• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.556-565
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• 2014

Objectives: This study is aimed at inquiring into the grasp of real condition of working environment and improvements by calculating the hypertension distribution consequent on job stress risk and exposure level of alleviating factors. In addition, this study is intending to estimate the hypertension distribution through socio-demographic factors and level of stressors occurring at working environment, such as high workload, low control, low support, job insecurity, long working hours, low income. Methods: This study estimated the hypertension distribution using the tertiary Korean Working Conditions Survey data, and conducted comparative analysis according to the category of individual questionnaire items using odds ratio. Result: As a result of study, it was found that in the event that working environment satisfaction is low and business & an immediate superior's attitudes are negative, the hypertension distribution was high. Particularly, it was found that physical risk factor musculoskeletal risk factor, and mental risk factor in a workplace were all increasing the hypertension distribution. Conclusions: With the aged workers' labor market participation ratio increasing, hypertension could be a major issue in the field of Occupational Safety and Health. Thus, it's necessary that the relevant employer should lower the hypertension distribution through creation of pleasant working environment and inducement of workers to improve in the relations with their superiors. As for the uppermost limit of this study, there is a limit to clarifying the mechanism of hypertension through multivariate statistics analysis because it's difficult to establish causal relationship by individual questionnaire item as the working conditions survey is made by cross-sectional study. In the follow-up research, this study is going to do research on the mechanism of hypertension through questionnaire supplementation and in-depth analysis.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.182-192
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• 2014

Objectives: The aim of this study is to analyze the current status of possession of measurement and analytical instruments at work environment monitoring organizations and their relationships with human resources, including the number of professional engineers and evaluation scores resulting from evaluation programs in 2012. Materials: Data for measurement and analytical instruments were gathered by inspectors who had been assigned by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency(KOSHA) and the Ministry of Employment and Labor(MoEL) during the evaluation program for 2012. Data for 11 monitoring instruments and nice pieces of analytical equipment were collected from 103 organizations. Additional data such as the type of service provides and the number of professional engineers employed were also recorded by the inspectors. Evaluation scores could be acquired from KOSHA. Results: Comprehensive Occupational Health Service Providers showed good operation quality, while University or Hospital Subsidiary and Work Environment Monitoring Organizations recorded relatively poor results. Evaluation scores correlated well with the possession of measurement instruments and human resources for each organization. High yields provided by professional engineers also showed statistically-associated contributions to evaluation scores and monitoring instrument possession. Compared with monitoring instruments, the amount of analytical equipment had little positive impact on organizations' competence. Conclusions: The evaluation results for domestic monitoring organizations revealed that human resources, possession of instruments, and the quality of employees were critical factors for operating the corporations. Each organization should give considerable effort to improving their ability to strengtheninternal quality, resulting in high-yield production for workers and employers by providing improved workplace monitoring services.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.466-478
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• 2020

Background: Job training influences the overall working environment and worker's well-being. The purpose of this study is to find the relationship between job training and subjective well-being in accordance with occupations and understand the influence of task characteristics-work creativity and task variety (WCTV)-on the effect of training. Methods: A cross-sectional study based on the Fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey was conducted on 50,205 workers in the Republic of Korea. The World Health Oorganization-5 well-being index was used to measure their subjective well-being. The relationship between job training and subjective well-being was divided in accordance with the level of WCTV. Results: Training paid for by employer showed a negative effect on subjective well-being when received for more than 3 days (OR 0.88, p<0.01) in the last 12 months. Training paid for by oneself showed a positive linkage with well-being when the level of training was 1-3 days (Odds ratio = 1.55, p<0.001). This result showed different aspects in accordance with the level of WCTV. For the high WCTV group, the aforementioned results were reaffirmed, but for the group with low WCTV, job training did not show a statistically significant result on well-being. On-the-job training was not related to subjective well-being regardless of the level of WCTV. Conclusion: Job training had different effects on subjective well-being depending on the type and frequency of training, as well as the WCTV. It is imperative to comprehensively apply different types of job training in accordance with the characteristics of occupations to uplift workers' well-being.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.114-121
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• 2019

