• Quality Improvement in Health Care
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.56-65
• /
• 2020

Purpose:This study aims to understand and explore the subjective experiences of patient safety education among health care professionals in developing a patient safety curriculum in South Korea. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted through two focus group interviews in the period October-December 2018. Eleven participants who underwent patient safety education participated in each session. All interviews were recorded and transcribed as spoken, and qualitative content analysis was used to identify categories of discussion depicting participants' subjective experience with patient safety education. Results: A total of three categories and seven themes were identified out of 77 units of analysis. Topics were identified in the dimensions of a patient safety curriculum, as follows: (1) activities for patient safety; (2) principle of patient safety (five rights, ethics, patient participation) and patient participation; (3) leadership, teamwork, and communication; and (4) reporting and learning system for patient safety events. In the dimension of methods, (5) case and evidence-based education and (6) multidisciplinary and small group teaching were identified. Finally, in the dimension of the system, (7) policies for patient safety education were identified. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that patient safety education is a significant area for health care professionals. Health care professionals suggested that a systematic patient safety curriculum would improve their knowledge and attitude toward patient safety. Moreover, it enables them to better construct a safety environment in a hospital.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.91-99
• /
• 2018

Objectives: From a policy perspective, the introduction of confidential information reviews is a vital task for expanding workers' right to know and improving hazardous materials information communication. In this study, rational methods for introducing and administering confidential information reviews were examined as a part of advancing chemical information communication. Methods: The domestic status, social demands, and control cases from other countries about confidential information in material safety data sheets(MSDSs) were all examined. Additionally, principles for introducing MSDS confidential information review, what needs to be revised prior to its introduction, and procedures and manners of reviewing confidential information were suggested. Results and Conclusions: When composition information on MSDS needs to be protected in the EU and Canada, confidential information should be claimed and then approved by competent authorities with a principle of reviewing confidential information prior to rescinding information from MSDS. Applying the same principle, certain information on an MSDS that needs to be protected should be reviewed and approved in Korea. As a result, the MSDS is communicated with approval numbers replacing composition information. MSDS confidential information review has five steps, including deciding whether chemicals claimed to be confidential are excluded from applying for a confidentiality exemption, the names and concentration ranges of ingredients are adequate, and the claimed information is valid in terms of confidentiality.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.228-240
• /
• 2022

A comprehensive safety management system will be required in accordance with the implementation of the Major Disaster Punishment Act for close-up safety management of construction sites. Safety management level evaluation management requires a comprehensive relationship between safety management under the Construction Technology Promotion Act and health and health management system under the Industrial Safety and Health Act. Purpose: Safety under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act. The ultimate goal is to study the comprehensive analysis and relationship of health management and to improve the safety evaluation level of health and health management. Methods: The feasibility of the questionnaire was confirmed through the second Delphi analysis of construction site experts and safety managers, and the regression coefficient and path analysis of potential variants in safety management, safety management, health management and safety inspection were confirmed. Result and Conclusion: In the structural model, the regression coefficient (89%) from safety management, health system, and safety management to safety inspection execution and lambda values of appropriate observation variables were confirmed. In the path analysis, the total effect (.809) was confirmed by mediating health hygiene in the relationship between health plan establishment adequacy and post-inspection management, and the path coefficient (.82) of temporary structure safety was confirmed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.1-17
• /
• 2000

We investigated dissatisfaction of elements of local exhaust system, needs for local exhaust system, and information networks for local exhaust system from June 1998 to September 1999 using the questionnaire structured. It contained questions concerning general characteristics of factory and local exhaust system, troubles and dissatisfaction of elements of local exhaust system, and information networks for local exhaust system. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics analysis. Information networks for local exhaust system were analyzed by multidimensional scaling using path distance of network analysis and by graph analysis using Krackplot. Among complaints of local exhaust system, that of duct has show the highest percentage of complaint. In the information network for local exhaust system, Seoul is positioned in the center of network with mediating role.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.73-81
• /
• 2011

The purpose of this study was to obtain scientific information regarding classification and health hazards that may result from a 13 weeks inhalation exposure of isoprene in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The testing method was conducted in accordance with OECD guidelines for the testing of chemicals No. 413. The Rats were divided into 4 groups (10 male and 10 female rats in each group) and exposed to 0, 360, 1,620, 7,300 ppm isoprene in each exposure chamber for 6 h/day, 5 days/week, for 13 weeks. As a result, there were no mortality or abnormality during the period of study and did not show any significant changes of body weight. There were no dose response changes in urinalysis, hematological and serum biochemical value examination. Relative organ weight was increased significantly the right kidney in 7,300 ppm group of male rats. In female rats, relative organ weight of the left kidney and the both lungs in 1,620 ppm group and the left lung and the both kidneys in 7,300 ppm group were increased significantly. But the histopathological findings did not reveal any exposure-related changes. According to the above results, the no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) of isoprene was 7,300 ppm (20.3 mg/L) in both male and female rats. In conclusion, Isoprene was not classified specific target organ toxicity of the 'Standard for Classification and Labeling of Chemical Substance and Material Safety Data Sheet' (Ministry of Employment and Labor, 2009).

