• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.375-383
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• 2023

Objectives: Coal-fired power plants feature diverse working conditions, including multi-layered employment structures and irregular work cycles due to outsourcing and non-standardized tasks. The current uniform occupational environment measurement systems have limitations in accurately assessing and evaluating these varied conditions. This study aims to propose alternative measurement and assessment strategies to supplement existing methods. Methods: Major domestic coal-fired power plants were selected as the study targets. To prepare for the study and establish strategies, work processes were identified and existing occupational environment measurement results were compared and analyzed. The study proceeded by employing three strategies: specific exposure groups (SEGs) measurement, continuous monitoring, and supplementary measurements, which were then compared and discussed. Results: Previous exposure index evaluations (5,268 cases) indicated that crystalline silica, a type of respirable particulate matter, had detection limits below the threshold (non-detectable) in 82.6% (4,349 cases) of instances. Exposures below 10% of the exposure limit were observed at a very low concentration of 96.1%. Similar exposure group measurements yielded results where detection limits were below the threshold in 38.2% of cases, and exposures below 10% of the limit were observed in 70.6%. Continuous monitoring indicated detection limits below the threshold in 12.6% of cases, and exposures below 10% of the limit were observed in 75.6%. Instances requiring active workplace management accounted for more than 30% of cases, with SEGs at 11.8% (four cases), showing a higher proportion compared to 3.0% (four cases) in continuous monitoring. For coal dust, exposures below 10% of the limit were highest in legal measurements at 90.2% (113 cases), followed by 74.0% (91 cases) in continuous monitoring, and 47.0% (16 cases) in SEGs. Instances exceeding 30% were most prevalent in SEGs at 14.7% (five cases), followed by legal measurements at 5.0% (eight cases), and continuous monitoring at 2.4% (three cases). When examining exposure levels through arithmetic means, crystalline silica was found to be 104.7% higher in SEGs at 0.0088 mg/m³ compared to 0.0043 mg/m³ in continuous monitoring. Coal dust measurements were highest in SEGs at 0.1247 mg/m³, followed by 0.1224 mg/m³ in legal measurements, and 0.0935 mg/m³ in continuous monitoring. Conclusions: Strategies involving SEGs measurement and continuous monitoring can enhance measurement reliability in environments with irregular work processes and frequent fluctuations in working conditions, as observed in coal-fired power plants. These strategies reduce the likelihood of omitting or underestimating processes and enhance measurement accuracy. In particular, a significant reduction in detection limits below the threshold for crystalline silica was observed. Supplementary measurements can identify worker exposure characteristics, uncover potential risks in blind spots of management, and provide a complementary method for legal measurements.

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.65-76
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• 2024

Purpose : This study aimed to develop and validate a reliable tool, the Korean physical therapists' work environment scale (K-PTWES), for assessing the work environment of Korean physical therapists. The study also sought to examine the validity and reliability of the instrument. Methods : This methodological study involved the development and testing of the measurement tool. The conceptual framework was established through a literature review and in-depth interviews with clinical physical therapists. A total of 40 meaningful statements emerged from this process, leading to the generation of 29 primary items. Following a content validity test, 29 items were selected for the preliminary tool. Data were collected from 220 physical therapists across various job roles and unit types, such as outpatient and inpatient physical therapy rooms in domestic hospitals, with more than one year of experience. The final analysis included data from all 220 physical therapists. Results : Varimax rotated principal component analysis was employed for validities, revealing four factors: organizational support, working system, sustainable development, and relationship with coworkers, explaining a total variance of 54.97 %. The Cronbach's α coefficient for the final tool was .939, indicating high reliability. Conclusion : In this study, we developed a measurement tool reflecting the characteristics of the Korean physical therapists' work environment scale (K-PTWES). Our findings highlight the tool demonstrated both validity and reliability. Utilizing this tool is expected to contribute to understanding the work environment of Korean physical therapists and fostering a healthy work environment. Based on our findings, we recommend, firstly, conducting research on the work environment and related factors of physical therapists working in diverse settings using the K-PTWES. Secondly, future studies should focus on validating the tool's criterion-related validity, as it was not addressed in this research.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2012

