• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.31 no.3 s.62
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• pp.440-448
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• 1998

In many developed countries, for example, USA, respirator fit testing is required before entering specific work environment to ensure that the respirator worn satisfies a minimum of fit and that the user knows when the respirator fits properly. Unfortunately because we have not fit test regulation in Korea, a lot of workers wearing respirators may be potentially exposed to hazards. This study was conducted to evaluate the fitting performance for respirators and correlation fit factors with facial dimensions of wearers. 110 subjects (70 males, 40 females) were fit tested for three quarter masks, i.e., two domestic-made Mask 2, and Y and one foreign-made Mask T using PortaCount 8020. A facial dimension survey of the same subjects was conducted to develop a facial dimension grids fer correlation fit factors with facial dimension parameters. A facial dimension grid was developed on the basis of face length and lip length for quarter masks. The results obtained were as follows : 1 Fit factors of Mask T were much higher than those of Masks Z, and Y. 2. Males were fitted more properly than females. 3. Male in box 'f' of grid would be adequately fitted Mask Y and male in box 'b', 'e', 'f', 'h' of grid would be sufficiently fitted Mask T. Female in box 'h' of grid may have a good fitting performance for both Mask Y, and T. But subjects in all boxes of grid would be inadequately fitted Mask Z.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 1999

Even though there is no fit test regulations in Korea, in many developed countries, respirator fit testing is required before entering specific work environment to ensure that the respirator worn satisfies a minimum of fit and that the user knows when the respirator fits properly. Due to no regulation for fit test, a lot of Korean workers wearing respirators may be potentially exposed to hazards. Anthropometric test panels for testing the fit of respirators are very important to develop respirators fitted properly for Korean workers. To evaluate the fitting performance, 304 workers (272 males, 32 females) and 536 students (268 male, 268 females) were fit tested for 4 full-facepieces (2 domestic-made S, C, and 2 foreign-made T, N), 2 half masks (1 domestic-made S, and 1 foreign-made T) and 3 quarter masks (2 domestic-made S, C, and 1 foreign-made T) with PortaCount 8020. Fit factors of foreign-made masks were higher than those of domestic-made masks in all types. Males were fitted more properly than females. A facial dimension survey of 364 workers (339 males, 25 females) and 158 students (69 males, 89 females) was conducted to develop test panels for fit testing. Subjects were selected on the basis of face length and face width to wear full-facepiece masks in test. For testing half- and quarter masks, face length and lip length were used. Test panels containing 25 male-and-female subjects and 16 male subjects were respectively developed for full-facepiece, and half-and quarter masks to represent a majority of population surveyed.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.71-79
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• 2020

Background: Protection from yellow dust and particulate matter is ensured by the use of respirators among the Korean citizens and workers. However, the manikins used to test the performance of the same were manufactured considering western facial specifications owing to which they do not represent Korean facial characteristics. Methods: Analysis of the data from the 6th 3D anthropometric survey of Koreans (Size Korea; 2010-2013) of 4,583 people aged 7 to 69 years was performed to obtain their facial dimensions. We subsequently clustered 44 facial measurements using Design X software, followed by the creation of the cluster centroid. Results: Three 3D head forms were developed-small, medium, and large, and their images were stored in ".stl" format for 3D printing. The facial widths and lengths of the three head forms were 127.1 mm × 90.6 mm, 143.2 mm × 104.0 mm, and 149.1 mm × 120.2 mm, respectively. Conclusion: We developed manikin head forms according to the facial dimensions of the Korean population, which was essential in evaluating respiratory protective equipment. These head forms can be used to test the performance of respirators considering the facial dimensions of the Korean population.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.87-91
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• 2016

Recently, it has been increasing an incidence of heart diseases which is a causative factor in sudden death as Korean population structure has been changing to an aging society. There is growing needs for A portable ventilator which automatically be operated by the pressure of the supplied oxygen and has been spread worldwide. So, we would like to present test methods in accordance with the performance requirements which are important for components of a respirator and a portable ventilator itself. And also would like to find the most suitable condition of internal pressure reduction for the performance requirements according to the changing conditions of internal pressure reduction setting of a portable ventilator.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.95-102
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• 2016

Controlling exposures to occupational hazards is important for protecting workers. Certified facepiece respirators are recommended when engineering controls do not adequately prevent exposures to airborne nanomaterials. The objective of this study is to carry out the experimental performance test to investigate the fractional efficiencies of the filter media for two grades of facepiece respirators. Experimental performance evaluations were carried out for the test NaCl particles and silver nanoparticles. For media of respirator filter, the penetration of NaCl particles was less than 5% and the most penetrating particle size occurred at about 40 nm. For silver nanoparticles, the most penetrating particle size was about 20nm with higher efficiency than those of NaCl particles. Charge characteristics of airborne nanoparticles is important because the media of respirator filter is made by the electret filter media.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.145-155
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• 2023

