• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.164-176
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• 1998

This study deals with the current medical utilization for migrant workers and the characteristics of them. The purpose of this study is to provide the basic information to establish proper medical policy. For the study self-made questionnaire was used, which was answered by 453 migrant workers working in the area of manufacturing and non-technical work in 10 cities like Seoul, Inchon, Namyangju, Sungnam, Kwangju, Pyungchon, Kunpo, Kimpo, Masuk in Kyungki-do and Chunan in Chungchungnam-do. Besides, 303 medical records of those who had visited free medical check-up center were analyzed. The period of accumulating data is 6 months, from November 1st, 1996 to April 30th, 1997. The characteristics of migrant workers and current medical utilization are analyzed by percentage and the relation between characteristics and current medical utilization were analyzed using ${\chi}^2$-test, t-test, ANOVA. The finding of this study was as follows : 1) The number of nationality was 16. The first majority was Philippians as 32.0%. Among 16 nationalities Southeastern and Northern Asians were 48.9%, Southwestern Asian was 46.5%, the rest was 7.3%. Men were 81.0%, those who are aged from 26 to 30 were 39.0%, Graduatee from high school 92.7%, Christians 56.3%, unmarried 55.4% and salary from 600,000 Won to 800,000 Won 53.8% averaging monthly payment 669,810 Won. As for their residence, those who resided over 3 years were 31.9% and the illegal residence reached 77.4%. As for Korean language, those who speak in middle level were 5.6%. 2) As for kind of work and circumstances, manufacturing was 81.1%, 4 off-days per month 72.2% and 9-10 working hours per day 42.1%. As for accommodation, residence in fabric was 62.6% and one or two members as roommate 40.2%. 3) The characteristics of health behavior showed that 89.4% of migrant workers had 3 meals, 70.9% of them did not drink alcohol, 73.5% of them did not smoke. 4) As a characteristic of health status, 71.8% of them perceived of their health. 76.1% thought that they had no illness before coming Korea. Among them who recognized their illness, those who had problem in circulatory system was 35.3%, respiratory system ENT 19.1% and nervous system 19.1%.66.2% of those having illness had already had sickness when coming to Korea. 5) During last one month, 79.2% of them were known as ones having no illness. Among the sick, those who had problem in circulatory system was 31.6%, nervous system 23.7% and respiratory system 21.1%. 60.3% of the sick were not cured at that time. 6) Sorting the symptom of those who visited free medical check up, dental care was 24.2%, orthopedic 14.0% and digestive system 13.8%. Teethache was 34.4%, stomach problem 11.6%, upper respiratory inflammation 10.2% and back pain 5.9%. Averagely they visited free medical check up 1-2 times. According to symptom, epilepsy 25.5 times, heart and vascular disease 9 times, constipation 2.8%, neurosis 2.38 times and stomach problem 2.34 times. 7) The most frequently visited medical service by migrant workers was hospital. The most mentioned reason was good healing as 36.3%. The medical service satisfied migrant workers mostly was hospital as 64.3%. The reason of satisfaction was also good healing as 45.9%. 8) 77.2% of respondents did not spend money for medical check. Average monthly medical cost was 25,100 Won, 3.7% of income. Those who had no medical security was 73.4%. In their case, 67.7% got discount from hospital or support from working place and religious organization. 9) As for the difference of medical utilization according for the characteristics of migrant workers, legal workers and no-Korean speaker used hospital more frequently. 10) Those who were satisfied most of all with the service of hospital were female workers, hinduists and buddhists, legal workers or manufacture workers. 11) Christians, those who have 3 meals or recognize themselves as healthy ones mostly had no illness. As a result, the most of migrant workers in Korea are from Asia. They are good educated but are working in manufacturing and illegal. Their average income is under 700,000 Won which in not enough for medical cost. They have no medical security and medical fee is supported by religious organization or discounted. Considering these facts the medical policy by government is to be established.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.190-197
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• 2001

