• Proceedings of the Safety Management and Science Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.255-259
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• 2000

Despite improved working environment with increased automation in industry, the nursing professions are subject to great deal of potential occupational risks, including chemical exposure, occupational stress, and musculoskeletal stress. In this study, we investigated the work-related Low Back Pains(LBPs) among hospital nursing profession by questionnaire survey. The results showed that over 89% of nursing personnel answered had experienced work-related LBPs. Among these personnel, patient handling caused more than 78% of the incidents occurring at work. This study will thus contribute as a basic reference to the hospitals and ergonomic practitioners for nursing profession training program development, facility and equipment redesign, and for guiding future research concerning prevention of this very important occupational health problem.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.13-23
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• 2002

The use of industrial robots has been one of the most important innovations in production technology in recent years. It is true that robotic techniques, as applied to hazardous operation in industry, have reduced the risk of injury and occupational disease among workers. However, new types of occupational safety and health risks, associated with unpredictable motion patterns and erratic idle times and serious injuries and deaths have occurred due to operator misperception of these robot design and performance characteristics. This paper provides an overview of ergonomic and safety issues which are important in the design of robotic workspaces. Particularly, this study uses MORT(Management oversight and risk tree analysis)as the system's safety technique applied to robotics.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.146-153
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• 2014

This study looks at the impact of psychological and physical factors of the working conditions on the health of workers depending on whether technology is used by such workers. The data used for the study is the third work environment survey. Out of 50,032 respondents, a total of 29,711 paid workers were used as analysis subjects. Although it was anticipated that the use of technology was a factor that hindered job autonomy and teamwork autonomy. However, the analysis results showed low levels of job autonomy and teamwork autonomy in the group that did not use technology. The study assumes a regression analysis model about work environment and work organizational practices of workspaces that have an impact on musculoskeletal complaints, stress symptoms and level of work satisfaction by controlling the social demographic variable that represents the level of individual sensitivity. As a result of the study, ergonomic risk had a significant effect on both groups that did or did not use technology with respect to stress symptoms, musculoskeletal complaints and level of work satisfaction. In particular, as workspace practices and work environment had an effect on the development of musculoskeletal complaints in the group that used machines, there is a need to improve such situation. The autonomous team work or level of job autonomy within the group that used technology may act as a risk factor to the health and welfare of workers. However, because it may also act as a buffer factor, there is a need for a change to reduce stress symptoms and increase the level of work satisfaction by improving autonomous team work and the level of job autonomy.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.343-359
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• 2016

Objective:In this study, we designed working clothes for livestock farmers to wear in spring and autumn to improve their work efficiency, conducted a physiological test on their performance, and evaluated their comfort. Background: In recent years, livestock farming in Korea has expanded, yet farmers' safety and sanitation levels remain low in hazardous environments that include organic dust, toxic gas, and heat stress, as well as the risk of accidents. Furthermore, most livestock farmers wear ordinary or dust-resistant clothes that are unsuitable for rearing livestock and compromise their safety and health. Thus, it is important to design specialized working clothes for livestock farmers that are comfortable and that minimize their health and safety risks. Method: To this end, we examined the literature on livestock (poultry, swine, and cattle) farmers' safety and sanitation issues, designed appropriate working clothes, and tested them in terms of sensory feel, physiological response, and subjective comfort. Results: The respondents expressed satisfaction with the new working clothes. The results of a physiological test showed a decline in temperature and humidity inside the clothes, a lower pulse rate, and a lower oxygen intake compared to the measurements taken when famers wore their previous working clothes. This indicates a fall in heat stress and fatigue, which was mostly consistent with the results of the assessment of subjective comfort. Conclusion: The results of the analysis show an improvement in the comfort of the new working clothes compared to the dust-resistant clothes that are widely worn. Based on this study, the new working clothes need to be further tested and evaluated to improve the design. Application: This study is expected to contribute to designing better working clothes for livestock farmers.

• Journal of Korea Society of Industrial Information Systems
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.24-35
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• 2004

According to the results of this study, we found through preliminary research that most of the workers studied suffered from some sort of musculoskeletal injury, but did not obtain hospital treatment, which shows that although their work was the source of injury, they did not realize the significance of their injury. In addition, there were some subjects that did not even know what musculoskeletal injuries were and in order to solve such problems, companies need to educate their workers about musculoskeletal injuries and show the significance of the injuries. Also, there was a difference in rates of musculoskeletal injuries in different occupations, with higher rates of injury in esthetics, driving and packaging positions. This calls for the use of automated machinery and alteration of the working environment to make it more ergonomic according to the recommended improvement plan, and continuous effort and support on the part of the company in order to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.58-67
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• 2011

