• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.261-269
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate occupational stress and fatigue level of neonatal nurses and to assess relationship between the two of them. Methods: Subjects were 109 neonatal nurses working at 2 university hospitals and 9 women's hospitals in D city, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analysis by the SPSS/WIN 15.0. Results: The mean score of nurses' occupational stress level was 3.22, and the highest was 'night shift' among the 7 subcategories, and fatigue level was 62.0, and the highest was physical fatigue in configuration field. In logistic regression analyses, 'heavy workload' and 'inadequate physical environment' led to most occupational stress. Conclusion: In addition to significantly higher levels of occupational stress of neonatal nurses, the cumulative fatigue also resulted in decreased quality of nursing, job satisfaction and nursing productivity; therefore, appropriate number of nurses and improvement of work environment is necessary. Furthermore, to reduce the occupational stress and fatigue, we should try to develop adequate clinical guidelines and intervention strategies and apply them in neonatal care unit.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.158-165
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• 2018

Objectives: We analyzed the problems that work environment measurement results don't lead to workplace improvement in the Work Environment Measurement System to propose an alternative. Methods: We reviewed reports and articles written by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency and academic circles to identify the problems in the current Work Environment Measurement System and suggest an alternative. Results: One of the reasons that the Work Environment Measurement has not resulted in workplace improvement is that there were no proper regulating systems for managing the workplace improvement plans or improvement results. Moreover, there are not enough professional manpower in ministry of labor to evaluate the improvement plans and results from the Work Environment Measurement. Therefore, all of the workplace whose Work Environment Measurement results exceed the occupational exposure limit (OEL) should be managed by regional ministry of labor, and outside experts and new system for verifying improvement are needed. Conclusions: To accomplish the purpose of Work Environment Measurement, it is necessary to improve the work environment according to the results of Work Environment Measure. For this, it is necessary for the government to manage the fulfillment of workplace improvement plans and for measurement agencies to secure expertise.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.58-66
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• 2012

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to review clinical characteristics and working environments of sudden cardiac death (SCD) cases associated with a tire manufacturer in Korea, and review possible occupational risk factors for cardiovascular disease including nanoparticles (ultrafine particles, UFPs). Methods: We reviewed (i) the clinical course of SCD cases and (ii) occupational and non-occupational risk factors including chemicals, the physical work environment, and job characteristics. Results: Possible occupational factors were chemicals, UFPs of rubber fume, a hot environment, shift work, overworking, and noise exposure. The mean diameter of rubber fume (63-73 nm) was (larger than diesel exhaust [12 nm] and outdoor dust [50 nm]). The concentration of carbon disulfide, carbon monoxide and styrene were lower than the limit of detection. Five SCD cases were exposed to shift work and overworking. Most of the cases had several non-occupational factors such as hypertension, overweight and smoking. Conclusion: The diameter of rubber fume was larger than outdoor and the diesel exhaust, the most well known particulate having a causal relationship with cardiovascular disease. The possibility of a causal relation between UFPs of rubber fume and SCD was not supported in this study. However, it is necessary to continue studying the relationship between large sized UFPs and SCD.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.78-82
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to review the labor force partitpation rate and work environment characteristics of female workers to provide basic information for establishment and implementation of effective policies related to accident prevention and workers health protection for female workers. It was analyzed employment status, work environment and injuries and illnesses based on economic activity census results, compensation of industrial injury and the second working condition survey. According to economic activity census results, female labor force participation rate has been steadily increased, whereas male labor force participation rate has been decreased since 1970. Industrial accident rate has been declined in male workers but that in female workers has been steadily increased even though male workers were higher accident rate than female workers. It was evaluated that female workers are vulnerable to industrial injuries and illnesses in the aspect of their working environment and employment status. Also, Substantial differences between female and male workers in occupational exposure patterns, occupational disease and occupational environments were observed. Therefore it was recommended that special care programs for female workers such as a specialized monitoring and management program should be introduced in the near future.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.440-450
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• 2021