Background: The photolithography process in the semiconductor industry uses various chemicals with little information on their constitution. This study aimed to identify the chemical constituents of photoresist (PR) products and their by-products and to compare these constituents with material safety data sheets (MSDSs) and analytical results. Methods: A total of 51 PRs with 48 MSDSs were collected. Analysis consisted of two parts: First, the constituents of the chemical products were identified and analyzed using MSDS data; second, for verification of the by-products of PR, volatile organic compounds were analyzed. The chemical constituents were categorized according to hazards. Results: Forty-five of 48 products contained trade secrets in amounts ranging from 1 to 65%. A total of 238 ingredients with multiple counting (35 ingredients without multiple counting) were identified in the MSDS data, and 48.7% of ingredients were labeled as trade secrets under the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Act. The concordance rate between the MSDS data and the analytical result was 41.7%. The by-product analysis identified 129 chemicals classified according to Chemical Abstracts Service No., with 17 chemicals that are carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic substances. Formaldehyde was found to be released from 12 of 21 products that use novolak resin. Conclusion: We confirmed that several PRs contain carcinogens, and some were not specified in the toxicological information in the MSDS. Hazardous chemicals, including benzene and formaldehyde, are released from PRs products as by-products. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a systematic management system for chemical compounds and the working environment.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.272-280
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of worker exposure to hazardous chemical substances and propose the direction of work environment management for protecting worker's health in the semiconductor assembly process. Methods: Four assembly lines at two semiconductor manufacturing companies were selected for this study. We investigated the types of chemicals that were used and generated during the assembly process, and evaluated the workers' exposure levels to hazardous chemicals such as benzene and formaldehyde and the current work environment management in the semiconductor assembly process. Results: Most of the chemicals used at the assembly process are complex mixtures with high molecular weight such as adhesives and epoxy molding compounds(EMCs). These complex mixtures are stable when they are used at room temperature. However workers can be exposed to volatile organic compounds(VOCs) such as benzene and formaldehyde when they are used at high temperature over $100^{\circ}C$. The concentration levels of benzene and formaldehyde in chip molding process were higher than other processes. The reason was that by-products were generated during the mold process due to thermal decomposition of EMC and machine cleaner at the process temperature($180^{\circ}C$). Conclusions: Most of the employees working at semiconductor assembly process are exposed directly or indirectly to various chemicals. Although the concentration levels are very lower than occupational exposure limits, workers can be exposed to carcinogens such as benzene and formaldehyde. Therefore, workers employed in the semiconductor assembly process should be informed of these exposure characteristics.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제6권4호
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• pp.317-323
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• 2015

Background: Young people are at an increased risk for illness in working life. The authorities stipulate certain goals for training in occupational health and safety (OHS) in vocational schools. A previous study concluded that pupils in vocational education had limited knowledge in the prevention of health risks at work. The aim of the current study, therefore, was to study how OHS training is organized in school and in workplace-based learning (WPL). Methods: The study design featured a qualitative approach, which included interviews with 12 headmasters, 20 teachers, and 20 supervisors at companies in which the pupils had their WPL. The study was conducted at 10 upper secondary schools, located in Central Sweden, that were graduating pupils in four vocational programs. Results: The interviews with headmasters, teachers, and supervisors indicate a staggered picture of how pupils are prepared for safe work. The headmasters generally give teachers the responsibility for how goals should be reached. Teaching is very much based on risk factors that are present in the workshops and on teachers' own experiences and knowledge. The teaching during WPL also lacks the systematic training in OHS as well as in the traditional classroom environment. Conclusion: Teachers and supervisors did not plan the training in OHS in accordance with the provisions of systematic work environment management. Instead, the teachers based the training on their own experiences. Most of the supervisors did not receive information from the schools as to what should be included when introducing OHS issues in WPL.

• 한국재난정보학회 논문집
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.478-486
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• 2022

연구목적: 건설현장에서 작업환경측정을 하고 있으나 노출되고 있는 유해인자를 세분화하여 작업환경 측정을 하지 않고 공정별 대표적으로 노출되는 소음, 진동 등 몇 가지만 실시하고 있다. 이에 건설현장에서 가장 많이 노출되는 산화규소분진의 유해성과 현재 건설현장에서 하고있는 개선대책의 보완점을 찾고자 한다. 연구방법: 안전보건공단과 산업보건협회에서 발행하는 실태조사 보고서 및 작업환경측정 기관의 자료를 활용하여 현황을 분석하였고 산업안전보건법의 작업환경측정에 관한 규칙과 비교분석 하였다. 연구결과: 산화규소분진의 유해성을 파악하고 개선책을 보완도출하였다. 결론: 건설현장의 산화규소분진의 유해성을 도출하고 이에 따른 개선대책을 제시함으로써 현장에서 적극적으로 적용한다면 산화규소분진에 대한 직업병을 줄일 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• 한국건설관리학회논문집
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.97-107
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• 2013

