• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.472-481
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study were to compare working condition, socioeconomic status, and health status between elderly and non-elderly workers and to examine the influencing factors of health status according to age groups. Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of data extracted from the 2014 Korean Working Conditions Survey. For the present analysis, 15,980 elderly workers over the age of 55 and 32,037 non-elderly workers under the age of 55 were selected. Results: The prevalence of subjective unhealthy status and poor mental health were significantly higher among the elderly workers than the non-elderly workers. The elderly workers were more likely to have lower level of education and income than the non-elderly workers. They also reported less support from colleagues and managers, however, have more decision authority. Among the elderly workers, long working hours, awkward posture, physical environmental risks, quantitative demand, decision authority, social support, age discrimination, education level, and income level were significant predictors of subjective health status or mental health. Conclusion: For keeping elderly workers healthy and productive, work environment needs to become more age-friendly. An age-friendly workplace may include: accommodative support, workers' participation, minimization of environment risk, etc.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.166-170
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• 2016

A brief emergency planning educational presentation was taught during work hours to a convenience sample of employees of various workplaces in Northern Missouri, USA. Participants were familiarized with details about how an emergency plan is prepared by management and implemented by management-employee crisis management teams - focusing on both employee and management roles. They then applied the presentation information to assess their own organization's emergency preparedness level. Participants possessed significantly (p < 0.05) higher perceptions of their organization's level of emergency preparedness than non-participants. It is recommended that an assessment of organizational preparedness level supplement emergency planning educational presentations in order to immediately apply the material covered and encourage employees to become more involved in their organization's emergency planning and response. Educational strategies that involve management-employee collaboration in activities tailored to each workplace's operations and risk level for emergencies should be implemented.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.172-179
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• 2019

Background: Workers exposed to hazards without adequate protections are at greater risk of injury and illness. Supervisor activities have also been associated with injury risk. We examined the interplay between supervisor safety support and occupational health and safety (OHS) vulnerability on workplace injury and illness. Methods: A survey was administered to 2,390 workers employed for more than 15 hrs/week in workplaces with at least five employees who had a direct supervisor. We examined the combined effects of hazard exposure with inadequate protection (OHS vulnerability) and supervisor support on workplace injury and illness, using additive interactions in log-binomial regression models. Results: OHS vulnerability and lack of supervisor support independently increased the likelihood of physical injuries at work. Crude and adjusted models showed that the risk of physical injury was at least 3.5 times higher among those experiencing both OHS vulnerability and a lack of supervisor support than individuals without OHS vulnerability and with a supportive direct supervisor. Workers who experienced vulnerability were at less risk if they had a supervisor who was supportive. Conclusion: In workplaces where workers experience one or more types of OHS vulnerability, having a supportive supervisor may play an important role in reducing the risk of injury and protecting workers.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.224-231
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the psychosocial working environment and mental health of financial workers, and analyze the impact of the former on the latter. Methods: Data of 257 financial clerks were extracted from the 2017 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey. Psychosocial working environment was divided into five fields: demands at work, work organizations, interpersonal relations, workplace violence, and working hour quality. Mental health included sleeping problems, psychological well-being, and job stress. Results: A total of 6.1% subjects reported sleep problems, 28.2% experienced poor psychological well-being, and 39.6% had job stress. More than half the subjects were exposed to tight deadlines, complex tasks, hiding feelings at work, fair treatment, fair distribution of work, colleagues' support, and managers' support. Tight deadlines, workplace violence, long working hours, hiding feelings at work, and managers' support had a significant impact on the mental health of financial clerks. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, we propose that employers, workers, and health managers in the financial industry should work together to establish a respectful organizational culture, prevent long working hours through recruitment, and conduct programs to protect emotional health.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 1991

In order to visualize the distribution of workplace of which mixed solvent level in air exceeded the TLV of 1.0 (ACGIH), 17 thinners used in 44 painting workplaces were analysed with gas chromatography, and their levels in air were compaired with. 1. For detection rate of solvents in thinner was highest in case of toluene (76.4%), and decreased in orders of xylene (70.6%), methylisobutyl ketone (35.3%), acetone (35.3%), methyl ethyl ketone (23.5%), isopropylacohol (17.6%), n-hexane (17.6%), styrene (11.8%), and ethylacetate (11.8%). Average number of solvents detected was 3.0. 2. Detection rates of organic solvent by component category was highest in cases of aromatic hydrocarbons (52.9%), and decreased in orders of ketones (31.4%), alcohols (5.9%), n-hexane (5.9%) and esters (3.9%). The rate by regulatory category, the second category component was detected in 93.9% of total. 3. There was significant correlation (r=0.929, p<0.01)between detection rates of solvents in thinner and in air. 4. Among the total of 44 painting workplace, the rate of them of which level of mixed solvents in air was exceeded was highest in case of aromatic hydrocarbons (29.5%), and decreased in orders of ketones (6.8%), alcohol (2.3%), n-hexane (2.3%), and was highest in guitar painting (71.4%) workplace in case of aromatic hydrocarbons by component category.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.143-159
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• 2006

Objectives; The purpose of the present study is to investigate workplace satisfaction level of dental technicians and the differences between that of dental lab owner's and that of employed dental technicians, who are working in dental laboratories. Methods; Samples were comprised of 137 dental technicians working in dental laboratories. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires and analyzed to frequency distribution, correlation, t-test and multiple regression analysis. Results; 1) Dental technicians generally are 'somewhat or a bit satisfied' with their workplace situations, regardless of position, sex, and individual career. 2) Mean values of 4 items out of 11 work situation factors of employed dental technicians were significantly lower than those of lab owner's. The 4 items are the openness of management, working environment, pay, and policy in promotion and raise. They would be sources of dissatisfaction and conflict. 3) Level of satisfaction was significantly correlated with 2 subordinate variables, i.e. working conditions and administration policy. There is a tendency that administration policy is a bit more important for lab owners, while working conditions are a bit more important for employed dental technicians. Conclusion; The employer-employee relationship of dental technicians seems to be sound, as no signs of troublesome problem is detected. But the discrepancy revealed in the above results is telling that there certainly exist some disagreement in the viewpoints of the two groups. It is necessary for the dental technicians to find ways to deal with the possible triggers of discord and discontent.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.225-229
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• 2021

