• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• 제12권1호
• /
• pp.51-56
• /
• 2021

Background: Neck pain is a major public health problem among sewing machine operators working in textile factories. Even though the textile industries are growing in number in Ethiopia, but there is a dearth of published studies on the prevalence of neck pain. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of neck pain among sewing machine operators of garment factories in Mekelle city. Method: An institutional-based cross-sectional study design was implemented among 297 sewing machine operators' working in garment factories in Mekelle city. A systematic random sampling technique was used. Data were collected through interviews and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science version 23. Finally, variables with 95% confidence interval (CI): p < 0.05 in the multivariate analysis were significantly declared. Results: Two hundred ninety-seven sewing machine operators were enrolled, with 98.7% response rates. In this study, the 12-month prevalence rate of neck pain was found to be 42.3% (95% CI: 36.6%-47.9%), and variables like such as break time [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 5.888, 95% CI: (2.775-12.493)], working hours per day [AOR: 6.495, 95% CI: (2.216-19.038)], static posture [AOR: 4.487, 95% CI (1.640-12.275)], and repetitive activity [AOR: 4.519, 95% CI:(2.057-9.924)] were associated with neck pain. Conclusion: In this study, neck pain is a major public health problem. Continuous work without break time, working greater than 8 hours per day, sitting in the same position for greater than 2 hours, and high repetitive activities were found significantly associated with neck pain. Owners and governmental bodies need to focus on developing preventive strategies and safety guidelines.

• 대한안전경영과학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 대한안전경영과학회 2000년도 추계학술발표논문집
• /
• pp.255-259
• /
• 2000

Despite improved working environment with increased automation in industry, the nursing professions are subject to great deal of potential occupational risks, including chemical exposure, occupational stress, and musculoskeletal stress. In this study, we investigated the work-related Low Back Pains(LBPs) among hospital nursing profession by questionnaire survey. The results showed that over 89% of nursing personnel answered had experienced work-related LBPs. Among these personnel, patient handling caused more than 78% of the incidents occurring at work. This study will thus contribute as a basic reference to the hospitals and ergonomic practitioners for nursing profession training program development, facility and equipment redesign, and for guiding future research concerning prevention of this very important occupational health problem.

• 한국산업보건학회지
• /
• 제16권4호
• /
• pp.375-384
• /
• 2006

Hairdressers may be exposed to many chemicals from hair dye, permanent, shampoo, hair spray and so on. The study was conducted to evaluate occupational exposure to 8 chemicals (isopropanol, ethanol, xylene, toluene, ethylbenzene, acetone, ammonia and formaldehyde) for workers and levels of these materials in airborne of a hairdressing salon. Since compared to ACGIH TLVs these 8 chemicals were very low, it is thought that there has no problem to occupational exposure to these chemicals. Even if hairdressing salon is not enforced on Korean Standards for Indoor Air Quality, level of TOVC was thought to be below the standards. At the aspect of indoor air quality formaldehyde needs to be controlled in the future. The results imply that emission of isopropanol, ethanol, acetone and ammonia are related with hairdressing job, but emission of xylene, toluene and ehtylbenzene is more related with traditional indoor air pollution than hairdressing job. Sources of formaldehyde is thought to be little related with hairdressing job. HVAC system was a little effective on general ventilation.

• 대한인간공학회지
• /
• 제32권4호
• /
• pp.297-301
• /
• 2013

Objective: The purpose of this study is to review the hazards of whole body vibration(WBV) and prevent human injuries due to WBV. Background: Vibrations that shake the whole body in vehicles and vessels is WBV. Vibration at a specific frequency, and intensity in the human body can act as a hazard. But, it has not yet done enough research about effects of WBV. Method: We analyzed and reviewed occupational or ergonomic papers published past 30 years. Results: Exposure to whole body vibration can cause permanent physical injury or damage of the nervous system. In addition, it may cause problem in the cardiovascular system, digestive system, musculoskeletal system, endocrine system, reproductive system, and psychological system. The effect of vibration depends on its acceleration, duration, frequency, and direction. Conclusion: WBV-exposed human body experience a high risk of some illnesses such as lumbar spinal disorders. Some workers(bus drivers, truck drivers and heavy equipment operators) are the high risk population exposed to WBV. Application: The results of this study might help to judge and prevent occupational disease caused by WBV.

