• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.375-382
• /
• 2019

Objectives: This study was to examine the features of work and posture analysis outputs in assessment of exposure to musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) risk factors in general hospital nurses. Methods: Work and posture analyses were carried out using observational approaches for nurses at general hospitals across Korea. With development of a taxonomy for assessing exposure to MSD risk factors, nursing tasks were documented in frequency (%time) for 8 hours a day in work analyses. Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) scores were obtained for mode and maximum risk levels, respectively, during posture analyses. Results: A total of 27 nurses were observed while conducting 7 nursing tasks at 6 general hospitals. For both the work analyses and posture analyses, the taxonomy was developed and used. In the work analyses, 'Video display terminal task' and 'Nursing examination/ treatment' were the highest as 25%time for 8 hours a day, followed by 'Patient care' and 'Room rounding' as 13%time in order. In the posture analyses, the mode REBA scores were 2 or less for all nursing tasks while the maximum REBA scores were 7 for upper limbs at 'Room rounding' and 6 for trunk/neck/legs at 'Patient care'. Conclusions: The results showed the study nurses are occasionally at a risk for MSD, a medium level as designated in the REBA risk level, suggesting that it is important to control awkward posture at the nursing tasks such as 'Room rounding' and 'Patient care', in priority, for preventing MSD in the hospital sector including the study general hospitals.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.49 no.1
• /
• pp.151-162
• /
• 2022

This study was conducted to develop a rail-type boom sprayer, performing safe spraying with improved ergonomic postures during pesticide spraying of agro-photovoltaic power system. The sprayer was designed to reduce labor cost and to be safe from pesticide exposure, and was analyzed through a comparison with a conventional spray method. The rail-type boom sprayer, consisted of a self-propelled spray and hose winder, hose, and boom sprayer parts, was designed to automatically pull and spray in the vertical and horizontal directions. The performance of the sprayer for an agro-photovoltaic power system was appropriate. From the analysis of postures with the Ovako Working posture Analysis System (OWAS), Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) methods, the musculoskeletal risk factors to the body using the rail-type boom sprayer were less than those with the conventional power sprayer. In addition, the possibility of pesticide poisoning was reduced compared to the conventional power sprayer. The working capacity with the rail-type boom sprayer was more than five times greater, compared with the conventional power sprayer. After performing pesticide spraying with the rail-type boom sprayer, the labor cost was reduced to 42,750 won·yr^-1, which was 90% (402,750 won·yr^-1) less than the cost with the use of a conventional power sprayer (445,500 won·yr^-1).

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.17-24
• /
• 2005

The objective of this study is to examine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs) among nursing personnels. A self-reporting survey adapted from Nordic questionnaires was used as diagnostic tool, and conducted for 162 nurses working for a general hospital. The survey was performed five times every three months during a year. The MSDs were defined by using three criteria, depending upon the frequency, duration and pain intensity of the symptoms. The results showed that the 12-month prevalences of MSDs at any body site by criterion 1, 2, 3 were 56.8%, 53.7%, 45.7%, respectively, and that the shoulder was the most susceptible to MSDs, followed by knee/lower leg, lower back, hand/wrist, neck, ankle/feet, finger, etc. Only one statistically significant risk factor of departments or units was identified through the Chi-square test. The prevalence of MSDs was the highest in intensive care unit, second in surgical ward, while the prevalence was the lowest in emergency room. The MSDs prevalence of Korea at any body part or by body part was much lower than that of foreign countries such as Japan, USA, Sweden, etc. This implies that when considering poor working conditions and load in Korea, the incidence rate of MSDs may rapidly increase in Korea in the future.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.861-877
• /
• 2011

The purpose of this study is to survey job stress and Musculoskeletal Disorder(MSDs) of workers in small plants with agricultural products. The subjects were comprised of 69 workers participated in "Helping the rural women to get the small businesses" project. The questionnaire surveys were Korean Occupational Stress Scale(KOSS), and Legal Risk Assessment of Musculoskeletal Disorders(KOSHA CODE H-30-2003). As a result of the survey, scores of KOSS 8 sub-items except for job demand were similar to that of Korea workers. Prevalence of MSDs symptoms of small plants workers was high percent (44.9%). And the rate according to kinds of product was significant difference at neck (p<0.01), lumbar (p<0.01), and leg (p<0.01). There was no significant difference between view person sign of MSDs and non MSDs according to sex, year, the number of workers, working years, working time per one day, rest time per one day, and subjective working intensity, but there were significant difference between high stress group and low stress group about MSDs at interpersonal conflict(p<0.05). Job stress and MSDs were important factor to workers of small plants producted agricultural products. Therefore, starting a business with small plats, workers consider interpersonal conflict and body part showing MSDs.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 1999.10a
• /
• pp.293-294
• /
• 1999