Background: The socioeconomic burden of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) is significant, and kitchen work is a high-risk occupation for MSDs due to the intensive manual workload and repetitive movements that are involved. However, there are very few studies on MSDs and rest breaks as a workplace intervention among kitchen workers. This study examined the relationship between insufficient rest breaks and increased MSD risk among Korean kitchen workers. Methods: Sociodemographic and occupational factors of 1,909 kitchen workers were collected from the 3rd-4th Korean Working Conditions Survey data. Five items on rest breaks at work were categorized into two groups, "sufficient" and "insufficient." The number of MSDs and work-related MSDs (WMSDs), an outcome variable, was obtained from the sum of MSDs/WMSDs in three anatomical sites (back, neck, and upper limb, lower limb). The association between rest breaks and MSDs was estimated using zeroinflated negative binomial analyses, with adjustments for age, education level, and weekly working hours, and the analyses were stratified by sex. Results: After adjustment, significant associations were found between insufficient rest breaks and an increased risk of MSDs (odds ratio [OR] 1.68 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-2.54) and WMSDs (OR 1.40 95% CI 1.01-1.96) among female kitchen workers. Insufficient rest breaks were significantly associated with MSDs in female kitchen workers in all three anatomical sites. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the need for rest breaks as a workplace intervention for preventing MSDs in kitchen workers. Further studies to reveal the causality of this relationship are required.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.248-259
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Adequate nutritional intake is essential for good health and well-being. We aimed to compare the nutrient intake from homemade meals, meals sourced externally ("eating out"), and meals from workplace foodservices, as well as the potential association between foodservices used and nutritional quality among adult Korean workers. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationwide cross-sectional survey on the health and nutritional status of the Korean population. Data from 6,845 workers aged 20-64 years were included. A survey on dietary behavior and nutrition was conducted using the 24-h dietary recall method. Nutritional quality was examined using the index of nutritional quality (INQ) score. Higher INQ scores reflected poorer nutritional quality, with insufficient intake of a higher number of nutrients. Multivariate linear regression was used to identify the association between the foodservices used and INQ scores after adjusting for other covariates. RESULTS: We found that foodservice users exhibited a higher 1-day intake of total energy and macronutrients (all P < 0.05) and lower INQ scores (P < 0.01) than non-users. The INQ scores for total daily meals decreased with the frequency of foodservice use (P < 0.01). A significant association was observed between the non-use of foodservices and INQ scores (β = 0.29, P < 0.01) after adjusting for other covariates. CONCLUSIONS: The use of workplace foodservices contributed to higher dietary nutritional quality among workers. This study highlights the importance of expanding the scope of workplace foodservices to promote higher nutritional quality and healthy dietary habits among workers.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.35
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• pp.25.1-25.12
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• 2023

Background: In Korea, little research has focused on the relationship between discrimination in the workplace and sleep health. Thus, this study aims to investigate the association between such discriminatory experiences and insomnia, a common sleep disorder, using Korean employees' data. Methods: This study used data from the 6th Korea Working Conditions Survey. Discrimination experiences due to age, ethnic background, nationality, race, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, educational level, hometown, and employment status were investigated. The Minimal Insomnia Symptom Scale estimated insomnia symptoms. The association between discrimination experience and insomnia symptoms were analyzed using survey-weighted logistic regression analysis. Results: Based on experiences of discrimination over the past 12 months, insomnia symptoms were associated with discrimination experience due to religion (odds ratio [OR]: 3.70; 95% confidential interval [CI]: 1.58-8.69), sex (OR: 2.51; 95% CI: 1.87-3.37), age (OR: 2.30; 95% CI: 1.88-2.81), hometown (OR: 2.07; 95% CI: 1.44-2.97), employment status (OR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.37-2.10), and educational level (OR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.31-2.14). Furthermore, the prevalence of insomnia symptoms increased with the number of discrimination experiences. Conclusions: In this study, discrimination experiences due to religion, sex, age, hometown, employment status, and educational level were significantly associated with insomnia symptoms. Furthermore, as the number of discrimination experiences increased, so did the prevalence of insomnia. Preventing workplace discrimination may improve workers' sleep health.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.3
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• pp.71-85
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• 1993

The objective of this study is to describe the frequency of workplace health promotion activites. For this objective, questionaire was requested to 648 trainees of Korea Industrial Safety Corporation. Respondents' positions were safety manager, health care manager, or representatives of employee. Major findings are as follows: 1) Of responding workplaces, 66.2% supported the activities related to promote employees' health. The support rate was higher of Manufacturing and Tranport than others. And the lager workplaces had the higher support rate. 2) Most frequent activity is exercise program. But the prevalence of smoking cessation, stress management, nutrition education and women health care was very low. Major contents of support were to pay the cost of these activites and to equip the places or the facilities. 3) 24.9% had the non-smoking policy in the workplace. 98.6% equiped the places and facilities for employees. Mean number of facilities across all workplaces was 2.96 and that of exercise circles was 3.60. In conclusion, it was suggested that the stratege was needed to develop the Korean model for workplace health promotion on the basis of exisiting activites.