• 한국안전학회지
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.73-78
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• 2001

It has been proposed that the acceptable level of discomfort was a valid measure of postural loading. Although the number of women employees has increased at a much faster rate than men workers did and female workers are thought to be more vulnerable to musculoskeletal disorders, most previous studies dealt with perceived discomforts for joint motions focused on male subjects. This study aims to measure perceived discomfort ratings of females for static joint motions. Ten female subjects participated in the experiment measuring perceived discomforts, in which almost every possible joint motion was included and the free modulus method of the magnitude estimation was employed. The results showed that discomfort levels were dependent on the joint motions and joints, and subjective discomfort ratings of women were significantly larger than those of men.

• 한국건축시공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국건축시공학회 2019년도 춘계 학술논문 발표대회
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• pp.123-124
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• 2019

In the labor-intensive construction site, potential threats of the musculoskeletal diseases mainly caused by various repetitive physical tasks, vulnerable environment, and the aging of the labor worker exist. However, quantitative measuring method of construction labor worker's work posture has not been improved yet. This study proposed musculoskeletal measuring method by using wearable motion recognition sensor for quantitative evaluation and analysis of working posture of construction workers. This method is expected to be used as a basic data for posture analysis and prevention construction safety accidents, as well as physical workload and labor productivity analysis by labor work type.

• 한국사회복지학
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• 제68권4호
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• pp.97-118
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• 2016

본 연구는 산업재해 이후 직업에 복귀한 산재근로자의 일자리만족도 영향요인을 원직장복귀자와 타 직장재취업자 간의 비교를 중심으로 검증하는 것을 목적으로 한다. 이를 위해 근로복지공단의 산재보험패널 1차자료(2014)를 활용하여 임금을 목적으로 사업주에게 고용된 산재근로자 1,333명(원직장복귀 693명, 타직장재취업 640명)을 대상으로 각각 다중회귀분석을 실시하였다. 주요 분석결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 타직장재취업자는 원직장복귀자에 비해 일자리만족도 및 근로지속가능성, 종사상지위, 월평균소득 등의 제반 특성들이 상대적으로 취약한 것으로 나타났다. 둘째, 원직장복귀자의 일자리만족도에는 성별, 학력수준, 기술적합도, 월평균 소득, 복리후생 혜택, 가족수입 여가생활 주거환경 사회적 친분관계 만족도, 요양 중 사업주와의 관계여부가 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 셋째, 타직장 복귀자의 경우, 성별, 종사상 지위, 기술적합도, 지속근무여부, 월평균급여, 복리후생혜택, 가족수입/여가생활/사회적 친분관계만족도, 요양 중 담당업무 주체, 요양 중 사업주와의 관계여부가 일자리 만족도에 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 연구결과를 바탕으로 산재근로자의 일자리만족도 제고를 위한 정책 및 실천적 방안을 제언하였다.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제4권4호
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• pp.177-186
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• 2013

The use of nanoparticles (NPs) in industry is increasing, bringing with it a number of adverse health effects on workers. Like other chemical carcinogens, NPs can cause cancer via oxidative DNA damage. Of all the molecules vulnerable to oxidative modification by NPs, DNA has received the greatest attention, and biomarkers of exposure and effect are nearing validation. This review concentrates on studies published between 2000 and 2012 that attempted to detect oxidative DNA damage in humans, laboratory animals, and cell lines. It is important to review these studies to improve the current understanding of the oxidative DNA damage caused by NP exposure in the workplace. In addition to examining studies on oxidative damage, this review briefly describes NPs, giving some examples of their adverse effects, and reviews occupational exposure assessments and approaches to minimizing exposure (e.g., personal protective equipment and engineering controls such as fume hoods). Current recommendations to minimize exposure are largely based on common sense, analogy to ultrafine material toxicity, and general health and safety recommendations.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제3권3호
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• pp.235-240
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• 2012

The objectives are to compare the airborne asbestos concentrations resulted from mitering of abestos cement roof sheets by a high-speed motor and a hand saw, and to monitor whether other workers near the test sites are vulnerable to the fibers exceeding the occupational exposure limit. Four test cases were carried out and altogether 7 personal and 4 area air samples were collected. The NIOSH method 7400 was employed for the air samplings and analysis. Using the phase contrast microscopy, fiber counting was conducted under Rule A. The study showed that the fiber concentration medians for personal air samples gathered from the two tools were 4.11 fibers/cc (ranged: 1.33-12.41 fibers/cc) and 0.13 fibers/cc (ranged: 0.01-5.00 fibers/cc) respectively. The median for the area samples was 0.59 fibers/cc (ranged: 0.14-3.32 fibers/cc). Comparing each study case, the concentration level caused by the high-speed motor saw was more than twice that of the hand saw. According to the area samples, the workers nearby the test site are at risk from high exposure to asbestos.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.412-422
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• 2020

Objectives: This study was conducted to identify the job characteristics and health status of sales and service workers at micro-enterprises. Methods: Multivariate analyses were conducted using data on respondents to the 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey who were business owners (7,572 persons) or employees (3,317) working in sales or service positions at micro-enterprises. Results: Among those analyzed, business owners were found to experience worse health conditions than employees. Business owners also differed from workers in terms of job characteristics. More than employees, they engaged in tiring or painful postures that negatively affected subjective health condition, experience of muscle pain, and experience of depression or anxiety. While employees' health was negatively affected by dealing with angry customers, the health status of business owners was negatively affected even by dealing with ordinary customers. Conclusions: These results show that the owners of micro-enterprises were in a more vulnerable state of health rather than their employees. In order to address this, it is necessary to correct work posture and reduce the stresses that come from customers.

