• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.101-107
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• 2009

In this study 1,079 occupational accident reports were used to examine the characteristics and causes of occupational injuries in the small-sized textile companies with less than 50 employees. These data were analyzed in terms of age of injured person, work experience, accident type, injury type, and agency of accident. The results show that there are some patterns: (1) injuries occur more frequently in the 40~49yr age group; (2) about half of all accident occurred during the first year of employment; (3) there is a higher percentage of sick people leaving in the 29~90day range; (4) 'caught in and between objects' represents the leading accident type; (5) the most common type of incidence is related to the machinery; (6) 'lower back injuries' is the leading type of occupational disorder. These results can be used to develop more effective accidental occupational injury prevention programs for small-sized textile industries.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.78-94
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• 1991

The purpose of this study is to research the actual conditions of industrial accident patients and to produce worker satisfaction and a rational and effective counter measure pain. Direct interviews with 179 cases (in and out patients) were carried out during a three month period from April to July 1990, at six hospitals two general hospitals Sun Lin and Sung Mo in Po Hang, and four general hospitals in Taegu Kyung Pook University Hospital, Dong San Medical Center, Young Nam Medical Center and Catholic Hospital. The results of this study are summarized as follows: 1. Among the 179 cases, 51.6 % were male and 48.4 % were female. The two largest age groups were 30~39, 31.8 % and 20~29, 27.4 %. Among the 179 cases, 51.6% were married, the largest family number was 2 to 3, 41.1% and 4 to 5, 25.6%. Educationally, graduation from high school was the largest group, 46.4% among the patients, followed by middle school and primary school. The largest group income level was from 40~69만원, 45.2%. The largest group of patients who worked over 50 hrs. a week was 52.0%. The largest group of patients who worked less than 1 year was 44.7%, of the patients in work places of less than 100 people, 60.3% were injured and in work places of 100~299 people, 20.1% were injured. In manufacturing, the lagest group injured was 55.3%, the next group was transport, stroage, communication. The largest group of production workers injured was 40.2%. 2. The cause of injury in the largest group was facility problems, 33.5%. The next group was unsafe habits, 30.2% a lack of safety knowledge, 17.9% and insufficient supervision, 12.3%. The 30~39 year age group was head the highest number of injuries, 40.4% work places with more than 10 yeras of work, 44.4% work palces with more than 1000 people, 56.3% and mining accidents, 80.0%. Among these groups the highest cause of injury was due to facility problems. 3. The accident pattern showed machinery injuries 28.5% as the largest group, followed by falls & falling objects 17.3%, fire & electric 15.1%, struke by an object 14.5%, followed by overaction and vehicular accidents. The accident pattern showed 46.4 % among workers over the 50 year age group, workers in the 5~10 year group, 50.0 % places employing more than 1000 workers, 35.3 % : construction 73.7%, and construction workers 57.1%, among these fall & falling objects caused the greatest number of injuries. 4. The largest group of injuries was fractures 54.8%, trauma 14.5%, amputation 11.7%, open wound, and burns. The largest number of fractures occurred in people in the 30~39 year age group, 63.2 % over 10 years of work, 55.6% in work places of 300~400 people, 63.6% construction 63.2% and general workers 57.2 %. 5. The largest group of injuries was upper extremity 45.3%, lower extremity 24.0%, trunk 18.5 % and head or neck 12.2%. Of these groups, upper extremity injuries were the highest in those less 20 years old 75.0%, less than 1 years of work 59.5%, in work places of 500~999 people 60.0%, manufacturing 56.6 % and production workers 55.6%. 6. Periods of injury showed 34 people injured in September, to be the largest followed by October, 32 August, 22 people July, 19 people and the lowest December, 2 people. During the week, Friday had the largest group injured, 35 people followed by Saturday, 26 people and the lowest was Wednesday, 17 people, During the day 1400 hours had the largest group injured, 38 people followed by 800 hours, 31 people. 7. On a basis of 5 as the highest mark, the average, according to worker satisfaction showed facility safety 3.55, work environment 3.47, income 3.44, job 3.21 and treatment 2.98. 8. The correlation between general characteristics and injury showed that age was directly correlated to the duration of work(r=.2591) p<0.01, age was directly correlated to industry (r=2311) p<0.01, and the duration was directly correlated to occupation(r =.4372) p<0.001.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.151-174
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• 1991