Objectives: The aim of this study is to review occupational hygiene activities, including work environment measurement as required by the industrial safety and health laws of Korea, and suggest improvements required to establish an effective exposure surveillance system. Methods: The controversial limitations of exposure surveillance examining the work-association of several types of cancers in semiconductor workers were reviewed. Results: The bulk of the exposure surveillance system was found to focus purely on work environment measurements without providing other important exposure surrogates, such as job title, operation, exposure duration, etc. The current work environment measurement system is limited in terms of the efficient assessment of the exposure status of workers due to a lack of exposure information. Conclusion: The introduction of a national standard classification of occupations and job titles into the exposure and health effect surveillance system should be discussed in order to retrospectively assess exposure characteristics.

• 대한설비관리학회지
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.51-56
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• 2018

Computed tomography (CT) scan room in the department of radiology is very necessary to maintain pleasant and proper illuminance to relieve fatigue and inconvenience because it affects the work environment to the radiologist. Accordingly, this paper describes the method for measurement of illuminance that exposed to an environmental elements in a CT scan room of the hospital. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to propose an optimal environment of CT scan room based on the measurement of illuminance. In addition, the 5 point method by KS C7612 was applied to measure the illuminance with illuminometer (Unfors xi light probe) in the CT scan room. In result of this paper, minimum value and maximum value of illuminance in the CT scan room was measured 212.7 lux and 354.8 lux, respectively. The illuminance of CT scan room was lower than KS A 3011. Finally, the work environment in CT scan room should provide higher illuminance for the comfortable environment of radiologists and patients.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.182-192
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• 2014

Objectives: The aim of this study is to analyze the current status of possession of measurement and analytical instruments at work environment monitoring organizations and their relationships with human resources, including the number of professional engineers and evaluation scores resulting from evaluation programs in 2012. Materials: Data for measurement and analytical instruments were gathered by inspectors who had been assigned by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency(KOSHA) and the Ministry of Employment and Labor(MoEL) during the evaluation program for 2012. Data for 11 monitoring instruments and nice pieces of analytical equipment were collected from 103 organizations. Additional data such as the type of service provides and the number of professional engineers employed were also recorded by the inspectors. Evaluation scores could be acquired from KOSHA. Results: Comprehensive Occupational Health Service Providers showed good operation quality, while University or Hospital Subsidiary and Work Environment Monitoring Organizations recorded relatively poor results. Evaluation scores correlated well with the possession of measurement instruments and human resources for each organization. High yields provided by professional engineers also showed statistically-associated contributions to evaluation scores and monitoring instrument possession. Compared with monitoring instruments, the amount of analytical equipment had little positive impact on organizations' competence. Conclusions: The evaluation results for domestic monitoring organizations revealed that human resources, possession of instruments, and the quality of employees were critical factors for operating the corporations. Each organization should give considerable effort to improving their ability to strengtheninternal quality, resulting in high-yield production for workers and employers by providing improved workplace monitoring services.

• 한국직업건강간호학회지
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.227-237
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of nursing work environment and job stress on health problems of hospital nurses. Methods: The subjects were 200 nurses working in S general hospital in Gyeongnam, and the data were collected using organized questionnaire from Jan 10 to 25, 2015. The Korean version of the practice environment scale of nursing work index, the instrument for job stress, and the Korean version of Todie Health Index for health problem were used for measurement. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and multiple regression. Results: The nursing work environment was found to be slightly negative, and the job stress was found to be high. There were significant correlation among nursing work environment, job stress, and health problems. In addition, it showed that the nursing work environment and job stress of nurses were factors affecting their health problems. Conclusion: The nursing work environment and job stress are influencing factors on the health problems of hospital nurses. Multi-faceted efforts to create a positive nursing work environment are required. Further researches related to association between the nursing work environment and health problem of nurses are needed.

