• Title/Summary/Keyword: WORK-RELATED

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Work Sectors with High Risk for Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Korean Men and Women

  • Park, Jungsun;Kim, Yangho;Han, Boyoung
    • Safety and Health at Work
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    • v.9 no.1
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    • pp.75-78
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    • 2018
  • Background: To identify work sectors with high risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in Korean men and women. Methods: We analyzed nationwide data to identify ergonomic risk factors in Korean employees. In particular, we analyzed data on exposure to five ergonomic risk factors (painful/tiring postures, lifting/moving heavy materials, standing/walking, repetitive hand/arm movements, and hand/arm vibration) according to employment sector, sex, and age, using the 2014 Fourth Korean Working Conditions Survey. We also used workers' compensation data on work-related MSDs in 2010, which is available by sex. Results: The different work sectors had different gender distributions. "Manufacturing" (27.7%) and "construction" (11.3%) were dominated by males, whereas "human health and social work activities" (12.4%), "hotel and restaurants" (11.7%), and "education" (10.4%) were dominated by females. However, "wholesale and retail trade" and "public administration and defense" employed large numbers of males and females. Furthermore, the work sectors with a greater proportion of work-related MSDs and with multiple ergonomic risk factors were different for men and women. For men, "construction" and "manufacturing" had the highest risk for work-related MSDs; for women, "hotel and restaurants" had the highest risk for work-related MSDs. Conclusion: Ergonomic interventions for workers should consider gender and should focus on work sectors with high risk for MSDs, with multiple ergonomic risk factors, and with the largest number of workers.

Improvement of Copy-Machine in terms of Human-Computer Interface and Posture Improvement of Copy-Workers (복사기의 HCI관점에서의 개선과 복사자들의 자세 개선)

  • Young-Guk Kwon;Sang-Kyu Park
    • Proceedings of the Safety Management and Science Conference
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    • 2001.11a
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    • pp.139-143
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    • 2001
  • Work-related injurieshave become the issue in the twentieth century. Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common work-related injuriesand the most frequent from of work-related i11-health (more than 50% of total work-related injuries (BLS 1990)). The workers at copy shops have complained of pain in their back, legs, and shoulders. Most of them work for more than 8 hours a day. They have claimed that their pains were associated with repetitive and continuous work over a long term. The purpose of this research is to suggest an ergonomically comfortable redesign of the copy machine. This study was performed by conducting a survey of copy shop workers who have complained of job-related physical pain, and analyzing their working postures. The copy machine was ergonomically modified to reduce the workers' pain. The VIS10N 3000 software was used to analyze the posture. The analysis showed significant difference in the ranges of back and neck motion (p<0.05).

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Associations between Sleep and Work-Related Cognitive and Emotional Functioning in Police Employees

  • Sorengaard, Torhild Anita;Olsen, Alexander;Langvik, Eva;Saksvik-Lehouillier, Ingvild
    • Safety and Health at Work
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    • v.12 no.3
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    • pp.359-364
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    • 2021
  • Aim: We aimed to examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between sleep and work-related impaired cognitive and emotional functioning in police employees. Methods: This study included 410 participants (52% men) employed in a police district in Norway at baseline, of which 50% also participated in the study at 6 months later follow-up. The questionnaires included items measuring work schedule, sleep length, insomnia, as well as impaired cognitive and emotional functioning at work. Results: The results showed that insomnia was related to impaired work-related emotional functioning measured at baseline, and to impaired cognitive functioning measured at both baseline and follow-up. Sleep length and rotating shift work were not associated with future decline in cognitive or emotional functioning. Conclusion: Our study indicates that the relationship between insomnia and emotional functioning at work may be transient, whereas insomnia can be related to both immediate and future impaired cognitive functioning. Replication of the findings in larger samples is advised. The findings call for an emphasis on the prevention and treatment of sleep problems among police employees as a mean of maintaining and improving cognitive and emotional functioning at work, and thereby reducing the risk for impaired performance and negative health and safety outcomes.