건설업 '산업안전보건관리'라 함은 발주자로 하여금 공사종류 및 규모에 따라 일정금액을 도급금액에 별도로 책정토록 하여 건설공사 중 발생할 수 있는 각종 재해를 미연에 예방코자 사용되는 금액을 의미한다. 이러한 안전관리비는 1988년 2월 고용노동부고시로 제정되었고 이를 근거로 기획재정부"계약예규"'예정가격 작성기준'이 마련되어 건설공사공사 원가계산 제비율 적용기준의 산업안전보건관리비로서 공사종류별 및 대상 금액별 요율이 차등 책정되어 활용되고 있다. 그러나 건설업에 대한 관리기술의 발전 및 건설현장 여건변화, 비용에 대한 감가삼각, 안전보건관리기술 발전 및 관련 정책변화 등 건설업이 대내 외적으로 다양한 환경변화가 이루어져왔음에도 불구하고 안전관리비 요율 책정은 1988년 고용노동부 고시로 제정된 이래 현재까지 변경 없이 그대로 적용되고 있다. 따라서 이 연구의 목적은 고용노동부 고시에서 제시하고 있는 건설업 산업안전보건관리비 사용 실태에 대한 현황 조사 및 설문분석을 통해 현(現) 건설현장 안전관리 실태에 부합되는 산업안전관리비 적정 요율을 공사종류 및 대상액별로 제안하는 것이다. 건설공사를 수행함에 있어 적정 산업안전관리비의 산정 및 사용은 건설 안전관리 분야의 업무 효율성 제고는 물론 궁극적으로는 건설공사의 안전사고 비율 저감에 긍정적인 영향을 미칠 것으로 기대된다.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.322-335
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• 2019

Objectives: The goal of this study is to standardize industry, process, and job within work environment measurement information. Methods: We selected 180 work environment measurement reports on 30 industries from a database monitored from 2014 to 2016 by the Korea Industrial Health Association. Ten industrial hygienists, each with over five years of experience in measurement, conducted a primary standardization of 180 reports. Two professional industrial hygienists with more than 20 years of experience each reviewed and revised the results of the primary standardization. We also examined the validity on the usefulness of the standardized database by the two industrial hygienists. Results: The final standardization results were classified into eight major categories, 23 sub-major categories, 39 minor categories, 53 unit categories and 70 sub-unit categories in the Korean Standard Industrial Classification (KSIC) 10th revision. A total of 161 processes were standardized, and there were 148 processes with K2B codes. Standard job was coded into 13 job groups including operator, automobile maintenance, nurse, maintenance, manager, excavating machine operator, forklift driver, radiologist, clinical pathologist, signer, researcher, kitchen assistant, and concrete reinforcement ironworker. Conclusions: Although the standardized information in this study may be only a part of the total information, it can be useful for improvement of the K2B system. Additional research is needed for an ongoing clean-up of data in the K2B and re-calibration and reclassification of standard processes until the future national exposure monitoring system is fully established.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.1-13
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• 2010

Evidences supporting gene-environment interaction are accumulating in terms of environmental exposure including lifestyle factors and related genetic variants. One form of defense mechanism against cancer development involves a series of genes whose role is to metabolize (activation/detoxification) and excrete potentially toxic compounds and to repair subtle mistakes in DNA. The purpose of this article is to provide a brief review of the notion of gene-environment interaction, environmental/occupational carcinogens and related cancers, and previous studies of gene-environment interaction on cancers caused by exposure to carcinogenesis. With a number of studies on the interaction between lifestyle factors (e.g., smoking and diet) and genetic polymorphisms in genes involved in xenobiotic metabolism and DNA repair excluded, only several studies have been conducted on the interactive effects between polymorphisms of CYPs, GSTs, ERCCs, XRCCs and environmental/occupational carcinogens such as vinyl chloride, benzo[a]pyrene, and chloroform on carcinogenesis or genotoxicity. Future studies may need to be conducted with sufficient number of subjects and based on occupational cohorts to provide useful information in terms of advanced risk assessment and regulation of exposure level.