• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.119-126
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• 2021

Background: During the period 2001 to 2016, the maximum temperatures in Thailand rose from 38-41℃ to 42-44℃. The current occupational heat exposure standard of Thailand issued in 2006 is based on wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) defined for three workload levels without a work-rest regimen. This study examined whether the present standard still protects most workers. Methods: The sample comprised 168 heat acclimatized workers (90 in construction sites, 78 in foundries). Heart rate and auditory canal temperature were recorded continuously for 2 hours. Workplace WBGT, relative humidity, and wind velocity were monitored, and the participants' workloads were estimated. Heat-related symptoms and signs were collected by a questionnaire. Results: Only 55% of the participants worked in workplaces complying with the heat standard. Of them, 79% had auditory canal temperature ≤ 38.5℃, compared with only 58% in noncompliant workplaces. 18% and 43% of the workers in compliant and noncompliant workplaces, respectively, had symptoms from heat stress, the trend being similar across all workload levels. An increase of one degree (C) in WBGT was associated with a 1.85-fold increase (95% confidence interval: 1.44-2.48) in odds for having symptoms. Conclusion: Compliance with the current occupational heat standard protects 4/5 of the workers, whereas noncompliance reduces this proportion to one half. The reasons for noncompliance include the gaps and ambiguities in the law. The law should specify work/rest schedules; outdoor work should be identified as an occupational heat hazard; and the staff should include occupational personnel to manage heat stress in establishments involving heat exposure.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.273-279
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• 2023

Objectives: Objectives of this study were: 1) to introduce industrial situation and health hazards of synthetic fiber, 2) to review a case of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a worker exposed to synthetic fiber reported to the Korea Occupational Disease Surveillance Center, and 3) to suggest supplementary measures for the occupational health system for workers exposed to synthetic fibers. Methods: Respiratory exposure, health hazards, and exposure standards for synthetic fiber dust in Korea and other countries were reviewed. In addition, a case of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to exposure to nylon dust reported to the Korea Occupational Disease Surveillance Center was reviewed and summarized. Results: The worker was a 53-year-old non-smoking male who had been involved in the nylon weaving process for 26 years. He had shortness of breath from three years ago. He was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. PM1.0, PM_2.5, and PM10 were measured at 26.6 ㎍/m³, 48.2 ㎍/m³, and 91.7 ㎍/m³, respectively. Fiber components estimated as nylon fiber were detected in the microscopic examination of a solid sample. Conclusions: For workers exposed to synthetic fiber dust, special health examinations of the respiratory system, regular work environment measurement, and work environment management through workplace health management should be performed. It is necessary to research on health effects of synthetic fibers.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.114-122
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was performed in order to investigate by questionnaire the factors affecting the occupational satisfaction of work-environment measurement workers, as well as to suggest fundamental materials for systematic, administrative and economic improvements which are necessary to create a vision for the future. Material and Methods: A structured questionnaire was used at a total of 152 institutions and 1,254 work-environment measurement workers throughout the country from February to September 2012. Responses came from 97 institutions (64%) and 941 work-environment measurement workers (75.1%). The factors affecting the job satisfaction of work-environment measurement workers were statistically evaluated through $x^2$-test and ordinal logistic regression analysis. Results: Major factors affecting the job satisfaction of workers in relation to work-environment measurement were working, financial, and psychological conditions (p<0.05). Conclusions: Considering the results of this study, the improvement of labor conditions should be undertaken because workers engaged in work-environment measurement are fundamental to occupational health.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.355-364
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• 2011

Objectives: Though sulfur dioxide (SO2) is used widely at workplaces, itseffects on humans are not known. Thresholds are reportedwithout reference to gender or age and occupational exposure limits are basedon effects on lung functioning, although localized effects in the upper airways can be expected. This study's aim is to determine thresholds with respect to age and gender and suggests a new approach to risk assessment using breathing reflexes presumably triggered by trigeminal receptors in the upper airways. Methods: Odor thresholds were determined by the ascending method of limits in groups stratified by age and gender. Subjects rated intensities of different olfactory and trigeminal perceptions at different concentrations of $SO_2$. During the presentation of the concentrations, breathing movements were measured by respiratory inductive plethysmography. Results: Neither age nor gender effects were observed for odor threshold. Only ratings of nasal irritation were influenced bygender. A benchmark dose analysis on relative respiratory depth revealed a 10%-deviation from baseline at about 25.27 mg/$m^3$. Conclusion: The proposed new approach to risk assessment appearsto be sustainable. We discuss whether a 10%-deviation of breathingdepth is relevant.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.285-294
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• 2013

