• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.4 s.91
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• pp.268-274
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• 2006

In this study in order to evaluate the growth of RF propagation exposure rate generated according to the enhancement of its use, it is proposed for the ground to be able to examine and to contemplate the correlation between the human health and RF propagation exposure rate by measuring and analyzing the RF exposure source and exposure rate in an indoor environment. As a result of research, it is analyzed that the main exposure source of critically making effect in indoor environment is the frequency hand if radio broadcasting, mobile communication, wireless LAN, digital broadcasting, home appliance, etc., including the TV broadcasting. Among these, it is shown that the TV broadcasting and mobile communication band are the highest. And it is the concluded that RF exposure rate of the environmental sensitive equipment, like an institution for the aged, has lower possibility to exceed the human RF protection criteria by this evaluation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.78-88
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• 2022

Objectives: To develop the smart sensor to protect worker's health from chemical exposure by adopting ICT (Information and Communications Technology) technologies. Methods: To develope real-time chemical exposure monitoring system, IoT (Internet of Things) sensor technology and regulations were reviewed. We developed and produced smart sensor. A smart sensor is a system consisting of a sensor unit, a communication unit, and a platform. To verify the performance of smart sensors, each sensor has been certified by the Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (KOLAS). Results: Chemicals (TVOC; Total Volatile Organic Compounds, Cl₂: Chlorine, HF: Hydrogen fluoride and HCN: Hydrogen cyanide) were selected according to a priority logic (KOSHA Alert, acute poisoning statistics, literature review). Notifications were set according to OEL (occupational exposure limit). Sensors were selected based on OEL and the capabilities of the sensors. Communication is designed to use LTE (Long Term Evolution) and Wi-Fi at the same time for convenience. Electronic platform were applied to build this monitoring system. Conclusions: Real-time monitoring system for OEL of hazardous chemicals in workplace was developed. Smart sensor can detect chemicals to complement monitoring of traditional workplace environmental monitoring such as short term and peak exposure. Further research is needed to expand the scope of application, improve reliability, and systematically application.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.109-119
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• 2018

This study has performed to identify the effect of safety behavior, safety climate and its satisfaction through the Behavior Based Safety Program for 5 sites of the same Company. The study result indicated that the level of recognized safety behavior, climate and its satisfaction improved by conducting observation of worker behavior, jobsite feedback, displaying feedback chart, safety training, behavior modification committee. Additionally, the participation level of safety activity and conformity level of safety rule improved. The recognized level of safety climate improved together with recognized safety value by management, safety participation of direct boss, communication with each other to be dealt with safety matter, safety training material to be contained unsafe behavior and practical hazard, understanding and conducting safety standard. In addition, The recognized level of satisfaction improved together with safety behavior and climate. As a result, this program provided an opportunities to correct worker's unsafe behavior to safe behavior in conjunction with increasing number of observation, providing additional time to have a safety check, safety suggestion to improve work situation and a permit to work rule. It will be integrated into health and safety management system to be able to reduce industrial accident.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.141-147
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• 2022

Background: On the basis of its role for the development of occupational health research, information, good practices, the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH) launched the present survey to collect information on public health and prevention policies put in place by the governments of the countries in the world to contain the pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online questionnaire focused on COVID-19 data, public health policies, prevention measures, support measures for economy, work, and education, personal protective equipment, intensive care units, contact tracing, return to work, and the role of ICOH against COVID-19. The questionnaire was administered to 113 ICOH National Secretaries and senior OSH experts. Collected data refer to the period ranging from the beginning of the pandemic in each country to June 30, 2020. Results: A total of 73 questionnaires from 73 countries around the world were considered valid, with a 64.6% response rate. Most of the respondents (71.2%) reported that the state of emergency was declared in their country, and 86.1% reported lockdown measures. Most of the respondents (66.7%) affirmed that the use of face masks was compulsory in their country. As for containment measures, 97.2% indicated that mass gatherings (meetings) were limited. Regarding workplace closing, the most affected sector was entertainment (90.1%). Conclusion: The results of this survey are useful to gain a global view on COVID-19 policy responses at country level.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.506-515
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the status of hazard communication regarding dental materials among dental hygienists in the Daegu Metropolitan City and the North Gyeongsang-do Province area. Materials: A total of 310 dental hygienists were surveyed using self-administered questionnaires to investigate the status of hazard communication on dental materials and information needs. We collected instructions for use and material safety data sheets(MSDSs) for 67 dental materials frequently used at dental hospitals located in the Daegu Metropolitan City and the North Gyeongsang-do Province area. Results: The questionnaire surveys showed that only 11% of the 310 dental hygienists had knowledge of MSDS and 46.8% of respondents never read instructions for use before using materials. Just 7.4% of dental hygienists have undergone training on hazard information for dental materials. In particular, dental hygienists working at dental clinics had significantly lower response rates on knowledge of MSDS(p<0.001), reading of instructions for use(p=0.042) and training on the hazard information of dental materials(p=0.004) than those in dental hospitals or general hospitals. The essential information most desired by dental hygienists was hazard identification(82.3%) followed by first-aid measures(53.9%), handling and storage(51%), disposal considerations (49%) and toxicological information(47.1%). All dental materials were on foreign products which came from Japan(59.7%), the USA(26.9%) and Liechtenstein(13.7%). In terms of usage, 56.7% of dental materials were prosthetic, followed by conservation(31.3%), orthodontics(9%), and prevention(3%). We found that dental hygienists had accessed MSDSs for only five dental products among the 67 dental materials. The instructions for the use of the 67 dental materials provided hazard identification(64.2%), first-aid measures(83.6%), handling and storage(97%), disposal considerations(20.9%) and toxicological information(26.9%). Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, the hazard communication system for dental hygienists working at dental clinics should be improved.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.169-173
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• 2021