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.209-214
• /
• 2011

Objectives: To assess the risk of pushing or pulling the yarn-carrying cart, the survey was performed in some fiber manufacturing factories. Methods: We selected 6 fiber-twisting factories which agreed to in-site survey of their workplace. To measure both initial and sustained forces of the push-pull tasks, Chatillon CSD500 dynamometer(2004, Ametek, USA) was used. The mean of 3 tests for the same cart was adopted as the measured forces. Height and width of cart, weight of spooled yarns, and distance of movement were also measured. Inspection of cart wheel, moving path, and the actual hand position while moving was done. Results: More than one pushing or pulling task exceeded the push-pull force limits of design goal in 5 factories. Though the cart was not loaded the heaviest weight in the factory, the measured push or pull force exceeded the limits several times. A few cart wheels were worn out and tangled with pieces of yarn. It was also observed some holes in the moving path. Conclusions: While the push-pull task is not included in the 11 scopes of over-burdened work notified by Korean government, it should be recognized as risk factor of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The maintenance work such as regular change and frequent cleaning of cart wheel, the use of fitting wheel, and flattening of bumpy floor through the moving path should be advised importantly in the worksite management of work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.419-426
• /
• 2011

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate a work of guards, using an ergonomic method(work analysis and posture analysis). Background: Most studies about guards were conducted in the field of medical, problems of shift, and the physical problems of old workers and social problems. But, guards consist of vulnerability group so it needs an ergonomic research in musculoskeletal disorders. Method: A head of an ergonomic estimation was work analysis(determination of combined task, work tool, work time and frequency of combined task) and posture analysis(upper body and lower body) of workers based on the video. Results: The result showed that combined task of guards was classification of patrolling, security, cleaning and waiting. The security indicated the highest ratio in the work time of combined tasks. The results of posture analysis for guards indicated high value in neutral. But, lower arm indicated high value in bending(left: 59%, right: 50%). Conclusion: The results of ergonomic methods indicated that guards' physical work load was not high during work, but comfortable work environment would be required for old guards. Application: If an ergonomic rule can be integrated into existing work environments, the risk of occupational injuries and stress will be reduced.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.29-36
• /
• 2009

A Study was conducted to investigate the type and level of occupational risk factors for the onset of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in non-manufacturing industries. Total of 38 worksites were investigated from 5 different business areas such as financial institution, transportation service, building maintenance, sanitary service and educational service. Major job and task category were classified and corresponding occupational risk factors such as awkward posture, force exertion, repetitiveness of job, and work/rest cycle were examined using various ergonomic risk analysis techniques. Sets of matrices were developed including types and levels of risk factors for the classified jobs and tasks from 5 different non-manufacturing industries. Also possible ergonomic remedies were suggested for the improvement working conditions. Results and risk factor matrices can be applied as a guideline for the investigation of WMSDs risk factors in similar industries for the prevention of WMSDs.

• The Journal of Bigdata
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.49-59
• /
• 2023

There are various items in the safety and health standards of the manufacturing industry, but they can be divided into work-related diseases and musculoskeletal diseases according to the standards for sickness and accident victims. Musculoskeletal diseases occur frequently in manufacturing and can lead to a decrease in labor productivity and a weakening of competitiveness in manufacturing. In this paper, to detect the musculoskeletal harmful factors of manufacturing workers, we defined the musculoskeletal load work factor analysis, harmful load working postures, and key points matching, and constructed data for Artificial Intelligence(AI) learning. To check the effectiveness of the suggested dataset, AI algorithms such as YOLO, Lite-HRNet, and EfficientNet were used to train and verify. Our experimental results the human detection accuracy is 99%, the key points matching accuracy of the detected person is @AP0.5 88%, and the accuracy of working postures evaluation by integrating the inferred matching positions is LEGS 72.2%, NECT 85.7%, TRUNK 81.9%, UPPERARM 79.8%, and LOWERARM 92.7%, and considered the necessity for research that can prevent deep learning-based musculoskeletal diseases.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.117-121
• /
• 2008

Prolotherapy can be defined as the injection of growth factors or growth factor production stimulants to grow normal cells or tissue. Even though it has been a controversal procedure for decades, it is currently gaining in popularity among many physicians. The term prolotherapy was coined by Hacket in the 1950s to imply proliferation of normal tissue at ligamentous and tendinous entheses. The procedure has been described by other terms, such as sclerotherapy, regenerative injection therapy, and stimulated ligament repair. Incomplete healing from sprains or strains is common and can lead to chronic pain, joint instability and laxity, and is a risk factor for the development of osteoarthritis. Prolotherapy is commonly used for these musculoskeletal conditions which are refractory to usual care therapies. The proliferant solution and technique varies according to physicial training and preferance. Commonly reported proliferants include 10% to 25% dextrose, P2G and sodium morrhuate. High resolution ultrasound imaging of musculoskeletal tissue is increasing in popularity because of patient tolerability, low cost, ability to visualize tissue in real time motion and superior resolution of highly organized tissue such as a tendon. This procedure can be introduced by ultrasound imaging and tissue growth and repair after this procedure in a tendon or a ligament can be documented with ultrasound.