A high prevalence of protected horiculture farmer's work-related musculo-skeletal disorders (MSDs) have been reported in precedent studies. One of the tasks required ergonomic intervention to reduce the musculo-skeletal risks is the task of harvesting. The purpose of this study is to evaluate quantitatively the spinal load of worker harvesting with squatting posture to predict and prevent musculo-skeletal risks. Spinal load in Squatting posture with asymmetric trunk motion were analyzed. Before evaluating spinal load on harvesting worker by bio-mechanical approach, it is needed to validate human model. In this study, ADAMS LifeMOD human model shows satisfactory results, comparing with already validated model's results or measured results. While worker reached arms (20%, 40%, 70% arm reach) with various asymmetric trunk motion (0, 45, 90 degree), their spinal loads (extension, twisting and lateral bending moment) were evaluated. In case of extensor moment at lumbo-sacral joint, the more the arm reach got increased, the moment increased. however, in case of twisting moment and lateral bending moment, the more both arm reach and asymmetric trunk motion got increased, the moment increased significantly. The findings of this study suggest that it need to be determine the spinal load, especially twisting, lateral bending moment in evaluating musculo-skeletal workload in squatting posture.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.104-113
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• 2015

Background: Given the long hours on the road involving multiple and interacting work stressors (i.e., delivery pressures, irregular shifts, ergonomic hazards), commercial drivers face a plethora of health and safety risks. Researchers goal was to determine whether and to what extent long-haul trucker work schedules influence sleep duration and quality. Methods: Survey and biometric data collected from male long-haul truck drivers at a major truckstop in central North Carolina over a six month period. Results: Daily hours worked (mean = 11 hours, 55 minutes) and frequency of working over government-mandated daily HOS regulations (23.8% "frequently or always") were statistically significant predictors of sleep duration. Miles driven per week (mean = 2,812.61), irregular daily hours worked (63.8%), and frequency of working over the daily hour limit (23.8% "frequently or always") were statistically significant predictors of sleep quality. Conclusion: Implications of findings suggest a comprehensive review of the regulations and operational conditions for commercial motor vehicle drivers be undertaken.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.273-278
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• 2013

Objective: This study aims to analyze and evaluate fatigue in upper trapezius muscles of adults when inputting text on a smart phone, thereby examining the risk of cumulative trauma disorders in the musculoskeletal system of the upper extremity. Method: Forty-five healthy adults were divided equally into three groups: a smartphone group, a notebook group, and a desktop group. A surface electromyogram was placed on the upper trapezius muscle of each participant, after which they inputted text for ten minutes within an ergonomic setting; their side posture was recorded on video and analyzed. Results: The spectral edge frequency values for the smartphone group, as recorded from the upper right trapezius muscles on the surface electromyogram, showed a significant decrease(p<.05). Regarding the RULA, all three groups had results indicating "action level 2". Conclusion: All three groups had results indicating "action level 2" according to the RULA, which means that additional research on the posture of the participants while performing tasks is necessary, and their posture needs to be corrected. In particular, the smartphone group has the highest levels of fatigue in the upper trapezius muscles, suggesting that the task of inputting text on a smartphone is a high risk for causing cumulative trauma disorders.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.242-252
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to identify factors influencing depressive symptoms in public and private sector employees. Methods: Survey data on 23,602 workers who had worked in the public or private sector were obtained from the 2014 Korean Working Condition Survey (KWCS). Symptoms of depression were measured using the WHO-5 Well-being Index. Data were analyzed using a $x^2$ test, t-test, and multivariate stepwise logistic regression to determine the factors affecting the symptoms of depression. Results: First, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 41.1 % in public sector employees and 43.4 % in private sector employees. Second, the factors commonly affecting depressive symptoms in public and private sector employees were residence area, cognitive demands, development opportunities, social support from colleagues, social support from supervisors, social community at work, job rewards, and work-family conflict. In addition, age, company size, atypical work, ergonomic risks, quantitative demands, emotional demands, influence, and job insecurity were found to be predictors of depressive symptoms unique to private sector employees. Conclusion: Mental health programs including the employee assistance program (EAP) should be developed and implemented after considering the risk factors affecting depressive symptoms.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.327-335
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• 2019

Background: There have been some concerns related to manual handling of large items in industry. Manual handling operations of large sheet metal may expose workers to risks related to efficiency as well as occupational safety and health. Large sheet metals are difficult to move and burdensome to lift/transfer, and handling the sharp sheet edges may result in contact stress and/or cut injuries on the workers. Methods: Through observation, interview, and immersive simulation activities, a few problems related to current handling of sheet metals were identified. A sheet metal trolley-lifter was then designed and fabricated to address these issues. A pilot study on the use of the developed trolley-lifter for handling sheet metals was conducted to compare between the new and traditional handling methods. Results: The pilot study of the trolley-lifter showed promising results in terms of improving the cycle time, manpower utilization, and working postures compared with the traditional handling method. Conclusion: The trolley-lifter offers an alternative solution to automation and a mechanized assistive device by providing a simple mechanism to assist the handling of sheet metals effectively and safely.