The purpose of this study is to research the actual conditions of industrial accident patients and to produce worker satisfaction and a rational and effective counter measure plan. Direct interviews with 179 cases (in and out patients) were carried out during a three month period from April to July 1990, at six hospitals : two general hospitals Sun Lin and Sung Mo in Po Hang, and four general hospitals in Taegu : Kyung pooh University Hospital, Dong San Medical Center, Young Nam Medical Center and Catholic Hospital. The results of this study are summarized as fellows : 1. Among the 179 cases, $51.6\%$ were male and $48.4\%$ were female. The two largest age groups were 30-39, $31.8\%$ and 20-29, $27.4\%$. Among the 179 cases, $51.6\%$ were married, the largest family number was 2 to 3, $41.1\%$ and 4 to 5, $25.6\%$. Educationally, graduation from high school was the largest group, $46.4\%$ among ,the patients, followed by middle school and primary school. The largest group income level was from 40-69 만원, $45.2\%$. The largest group of patients who worked over 50 hrs. a week was $52.0\%$. The largest group of patients who worked less than 1 year was $44.7\%$, of the patients in work places of less than 100 people, $60.3\%$ were injured and in work places of 100-299 people, $20.1\%$ were injured. In manufacturing, the largest group injured was $55.3\%$, the next group was transport, storage, communication. The largest group of production workers injured was $40.2\%$. 2. The cause of injury in the largest group was facility problems, $33.5\%$. The next group was unsafe habits, $30.2\%$ ; a lack of safety knowledge, $17.9\%$ ; and insufficient supervision, $12.3\%$. The 30-39 year age group head the highest number of injuries, $40.4\%$ ; work places with more than 10 years of work, $44.4\%$ ; work places with more than 1000 people, $56.3\%$ and mining accidents, $80.0\%$. Among. these groups the highest cause of injury was due to facility problems. 3. The accident pattern showed machinery injuries $28.5\%$ as the largest group, followed by falls & falling objects $17.3\%$, fire & electric $15.1\%$, strucke by an object $14.5\%$, followed by overaction and vehicular accidents. The accident pattern showed $46.4\%$ among workers over the 50 year age group, workers in the 5-10 year group, $50.0\%$ ; places employing more than 1000 workers, $35.3\%$ ; construction $73.7\%$, and construction workers $57.1\%$, among these fall & falling objects caused the greatest number of injuries. 4. The largest group of injuries was fractures $54.8\%$, trauma $14.5\%$, amputation $11.7\%$, open wound, and burns. The largest number of fractures occurred in people in the 30-39 year age group, $63.2\%$ : over 10 years of work, $55.0\%$ ; in work places of 300-490 people, $63.6\%$ ; construction $63.2\%$ and general workers $57.2\%$. 5. The largest group of injuries was upper extremity $45.3\%$, lower extremity $24.0\%$, trunk $18.5\%$ and head or neck $12.2\%$. Of these groups, upper extremity injuries were the highest in those less than 20 years old $75.0\%$, less than 1 year or work $59.5\%$, in work places of 500-999 people $60.0\%$, manufacturing $56.6\%$ and production workers $55.6\%$. 6. Periods of injury showed 34 people injured in September, to be the largest followed by October, 32 ; August, 22 people : July, 19 people and the lowest December, 2 people. During the week, Friday had the largest group injured, 35 people ; followed by Saturday, 26 people and the lowest was Wednesday, 17 people, During the day 1400 hours had the largest group injured, 38 people ; followed by 800 hours, 31 people. 7. On a basis of 5 as the highest mark, the average, according to worker satisfaction showed facility safety 3.55, work environment 3.47, income 3.44, job 3.21 and treatment 2.98. 8. The correlation between general characteristics and injury showed that age was directly correlated to the duration of work (r=2591) p<0.01, age was directly correlated to industry (r=2311) p<0.01, and the duration was directly correlated to occupation (r=4372) p<0.001.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.3-20
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• 2019

