We designed 9 experimental scenarios by adjusting the degree of leak holes of the respirator and the breathing cycle time, and acquired respiratory data for the wearer of the respirator accordingly. Additionally, we analyzed the respiratory data to identify the duration and pressure change range for each breath, utilizing this data to train a neural network model for detecting leak holes in the respirator. The experimental results applying the developed neural network model showed a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 94.29%, and accuracy of 97.53%. We conclude that the effective detection of leak holes can be achieved by incorporating affordable, small-sized IoT sensors into respiratory protective equipment.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.431-437
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• 2017

Objectives: To protect the health and safety of residents during chemical accidents, the governmental authorities need to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to citizens who desire it. This study aims to investigate residents'awareness of PPE and perform an economic analysis on providing PPE to residents near chemical plants prior to the establishment of a related law. Methods: This study was carried out through a questionnaire completed by 600 residents composed of items such as residents'awareness of PPE, what type of PPE they need, and how to purchase PPE. Economic analysis (cost-benefit analysis) was conducted on providing PPE to residents near chemical plants on basis of the Gumi City hydrogen fluoride accident of 2012. Results: The results of the questionnaire showed that most residents recognized the need for PPE preparedness for chemical accidents, in particular, for respirators. The level of expense that respondents were prepared to shoulder to share the burden was $25. Except for chemicals of hazard level 2, the benefit of all kinds of chemical accident preparedness considerably exceeded costs in the cost-benefit analysis on providing PPE. An estimated government budget of $20 million per year would be required to provide PPE (hood-type mask) for all residents within a one-kilometer radius of chemical plants in Korea, but only $5.8 million when residents share the expenses. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that programs for providing PPE for residents near chemical plants should be established by law.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.248-254
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• 2023

This study aims to measure the skin rigidity of different facial areas among Koreans and propose guidelines for each area's skin rigidity that can be applied with a facial robot for testing respiratory protective devices. The facial skin rigidity of 40 participants, which included 20 men and 20 women, aged 20 to 50, was analyzed. The rigidity measurement was conducted in 13 facial areas, including six areas in contact with the mask and seven non-contact areas, by referring to the facial measurement guidelines of Size Korea. The facial rigidity was measured using the Durometer RX-1600-OO while in a supine position. The measurement procedure involved contacting the durometer vertically with the reference point, repeating the measurement of the same area five times, and using the average of three values whose variability was between 0.4 and 4.2 Shore OO. The rigidity data analysis used precision analysis, descriptive statistics analysis, and mixed-effect ANOVA. The analysis confirmed the rigidity of the 13 measurement areas, with the highest rigidity of the face being at the nose and forehead points, with values of 51.2 and 50.8, respectively, and the lowest rigidity being at the chin and center of the cheek points, with values of 19.2 and 20.7, respectively. Significant differences between gender groups were observed in four areas: the tip of the nose, the point below the chin, the area below the lower jaw, and the inner concha.