• 한국재난정보학회 논문집
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.478-486
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• 2022

연구목적: 건설현장에서 작업환경측정을 하고 있으나 노출되고 있는 유해인자를 세분화하여 작업환경 측정을 하지 않고 공정별 대표적으로 노출되는 소음, 진동 등 몇 가지만 실시하고 있다. 이에 건설현장에서 가장 많이 노출되는 산화규소분진의 유해성과 현재 건설현장에서 하고있는 개선대책의 보완점을 찾고자 한다. 연구방법: 안전보건공단과 산업보건협회에서 발행하는 실태조사 보고서 및 작업환경측정 기관의 자료를 활용하여 현황을 분석하였고 산업안전보건법의 작업환경측정에 관한 규칙과 비교분석 하였다. 연구결과: 산화규소분진의 유해성을 파악하고 개선책을 보완도출하였다. 결론: 건설현장의 산화규소분진의 유해성을 도출하고 이에 따른 개선대책을 제시함으로써 현장에서 적극적으로 적용한다면 산화규소분진에 대한 직업병을 줄일 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.299-305
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• 2020

Objectives: The most important occupational health activity is work environment measurement(WEM) along with the health examination. The preventive function of the WEM system could be achieved on the assumption that all subjected workplaces are performing correctly the WEM. To achieve properly the original purpose of WEM, we suggested a policy for subjected workplaces that they should register whether subjected or not. Methods: We made registration draft through reviewing laws, reports and thesis for WEM. And we conducted Focus Group Interview for industrial health experts using structured questionnaire about the registration. Results: There were 412 occupational deaths from 2013 to 2017. And it was found that only 130(31.6%) workplaces which involved in these occupational deaths had conducted the WEM. In order to operate the WEM system with effect, the subjected workplaces should register the subject status. Such registration must be completed at the stage of industrial accident insurance enrollment. Conclusions: Conducting WEM is the first step to prevent intoxication accident in workpalces. To operate properly WEM we should correctly understand subjected workplaces. So it is needed for all subjected workplaces to register whether they are subjected or not.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.21-26
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• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study is to analyze an excess trend for domestic permissible exposure limit of trichloroethylene based on previous literature review. Materials and Methods: The research object is a trichloroethylene among 13 chemical substances regulated with PEL(Permissible Exposure Limit) in Occupational Safety and Health Act. The information utilized from this study is the work environment measurement data from 2004 to 2013. The highest level among concentration data measured at various workplaces was selected as a representative value through data process. N.D. (Not Detected) data was considered as 1/2 of LOD(Limit Of Detection). Results: Among work environment measurement data between 2004 and 2013, the highest number of excess workplace and excess rate(24 sites & 1.15%) was observed in 2008's data when applying the PEL(50 ppm) of trichloroethylene. When they are compared with the ACGIH's TLV-TWA(10 ppm), 2008's data showed the highest number of excess workplace and excess rate(175 sites & 8.37%). The number of excess workplace and excess rate related to PEL of trichloroethylene showed increase trend in 2005 but tended to decrease after 2008. Conclusions: Based on the results obtained from this study, the exposure level of trichloroethylene in case of domestic workers is not considered as a safe phase regardless of the year of work environment measurement year. Thus, a strictly preventive management in workplace should be provided for reducing exposure level of trichloroethylene.

• 기술혁신연구
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.163-186
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• 1998

The psychological work environments which facilitate technology innovations in organizations are divided into two dimensions of supportive work environments and uncertain work environments. The measurement variables have significant reliability. And the confirmatory factor analysis confirm the construct validity of two dimensional work environments. Two work environments have the significant effects on motivations to the technology innovations. So, simple and hierarchical regression analyses confirm criterion-related validity. Therefore, Both of the uncertain work environments(uncertainty of external-organizational environments and tasks) and the two important work environments(supporting idea, resource supply, job autonomy) are the two important psychological work environments which indicate technology innovations in organizations. Measures for innovative psychological work environments are provided.