Noise-induced hearing loss(NIHL) was the highest rate (43.5%~58.5% from 1996 to 1998) of positive findings through specific medical program in Korea. There were much more NIHL at workers of automobile manufacturing factories than other manufacturing factories. The specific aim of the present study was to determine the noise exposure of automobile press lines, according to their job titles, press line types(auto, semiauto), dosimeter parameters setting. There were a total 11 press lines sampled at a automobile manufacturing company. Among those press lines, 10 press lines were autolines with acoustic enclosure, one semiauto press line was no aucostic enclosure Noise exposure data were sampled for an work shift using noise dosimeter, which recorded both time-weighted average(TWA) and 1-min average. The mean OSHA TWA(Korea TWA with threshold 90) was $80.7dB(A){\pm}4.7dB(A)$ for leader, $82.8dB(A{\pm}4.5dB(A)$ for pallette man, $76.7dB(A){\pm}4.3dB(A)$ for press operators, $76.6dB(A){\pm}5.6dB(A)$ for crane operators, $77.1dB(A){\pm}2.8dB(A)$ for forklift drivers, whereas the mean NIOSH TWA was $88.9dB(A){\pm}1.7dB(A)$ for leader, $89.6dB(A){\pm}2.1dB(A)$ for pallette man, $86.7dB(A){\pm}1.8dB(A)$ for press operators, $88.5dB(A){\pm}2.0dB(A)$ for crane operators, $87.7dB(A){\pm}1.0dB(A)$ for forklift drivers. While L10 for NIOSH TWA samples was 84.8 dB(A) ~ 87.3 dB(A), L10 for OSHA TWA samples was 69.5 dB(A) ~ 77.4 dB(A). L10 means that the TWA for 90% of the samples exceeded L10. Among OSHA TWA(Korea TWA with threshold 90) samples for pallette man, 7.7 % exceeded 90 dB(A), the OSHA permissible exposure level, but OSHA TWA samples for the other job titles didn't. Among NIOSH TWA samples, the samples over 85 dB(A), the NIOSH recommended exposure limit, was 100% (leaders), 83.3 %(operators), 97.4%(palletteman), 100%(forklift drivers), 91.7 %(crane operator). The results of One-way random effects analysis of variance models shows that the difference between job titles was significant by OSHA TWA(p<0.05), but not significant by NIOSH TWA(p>0.05). NIOSH TWA samples were significantly higher than OSHA TWA samples(P<0.05). Regression analysis was used to obtain relationships between OSHA TWA samples and NIOSH TWA samples. In this case the coefficient of determination = 0.90, which shows the high degree association between two methods. Regression equation, NIOSH TWA = 0.552 * OSHA TWA + 42.13 dB(A), shows that if OSHA TWA is known, NIOSH TWA can be predicted by the equation. The mean TWA difference between threshold 80 dBA and 90 dBA was significant(p<0.01). While the TWA noise exposures were 7.7% above the Korea(OSHA) PEL, they were more than 83.3% over NIOSH REL. Automobile workers were exposed to noise level that could be potentially damaging to their hearing. It found that there is approximately 25% excess risk of hearing loss even if a worker is protected to the PEL in according to NIOSH study.

• Journal of Venture Innovation
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.57-70
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• 2022

