• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.214-219
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• 2017

Coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are characterized as chronic inflammation of the lung in miners exposed to coal mine dust. The aim of the present study was to compare the levels of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LD) and C-reactive protein (CRP) as the inflammatory indices between subjects with CWP and those with CWP and COPD (CWP+COPD), among a total of 97 subjects (27 control, 40 CWP, and 30 CWP+COPD patients). The mean levels of serum LD (165.7 vs 184.6 U/L, p=0.016) and CRP (0.08 vs 0.15 mg/dL, p=0.002) in subjects with CWP were higher than those of in subjects without CWP. The mean level of serum CRP (0.10 vs 0.19 mg/dL, p=0.008) in subjects with COPD was higher than that in subjects without COPD. In an analysis of covariance adjusted by age, the mean level of serum CRP showed statistical significance among the study groups, control, CWP, and CWP+COPD (0.07 vs 0.13 vs 0.19 mg/dL, p=0.005); the mean level of serum CRP in the CWP+COPD group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p=0.001). The results suggest that a high level of CRP in the serum may be associated with CWP and COPD in retired coal miners.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.406-414
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• 2023

Background: This study examined age-group differences in the rate, severity, and cost of injuries among construction workers to support evidence-based worker safety and health interventions in the construction industry. Methods: Ohio workers' compensation claims for construction workers were used to estimate claim rates and costs by age group. We analyzed claims data auto-coded into five event/exposure categories: transportation incidents; slips, trips, and falls (STFs); exposure to harmful substances and environments; contact with objects and equipment (COB); overexertion and bodily reaction. American Community Survey data were used to determine the percentage of workers in each age group. Results: From 2007-2017, among 72,416 accepted injury claims for ~166,000 construction full-time equivalent (FTE) per year, nearly half were caused by COB, followed by STFs (20%) and overexertion (20%). Claim rates related to COB and exposure to harmful substances and environments were highest among those 18-24 years old, with claim rates of 313.5 and 25.9 per 10,000 FTE, respectively. STFs increased with age, with the highest claim rates for those 55-64 years old (94.2 claims per 10,000 FTE). Overexertion claim rates increased and then declined with age, with the highest claim rate for those 35-44 years old (87.3 per 10,000 FTE). While younger workers had higher injury rates, older workers had higher proportions of lost-time claims and higher costs per claim. The total cost per FTE was highest for those 45-54 years old ($1,122 per FTE). Conclusion: The variation in rates of injury types by age suggests that age-specific prevention strategies may be useful.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.134-144
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• 2023

Objectives: Active pulmonary tuberculosis (active PTB) is manifested in one of the complications of pneumoconiosis, but statistics are not available. The objective of the present study was to identify the incidence of active PTB among dusty workers who were diagnosed with pneumoconiosis by year. Methods: The present study was performed using the results of the Pneumoconiosis Examination Council's assessment from the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service (KCOMWEL) database between January 1, 1984, and December 31, 2017. Pneumoconiosis is defined as Category 1 or more. Active PTB was defined as a positive result for active PTB in the result of the Pneumoconiosis Examination Council's assessment. The annual incidence rate of pneumoconiosis and active PTB were analyzed by age standardization. Results: The number of retired dusty workers who received the health examination for work-related pneumoconiosis increased every year. However, the incidence of pneumoconiosis among retired dusty workers and active PTB among patients with pneumoconiosis decreased every year. Conclusions: To effectively manage pneumoconiosis and active PTB among patients with pneumoconiosis, the annual status of them in retired dusty workers who received the health examination for work-related pneumoconiosis was required.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.66-72
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• 2014

Background: The purpose of this study was to enumerate the annual morbidity and mortality incidence and estimate the direct and indirect costs associated with occupational injuries and illnesses in Bangkok in 2008. In this study, data on workmen compensation claims and costs from the Thai Workmen Compensation Fund, Social Security Office of Ministry of Labor, were aggregated and analyzed. Methods: To assess costs, this study focuses on direct costs associated with the payment of workmen compensation claims for medical care and health services. Results: A total of 52,074 nonfatal cases of occupational injury were reported, with an overall incidence rate of 16.9 per 1,000. The incidence rate for male workers was four times higher than that for female workers. Out of a total direct cost of $13.87 million, $9.88 million were for medical services and related expenses and $3.98 million for compensable reimbursement. The estimated amount of noncompensated lost earnings was an additional $2.66 million. Conclusion: Occupational injuries and illnesses contributed to the total cost; it has been estimated that workers' compensation covers less than one-half to one-tenth of this cost.

