• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.57-65
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• 2023

Background: The association between exposure to extremely low frequency-magnetic fields (ELF-MF) and childhood leukemia has been controversial. There is a need to clarify this relationship by summarizing key conclusions from systematic review articles. Objectives: The major aim of this study is to summarize key conclusions from systematic review articles on the association between exposure to ELF-MF and childhood leukemia based on childhood exposure to ELF-MF, proximity from childhood household to high voltage cables, and parental occupational exposure to ELF-MF. Methods: This study was conducted through a brief literature review focusing on systematic, meta-analysis, and pooled analysis methods. We conducted a literature search in PubMed using the key words "ELF-MF" and "childhood leukemia" singly or combined. Results: In 2002, the World Health Organization (WHO)'s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reviewed two manuscripts to conduct pooled analysis and concluded that there is a significant association between exposure to >0.3 μT or 0.4 μT and childhood leukemia. We found a total of four manuscripts for systematic or pool analysis that have been published since the IARC's conclusion. They consistently concluded that there was a significant association between exposure to >0.4 μT and childhood leukemia compared to ELF-MF exposure to below 0.1 μT. The proximity of children's households to high voltage cable lines and occupational exposure by their parents to ELF-MF during certain periods prior to or during pregnancy were inconsistently associated with childhood leukemia. The study found that many EU countries have implemented precautionary policies to prevent potential childhood leukemia due to exposure to ELF-MF. Conclusions: This study recommends implementing a precautionary policy that includes legal exposure limits for ELF-MF to minimize exposure to ELF-MF.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1994.02a
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• pp.681-691
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• 1994

The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has proposed a threshold limit value (TLV) for benzene of 0.1 ppm. Individuals representing the American Petroleum Institute (API)and the Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA) have argued that 1) the risk assessment by Rinsky .et al. which ACGIH partially relied upon for its proposed TLV overestimates the risk; however, at the exposures levels of interest - (e.g., 0.1 to 1.0 ppm) for establishing a benzene TLV, the Rinsky et al. assessment provides lower estimates of leukemia risk than most others; 2) ACGIH should not use the Dow study for direct observational evidence of leukemia risk associated with low-level benzene exposure because of confounding exposure; however, it is unlikely that confounding exposures played a role in the excess of leukemia demonstrated in the study, and the Dow cohort was exposed to an average benzene concentration of about 5.5 ppm benzene for 7.11 years (31:1.5 ppm-years), while some of the individuals in the study who died from leukemia were exposed to an average of only 1.0 ppm without the opportunity for highpeak exposures; 3) the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) established an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 1.0 ppm in 1987, and there is no new evidence that would justify reducing the TWA below that level; however, the OSHA TWA of 1.0 ppm was based on economic feasibility and the level of excess risk remaining at 1.0 ppm, i.e., 10 excess leukemia deaths per 1000 workers over an occupational lifetime (45 years) according to OSHA's preferred estimate leaves behind I risk considered significant by OSHA. In addition, chromosomal studies among workers and in animals exposed to benzene indicate that low-level exposure, i.e., 1.0 ppm, is associated with elevated Cytogenetic damage. On the basis of adverse health effects data alone, in this author's opinion, it would be poor science and poor public health policy to establish a benzene TLV greater than 0.1 ppm.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2021

Background: The objective of this study was to elucidate the relationships musculoskeletal pains with combined vulnerability in terms of age, gender, and employment status Methods: The fifth European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) in 2010 (43,816 participants aged 15 years and over) analyzed for European employees and the third Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) in 2011 (50,032 participants aged 15 years and older) analyzed for Korean employees. In this study, three well known vulnerable factors to musculoskeletal pains (older age, female gender, and precarious employment status) were combined and defined as combined vulnerability. Associations of musculoskeletal pains with combined vulnerability were assessed with prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) estimated by Poisson regression models with robust estimates of variance. Results: The prevalences of musculoskeletal pains were lower but the absolute and relative differences between combined vulnerabilities were higher among Korean employees compared with the European employees. Furthermore, the increased risk of having musculoskeletal pains according to combined vulnerability was modestly explained by socioeconomic factors and exposure to ergonomic risk factors, especially in Republic of Korea. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the labor market may be more unfavorable for female and elderly workers in Republic of Korea. Any prevention strategies to ward off musculoskeletal pains, therefore, should be found and implemented to mitigate or buffer against the most vulnerable work population, older, female, and precarious employment status, in Republic of Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.83-89
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• 2007

This study is perform to improve the current point at issue of the non-regular employees, comparing the safety and health consciousness of between the regular employees and non-regular employees in manufacturing factory. The investigation is carried out using the statistical analysis. The study presents that most of the non-regular employees answer in the negative the current job satisfaction, work load, work risk, concern on the safety and health, education, occupational safety and health system than the regular employees. For the improvement of these problems, the government's safety and health policy should be changed and acknowledgement of the employer and employee on the safety and health should be improved.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.89-101
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• 2022