Purpose: This study aimed to explore professional autonomy, nursing work environment, and clinical decision making ability and to determine predictors of clinical decision making ability among clinical nurses. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used in this study and 263 clinical nurses were selected from advanced-level hospitals with over 500 beds located in D metropolitan city. Independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were done with the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. Results: Clinical nurses reported moderate levels of professional autonomy, nursing work environment and clinical decision making ability. Marital status, professional autonomy and nursing work environment accounted for 25% of variance in clinical decision making ability required in various clinical settings. Importantly, being married, higher level of professional autonomy, and greater satisfaction with work environment were significantly associated with better decision making ability. Conclusion: Findings indicate that improving the quality of decision making in the healthcare settings requires awareness of the multiple effects of individual, occupational and environmental features. Nurses' ability to make effective clinical decisions may rely on personal characteristics, the degree of autonomy in their job, and nurses' satisfaction with their work environment.

• The Journal of Society for e-Business Studies
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.201-215
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• 2015

Recently advanced security threats have increasingly occurred, and the necessity and importance of Information Security has been growing with the advent of the era of convergence beyond information-oriented age. Most domestic studies in the field of occupational classification of Information Security have only focused on technology-oriented occupations. Relatively little research has been carried out on the occupational classification in the view of convergence environment. Therefore, in this paper we gave a definition of Information Security occupations, classified them and draw required capabilities by occupations in order to design the occupational classification system of Information Security and the required capabilities for future convergence environment by analyzing the previous studies. We also reclassified the occupational classification and required capabilities by occupations, and verified the validity of them based on National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education's the occupational classification system of Information Security considering the future convertgence environment. It is expected that the results of this study will be employed as base data for manpower demand and supply and improvement of working conditions in the future convergence environments. In the future study we will build standardized instruction methods which provide occupational capabilities by using the required capabilities by occupations.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.41-53
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• 2022

Objective : The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the vocational rehabilitation evaluation tool for the mentally disabled. Methods : For literature search, the Pubmed database was used, and for the analysis, the development year, evaluation method, number of items, scale, and evaluation items were analyzed. In the analysis method, each evaluation item was divided into four categories: function, internal factor, environment, and mental symptom, and the evaluation elements of each evaluation tool were identified. Results : When searching Pubmed through search terms, 161 documents were retrieved. According to the selection method, Griffiths Work Behavior Scale (GWBS), Occupational Functioning Scale (OFS), Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS), Work Ability Index (WAI), Work Behavior Inventory (WBI), Work Environment Impact Scale (WEIS), and Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) were screened. The evaluation items of all evaluation tools included job-related functional evaluation. According to the purpose of each evaluation tool, internal factors, environment, and mental symptoms were measured. Conclusion : Occupational skills are skills in which various functions such as physical, cognitive, social skills, and coping skills act in a complex way. Therefore, it is necessary to include the four factors analyzed in this study: function, internal factors, environment, and psychiatric symptoms.

• 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 Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.110-119
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• 2001

This study was performed to review applying the case management to the occupational health nursing as a cost-effective way for injured workers. The case management for injured workers is a comprehensive management system, which is composed of planning and implementing in cooperation with employee, employee' family, medical service provider team, employer and case manager, to provide high quality health services to employee and their family. The case management process for injured workers is similar to the nursing process. It thus appears that the occupational health nurse is best personnel to perform the role of case manager for injured workers in workplace. As a case manager in workplace. the occupational health nurse would be expected to get both knowledge and experiences, to get trusted from the employee and employer, and to expand professional domain in changing health care environment.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.11-23
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• 2004

The modem industrial society is developing while growing more diverse and gigantic. Accordingly, occupational injuries or accidents can be caused in various situations, not just in the limited range of workplaces but also in the surroundings, and interest has increased in the prevention of occupational accidents with respect to occupational health and safety, and environment. Thus, this thesis will consider 4MlE (Man, Machine, Method, Material, Environment) as the fundamental causes of accidents and introduce a model of system in which the output of the process control system is replaced by accidents with its input by 4M1E. Furthermore, it will demonstrate how occupational hazardousness can be measured, whereby it can also be rated, by examining the relationship between 4M1E and types of accident in terms of the categories of severity, frequency, and detectability, based on the application of the model to the framework of FMEA.