In modern industrial capitalism, the relationship between the provision of work and the receipt of wages has become an important principle governing society. According to the labor contract, the wages provided by entrusting the right to dispose of one's labor to the employer are directly compensated, and human life should be guaranteed and reproduced with proper rest. The establishment of labor relations under free contracts represents a problem in protecting workers, and accordingly, the maximum of working hours is set as a minimum right for workers, and the standard for minimum rest is set and assigned. The reduction of working hours is very important in terms of the quality of life of workers, but it is also an important issue in efficient corporate activities. As of 2020, Korea has 1,908 hours of annual working hours, the third lowest among OECD 37 countries in the happiness index surveyed by the Sustainable Development Solution Network(SDSN), an agency under the United Nations. Accordingly, the necessity of reducing working hours has been recognized, and the maximum working hours per week has been limited to 52 hours since 2018. In this situation, various working hours are legally excluded as a way to maintain the company's value-added creation and meet the diverse needs of workers, and Korea's Labor Standards Act restricts flexible working hours within three months, flexible working hours exceeding three months, selective working hours, and extended working hours. However, in the discussion on the application of the revised flexible working hours system in 2021 and the expansion of the settlement unit period recently discussed, there is a problem with the flexible working hours system, which needs to be improved. Therefore, this paper aims to examine the problems of the flexible working hours system and improvement measures. The flexible working hours system is a system that does not violate working hours even if the legal working hours are exceeded on a specific day or week according to a predetermined standard, and does not have to pay additional wages for excessive overtime work. It is mainly useful as a form of shift work in manufacturing, sales service, continuous business or electricity, gas, water, and transportation for long-term operations. It is also used as a way to shorten working hours, such as expanding holidays through short working days. However, if the settlement unit period is expanded, it is disadvantageous to workers as the additional wages that workers can receive will not be received. Therefore, First, in order to expand the settlement unit period currently under discussion, additional wages should be paid for the period expanded from the current standard. Second, it is necessary to improve the application of the flexible working hours system to individual workers to have sufficient consultation with individual workers in a written agreement with the worker representative, Third, clarify the allowable time for extended work during the settlement unit period, and Fourth, limit the daily working hours or apply to continuous rest. In addition, since the written agreement of the worker representative is an important issue in the application of the flexible working hours system, it is necessary to secure the representation of the worker representative.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.93-107
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the trends of studies on work-related musculoskeletal disorder and to suggest the direction of future research. Method: 144 research thesis for a degree on work-related musculoskeletal disorder were systematic reviewed and published from Jan. 1990 to Mar. 2005. The analyzed using descriptive statistics, an actual number, percentage. Result: As its result the work-related musculoskeletal disorder research which is announced from domestic the doctorate dissertation at the 2004 year 42 the most many 144 dissertation middle most to be 129 in master degree dissertation was 15 in Ph D degree. Dissertation contents character the contents against the result relation that it analyzes especially and a condition and an obstacle was many most at 84. Research plan in most description investigation research 121 the dissertation field to be the especially public health (hygiene, industry and environment) at this 57 most many research object person distribution manufacturing industry in the research object one dissertation was many most at the 40. The tools which are used in each measurement in the question tool which it uses most the question price of land which uses the condition investigation ticket which it made from the NIOSH and the ANSI most many 33, the hazard which analyzes a work attitude in the tool which it uses the RULA was many most at 14. In the stress test tool social psychological healthy measurement PWI (Psychological Wellbeing Index) the dissertation which uses the Job Strain of the Karasek Model to be many most at 19 PWI (Psychological Wellbeing Index) 7 easy use. Work-related musculoskeletal disorder measurement hazard in physiological index and the machinery and tools which it uses there were 9 researches to use an electromyogram most plentifully. With the effect goes to a work-related musculoskeletal disorder they are 33 where the age is many most from general quality. From healthy act with the relation of smoking the year to be many from 16 dissertations. Work of the corpse an attitude (the attitude which is inappropriate) with 5 and the work market the work burglar is many most at 9, the society-support of 36 where the stress is many psychologically most, the stress and service also the most many duty discretion (authority and autonomy) is 6 at the duty demand boat song 9. The service career to be many is 22 of extraordinarily with relation of service. Conclusion: It is recommended the research which it sees being limited in only domestic thesis for a degree the international comparative study to become accomplished. It comes to think with the fact that it will be necessary to make the protocol which it conforms in the civil official guide the test researches for the protocol or arbitration program which is standardized are necessary. Prevention and the civil official of work relation bones and sinews standing total disease hazard scientific base one program is necessary with base.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.61-69
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• 2016