Objectives: By comparing and examining how important issues concerning industrial health information for workers are viewed in other advanced countries, it is intended to ascertain problems in the approach found in Korean legislation and obtain legal and policy implications. Methods: The results of a survey were introduced and analyzed through a comparative method for each case after investigating in detail what and how important issues surrounding workers' right to know industrial health information are reflected in the legislation of Germany, the U.S., the U.K., and Japan. Based on the results of this comparative analysis, theoretical and policy implications and legal policy improvement tasks were drawn to strengthen workers' right to industrial health information for each case in Korea. Results: For access to industrial health information, most of the other advanced countries clearly stipulate a right to access for current and past workers and/or their representatives. As a result, workers or their representatives do not need to use the Information Disclosure Act to access exposure records, and there is no debate over the Information Disclosure Act. In other words, industrial health information is focused on ensuring free access to workers or their representatives and is not interested in reporting it to the government. Conclusions: In order to strengthen workers' right to know about industrial health, it is most important to address the legal issues related to this right, which is considered insufficient by comparative law. This should start with a concrete and effective definition of what and how to guarantee workers' rights to industrial health, such as the right to freely access industrial health information, including for retired workers and bereaved families of deceased workers.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.13-29
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• 2008

Because of the changes of a variety of aspects of disease theory alternative to standard medicine, demand for traditional medicine has increased. This study was undertaken to grasp and compare traditional-medicine administrative structure, functions and role between Korea and China. According to our research, both nations promote policy related to traditional-medicine, yet there are various differences because of each nation's scale, political structure, medical system, etc. Especially, compare to the Korean government, the Chinese government not only has paid more attention to traditional medicine but also established and promoted a synthesis development strategy for a long time. Additionally, there is weakness in Korea's traditional medicine policy compared to the Chinese's Synthetic development-strategy, which is the Oriental-policy Department and Korea Food&Drug administration. Therefore, to make up for the weakness, they will have to organize their role better and make a long-term development-strategy plan for traditional medicine.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.151-156
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• 2012

Objective: In 2010, the rate of injuries and illnesses in the shipbuilding industry was 1.20, about 1.74 times higher than the average of overall industries(0.69). Musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs) became a major problem since 2000 in shipbuilding industry. The purpose of this study was to provide efficient implementation management through evaluating the economic effectiveness of the Musculoskeletal Disorders Prevention Program(MDPP). Successfully implementing the MDPP in the workplace may decrease the risk of MSDs and therefore reduce MSDs related costs. Methods: Occupational accident index (frequency rate, severity rate, and frequency severity indicator), estimated direct costs, and total occupational accident occurrence rate were provided by analysis of MSDs, statistical analysis of MDPP decreed companies, and data analysis of implementation. Results: The study shows the number of MSDs for MDPP decreed companies decreased 76.2% from 2,319 in 2004 to 551 in 2008. Above all, the number of MSDs decreased 78.7% in Shipbuilding industries. Forty companies (85.1%) showed a decreasing tendency and 27.7% of those had an $R^2$ > 0.7. Similar results were found in severity rate and frequency severity indicator. From these results, it appears there are a number of advantages in implementing the MDPP. Conclusion: MDPP effectiveness was demonstrated by analysing implementation and occupational accident index. A more effective and efficient implementation would take into account business sector, size, policy, and organization of the company.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.105-115
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was aimed to review the trend of occupational health in korean medicine and to suggest the strategic approach. Methods : We collected 40 articles on occupational health in the internet site OASIS using the keyword 'workplace', 'worker'. Then we analyzed them. Results : There were 40 papers that were published between 2000 and 2012. Published papers on the korean journal of oriental preventive medicine were more than the other journals. Affiliation of the first author of the published papers was concentrated to one. Clinical research papers accounted for 90% of the total study. Papers on health management were more than half. Conclusions : Related to occupational health, high quality and large amount of research and development is needed and the active policy of the government should be supported in Korean medicine.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.433-440
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to analyze the research trend by conducting a systematic review of domestic research on clinical fieldwork in occupational therapy. From 2000 to 2019, papers registered in the Google Scholar, RISS, KISS, and National Library of Korea databases were searched. The search term was "Occupational Therapy" AND "Clinical Fieldwork", and a total of 8 studies were finally selected. As a result of analyzing the research trend, the most frequently used data collection method were surveys 6 studies(75.0%), and the most frequent subject were occupational therapy students was 6 studies(75.0%). The most frequent main theme was satisfaction of clinical fieldwork 4 studies(50.0%). In the future, it was confirmed that quantitative and qualitative growth of clinical research related to occupational therapy in Korea is needed.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.34
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• pp.17.1-17.10
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• 2022

Background: This study aimed to investigate the decline in quality of life (QOL) by examining changes in the employment status of workers who had completed medical treatment after an industrial accident. Methods: This study utilized the Panel Study of Worker's Compensation Insurance cohort (published in October 2020) containing a sample survey of 3,294 occupationally injured workers who completed medical care in 2017. We divided this population into four groups according to changes in working status. A multivariate logistic regression model was utilized for evaluating QOL decline by adjusting for the basic characteristics and working environment at the time of accident. Subgroup analysis evaluated whether QOL decline differed according to disability grade and industry group. Results: The QOL decline in the "maintained employment," "employed to unemployed," "remained unemployed," and "unemployed to employed" groups were 15.3%, 28.1%, 20.2%, and 11.9%, respectively. The "maintained employment" group provided a reference. As a result of adjusting for the socioeconomic status and working environment, the odds ratios (ORs) of QOL decline for the "employed to unemployed" group and the "remained unemployed" group were 2.13 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.51-3.01) and 1.47 (95% CI, 1.13-1.90), respectively. The "unemployed to employed" group had a non-significant OR of 0.76 (95% CI, 0.54-1.07). Conclusions: This study revealed that continuous unemployment or unstable employment negatively affected industrially injured workers' QOL. Policy researchers and relevant ministries should further develop and improve "return to work" programs that could maintain decent employment avenues within the workers' compensation system.