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.336-342
• /
• 2022

Background: This study aims to identify the safety and health risk perceptions toward the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic based on gender in Korean university students who work and study during the pandemic. Methods: A nationwide convenient sampling method was implemented to eliminate any regional characteristics in 757 university students, including those who studied while working. The participants answered the online questionnaire for one week. The collected data were analyzed using the R version 3.4.1 program. Results: The results comparing the safety and health risk perceptions toward COVID-19 based on the gender of the subjects who work while studying, "I often use the Internet to obtain information on COVID-19 infection control" are females appeared to use the internet more often (t = -2.18, p = 0.031) than males. "Compared to pre-COVID-19, I am currently feeling safe after the outbreak" is females felt less safe (t = 3.43, p < 0.001). Although COVID-19 infection control awareness is high among Korean university students and officials, males reported higher scores over females in all the questions, which was statistically significant. Conclusion: There should be prioritized psychological measures for prevention against COVID-19 for vulnerable groups with high mental health risks. A network must be established to protect the mental health of such groups, and candidates who require intervention must be actively identified and supported. Therefore, there must be efforts to deliver accurate information based on scientific evidence of the infectious disease, and the actions should be supported through such active communication.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.226-235
• /
• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there were differences in manufacturing industry worker's health issues depending on job stress, fatigue, and health and safety services. Methods: The purpose of the questionnaire survey and its contents were explained to manufacturing industry health personnel, and the questionnaires were collected from 666 workers from 17 manufacturing workplaces. Questionnaires with missing data were excluded from the analysis so a total of 632 questionnaires were included. Results: Overall, 74.1% of the respondents had experienced health issues during the preceding month. The factors affecting worker health were number of workers(OR=1.000034, p=.013), job demand(OR=1.82, p=.009), MFS(OR=1.85, p=.003), provision of safety & health information(OR=1.85, p=.048), wearing protector(OR=2.58, p=.021). Conclusion: It is necessary to strengthen the safety and health education to mitigate hazardous and risk factors. Employers should provide health managers in charge of safety and health education to control workplace risk factors. In case of small businesses, it may be necessary to strengthen safety and health education in existing worker health centers and government support projects.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.500-508
• /
• 2020

Background: Research on the status of many chemicals used in the semiconductor industry is needed. The purpose of this study was to describe the overall status of chemical use in the semiconductor industry in Korea and to examine it from a health perspective. Methods: Data on the status of chemical use and safety data sheets at 11 of 12 major semiconductor workplaces in Korea were collected. The number of chemical products and chemical constituents, quantities of chemicals, and trade secret ingredients used, as well as the health hazards were examined. Results: On average, 210 chemical products and 135 chemical constituents were used at the surveyed workplaces. Among all chemical products, 33% (range: 16-56%) contained at least one trade secret ingredient. Most of the trade secret ingredients were used in the photolithography process. Several carcinogens, including sulfuric acid, chromic acid, ethylene oxide, crystalline silica, potassium dichromate, and formaldehyde were also used. Only 29% (39 of 135) of the chemical constituents had occupational exposure limits, and more than 60% had no National Fire Protection Association health, safety, and reactivity ratings. Based on the aforementioned results, this study revealed the following. First, many chemical products and constituents are being used in the semiconductor industry and many products contained trade secret ingredients. Second, many products contained significant amounts of carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reproductive toxicant materials. Conclusion: We conclude that protecting workers in the semiconductor industry against harm from chemical substances will be difficult, due to widespread use of trade secret ingredients and a lack of hazard information. The findings of the status of chemical use and the health and safety risks in semiconductor industry will contribute to epidemiological studies, safe workplace, and worker health protection.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.30-41
• /
• 2018

Background: The purpose of the work is to develop a system that allows processing of information for analysis and industrial risk management, to monitor the level of industrial safety and to perform necessary measures aimed at the prevention of accidents, casualties, and development of professional diseases for effective management of industrial safety at hazardous industrial sites. Methods: Risk assessment of accidents and incidents is based on expert evaluations. Based on the lists of criteria parameters and their possible values, provided by the experts, a unified information and analytical database is compiled, which is included in the final interrogation questionnaires. Risk assessment of industrial injuries and occupational diseases is based on statistical methods. Results: The result of the research is the creation of Guidelines for risk management on hazardous industrial sites of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Guidelines determine the directions and methods of complex assessment of the state of industrial safety and labor protection and they could be applied as methodological basis at the development of preventive measures for emergencies, casualties, and incidents at hazardous industrial sites. Conclusion: Implementation of the information-analytical system of risk level assessment allows to analyze the state of risk of a possible accident at industrial sites, make valid management decisions aimed at the prevention of emergencies, and monitor the effectiveness of accident prevention measures.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.165-172
• /
• 2020

Background: To gain a better understanding of nonfatal injuries in Alaska, underutilized data sources such as workers' compensation claims must be analyzed. The purpose of the current study was to utilize workers' compensation claims data to estimate the risk of nonfatal, work-related injuries among occupations in Alaska, characterize injury patterns, and prioritize future research. Methods: A dataset with information on all submitted claims during 2014-2015 was provided for analysis. Claims were manually reviewed and coded. For inclusion in this study, claims had to represent incidents that resulted in a nonfatal acute traumatic injury, occurred in Alaska during 2014-2015, and were approved for compensation. Results: Construction workers had the highest number of injuries (2,220), but a rate lower than the overall rate (34 per 1,000 construction workers, compared to 40 per 1,000 workers overall). Fire fighters had the highest rate of injuries on the job, with 162 injuries per 1,000 workers, followed by law enforcement officers with 121 injuries per 1,000 workers. The most common types of injuries across all occupations were sprains/strains/tears, contusions, and lacerations. Conclusion: The successful use of Alaska workers' compensation data demonstrates that the information provided in the claims dataset is meaningful for epidemiologic research. The predominance of sprains, strains, and tears among all occupations in Alaska indicates that ergonomic interventions to prevent overexertion are needed. These findings will be used to promote and guide future injury prevention research and interventions.