• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.109-118
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• 2016

Objectives: To review reference levels by the international and domestic management and provide the basis for setting occupational exposure limits(OELs) of radon in Korea Methods: Government's organizations with laws and systems for monitoring radon exposure were investigated and compared. There are five laws governing Indoor Air Quality(IAQ) control such as Occupational Safety and Health Act, Indoor Air Quality Control in Public Use Facilities, Etc. Act, School Health Act, Public Health Control Act and Parking Lot Act in Korea. It was surveyed that a total of 32 countries including 24 countries in the European Union(EU), six countries in Asian and two countries in North America setting the reference levels for radon in the world. Results: In Korea, there are set guidelines for radon in the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Education. Reference levels of radon for existing dwellings were $150{\sim}400Bq/m^3$ for Western European countries, and $200{\sim}1,500Bq/m^3$ in Eastern European countries. Approximately 67% of those EU countries were set up $400Bq/m^3$ to the standards for existing dwellings. EU countries such as Luxembourg, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Russia had adopted mandatory level for radon. Radon guidelines for new dwellings were set more strictly reference level($200Bq/m^3$) than existing dwellings. Conclusions: International organizations such as ICRP, UNSCEAR and NCRP, etc. had recommended the guidelines for radon. It was calculated the relation of the dose conversion factors with the annual effective doses. the OELs of radon suggest to need to establish $150Bq/m^3$ for office room and $400{\sim}1,000Bq/m^3$ for the workplace.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제40권5호
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• pp.331-345
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• 2014

Objectives: The exponential growth of chemicals, an area of high concern in developed countries like the US (i.e., the Gore Initiative) and in the EU (i.e., REACH), as well as recent chemical accidents in Korea, have provoked nationwide concerns and resultant legal enforcement. This study aims to compare the laws of the Ministry of Environment (the Chemical Substances Control Act (CSCA), Act on the Registration and Evaluation, etc. of Chemical Substances (ARECS)) with those of the Ministry of the Employment and Labor (Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)). Methods: Each law pertaining to the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of the Employment and Labor was downloaded from the official legal information system (www.law.go.kr). The objectives of each law and the major contents related to chemical management were compared and summarized. Results: The CSCA and the ARECS are focused on the protection of people and the environment, while the OSHA relates to the protection of workers. The right to know of people and workers has been reinforced. The former two laws emphasize prevention, but the OSHA contains both preventive and post-accident measures. The role of the Ministry of Employment was reinforced with the promulgation of the CSCA and ARECS, which contain regulations such as adjacent area impact evaluation, risk control planning, chemical statistical survey and construction and operation of information, provision of risk control plans, response to chemical accidents and registration of chemical substances. Conclusion: We found that the three laws discussed here have several similar clauses designed to protect people and the environment from risks that may be caused by the use of chemicals, even though there are some differences among them in terms of objectives and contents. This review concluded that several clauses that can be regarded as double regulation should be unified in order to minimize the waste of government administrative resources and socio-economic losses.

• 한국보건간호학회지
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.619-632
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to analyze the job of school health teacher in Korea. Methods: School health teachers' roles were analyzed by DACUM job analysis. Guide of DACUM methods and workshop were directed by a DACUM job analyst. The DACUM committee identified tasks associated with each duty and completed the DACUM chart. Results: Through DACUM job analysis, the roles of school health teachers were defined; one who manages health of students and staff, and conducts health education; 11 duties and 95 tasks were identified. The committee listed required knowledge and skills, working attitude, and future trends. Emergency and common disease care were the best critical duties, followed by health education, counseling, and self-development. Conclusion: School health teacher plays the roles of nurse and health care manager, and teacher. According to the expansion of health care needs and health education, school health teachers are placed in more essential and critical areas. Their duties and tasks are various and have changed significantly, thus the School Health Act should be changed practically. The results of this study can be used in development of training programs or evaluation of the job performance of school health teachers.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.302-324
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• 2022

Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate exposure to occupational carcinogens in the nationwide electronics industries and to establish a strategy for control of occupational carcinogens in South Korea. Methods: We evaluated occupational carcinogens as defined by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) using a nationwide work environment measurement database on the electronics industry in South Korea measured between 2013 and 2017 in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Results: The number of occupational carcinogens found in the electronics industry in South Korea were: 20 for IARC Group 1, 14 for Group 2A, and 30 for Group 2B. The occupational carcinogens (Group 1) most frequently exposed were strong-inorganic-acid mists containing sulfuric acid (sulfuric acid), welding fumes, mineral oils (untreated or mildly treated), nickel compounds, silica dust, crystalline substances in the form of quartz or cristobalite, formaldehyde, arsenic and inorganic arsenic compounds, chromium (VI) compounds, trichloroethylene, cadmium and cadmium compounds, vinyl chloride, ethylene oxide, wood dust, beryllium and beryllium compounds, 1,3 butadiene, benzene, and others. Among them, the carcinogens (Group 1) exceeding the acceptable standard were trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, and ethylene oxide. The working environment measurement system as regulated by Occupational Safety and Health Act is not properly assessed and managed for occupational carcinogens in South Korea. A component analysis for all materials used should be set up to practically reduce occupational carcinogens. A ban on the use of occupational carcinogens and the development of alternative materials are needed. The occupational carcinogens below the acceptable standards should be carefully examined and a new standard for exposure needs to be established. Conclusions: The Occupational Safety and Health Act should be improved to identify and monitor occupational carcinogens at work sites. A strategy for occupational safety and health systems should be provided to give direction to workers' needs and right to know.

• 한국학교ㆍ지역보건교육학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.65-73
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• 2021

Objectives: In Japan, there are many disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, and because of the high temperature and humid climate, health education for food poisoning may be particularly important. In addition, sexual problems caused by precociousness of adolescents, smoking and drinking are already serious socially important problems, and addiction problems are also emerging. Methods: Various publications from Japanese governments, interest groups such as government officers, health center workers, and people from health educators. For the information of Korean health education conditions, a current health educator and people from middle and high schools. Results: In 2012, based on the "Investigation Report on the Mind Care of Children in Emergency Disasters" from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) situation of children in East Japan affected areas was discovered, and health education became important. In 2014, the "School Health and Safety Act Enforcement Rule" was amended, and health checkups are emphasized as part of school health. Conclusions: School health education in Japan differs from other health care systems in many ways with the system of Korea in the context of non-existence of official health education curriculum. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develope how the curriculum of school health education in Korea.

• 대한안전경영과학회지
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.71-83
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• 2023

Since last year, the government has enforced the 'Act on the Punishment of Severe Accidents, Etc.' (hereafter referred to as the 'Serious Accident Punishment Act'), which punishes business owners and business managers who fail to fulfill their duty of safety measures with 'imprisonment of one year or more' and the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Based on this, various occupational safety and health policies were developed, including the operation of a system related to entrusting the work of safety managers. Despite these efforts, the effect of implementing the Severe Accident Punishment Act is a groundbreaking change in the current disaster prevention policy, which has increased by 0.02%P and 0.03‱P, respectively, from the previous year to 0.65% of the total accident rate and 1.10‱ of the death rate per 10,000 people as of 2022. As the need emerged, attention was paid to 'collaboration and governance with safety management institutions' in the 'Severe Disaster Reduction Roadmap' announced by the Ministry of Employment and Labor in November 2022. In this study, a meaningful result was derived by comparing and analyzing the industrial accident status of workplaces entrusted by "A" safety management institutions with the national average based on the industrial accident survey table, and the types of industrial accidents that occurred in consigned workplaces were selected as intensive management targets. The policy direction for industrial accident prevention was established. It is necessary to develop safety management work manuals based on the results of this study, expertise, discover best cases of risk assessment and develop guides, and educate and train consigned workers. In addition, it suggests that the government's guidance and supervision are needed to advance the professionalism of safety management entrusted tasks, and that safety management institutions should strengthen their roles and functions for preventing and reducing industrial accidents. However, due to difficulties in disclosing information of specialized safety management institutions, the limitation of the provision, collection, and viewing of research-related data to "A" specialized safety management institutions remains a limitation of the research. It seems likely that more thorough research will be conducted.

• 한국의사학회지
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.175-185
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• 2013

Purpose : The current Medical Law and the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, which are incapable of utilizing the research results and the advanced academic, clinical, and pharmaceutical system of the present-day Korean (Oriental) medicine, have limitations and create a paradox by provoking social conflict among the professionals in the field. The aim of this study was to find out the legal and systematic problems that contributed to a complicated conflict amongst Korean (Oriental) medicine doctors, doctors, pharmacists, and Korean (Oriental) pharmacists regarding the classification of their functions. Methods : We reviewed the history and characteristics of the legislation regarding the duties of Korean (Oriental) medicine doctors and Korean (Oriental) pharmacists as well as the relevant and important public health policies since the enactment of the National Medical Services Law in 1951. We focused on the laws and regulations that are made in the process of the separating functions of physicians and pharmacists and the dispute between the Korean (Oriental) medicine doctors and the Korean (Oriental) pharmacists in the 1990s and 2000s. Results : The legislations and amendments of the medical and pharmaceutical laws and regulations that reflect the modern academic, clinical, and pharmaceutical system of the Korean (Oriental) medicine and the research results could be summarized as follows: 1) A partial amendment of the Medical Law in 1987, which added the provision of "Oriental health guidance" as one of the duties of Korean (Oriental) medicine doctors, assured a place for Korean (Oriental) medicine doctors in the field of public health. 2) A partial revision of Pharmaceutical Affairs Act in 1994 established a new system for Korean (Oriental) pharmacists, bringing about the creation of dualistic pharmaceutical system that complements the dualistic medical system. 3) The Promotion of the Research and Development of Wonder Drugs by Using Natural Substances Act was legislated in 2000 in order to stimulate research and development of Korean (Oriental) medicine and its industrialization. 4) Oriental Medicine Promotion Act in 2003 was enacted to lay foundation to specify and promote technology and industry that are related to Korean (Oriental) medicine. Discussions and conclusions : Although the dualistic medical and pharmaceutical system is set up by the Medical Law and Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, it is shown that the relevant regulations have been developed from a perspective of the western medicine.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.135-154
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• 2014