This review aimed to identify risk factors for occupational accidents and illnesses among young workers in the Nordic countries and to attain knowledge on specific vulnerable groups within the young working force that may need special attention. We conducted a systematic review from 1994 to 2014 using five online databases. Of the 12,528 retrieved articles, 54 met the review criteria and were quality assessed, in which data were extracted focusing on identifying occupational safety, health risk factors, and vulnerable groups among the young workers. The review shows that mechanical factors such as heavy lifting, psychosocial factors such as low control over work pace, and organizational factors such as safety climate are all associated with increased injury risk for young Nordic workers. Results show that exposures to chemical substances were associated with skin reactions, e.g., hand eczema. Heavy lifting and awkward postures were risk factors for low back pain, and high job demands were risk factors for mental health outcomes. The review identified young unskilled workers including school drop-out workers as particularly vulnerable groups when it comes to occupational accidents. In addition, apprentices and young skilled workers were found to be vulnerable to work-related illnesses. It is essential to avoid stereotyping young Nordic workers into one group using only age as a factor, as young workers are a heterogeneous group and their vulnerabilities to occupational safety and health risks are contextual. Politicians, researchers, and practitioners should account for this complexity in the education, training and organization of work, and workplace health and safety culture.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.371-377
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• 2017

Background: Social status might be a determinant of occupational health inequalities. This study analyzed the effects of social status on both work environments and health outcomes. Methods: The study sample consisted of 27,598 wage employees aged 15 years and older from among the Korean Working Condition Survey participants in 2011. Work environments included atypical work, physical risks, ergonomic risks, work demands, work autonomy, social supports, and job rewards. Health outcomes comprised general health, health and safety at risk because of work, the World Health Organization-5 Well-being Index, work-related musculoskeletal disease, and work-related injury. Multivariable logistic-regression models were used to identify the associations between social status and work environments and health outcomes. Results: Employees in the demographically vulnerable group had lower occupational status compared with their counterparts. Low social status was largely related to adverse work environments. Especially, precarious employment and manual labor occupation were associated with both adverse work environments and poor health outcomes. Conclusion: Precarious and manual workers should take precedence in occupational health equity policies and interventions. Their cumulative vulnerability, which is connected to demographics, occupational status, adverse work environments, or poor health outcomes, can be improved through a multilevel approach such as labor market, organizations, and individual goals.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.910-918
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• 2015

Purpose: Safety of humans is an important factor that affects health overall, and injuries are one of the major public-health problems in the world. The purposes of this study were to describe the International safe Community movement which contributes to the injury prevention and safety promotion all over the world, and to identify out the application and developmental strategies for Korea. Methods: A review was done of previous research, reviews, and reports on the history, concepts, basic principles, and recommendations for actions of the Safe Community. Results: For this study, the application strategies of the International Safe Community movement in Korea were examined to deduce the strengths of the safe Community program. Community-based injury prevention work according to the International Safe Community model is a successful and cost-effective way of reducing injuries in the community. Conclusion: Through the International Safe Community program, communities are able to realize a healthy community and achieve improved quality of lives for the people, which is the ultimate objective of the Safe Community model. In addition, it will contribute to the economic vitalization and gain through energy and enhancement of productivity of people.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2016