Objectives: A fit test panel is needed to identify the fit performance of a respirator and its face seal. This is a criterion for selecting subjects that can represent the facial characteristics of users. Although anthropometry data has been developed for people in United States and China it is not yet present in Korea. This study aimed to develop a Korean fit test panel and test headform. Methods: For the 7th and 8th waves of the Size Korea anthropometry data, facial measurements of 11,429 people aged 15 to 69 years were used for analysis. PCA and bivariate panel were classified using the ISO16976-2:2022(E) anthropometrics analysis method. Based on this result, a static headform was developemed and a fit test chamber was constructed. Results: Of the 11,429 Korean people used for principal component analysis, 11,300 were included in the ellipse, marking an acceptance rate of 98.87% on PCA panel. The face types were classified into five types. Among them, a large, medium, and small static headform were printed using a 3D printer. In addition, 10,985 people (96.12%) were included in the bivariate panel based on face length and face width. The y-axis (face length) boundary was 97.87 to 134.59 mm, and the x-axis (face width) boundary was 120.75 to 158.23 mm. Conclusions: Compared to the ISO analysis, the Korean principal component was narrower in the width item (PC1) and longer in the length item (PC2). For the future, it is necessary to conduct a fit test using the developed headform and chamber device to confirm the usefulness of this Korean test panel. Therefore, this study is considered valuable as basic research for Korean test panels.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.528-535
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• 2014

Objectives: This study compares the differences of fit factors before and after training on the N95 mask. The results will be utilized to suggest the need of providing effective training on respirator use. Methods: A total of 49 study subjects were tested, comprised of nurses from a general hospital and undergraduate nursing students from a medical school. Anthropometric measurements of face length and face width were compared with the NIOSH(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) panel. Fit factors(FF) were measured with TSI Portacount Pro+8038 before and after on-site training regarding the proper use of respirators. The FF pass/fail criterion was set at 100. Results: Two subjects(4.1 %) passed the fit test before training on use of the N95. However, 36(73.5%) of the 49 passed the test after training. Overall the FF(GM(GSD)) was 13.4(3.2) before training, but improved to 106.6(2.1) after training, which was statistically significant. These findings suggest the efficacy of educational intervention, and the performance of the direct on-site training proved to be better than that of the traditional educational methods. Conclusions: This study showed the effect of on-site training of the N95 respirator among health care workers(HCW). Therefore, providing effective training on the use of N95 for HCWs before their work assignments will greatly reduce exposure to harmful agents. It is recommended that fit testing be mandated to check for adequate protection being provided by the given respirators.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.283-290
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• 2017

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between filter replacement and filter performance change in particulate filters used in the workplace. Methods: Three types of particulate respirator filters are mainly used in the workplaces. These were tested against the filter performance safety certification standard for dust masks established by the Ministry of Employment and Labor(MoEL). Used filters were collected to test their performance, such as filter pressure drop, efficiency, and quality factors. All these factors were evaluated by a filter tester. To compare filter performance between used and new ones, the same kinds of new filters were also tested together under the same procedures. Results: A total of 270 used filters were collected for testing. The main reasons to replace the filters were difficulty in breathing(46.2%), dirty/odor influx(19.7%), and a combination of factors(26.7%). The pressure drop for two special class groups was significantly different(new filters: $20.72{\pm}3.33mmH_2O$; used filters: $24.70{\pm}5.26mmH_2O$, p<0.0001). In the case of penetration, new filter groups indicated $0.0032{\pm}0.0040%$, while that of the used filters was $0.0596{\pm}0.1187%$. The quality factor for the used filters($0.34{\pm}0.09$) significantly decreased compared to the new filters($0.53{\pm}0.08$) (p<0.0001). Conclusions: Filter performance including pressure drop, penetration, and the quality factor was evaluated and compared between new and used filters in the workplace. The results showed that general filter performance deteriorated more for change of pressure drop, penetration and the quality factor.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.124-137
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• 2023

Purpose: This study's aim was to confirm the importance and performance of the clinical practice of nurses working in the general wards of a tertiary hospital and to analyze their educational needs. Methods: The study employed a descriptive research design, and a self-reported questionnaire was developed and used for nurses in a tertiary hospital. Data were collected from July 22 to July 29, 2022, analyzed by an independent t-test, paired t-test, and one-way ANOVA for the importance and performance of each clinical nursing practice according to general characteristics, and then a post hoc verification was performed by Scheffé's test. An Importance-Performance Analysis and Borich needs assessment model were used to analyze clinical nursing education needs. Results: Clinical nursing practice performance showed a significant difference according to length of total clinical career, time working in current department, and preceptor experience. According to the results of the Importance-Performance Analysis, neurological evaluation, and nursing intervention, artificial respirator and high-flow oxygen inhalation nursing, chemotherapy, emergency nursing, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation were identified as belonging to the "concentrate here" quadrant. All these items ranked in the top 10 in the Borich needs assessment model. Conclusion: Based on these results, the current education system should be reviewed, and short and long term education strategies based on educational needs should be established to strengthen the competence of nurses.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.815-825
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• 2023

Purpose: This paper aims to explore approaches for obtaining KOLAS certification for masks developed as protective equipment for use during evacuation processes in the event of a radiation disaster involving residents within a radiation emergency planning zone. Method: Various reports, papers, and data from the KOLAS accreditation bodies' websites were examined for this study. Result: Although domestic radiation disaster preparedness measures have been established to enhance resident protection, the distribution of protective equipment is limited to thyroid protection drugs. Supplementary support items like masks are necessary to prepare for radiation disasters. Currently, there is no KOLAS-accredited certification body for radiation protection masks. Conclusion: For masks that have established performance certification criteria, a dual process is required for KOLAS certification. This involves obtaining an official test report as an industrial respirator mask, receiving certification, and then obtaining a general test report based on internal standards.