Since 2000, the market of convenient stores in Korea has developed rapidly due to the explosive growth in single households but it still consists mainly of manual work due to the nature of the domestic industry. Hence the explosive increase in demand in the market is mostly due to workers. Therefore, the research aimed at encouraging efficiency via automation, which is carried out in manufacturing, such as electronic, cars and so on, is inadequate. This study performed a feasibility analysis of investment for introducing an automated system on brand A, which is domestic famous convenience store company. Productivity growth according to the introduction of an automated guided vehicle and the cost-benefits was studied with using a simulation for the picking process, which is most personnel and time consuming. As a result, the simulation showed that the equipment AGV introduced for choosing the process has the effects of cost saving and increased time efficiency for performing manual labor. Furthermore, appropriate numbers of AGV were forecasted considering the capacity of the distribution Center in the brand A convenient store, which has been growing steadily. There are increasing numbers of worker labor costs in the distribution industry these days. Before building a large new automate center, it is expected to provide a good information to investors who are considering increasing productivity through partial automation of each of unit process to achieve some cost reduction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.274-282
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate factory workers' knowledge of sanitation management of school foodstuffs and sanitation practices. A questionnaire that identified employees' food safety sanitation management knowledge and practices was developed based on a review of literature. Subjects consisted of 221 factory workers employed at 34 factories in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk areas. Almost half of the factory workers were 40~49 years of age (45.7%), 34.8% had 1~3 years of work experience, 62.4% of the respondents received food safety education 1~2 times a month and 75.1% of the respondents were satisfied with sanitation education. However, the total score for factory worker sanitation knowledge was low: 4.63/9. Sanitation performance was self-evaluated using a Likert 5-point scale. The total mean score for the factory workers' sanitation performance was 4.63/5. Satisfaction level and the amount of sanitation education, application of sanitation knowledge, attitude regarding sanitation management, and sanitation management performance level were significantly high among workers employed in a HACCP certification facility (p<0.05). The difficulties were found to be sanitation management and the time to deliver food to schools. To instill a sense of duty and pride among workers and to ensure that the food suppliers provide best-quality school foodstuffs safely, school dietitians and factory managers must actively educate workers in safe food handling and sanitation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2007

This study was designed to investigate the difference of airborne lead concentration by type of lead industries and type of lead exposure and to evaluate their association with lead biomarkers of lead workers in 11 lead using industries. Total of 182 lead workers (male: 167, female: 15) from 11 lead industries were participated for this study from March, 2004 to August, 2005. Airborne lead concentration were measured by representative personal sampling of workers in each unit workplace and applied same concentration value to the workers in the same unit workplace who did not measure their airborne lead with personal air sampling. Tibia lead, blood lead, zinc protoporphyrin in whole blood, ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid in urine, hemoglobin and hematocrit were selected as study variables of indices of lead exposure. Information about type of lead exposure (fume or non-fume other), age, work duration, smoking & drinking habit were also collected. Significant differences were seen in the means of zinc protoporphyrin, blood lead and tibia lead in lead workers by different airborne lead concentration in workplace. While blood lead and tibia lead in lead workers were significantly higher in secondary smelting than other types of lead industries, zinc protoporphyrin, ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid in urine and airborne lead concentration were significantly higher in litharge manufacturing. While the mean blood lead was significantly higher in the lead workers working in fume type unit workplace than those of non-fume lead workers, the mean airborne lead concentration of fume workers was significantly lower than non-fume lead workers. In the multiple regression analysis of airborne lead concentration and the type of lead exposure on tibia lead and lead exposure indices after adjustment of related covariates, airborne lead concentration was statistically significantly associated with blood lead and tibia lead, but the type of lead exposure was only associated with blood lead. To verify the causal association of airborne lead concentration on blood lead and tibia lead, further studies are needed.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.31 no.4 s.63
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• pp.708-718
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• 1998