The labor force has moved to services industry. An industrial accidents of service industry is three people on 10 persons in 2013. This research conducted questionnaire surveys of 1:1 directly person interviews with a structured questionnaire intended for 150 service workplaces, in order to improve occupational safety and health in very small service workplace with less than 5 employee. The survey contents is employment type, safety and health management system, safety and health training, activities. In the results, working with non-regular(informal) workers is two people on 10 persons 27.1% and female workers is about five people on 10 persons with 58.1%, and that 67.9% of non-regular workers who are mainly engaged in the production line appeared. And the work-related injury and accident experience was 3.3% and the occupational injury rate was 1.02%, especially occupational injury rate of female workers was 0.88%. Workplace risk assessment carried out in response that it was very low as 10.0% of the total. Also the safety & health education and activities was very low. Thus the safety consciousness and education is urgently required in order to prevent the industrial accidents.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.176-181
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• 2009

The passenger airbag(PAB) designed for standard sized adults may induce unexpected results to children in out-of-position(OOP) postures. In this work, using MADYMO software, simulations of the OOP injury of children have been performed with respect to PAB design parameters and child dummy positions. The attention is focused on some details with respect to the injury of 3 and 6 year old children in two OOP postures. Among the various design parameters of the passenger airbag systems, four parameters are selected for the sensitivity analysis of the injury with the Taguchi method: bag folding pattern, vent hole size, position of the cover tear seam and the type of door tear seam. An optimal combination of the parameters is suggested.

• Journal of the Korean Physical Therapy Association
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.5-17
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• 1992

Depression in Spinal Cord Injury Patients Kang, Soon Hee, M.Ed., R.P.T. Dept. of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kyung-Hee University Medical Center Depressions have the potential to affect adversely the rehabilitation of patients with spi-nal cord iniury. The present study examined depression, functional independence, and demographic and medical characteristics for 49 spinal cord injury(SCI) patients. This investigation involved the administration of the Beck Depression Inventory, the Modified Barthel Index, and aquestionnaire consisted of 14 items, The results were as follows .1. Compared to normal subjects, SCI patients had significantly higher BDI scores.2. When the cut-off point of HDI scores was assumed 21, 26.1% of normal subjeets and 75.5% of SCI patients appeared to be depressed. Depression in SCT patients were not related with age, sex, marital status, injury evel, severity, duration, pain, functional independence and medical charge. Depression in SCI patients were related with education level, economic level, age at injury, motivation. Depression in normal subjects were related with age, education level, economic level, but not related with sex, marital status. There were significant differences at 30 items of BDI between normal subjects and SCI patients. The items were as fellows . 1 sadness, 2 pessimism, 3 failure, 4 dissat-isfaction, 5 guilt, 6 punishment. 7 self-dislike 9 suicidal, 10 crying, 11 irritability, 12withdrawl, 13 indecisive, 14 self-image, IS work inhibition, 16 insomnia, 17 fatigue,18 anorexia, 19 weight loss, 20 hypochondria, 21 libido loss.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.120-123
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• 2016

Background: To assess in a laboratory setting the ability to stay awake in a sample of workers of an Italian hospital and to investigate the association between that ability and the risk of occupational injury. Methods: Nine workers at the University Hospital of Udine who reported an occupational injury in the study period (cases), and seven noninjured workers (controls) underwent a polysomnography and four 40-minute maintenance of wakefulness tests (MWT). Differences in sleep characteristics and in wakefulness maintenance were assessed using Wilcoxon's rank sums tests and Fisher's exact tests. Results: Controls had greater sleep latency, lower total sleep time, fewer leg movements, and a higher percentage ratio of cycling alternating pattern, were more likely not to fall asleep during the MWT and were less likely to have two or more sleep onsets. Although not all the differences reached statistical significance, cases had lower sleep onset times in Trials 1-3. Conclusion: In the literature, the evidence of an association between MWT results and real life risk of accidents is weak. Our results suggest a relationship between the MWT results and the risk of injury among hospital workers.