Objectives: This study aims to investigate whether working environment measurement institutions(WEMIs) are conducting safety and health education, risk assessment, and oversight of special management materials, and whether working environment measurement and special medical examinations are being conducted as prescribed in the Occupational Safety and Health Act(OSHA). Methods: In of February 2021, a questionnaire was prepared and distributed to 33 WMEIs registered with the Ministry of Employment and Labor(MoEL) in Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do Province. The responses were collected and then analyzed. Results: The findings show that 5 WEMIs(15%) complied fully with OSHA. Risk assessment was conducted by 13 WMEIs(39%) and safety education by 11 WMEIs(33%). Eighteen WMEIs(55%) conducted working environment measurement, and 29 WMEIs(88%) conducted special medical examinations. The implementation rate of the risk assessment in the health industry(85%) was higher than the one in the special technology industry(11%)(p<0.05). The implementation rate of the special medical examination in the examiners(54%) was not as high as the one in the analysts(91%)(p<0.05). Conclusions: The MoEL needs to check whether basic OSHA requirements are being observed during regular inspections by WEMIs. These findings indicate that it is necessary to prepare a plan to improve the rate of compliance with OSHA regulations.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.421-426
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of shift work on occupational safety in various industrial sectors. The study analyzes the effects of shift work on the health of workers by considering factors such as the workplace environment and welfare. Methods: Focusing on the $4^{th}$ Korean Working Conditions Survey, this study used an ordinary least-square multiple regression analysis. The dependent variable was the annual frequency of injuries reported by workers. Independent variables were categorized as demographic, shift work, workplace environment, and welfare variables. The analysis was conducted on two levels: 1) Shift work and nonshift work groups were compared, and 2) Shift work was compared with fixed and rotating shifts. Results: For the entire group, age, a low level of education, work hours, and daily and dispatch work negatively impacted the frequency of injuries. Shift work was negatively affected by workplace environment and welfare factors. In the shift group, the frequency of injuries was lower than that of regular workers, and the higher the autonomy in the choice of work hours, the lower the frequency of injuries. Furthermore, shift workers in Korea have more extended work hours (49.25 h/week) than other workers (46.34 h/week). Conclusion: Overall, welfare factors such as workplace satisfaction and worke-life balance reduced the frequency of injuries. The effect of shift work was limited, but it was confirmed that shift worker autonomy could reduce the frequency of injuries.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.63-72
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the level of occupational and organizational retention intention and related factors among new dental hygienists. Methods: The participants were 195 dental hygienists employed for less than 24 months. A t-test and one-way analysis of variance were conducted to determine the level of intention to stay according to an individual's major-related characteristics and work environment awareness level. Pearson's correlation analysis was performed for each item, and stepwise multiple regression was performed for factors related to retention intention. Results: In the work environment, the organizational support network had the highest occupational retention intention (β=0.513). Organizational retention intention (β=0.351), working infrastructure (β=0.293), cooperation relationship (β=0.165), and management justice (β=0.151) were factors related to organizational retention intention (p<0.001). Employment at the practice hospital was related to occupational (β=0.167) and organizational retention intention (β=0.138), and satisfaction with clinical practice was related to occupational retention intention (β=0.327). Conclusions: New dental hygienists are expected to be actively utilized for long-term tenure in both occupations and organizations by actively reflecting on the results obtained through this study in the curriculum and working environment of dental hygienists.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.353-362
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• 2015

Objective: This study aims to analyze occupational accidents of moving helpers by work place type which means the type of residence where moving operation is done. Background: Most efforts have been focused on the industry base comprising various occupational spectrum and provided industry general preventative policies. But occupation specific policies are required for the workers involved and will reduce the occurrences of occupational accidents for the workers subject to similar working environment and process. Method: This study analyzes 208 non-motor vehicle collision related occupational accidents of moving helpers working for used household and office goods moving industry occurring from 2010 to 2012. Accident Type, agencies, event or exposure, parts of body affected are characterized by work places according to the work environment. Results: Accidents characteristics showed the difference between high-rise type and low-rise type on the size of enterprise, age, gender and work experience of the injured. Also the accident type, source of accident and parts of body affected are different between the two work place types. Finally, Accidents occurred on the specific operational processes of moving service also showed different characteristic between the two types. Conclusion and Application: The findings of accident characteristics according to workplace types and operational process of moving service can be used as baseline data for establishing systemized preventative policies for occupational accidents of moving helpers.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.58-71
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was performed to identify workers' Job stress status and to analyse the influencing factors. Method: Data were collected from 456 workers with Korean Occupational Stress Questionnaire Short Form(KOSQ SF) and analysed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA. Results: Total job stress status of men was slightly lower than Korean workers' standard. In case of women, the score of total job stress was lower than Korean workers' standard. The most significant influencing factors to stressors were insufficient sleeping time and self cognitive bad health condition. Among seven domains of job stressors, job demand was affected by 8 characteristics. Conclusion: This study indicated that workers' job stress level were various by their characteristics except workplace size. The development of stress management programs by types of industry is required. On the base of the model program, planning of customized program for every company or employee is required. High job demand, insufficient job control, insufficient sleeping time, bad health condition are the key factors of workers' job stress in this study. The change of workers' health behavior with supportive environment is essential to stress management program. More researches for adding physical environment domain to KOSQ SF are expected.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.233-239
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• 2009

The regulatory recognition, regulatory approval, and observance for employer, inspector, and worker groups were investigated for the Korean measurement system in working environments. The employer, worker, and inspector showed an agreement of 90~97 % for the measurement of working environments. This survey showed that the measurement system of working environments has been settled in Korea. However, this survey showed an agreement of 81~87 % for reporting the results of working environment, involvement of worker representative, improvement of working environment, and holding presentations for working environment measurement. The employer recognized well for the measurement of working environments, involvement of worker representative, improvement of working environment, and holding presentations for working environment measurement, but the employee did not recognize well them as much as the employer did. Thus, the improvements for the recognition for involvement of worker representative, improvement of working environment, and holding presentations for working environment measurement by the employee are needed.