• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.185-189
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• 2012

Objective: The aim of this paper is to introduces Hyundai Heavy Industry's ergonomic risk assessment tool, H-OWAS, which is considering work load and frequency compared to the OWAS. Background: As prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders(WMSDs) in ship building industries has been much higher than that in other industries, most of the large scaled corporations have implemented their own prevention program since legislation on the prevention of WMSDs had introduced in 2003. Method: This paper introduces WMSDs prevention program, HEMP(HHI Ergonomics Management Program) which consists of risk assessment, improvement efforts of working environments, medical treatment and training/evaluation and describes how to operate the program. We also describe application of OWAS method considering work load and frequency for risk factor analysis(H-OWAS) and shows methodology for assessing the ergonomic risk factor. And comparison of the assessment results between OWAS and H-OWAS is carried out by statistical analysis. Result: There was statistically significant difference in the assessment results between OWAS and H-OWAS, and regression shows H-OWAS explains the borg's scale of perceived exertion more clearly than OWAS. Conclusion: H-OWAS has been proved more effective tool than OWAS to evaluate ergonomic risk factor under real working condition. Application: H-OWAS can be widely applied to the many other companies when implementing the ergonomics risk assessment.

• 대한물리의학회지
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• 제8권3호
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• pp.289-294
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• 2013

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine differences in erect spinae activities at different height of table during ultrasound therapy in order to propose a optimum work environment. METHODS: Twenty five healthy adult males and females volunteered to participate in this study. EMG signals of both erector spinae(T10, T12, L2, L4) were recorded throught the surface electromyography system at different height of table(45cm, 56.2cm, 67.5cm) during ultrasound therapy work. RESULTS: The higher table heights was, the lower %RVC of the T10, T12, L2, L4 erect spinae at both sides. The left and right T10, T12 and the left L4 showed significant differences. The lower the spinal level was, the higher %RVC of both erect spinae at 45cm, 56.2cm, 67.5cm. The left erect spinae at 56.2cm, right erect spinae at 45cm, 67.5cm showed significant differences. CONCLUSION: The muscle activities of both erect spinae decreased at higher table height and increased lower spinal level. We identified lower table height are risk factor of spine work related musculoskeletal disorders.

• 한국안전학회지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.51-56
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• 2008

In these days, work-related musculoskeletal disorders(WMSDs) is one of the issues in the shipbuilding industry. As the number of injured workers and demands for worker's compensation have rapidly increased, improvement of work conditions and environments to prevent WMSDs has been more demanded. To reduce WMSDs' hazards in the shipbuilding industry, simulation technique which showed it's ability of increasing the manufacturing productivity was applied, because simulation technique has the evaluation ability for a worker's danger level of production process by RULA(Rapid Upper Limb Assesment). In this research, worker's altitude had modeled and worker's action has simulated. After the caution level was evaluated, we pointed out clues which had high workload. To reduce work-load, we applied ergonomic principles for improving working conditions and environments. Improved working conditions and environments were simulated using human modelling and simulation and their workload were evaluated again.

• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.135-143
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• 2015

Objective: The purposes of this study are to investigate ergonomic problems and to propose their improving measures in office environment of big general hospitals. Background: Office tasks have varying risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). The first symptom resulted from the office work was recognized as an occupational disease in Korea in 1986. Although the symptoms have increased since its first recognition, there has been few study on the effect of office work environment settings. Method: First, the author took pictures of working scenes performed in three big university hospitals. Next, the pictures were analyzed in view point of ergonomics. Based on the analysis, their improving measures were proposed for reducing work stress. Results: The results showed that most physical office environment settings such as dimensions of tables/desks and chairs, leg room, thigh, knee and foot clearances, and chairs used did not satisfy the ergonomically recommended design guidelines. In addition, some clerks placed personal belongings under their desks, put monitors in high position and did not lean against the backrest of chairs in seated tasks, which resulted in poor working postures of leg, back, neck etc. It is recommended that the hospital management should provide their clerks with ergonomically designed office furniture and continuously perform ergonomics training program for raising clerks' recognition for office ergonomics. Conclusion: Most office environment settings investigated in this study were not in good condition in view point of ergonomic design for the settings. Application: It would be useful as basic data for establishing ergonomically good office environment in hospitals.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.378-385
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• 2017

Background: The present rapid shift of industrialization from developed to developing countries requires developing countries to understand issues related to work organization, management, and working conditions. There are many factors slackening production, of which working conditions is part. A complete inquiry into the workers' working conditions can enable managements to reduce risks in the workplaces and improve productivity. Understanding and awareness of the benefits of workplace research and a probe into the working conditions in the Ugandan apparel assembly plants are urgently required. Methods: A total of 103 (70 women and 33 men) workers from five different plants were interviewed. Together with the top management of various plants, questionnaires about the workers' opinions of their physical working conditions were prepared. Data was collected using two methods: (1) questionnaire; and (2) observation of the workers during their work. Results: The results indicated that poor plant working conditions were mainly contributed by the workers' social factors and the management policies. Conclusion: The government, together with the management, should work to improve the working conditions in the apparel assembly plants, as it greatly affects both.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.314-320
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• 2019