• 한국안전학회지
• /
• 제32권3호
• /
• pp.90-98
• /
• 2017

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of employment type(direct employment, dispatch and service supplier) on risk factor exposure, health and satisfaction. The data of the 4th wave of Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) conducted by Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) in South Korea was used. Business support service industry and manufacturing industry were selected as appropriate industries for analysis. In the final analysis, 5,865 in the manufacturing industry and 1,361 in the service support industry were included. Various variables related risk, safety, satisfaction and health such as risk factor exposure, MSDs exposure, work environment satisfaction, injury probability, dangerous work, workload, physical health problem, perceived health, positive emotions, stress, participation for decision making and experience of accident/disease were analyzed and company size and age was controled. An ANCOVA was conducted to identify significant mean differences of risk, safety, satisfaction and health related variables among direct employed workers, dispatch and service supplier workers. The results showed that all the variables except stress showed a significant difference depending on employment type in the service supply industry. In the manufacturing industry, there were significant difference in the risk factor exposure, MSDs exposure, work environment satisfaction, workload, physical health problem, perceived health, and participation depending on employment type. These results indicated that the risks are unloaded to subcontract and outsourcing company workers. Based on these results, the implications of this study and suggestions for future research were discussed.

• 한국환경보건학회지
• /
• 제37권2호
• /
• pp.81-93
• /
• 2011

Although pesticides have increased crop production and controlled disease, they have produced a number of adverse health effects. Pesticides have potential human toxicity and a variety of groups, such as farmers or industrial workers, as well as the general population, are exposed to pesticides. The purpose of this article, therefore, is to provide an overview of pesticide exposure and health through a literature review, focusing on exposure assessment, acute poisoning, chronic health effects, and future research needs. The exposure types and levels of pesticides vary by study subjects and need to be assessed by integrating several methods focused on the epidemiological purpose. Acute pesticide poisoning is a major public health problem in the world. Paraquat is the main causative pesticide for acute poisoning in Korea and should be banned in order to save several thousands of lives every year. Occupational pesticide exposure also causes numerous chronic diseases among farmers and industrial workers, including cancers, respiratory diseases, depression, retinal degeneration, diabetes, and abnormal menstrual cycle. However, controversy exists regarding the long-term effects of low-dose environmental pesticide exposure. The area of pesticide study is relatively new with broad study populations and it has received little academic and policy attention, particularly in Korea. More detailed studies investigating the risk of pesticide-related health effects and intervention efforts to reduce the problems are needed in Korea.

• 한국산업보건학회지
• /
• 제11권1호
• /
• pp.85-91
• /
• 2001

Background : It goes without saying that cumulative trauma disorders is spreading to various types of occupation in many advanced countries including America, and it forms considerable rate of total occupational disorders already. and as the result of it, the seriousness of worker health problem and economic loss owing to production loss, recuperation expense, etc. are on the increasing trend through whole society. In case of Korea, the related measures as well as accurate fact-finding survey data on cumulative trauma disorders aren't prepared in detail, so it implies forward problem would be serious. Purpose : The purpose of this study is to draw the risk factor of cumulative trauma disorders in production factory, to forecast the rate of occurrence of cumulative trauma disorders on the basis of subjective symptoms, and to present forward realistic and effective prevention measures by showing the risk of cumulative trauma disorders, objecting the production factory of a domestic riding automobile assembly shop, by estimating in the aspect of human-engineering through the analysis of risk factor being a cause of cumulative trauma disorders. Methods : For this study, I investigated work type and on-duty hours, breathing time, and subjective symptoms of cumulative trauma disorders through questionnaire, objecting the workers in press. car body, coating, and outfit factory. Results : As a result of research, 81.2% of workers were in the physical burden due to present working, and the highest prevalence by part of body is an waist. The higher a rule score, The higher the number of workers complaind for working intensity, and the higher age work duration, tool used time, the higher prevalence of subjective symptoms by part of body. The number of workers complaind subjective symptom for treatment is the highest in drugstore.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• 제15권1호
• /
• pp.66-72
• /
• 2024