The Relationship between Firefighters' Work Demand and Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders: The Moderating Role of Task Characteristics

  • Kodom-Wiredu, Justice K.
    • Safety and Health at Work
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    • v.10 no.1
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    • pp.61-66
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    • 2019
  • Background: Emergency workers such as firefighters are cataloged within the most demanding and injurious professions globally. Considering the health and safety implications in firefighting, a lot of research needs to be conducted to examine how firefighters' task characteristics and their work demand influence the development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). This study therefore examines how the task characteristics of firefighters moderates the relationship between their work demand and the development of WMSDs. Methods: Convenient sampling was employed to select 320 firefighters in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression. Results: The findings revealed that work demand and task characteristics have significant positive effects on WMSDs. Again, the task characteristics of firefighters moderates the relationship between their work demand and WMSDs. Conclusion: Since the study shows that task characteristics influences the relationship between work demand and WMSDs, it is vital for managers to constantly modify the nature of tasks performed by and work demand of emergency workers to minimize the development of WMSDs and other industrial health complications.

A Study on the Work-related Low Back Pain of Workers at a Refractories Manufacturing Factory (모 연와제조 공장 근로자의 작업과 관련된 요통 및 대책에 관한 연구)

  • Cheong, Hoe Kyeong;Lim, Hyun Sul;Kim, Ji Yong
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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    • v.7 no.2
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    • pp.289-297
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    • 1997
  • Work-related low back pain(below LBP) is one of the major cause of morbidity, disability, limitation of activity and economic loss. Therefore the work-related LBP is one of the major issue in the field of industrial safety and health. This study was performed for detecting the risk factors and proposing the effective control programs of work-related LBP. The subjects were male workers employed at the welding and metal factory. The data was collected by self-reported questionnaire, interview and checking abdomen muscular and grasping power for two days on October, 1993. The contents of questionnaire were as follow: the experience of LBP, general characteristics, physical characteristics, employment status, type of work and working environment. The number of cases was 104 with a history of work-related LBP, so the prevalence of work-related LBP was 35.0%, and the number of controls was 140 without any history of LBP. As a result, marital status, educational level, abdomen muscular power, tenure, category of job, satisfaction of job, working posture, satisfaction for table and chair and lifting materials showed a statistical significance between the case and control groups. 284 Lifting jobs were quantified by NIOSH lifting equation method and ergonomic computer modelling methods. There were no significant differences in the action limit and disc compression force between group with LBP and without LBP. But in the lifting frequency and cumulative disc compression force there were significant differences. Therefore work-related LBP should be prevented by the ergonomic and environmental control.

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Gender-related Factors Associated with Upper Extremity Function in Workers

  • Kim, Kyoo-Sang;Kim, Min-Gi
    • Safety and Health at Work
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    • v.1 no.2
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    • pp.158-166
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    • 2010
  • Objectives: This study aimed to find gender distinctions in terms of the sociology of the population; to determine work-related factors; to analyze gender differences in daily living, work, sports, and art performances; and to identify gender-related factors that limited performance of daily living and work activities. Methods: A questionnaire was designed that included disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH), accident history, disease history, work duration at current workplace, marital status, job satisfaction, job autonomy, and physical demands of the job. Out of 1,853 workers surveyed, 1,173 questionnaires (63.3%; 987 males, 186 females) included responses to DASH disability and DASH optional work and were judged acceptable for analysis. Results: Upper extremity functional limitation during work and daily living was higher for females than males. The limitations for males increased according to their household work time, accident history, work duration, job satisfaction, physical demand, and job autonomy. Meanwhile, female workers' upper extremity discomfort was influenced by their disease history, job satisfaction, and physical demands. In addition, the size of the company affected male workers' upper extremity function, while marriage and hobbies influenced that of female workers. Conclusion: This study addressed sociodemographic factors and work-related factors that affect each gender's upper extremity function during daily living and working activities. Each factor had a different influence. Further studies are needed to identify the effect that role changes, not being influenced by risks at work, have on musculoskeletal disorders.