Background: Sitting posture may be related to risk factors, including inadequate weight-bearing support, particularly when maintained for long periods. Considering that body weight is loaded in a closed support system composed of the seat, backrest, floor and working surface, the aims of the present study were to describe the development of an ergonomic sitting workstation to continuously record weight-bearing at the seat, chair, backrest, work surface, and floor and to test its measurement properties: reproducibility, criterion-related validity, and sensitivity. Methods: Rigid bodies (1 to 30 kg) and participant weights were recorded to evaluate the workstation measurement properties. Results: Rigid body tests showed variation values less than 0.050 kg on reproducibility test and errors below 5% of measured value on criterion validity tests. Participant tests showed no statistically significant differences between repeated measures ($p{\geq}0.40$), errors were less than 2% of participant weights an sensitivity presented statistically significant changes (p = 0.007). Conclusion: The sitting workstation proposed showed to be reliable, valid and sensitive for use in future ergonomic studies to evaluate the sitting posture.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.372-380
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• 2018

The manual handling of people (MHP) is known to be associated with high incidence of musculoskeletal disorders for aged care staff. Environment-related MHP interventions, such as appropriate seated heights to aid sit-to-stand transfers, can reduce staff injury while improving the patient's mobility. Promoting patient mobility within the manual handling interaction is an endorsed MHP risk control intervention strategy. This article provides a narrative review of the types of MHP environmental controls that can improve mobility, as well as the extent to which these environmental controls are considered in MHP risk management and assessment tools. Although a range of possible environmental interventions exist, current tools only consider these in a limited manner. Development of an assessment tool that more comprehensively covers environmental strategies in MHP risk management could help reduce staff injury and improve resident mobility through auditing existing practices and guiding the design of new and refurbished aged care facilities.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.239-247
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• 2008

본 연구는 방사선사를 대상으로 신체 부위별 근골격계 질환의 유병률과 이런 증상에 영향을 주는 요인을 파악함으로써 방사선사의 직업성 근골격계 질환을 예방하고 관리하는데 목적이 있고 조사대상으로 대전광역시에 소재한 5개 종합병원의 현 근무부서에 1년 이상 근무하고 있는 방사선사 219명을 대상, 조사기간은 2007년 6월 13일부터 2007년 6월 27일까지였고, 설문지는 전체 방사선사 219명 중 180명에게 무작위로 배부하였으며, 그 중 143명을 분석대상으로 하였다. 조사는 자기기입식 설문서(self-administered questionnaire)를 이용하였고 조사 내용은 근골격계 자각증상부위 및 증상 유해 요인에 대해 구성해 보았다. 자각증상에 대한 조사는 미국의 국립산업안전보건연구소(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; NIOSH)에서 정한 근골격계 증상 기준을 근거로 한국 산업안전공단(2003)에서 작성한 근골격계 부담 작업 유해요인 조사지침(KOSHA code H-30-2003)의 근골격계 질환 증상조사표를 이용하였고 증상 유해 요인은 노동부 고시 2003-24의 11가지 부담 작업 기준을 가지고 유해 요인 조사 항목에 사용하였다. 분석 방법은 각 신체 부위별 증상에 영향을 주는 요인의 교차비를 계산하기 위하여 증상호소 유무를 종속 변수로 하고, 일반적 변수 및 다른 변수들을 보정한 상태에서 노동부 고시 작업 부담 11개 항목을 독립변수로 하여 로지스틱 회귀분석을 실시하였다. 다음으로 11개 항목 중 신체 부위별로 통계적으로 유의한 변수들만 선택하여 Forward Wald 방법을 이용한 다중 로지스틱 회귀분석을 실시하여 각 위험 요인의 교차비를 계산하였다. 통계분석은 SPSSWIN(버젼 12.0)통계 프로그램을 사용하였다.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.48-59
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• 1999