Purpose: There is an issue in applying various principles introduced in established Korean medical classics to "Pharmaceuticals Approval, Notification and Review" of "herbal medicinal preparations" and "new drugs from natural products" that are used for western forms of medical treatment. Thus, an analysis of the origin, purpose, and application of established Korean medical classics in the Korean Pharmaceutical Affairs Act is essential. Methods: We collected data regarding the origin, purpose, and application of established Korean medical classics in the Korean Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, and classified them by periodical change and subjects. Results: Established Korean medical classics are applied as follows: 1) as criteria for Korean medicine distributors' sales of mixed herbal drugs (Pharmaceutical Affairs Act; since 1953), 2) as official compendiums for pharmacists' preparation of Korean medicine (Ministry of Health and Welfare's authoritative interpretation; from early 1970s to 1993), 3) as standards for oriental pharmacists' quality measurement of preparations (notification of the Ministry of Health and Welfare; since 1995), 4) as criteria for "Pharmaceuticals Approval, Notification and Review" of herbal medicinal preparations and crude drug preparations (notifications regarding drug approval process by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety; since 1978), and 5) as standards for the quality of materials of health functional food (from 2004 to 2011). Conclusion: The application of Korean medical classics has been closely related with the change of the laws, regulations, and systems that are relevant to Korean medicine, and it seems to be more favorable for pharmacists than oriental pharmacists. Meanwhile, regulations that apply prescriptions that are recorded in Korean medical classics - dosage, indications, and preparation methods - as criteria for the approval of crude drug preparations for western medical treatment should be abolished.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.156-172
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• 2021

Objectives: To investigate the trends of industrial injuries among long-term health care workers in Korea Methods: T7866 injuries were selected from the total industrial injuries approved by the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act(Occupational Safety and Health Act) among long-term health care workers between 2007 and 2016 in Korea. We analyzied the trends of industrial injuries according to work process, occurrence type, and causes. Results: The industrial injuries among long-term health care workers increased since 2012. The mostly occurred area for industrial injuries were low back areas, which is related that the most serious industrial injuries occurred when the one long-term healthcare worker lift manually the recipient, from bed(ondol, Korean floor heating system) to a wheelchair, bed to bath bed, and wheelchair to bath chair. In addition to this, lack of workforce, increased work intensity due to overwork contributed the increasing of occupational injury. Conclusions: This study suggests that the main causes of industrial injuries were Lack of facilities and equipment for small private long-term care institutions, The physical load that goes into lifting the recipient directly, work intensity such as excessive workload and increased work speed. We suggest that the social publicization of long-term care service for the elderly, avoiding ways to lift recipients directly, introducing lifting machines as well as improving working methods, and reducing the workload of caregivers are required.

• 방사성폐기물학회지
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.141-160
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• 2021

Unit 1 of the Kori Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) and Unit 1 of the Wolsong NPP are being prepared for decommissioning; their decommissioning is expected to generate large amounts of intermediate-level, low-level, and very low level Waste. Mixed waste containing both radioactive and hazardous substances is expected to be produced. Nevertheless, laws and regulations, such as the Korean Nuclear Safety Act and Waste Management Act, do not define clear regulatory guidelines for mixed waste. However, the United States has strictly enforced regulations on mixed waste, focusing on the human health and environmental effects of its hazardous components. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Department of Energy regulate the radioactive components of mixed waste under the Atomic Energy Act. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulates the hazardous waste component of mixed waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. In this study, the laws, regulations, and authorities pertaining to mixed waste in the United States are reviewed. Through comparison and analysis with waste management laws and regulations in Korea, a treatment direction for mixed waste is suggested. Such a treatment for mixed waste will increase the efficiency of managing mixed waste when decommissioning NPPs in the near future.