Ergonomics' Role for Preventing Musculoskeletal Disorders (근골격계질환 예방과 인간공학의 역할)

  • Jeong, Byung-Yong
    • Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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    • v.29 no.4
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    • pp.393-404
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    • 2010
  • The purpose of this study is to identify the trends and features of existing articles on work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD), and to suggest the direction for future work. Articles on WMSD were reviewed and analyzed by research objects and characteristics. This paper describes a number of issues related to strategies and practices which were done in order to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders; 1) trends and characteristics of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, 2) legal enforcement related to systems preventing WMSD, 3) workplace assessment methods and guidelines for manual material handling, 4) ergonomic intervention, ergonomics program and its effectiveness. A list of recommendations presented in this study can be used to provide a baseline for the prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

An Empirical Study on Factors Influencing Non-Work Related Use Behavior of Smartphone (직무외 스마트폰 사용 행동에 영향을 미치는 요인에 대한 실증적 연구)

  • Lee, Jong-Man
    • Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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    • v.17 no.8
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    • pp.115-121
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    • 2012
  • The main objective of this study was determine why employees conduct non-work related smartphone use at work. To do this, this study developed the research model of non-work related smartphone use behavior consisting of factors such as habit, intention, social effect, task interdependence, and behavior. And it was tested via a survey of employees using smartphones. The results of this study reveal, first, that habit and social influence are significant predictors of non-work related smartphone use behavior. Secondly, task interdependence has a positive moderating effect between intention and behavior in non-work related smartphone use.

Workplace Accidents and Work-related Illnesses of Household Waste Collectors

  • Jeong, Byung Yong;Lee, Sangbok;Lee, Jae Deuk
    • Safety and Health at Work
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    • v.7 no.2
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    • pp.138-142
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    • 2016
  • Background: Household waste collectors (HWCs) are exposed to hazardous conditions. This study investigates the patterns of workplace injuries and work-related illnesses of HWCs. Methods: This study uses cases of workplace injuries and work-related illnesses of HWCs that occurred between 2010 and 2011. We analyzed 325 cases of injuries and 36 cases of illnesses according to the workers' age, length of employment, size of workplace, injured part of body, day and month of injury, type of accident, agency of accident, and collection process. Results: There were significant differences in the effect of workers' length of employment, injured part of body, type of accident, agency of accident, and collection process. Results show that most injuries occur in workers in their 50s and older. This study also shows that 51.4% of injuries occur at businesses with 49 employees or fewer. Injuries to waste collectors happen most often when workers are electrocuted after slipping on the ground. The second most prevalent form of injury is falling, which usually happens when workers hang from the rear of the truck during transportation or otherwise slip and fall from the truck. Work-related illnesses amongst waste collectors are mostly musculoskeletal conditions due to damaging postures. Conclusion: These findings will be instructive in devising policies and guidelines for preventing workplace injuries and work-related illnesses of HWCs.

The Influence of Work Environment, Job-related Environment and Burnout on the Satisfaction with Life among Nursery School Teachers (사회지지와 근무환경이 어린이집 교사의 삶의 만족도에 미치는 영향 : 업무요인과 소진을 매개로)

  • Kwon, Hwa Sook
    • Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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    • v.8 no.2
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    • pp.157-174
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    • 2012
  • The purpose of this study was to explore factors associated with life satisfaction among nursery school teachers. To accomplish the study purpose, this study first classified several variables into three broad categories including work environment (social support & work environment), job-related environment (work-related stress & job satisfaction), and burnout. And then, 302 nursery school teachers across the country were surveyed in order to explore whether those factors were associated with life satisfaction. The overall results were as follows. First, social support and work environment had a direct impact on the satisfaction with life. Second, social support and job satisfaction had a direct influence on job satisfaction. Third, social support, work-related stress and job satisfaction directly influenced burnout. Fourth, job-related environment, job satisfaction, and burnout had a direct impact on life satisfaction. Overall, it was found that job-related environment, job satisfaction, and burnout had a direct influence on life satisfaction among nursery school teachers and social support and work-related stress had an indirect effect on life satisfaction via burnout.