• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.47-54
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• 2016

A confined space means places where the risk of damage to health caused by lack of oxygen or hazardous gases in inadequate ventilation conditions and the risk of fire and explosion caused by flammable substances. Asphyxiation accidents in a confined space occured every year and also occurred more than two people at the same time. In this study, we surveyed the domestic statistical data occurred the lack of oxygen in confined space for the last 10 years(2006-2015) and, analyzed the accident by industries sector, workplace size etc. 17 fatal work accidents that occurred in confined spaces in Korea between 2013 and 2015 were investigated and analyzed using the database of the KOSHA and suggested interventions to minimize asphyxiation accidents in confined spaces. This paper is expected to be used to establish interventions planning and training as a preventive measures in workplace having confined spaces.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.28-34
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• 2018

Recently, various engineering approaches have been widely used in the accident investigation field to identify the cause of the accident and to predict damage by accident. Computational analysis is the most commonly used method of accident investigation technique. This technique is mainly used to identify the mechanism of the accident generation and to determine the cause when it is difficult to reproduce the situation at the time of the accident or when it is impossible to perform a reproduction experiment. In this study, The computational fluid dynamics analysis for nitrogen asphyxiation accident generated by defect of building structural between diffusion outlet and cooling tower was performed to determine the inflow path of the suffocation gas, death possibility by concentration of suffocation gas and predicted the time of death due to the accident using 3D modeling and FLACS program. We can quantify diffusion concentration of asphyxiation gas and predict mechanism of death occurrence by accident and evaluate the consequence Analysis through this study. In the future, This method can be widely used in the field of gas safety by improving the reliability and validity of the analysis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.590-602
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• 2019

Objectives: This study was conducted to prevent asphyxiation of firefighters during confined space rescue. The specific purpose was to identify the magnitude of the problem, identify the cause of the accidents, and suggest measures to ensure safety of confined space rescues. Methods: We collected data from National Fallen Firefighters Memorial, press releases, and other sources In order to identify the current situation of asphyxiation incidents among firefighters from 1945 to 2019. In addition, an incident investigation was conducted for each case, and the processes, causes, and control measures of the incidents were described as a narrative data entry. Results: Over the past 73 years, eight incidents involving firefighter in Korea have occurred. In these incidents, five firefighters were killed, and eight were injured. The confined spaces incidents occurred were water supply tanks, wastewater treatment tanks, pickling pits, septic tanks, and more. The causes were three cases of hydrogen sulfide poisoning, one of oxygen deficiency, one of carbon monoxide poisoning, and three unclassifiable asphyxiations. The people in need were all workers in various industries. Conclusions: The number of firefighters' deaths and injuries during rescues in confined spaces was severe and the risks have not been completely eliminated. By establishing and implementing a precise incident investigation system, according control measures should be initiatedin order to prevent a recurrence of the same type of disaster and reflected in the SOP. In particular, due to the high risk of occurrence at workplaces, cooperation between fire and rescue authority and relevant agencies such as the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the KOSHA should be strengthened.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.47-50
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• 2017

Nitrogen is an inert gas that is harmless to humans under normal conditions. While it is not inherently toxic, nitrogen gas becomes dangerous when it displaces oxygen, resulting in suffocation. Herein, we report a case of a 34-year-old man who attempted suicide by nitrogen asphyxiation who presenting with decreased mental function and agitation. Lactic acidosis and hyperammonemia were observed on presentation at the emergency department, but these improved after a few hours. After 2 days, the patient regained full consciousness, and was discharged without any complications. Survival after asphyxiation due to nitrogen gas is very rare, and these patients are more likely to have poorer outcomes. There is a potential for the increasing use of nitrogen gas as a method of committing suicide because of the ease of access to this gas.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.21-27
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• 2019

Many accidents have been occurring during welding and flame cutting work related to maintenance and repair as the domestic manufacturing facilities gradually become decrepit. However, it is not easy to find the accurate statistics and analysis data on accidents occurring during welding or flame cutting operations related to maintenance and repair of machinery and equipment. Therefore, in this study, the fatal accident cases of fire/explosion and asphyxiation that occurred during the welding and flame cutting work in the manufacturing industry were collected and their characteristics were analyzed. Then, we tried to find the connection of the accidents according to the machinery/equipment and the work content, and to provide the materials and measures that can be used to prevent the similar accidents. We collected 329 cases of the fatal accidents related to fire/explosion and leakage/contact of chemical substances in the domestic manufacturing industry during the last 10 years (2008 ~ 2017). Among them, 72 accidents occurred during welding or flame cutting were extracted and the related reports were investigated whether they occurred during usual work or unusual work. Also, the machinery/equipment and the work content related to the accidents were classified and analyzed based on the criteria. The analysis results showed that 31 cases of the fire/explosion accidents occurred during usual work and 32 cases during unusual work, and it was found that 9 cases of asphyxiation death occurred during usual work. Then, from the analysis results, the connections of the machinery/equipment and the work contents related to the accidents were schematized into a accident tree.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.72-75
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• 2002