To investigate the effect of smoking and drinking habit on the health status in lead using industries, 2,785 male workers in lead using industries (7 storage battery industries, 7 secondary smelting and related industries, and 4 primary metal and other manufacturing industries) were selected for this study. This study was carried out as a part of periodic health examination. Selected study variables were zinc protoporphyrin in whole blood (ZPP), SGOT and SGPT for laboratory test. Questionnaire for lead related symptoms and smoking and drinking habit was provided to all the workers and filled up by themselves and reconfirmed by physician. The results obtained were as follows; 1. The overall smoking and drinking rate of study population were 69.8% and 73.6%, respectively. While the smoking and drinking rate of storage battery workers were 68.8% and 72.3%, those of secondary smelting industries and other industries were 66.0% & 66.4% and 74.6 & 80.3% respectively. 2. While the mean values of blood ZPP of lead exposed workers were significantly higher than other group, those of SGOT of storage battery workers were significant higher than other worker. But there were no differences of mean values of other variables. 3. Smoking habit did not affect on the mean value of blood ZPP of workers in special health examination group, but there were significant differences of blood ZPP and SGOT between drinker and non-drinker. 4. Symptom prevalence of lead exposure were higher in drinking and smoking group than non-drinking and non-smoking group. 5. In multiple regression analysis of the total lead related symptoms, blood ZPP, SGOT, and SGPT as dependent variable, respectively, and age, work duration, blood ZPP, pack year and amount of alcohol drinking as independent variables, work duration, pack year, amount of alcohol drinking, age contributed to total symptoms; and age, work duration, pack year contributed to blood ZPP; and age, amount of alcohol drinking, work duration contributed to SGOT; and pack year contributed to SGPT.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.49-55
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• 2017

Most motor cases adopt deep drawing products, which are excellent in waterproof functions, concentricity, right angle, and quality. In addition, the blower motor and seat motor, which are installed in the car interior and do not require waterproof function, adopts a multi-forming manufacturing method. The deep drawing process requires an expensive transfer press that can digest approximately 12 processes, such as drawing, trimming and piercing. On the other hand, products can be produced with low investment because the multi-forming method is composed of one multi-forming machine or one multi-forming machine and one press. The multi-forming machine is a high-priced facility that is mostly imported and a bending / shearing process multi-foaming machine, which was developed by domestic small and medium-sized enterprises, is not enough to reduce the production cost. An integral multi - forming machine is used as a limited working method for thin material and small products. A large product and thick material has a high shear load. A large product and thick material has a high shear load and uses a single crank press. After blanking, the worker manually feeds the material to a multi-forming machine. When the bending operation is performed in the multi-forming machine, it is transferred to the press again to calibrate the dimensions. This variance in work processes has resulted in lower cost competitiveness due to the lower productivity, quality issues, and excessive operator input. The aim of this study was to establish a stable and cost - effective production system through bending / shearing process separation and facility automation.

• Journal of Labour Economics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.1-23
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• 2006

This study investigates the effects of inward foreign direct investment on local workers' wages by focusing on U.S. manufacturing industries for the period from 1987 to 1992. Contrary to public perception that foreign ownership is positively associated with higher wages, previous studies show mixed results. Since most of the previous studies used industry or firm level average wages, they can not control for the impact of individual characteristics on wages. I use two different approaches to control individual characteristics and to implement estimation in this study: (1) One-step estimation with industry-state level of inward foreign direct investments by using individual level data, and (2) Two-step industry characteristic regression approach. The higher presence of foreign firms is associated with higher local wages after workers' observable characteristics are controlled for in the first approach. This effect, however, disappears once workers' industry affiliations and regions are controlled for in cross-section analysis. In a panel data analysis, I did not find any statistically significant positive association between inward FDI activities and industry wage premiums within industry. Further, inward FDI activities appeared to be negatively associated with worker's industry wage premium for workers with more than high school education.