• 한국직업건강간호학회지
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.362-372
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• 2016

Purpose: This study intended to grasp real context of Cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related factors of Korean blue-collar workers, especially CVD-related knowledge, perception, beliefs, benefits and barriers of behaviors according to the health belief model. Methods: We interviewed twenty two workers working in two small-sized companies and performed two series of focus group interviews. Data were analyzed by deductive content analysis approach based on Elo & $Kyng{\ddot{a}}s$. Results: Excepting participants who have CVD risk factors, most participants had lower level of CVD risk perception. The level of CVD knowledge was low but there was difference by gender. CVD-related beliefs were 'fatal disease', 'caused by lifestyle' and 'difficult to prevent by themselves'. The risk reduction behaviors were motivated by current or family history of hypertension. But there were barriers to interfere practice of preventive behaviors such as poor quality of food provided by cafeteria in the workplace, frequent overtime, victim mentality as one of vulnerable social group, housework and financial burden, lack of facilities for rest and physical activity in the workplace. Conclusion: To develop intervention for reducing CVD risks in Korean blue-collar workers, we need to focus on improving CVD knowledge and perception and modifying work-related environments such as low quality of food and lack of facilities for rest and physical activity in the workplace.

• 한국직업건강간호학회지
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.277-286
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• 2014

Purpose: In this study, I am going to figure out Korean workers' actual exposure to risk factors and percentage of the workers who complain of health problems by performing a comparative analysis of the characteristics of the workers and working conditions in Korea and EU. Methods: The data used in this study includes the $1^{st}$ working conditions survey conducted in 2006 in Korea, the $2^{nd}$ working conditions survey in 2010, the $4^{th}$ EU working conditions survey, and the $5^{th}$ EU working conditions survey. I have compared the changes to Korean working conditions and those to EU working conditions in the categories of demographic characteristics, quality of labor, exposure to risk factors, and health problems included in the data. Results: The analysis of the characteristics of the demographic characters of Korean workers shows that aged and female workers register increased labor force participation. The analysis of labor quality shows that Korea has a long working time but with a lower work intensity compared to the countries included in EU working conditions survey. As for risk factors, Korea registers a low level of exposure as compared to countries included in EU working conditions survey and characteristically shows a decreasing exposure to tobacco smoke. The survey shows sharply increasing complaints of muscle pain in the upper and lower limbs. Conclusion: In this study, I have identified vulnerable social groups by using quantified values in a comparison of the working conditions of Korea and those of EU.

• 웰빙융합연구
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.49-56
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• 2024

Purpose: Construction sites are currently facing a socialization problem as the incidence of thermal disease-related disasters increases due to summer heat waves, exacerbated by factors like the concentration of middle-aged and older workers and global warming. The reason why construction sites are particularly vulnerable to heat waves is that there are many outdoor work, which is the peculiarity of the construction industry, and most of the construction workers are elderly. This study analyzes disaster statistics of workers at construction sites for five years to investigate the occurrence of thermal diseases and analyze factors through disaster cases to provide basic data for future disasters to be reduced. Research design, data, and methodology: According to the Construction Workers' Mutual Aid Association, as of June, more than 60% of the construction workers working in the field were in their 50s and 60s. More than 24% are in their 60s and older. Thermal diseases caused by heat waves occur when exposed to high heat or strong sunlight for a long time, accompanied by headaches and dizziness. The problem is that many elderly people have underlying diseases, so if they lose consciousness, they cannot easily recover and are likely to die. Results: According to industrial accident statistics, 182 people were injured by heat-related diseases in the summer from 2016 to 2021, of which 29 died. In particular, in the construction industry, which has a lot of outdoor work, 87 people were injured and 20 people died. Conclusions: In order to prevent heat diseases caused by outdoor work, it is emphasized that exposure time is controlled, and sufficient rest and hydration are essential. Rest, water, and shade are in line with the three principles.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.287-301
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• 2022

Objectives: This study compared the characteristics of the work environment between agricultural and general workers and analyzed the effects of agricultural working characteristics on work-related health problems. Methods: The participants of this study were 2,347 agricultural workers and 48,042 general workers who were selected by applying standardized weights to the raw data of 50,538 respondents from the 6th Korean Working Condition Survey (KWCS). Variables applicable to both worker groups and related to exposure to hazardous risk factors in the working environment, working hours and intensity of work, health problems and work-related status, and satisfaction with the work environment were selected. Chi-square tests and independent sample t-tests were performed to evaluate the differences in the variables between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the effects of work environment characteristics on work-related health problems. Results: Compared to general workers, agricultural workers were more exposed to hazardous environments, irregular work patterns such as working on Saturday/Sunday, and short repetitive tasks. They reported more work-related and general health problems, including back pain, upper extremity muscle pain, lower extremity muscle pain, and general fatigue. Agricultural workers showed lower satisfaction with their work environment than general workers. Factors affecting one or more work-related health problems included gender, working years, hazardous factors, irregular work pattern, working hours, and labor intensity. Conclusions: Our findings showed that agricultural workers were relatively more vulnerable to safety issues compared to other occupational groups. Therefore, it is necessary to establish standardized safety and health standards and strengthen systematic safety and health management policies and services for agriculture.