Objectives : To evaluate the health hazards in the underground storage facilities of ginger roots. Methods : The authors reviewed the emergency rescue records from the Seosan fire department over the period Jan 1, 1996 to Aug 31, 1999. The atmospheres in 3 different underground storage locations were analyzed for $O_2,\;CO_2,\;CO,\;H_2S\;and\;NH_4$. Results : From the emergency records, we were able to identify 20 individuals that had been exposed to occupational hazards in the underground storage facilities. Among these 20 cases, 13 were due to asphyxiation (resulting in f deaths) and 7 were due to falls. In the first atmospheric tests, peformed on Feb 25, 1998, the O2 level inside the underground storage facility, located about $5{\sim}6$ meters below the surface, was 20.6% and the $CO_2$ level was about 1,000 ppm. CO, $H_2S\;and\;NH_4$ were not detected. In the second tests on Jul 6, 1999, measurements of the $O_2$ level at 3 meters below the surface in two different storage locations were 15.3 and 15.1%. And the $O_2$ levels inside the storage facilities were 12.2 and 12.1%. The $CO_2$ level was above 5,000 ppm (beyond upper limits of measurement). CO, $H_2S\;and\;NH_4$ were not detected. Conclusions : We conclude that asphyxiation in the underground storage facilities for ginger roots was not due to the presence of toxic gases such as CO, $H_2S\;and\;NH_4$, but rather the exclusion of oxygen by carbon dioxide was responsible for causing casualties. For the development of a hazard free working environment, safety education as well as improvements in storage methods are needed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.222-229
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• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate gas concentrations such as oxygen in ginger storage tunnels, which are the causes of asphyxiation in confined spaces and suggest directions for safety and health management at ginger farms. Methods: Five farms in the Seosan and Taean areas which use underground ginger storage tunnels were chosen and examined with a walk-through survey and direct reading device for oxygen, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and carbon monoxide. Results: The oxygen concentration in the storage tunnels with no ventilation was found to be under 18% in summer, which may cause health effects. The concentration in those with ventilation was about 19%. The difference in temperature by measurement day had little effect on the concentration of oxygen. Conclusions: Even though some of farms had used compulsory ventilation systems, none of the farms visited possessed any direct reading device for oxygen. Warning systems using a direct reading device can be more effective, helpful, and required compared to ventilation, considering the difficulty and expense of periodical maintenance of ventilation systems and the fact that a farmer can be placed in danger when unaware of the malfunction of the ventilation system. In addition, a warning system may make farmers more cognitive of agricultural safety and health actions while a ventilation system can cause them to become passive and ignorant of workplace hazards.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.36-43
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• 2020

Gas system fire extinguishing equipment is a very economically useful facility, but if it is not used for a long period of time after installing the equipment, there is possibility of rupture due to corrosion of containers and operation errors of equipment systems, and this is very dangerous. However, it is impossible to experiment to check whether the equipment is operating normally. If gas is temporarily released into the enclosed space due to rupture and malfunction, it can cause serious human damage due to gas suffocation. In this study, based on the suffocation death accident of gas system fire extinguishing facility, the inflow path of released gas and the possibility of death and time to death were estimated using a 3D scan and FLACS.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.231-236
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• 1989

Angioneurotic edema is rarely seen in dental practice and manifested by acute attacks of swelling of the extremities, face, airway, or abdominal visera, occuring spontaneously and suddenly or secondary to trauma. Two types are recognized : hereditary and nonhereditary. Prophylatic therapy may be used by fresh frozen plasma or antifibrinolytic agents in hereditary type. Good supportive care for acute attacks, together with a knowledge of course of the disease, can prevent asphyxiation from airway obstruction. A case of acute angioneurotic edema of the facial area in a 19-year-old man is presented in conjunction with a review of the literature. Angioneurotic edema attacks him acutely after the extraction of the lower, right 3rd molar.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.1313-1318
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• 2007

Recently, the terror frequently has taken place for unspecified individuals as modern society is complicated. Especially, in case of a subway carriage fire as Daegu subway fire, because smoke spread path usually coincide with passenger's evacuation path, it will reduce visibility and can cause fatalities by asphyxiation. This study performs not only fire simulation with CFAST V6 but also evacuation simulation with EXODUS V4 for the purpose of taking measures for passengers's life safety in subway fire. As a result of evacuation simulation without fire, evacuation times are 36 s for EXODUS V4 and simple hand calculation, and when fire is occurred fire, 101 persons evacuated in 32 s. Therefore, a countermeasure of evacuation in subway carriage fire is required to repression of fire and emergency exit.