• 한국사회정책
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.171-195
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• 2013

One of the current issues in Workers' Compensation Insurance is about the coverage range. Korea uses the definition of worker under the Labor Standards Act in Workers' Compensation Act and solved the problems associated with the coverage range of insurance group by the exceptional clause only for the groups which was raised about the need for the social protection. The purpose of this paper is to draw implications for solving problems which are associated with the coverage range of insurance group by reviewing the German literature. We focus on volunteers and persons in special types of employment. German government supports the activity of volunteers by providing with the protection service against the accidents. This paper shows how the coverage range is extended from the dependent employees in the introduction of the Workers' Compensation Insurance to the people who need social protection focusing on the volunteers. The implications of this research are following. First, German system shows that Workers' Compensation Insurance can be extended to the groups which do not belong to the dependent employee but are worthy of protection. Second, it is necessary to provide volunteers in the social welfare system with the protection service against the accidents and the statutory accident scheme is recommendable to use. Third, volunteers in the social welfare system need to be compulsory insured. Fourth, Korea should find their own way in solving problems associated with persons in special types of employment.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.25-33
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• 2009

Since it's first adaptation in Germany in 1884, the industrial accident compensation insurance system has been on the most widely used social security systems, and in was first enforced in Korea in 1964. Today's society has been industrialized and number of business places for workers accident. As the welfare of workers improves in korea, the number of beneficiaries of industrial accident compensation insurance is increasing. Even though such trend is desirable in many respects, there is a growing social problem caused by abnormal insurance claims.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.291-297
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• 2023

Objectives: An epidemiological investigation was requested for a worker who developed COPD and IPF after long-term molding and firing at a domestic tile manufacturing site. We would like to share the results of the exposure assessment and the estimation of past work. Methods: The content of crystalline silica in four raw materials was analyzed, and the respirable fraction of crystalline silica and dust generated in the air from molding and firing workers and other processes were measured. The measurement and analysis method referred to the NIOSH method. Results: The crystalline silica content of the raw material was 24~47%. The concentration of crystalline silica in the molding and firing process workers and the surrounding area was at the level of the exposure standards set by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and ACGIH, and the respirable and total dust exposure levels were generally low. The crystalline silica concentration of the area samples measured to estimate past work was about twice as high as the exposure standard of the Ministry of Employment and Labor (0.05 mg/m3), and the exposure levels of respirable dust were also quite high at 0.903 and 1.332 mg/m3. Conclusions: It was confirmed that tile molding and firing workers are currently exposed to a fairly high level of crystalline silica, and a high level is also confirmed in area samples to estimate past work. In the past, it is judged that the level of exposure would have been much higher due to differences in production volume, working method, presence/absence of local ventilation facilities, and process layout. When working in such a working environment for a long time, respiratory diseases such as lung cancer, COPD, and IPF can occur.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.21-31
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• 2018

PURPOSE: This study examined the differences between male and female workers by investigating the various factors that affected the workers' abilities to return to work according to the International Classification of Functioning standards. METHODS: We analyzed the personal factor, environmental factor, work performance and participation factor related to ICF according to worker's gender. For this purpose data from the third Worker's Compensation Insurance panel survey conducted by the Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service were analyzed. In order to verify the research model, we used frequency analysis, cross analysis to compare the differences between male and female workers according to personal, environmental, work performance, and participation factors and hierarchical regression analysis to identify significant factors affecting job performance. RESULTS: The results, indicate that the level of education, license status, working period, socioeconomic status and employment type of female workers were lower than those of male workers. Factors that have the greatest influence on job performance are grade of disability, status of disability, economic activity status, and instrumental activities of daily living (p<.05). CONCLUSION: It is necessary to provide socially stable employment support and social policy support without discrimination to allow disabled female workers to return to work and maintain their jobs and to study factors influencing job performance further.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.210-215
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• 2008

Purpose: This study aimed to find the factors affecting medical sequelae management service satisfaction among injured workers. Method: This study population were 200 randomised samples of 619 medical sequelae management beneficiaries from April to June 2007 among occupational accident treatment ending workers in 2006. Data were collected through the telephone survey from November 28 to December 7 in 2007. Data were analyzed by ${\chi}^2$ test and multiple logistic regression using SAS 9.1 version. Results: According to the finding of this study, positive perceptions for the purpose and the effect of medical sequelae management were the factors influencing the satisfaction of medical sequelae management service. Conclusions: We recommend key issues to take into account for enhancing medical sequelae management service satisfaction in workers' compensation as follows; explaining the purpose and effect of medical sequelae management to client, evaluating medical sequelae management effect, and the policy participation of medical profession.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.293-301
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• 2018

This study examined the effects of a multifaceted intervention program on the psychological condition, empowerment, work readiness, and functional capacity for job performance of industrially injured workers. Twelve injured workers in C hospital were included in this study. The subjects participated in a social rehabilitation program 2 hours a day, twice a week, for 8 weeks in total, as well as a work hardening program 3 to 4 hours a day, 5 times a week, for 8 weeks in total. The study was conducted from March to September, 2017. A multi-dimensional psychological examination, empowerment scale, work readiness interview and functional capacity evaluation were conducted and the test scores compared before and after the program with the Wilcoxon signed rank test. In the multi-dimensional psychological examination, there were significant differences in the levels of anxiety, depression, lack of social support, and somatization symptoms (p<.05) except anger. The participants also showed significant differences in the empowerment scale, work readiness scale, and functional capacity evaluation. This study suggests that a multifaceted intervention program can be effective in improving the psychologic condition, empowerment, work readiness, and functional capacity of industrially injured workers and, in turn, may improve their rate of returning to work.