Currently, safety accidents in hospitals are steadily occurring. In particular, safety accidents of elderly patients with weak immunity, such as nursing hospitals, continue to occur, and countermeasures are needed. Most accidents are caused by patient movement. As a method of reducing safety accidents by analyzing and recognizing the sound of the inpatient room according to the movement of the patient, this paper classifies the sound pattern for sound recognition in the hospital inpatient room using DTW (Dynamic Time Warping), an algorithm applicable to time-series pattern recognition. It was analyzed by applying it to the inpatient room environment.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.636-645
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• 2022

Purpose: This study intends to suggest alternatives for improving the level of safety culture by measuring/analyzing safety culture targeting employees of national core-based highway operating organizations. Method: Using the 'Safety Awareness Level Diagnosis Tool' of the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, 16 sub-factor measurement tools reflecting 4 safety culture areas and 4 safety culture activities were evaluated for a total of 144 items. were surveyed/analyzed by online questionnaire. Result: As for the results by safety culture area, "safe operation" was the highest, and "safe communication" was the lowest. As for the results of each safety culture activity, "safe execution (D)", which evaluates whether the plan was implemented, was high. The lowest level of safety culture is "Safety Improvement (A)" Conclusion: When establishing a company's safety and health management measures, the most important aspect of management is the level of safety culture. The ultimate goal is to improve the level of safety culture. In this study, it was possible to confirm the safety culture level of the national core-based expressway operating institution. In the future, we intend to conduct a study on how safety culture affects business continuity management system (BCMS).

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.135-150
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• 2015

Large concrete structures are prone to cracks and damages over time from human usage, weathers, and other environmental attacks such as flood, earthquakes, and hurricanes. The health of the concrete structures should be monitored regularly to ensure safety. A reliable method of real time communications can facilitate more frequent structural health monitoring (SHM) updates from hard to reach positions, enabling crack detections of embedded concrete structures as they occur to avoid catastrophic failures. By implementing an unconventional mode of communication that utilizes guided stress waves traveling along the concrete structure itself, we may be able to free structural health monitoring from costly (re-)installation of communication wires. In stress-wave communications, piezoelectric transducers can act as actuators and sensors to send and receive modulated signals carrying concrete status information. The new generation of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) based smart aggregates cause multipath propagation in the homogeneous concrete channel, which presents both an opportunity and a challenge for multiple sensors communication. We propose a time reversal based pulse position modulation (TR-PPM) communication for stress wave communication within the concrete structure to combat multipath channel dispersion. Experimental results demonstrate successful transmission and recovery of TR-PPM using stress waves. Compared with PPM, we can achieve higher data rate and longer link distance via TR-PPM. Furthermore, TR-PPM remains effective under low signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio. This work also lays the foundation for implementing multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) stress wave communication networks in concrete channels.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.215-229
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• 2023

Objectives: To validate the effectiveness of a real-time chemical exposure monitoring system developed by KOSHA (Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency), we applied the system to a workplace in the electronics industry for 153 days. Methods: The monitoring system consisted of a PID chemical sensor, a LTE communication equipment, and a web-based platform. To monitor chemical exposure, four sets of sensors were placed in two manufacturing tasks - inspection and jig cleaning - which used TCE as a degreasing agent. We reviewed previous reports of work environment measurements and conducted a new work environment measurement on one day during the period. The PID sensor systems detected the chemical exposure levels in the workplace every second and transmitted it to the platform. Daily average and maximum chemical exposure levels were also recorded. Results: We compared the results from the real-time monitoring system and the work environment measurement by traditional methods. Generally, the data from the real-time monitoring system showed a higher level because the sensors were closer to the chemical source. We found that 28% of jig cleaning task data exceeded the STEL. Peak exposure levels of sensor data were useful for understanding the characteristics of the task's chemical use. Limitations and implications were reviewed for the adoption of the system for preventing poisoning caused by chemical substances. Conclusions: We found that the real-time chemical exposure monitoring system was an efficient tool for preventing occupational diseases caused by chemical exposure, such as acute poisoning. Further research is needed to improve the reliability and applicability of the system. We also believe that forming a social consensus around the system is essential.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.61-65
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• 2016

Currently, a variety of Information and Communication Technology(ICT) is being broadly utilized for mental health. Especially, mobile application is one of the effective ICT, and several applications have been developed after the spread of smartphones. The mobile-based mental health has several strengths, such as better treatment accessibility and easier check-ups of symptoms or daily activities by real-time monitoring. Better follow-ups of treatment course, more customized feedback and better transportability enable patients to be more adherent. However, there are some limitations of mobile technology about the mental health, such as technical troubles of electric errors, data safety problems and personal information extrusion. Therefore, full considerations should be given during the development and provision of the technology. Most of all, mental health specialists should actively participate in the development process by incorporation of evidence-based experiences and assurance of good clinical qualities.