본 연구는 Rapid Upper Limb Assessment(RULA)를 이용하여 자동차 조립작 업에 대한 인간공학적 작업평가를 하고, 이 결과와 작업관련 상지 근골격계 질환의 자각증상율 및 작업특성 변수들의 연관성을 분석함으로써, RULA결과가 관련 신체부위의 통증이나 불편함으로 보고되는 근골격계 부하의 좋은 지표가 될 수 있는지, RULA평가체계를 이용하여 작업 위험도가 적합한지 여부를 평가할 수 있는가를 보고자 하였다. 자동차 제조업 작업자 314명을 대상으로 근골격계질환 자각증상설문과 RULA를 이용한 작업평가를 하였으며, 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1. NIOSH의 작업관련 근골격계 질환의 감시기준(surveillence criteria)에 따라 자각증상을 조사한 결과, 연구대상자 중 목 32.8%, 어깨 26.4%, 팔 10.5%, 손 29.3%, 허리 41.4%였으며, 한가지 이상 의 증상을 보이는 경우는 62.4%의 분포를 보였다. 2. 품질관리부에 비해 조립부서 작업자 틀이 전체 증상과 어깨, 허리, 팔 및 손부 위 증상에서 더 높은 유증상률을 보였다(p<0.05). 3. 부서별 RULA를 이용한 작업평가 결과, 서브/조립반과 의장반의 공정이 높은 위험점수를 보였다. 전체 조립부서에 대한 평가결과 적합한 작업은 3.02%였고, 62.8%가 부적합한 작업으로 작업전환이나 중재조치가 필요한 경우였다. 자각증상과 RULA를 이용한 작업평가 결과를 비교한 결과 RULA점수가 클수록 자각증상율이 높음을 보였다.(p<0.05) 4. RULA평가지표와 자각증상사이의 관련성을 보기 위하여, RULA지표와 기타 작업관련요인들을 독립변수로, 자각증상유무를 종속변수로 하여 다중 로지스틱 회귀분석을 실시하였다. 최종적으로 증상유무를 가장 잘 설명하는 회귀모형에 대한 분석결과는 다음과 같다. 모든 증상군에 대해서는 반복작업(OR 2.183), 진동공구 사용(OR 2.775)과 총 위험도 점수(OR 2.250); 목 부위 증상군에서는 상완의 자세점수(OR 1.786), 상완 및 손부 위의 총점수(OR 1.634) ; 어깨 증상군은 상지의 근사용(OR 3.076), 상완 및 손부 위의 총점수(OR 1.798); 어깨와 목 부위를 합한 증상군은 상완 및 손부위의 총점 수(OR 1.715)와 상지의 근사용 점수(OR 2.057); 팔 증상군에서는 상지의 근사용 점수(OR 10.662) ; 손 부위 증상군에 대해서는 손목의 자세/손목 비틀림 지표 (OR 2.068)와 상지의 근사용 점수(OR 2.215); 허리부위 증상군에서는 하지의 근사용 점수(OR 2.601)가 통계적으로 유의한 지표였다.(p<0.05) 이상의 결과에서 작업관련 상지근골격계 자각증상과 RULA 점수사이에는 연관성이 있음이 관찰되었다. 이는 RULA가 직업성 질환을 유발할 수 있는 근골격계 부하에 폭로된 작업자들을 평가하는, 일차적인 작업 위험도 평가도구(Screening tool)로서 쓰일 수 있음을 말해준다. 다만 향후 RULA 사용에 있어서 상지(upper limb)와 허리부위(back)의 평가를 구분하고, 기타 다른 작업관련 요인들에 대한 평가체계를 보완하는 것이 필요하다.

• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.15-31
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• 2000

The aim was to evaluate the prevailing ergonomic and psychosocial conditions regarding low back injury in an automobile assembly system. This study consisted of two parts. In the first part of the study, analytic biomechanical model and NIOSH guidelines were applied to evaluate risk levels of low back injury for automobile assembly jobs. Total of 246 workers were analysed. There were 20 jobs having greater back compressive forces than 300kg at L5/S1. Also, there were 44 jobs over Action Limit with respect to 1981 NIOSH guidelines. This might in part be explained by the ergonomic conditions of the company analysed generally being good, with a relatively low duration of 'combined' extreme work posture. The relationship between psychosocial factors and low back injury was examined in the second part of the study. It has recently been recognized that overall reaction to working conditions was influenced by a range of factors, some of which were physical and some psychosocial. The psychosocial environment surrounding the work place may contribute to the perception of risk and eventual ill-health. A battery of questionnaires concerning the psychosocial stress based on PWI(Psychosocial Well-being Index) and musculoskeletal pain symptoms at low back was completed by 246 workers at the same plant. Results showed that 207 out 246 workers experienced the symptoms and 27 workers were diagnosed as patients. Two groups(low stressed, high stressed) based on PWI score had no significant relationships with both symptoms and results of diagnosis. However, sensitivities for symptoms and diagnosis by PWI were 91.3% and 92.6% respectively. Finally, relationships between physical work load and psychosocial stress were analysed. Specifically, some postural factors {vertical deviation angle of forearm, horizontal deviation angle of upperarm, vertical deviation angle of thigh, etc) were highly correlated with psychosocial stress. The results illustrated that PWI scores were associated with some physical workloads. However, psychosocial stress levels couldn't be well related with the pain symptom as well as the actual incidence of low back injury since pain or discomfort regarding low back injury were more complex than that of other musculoskeletal disorders.