Background: This study examines the relationship between functional disability and work ability in workers affected by low back pain (LBP) through an analysis of correlations between the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Work Ability Index (WAI). The role of personal and work factors on functional disability/work ability levels has also been studied. LBP is the most common musculoskeletal problem and a major disabling health problem worldwide. Its etiology is multifactorial. Multidisciplinary approaches may help reduce the burden of pain and disability and improve job continuity and reintegration at work. Methods: A cohort of 264 patients affected by LBP from an Italian outpatient clinic were included in a clinical diagnostic/therapeutic trial aiming at rehabilitation and return to work through an integrated investigation protocol. Data were collected during the first medical examination using anamnestic and clinical tools. The final sample is composed of 252 patients, 57.1% man, 44.0 % blue collars, 46.4% with the high school degree, 45.6% married. Results: WAI and ODI reported a negative and fair correlation (r = -0.454; p = .000). Workers with acute LBP symptoms have a higher probability of severe disability than those with chronic LBP symptoms. White collars without depressive symptoms reported higher work ability - even in chronic disability conditions-than those with depressive symptoms. Conclusion: The study found that ODI and WAI have a convergent validity and this suggests that the two tools measure capture distinctive aspects of disability related to personal, environmental, and occupational characteristics. The most important and modifiable prognostic factors found for ODI and WAI were depressive symptoms, workday absence, and intensity of back pain. The study also found a mild association between age and ODI. The study's findings highlight the importance of using a multidisciplinary approach to manage and prevent disability due to LBP.

• 한국엔터테인먼트산업학회논문지
• /
• 제15권1호
• /
• pp.199-206
• /
• 2021

초고령 사회가 임박함에 따라 노인성 질환자 또한 증가하고 있으며 이로 인한 사회적 문제로 시설과 정책의 부족이 제기되고 있다. 의료보장의 현실적 대안으로 국민건강보험이 이야기되고 있으며, 요양병원은 급성기 병원과 장기요양시설 사이로 분류되며 의료비 절감의 대체재로 작용하고 있다. 그러나 유지기 재활의 핵심인 요양병원은 서비스의 질적 문제가 심각히 제기되고 있고, 현 의료체계의 문제로 재활 난민이 양산되는 문제가 있다. 특히 2015년 선행연구에서 전라북도의 요양병원 현황이 가장 열악하였으며 이에 공공데이터를 활용하여 전라북도 요양병원 일반현황, 다빈도 상병 현황, 재활서비스 관련 현황, 재활서비스 중 작업치료 관련 현황에 대하여 탐색하고자 한다.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• 제13권2호
• /
• pp.187-191
• /
• 2022

Background: Traffic injuries have become a significant public health problem in low- and middle-income countries. Several studies have examined the role of personality and attitude toward traffic safety in predicting driving behaviors in diverse types of drivers. Few studies have investigated risky behavior among public passenger van drivers. This study aims to identify the predictors of self-reported risky driving behavior among public van drivers. Method: A total of 410 public van drivers were interviewed at terminal stations in Bangkok. Hierarchical regression models were applied to determine the effects of demographics, personality traits, and attitude on self-reported risky driving behaviors. Results: The results indicated that drivers with a high education level, more working days, and high scores for normlessness and anger were more likely to report risky driving behaviors (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The personality traits and attitude toward speeding account for aberrant self-reported risky driving behavior in passenger van drivers. This could be another empirical basis for evidence-based road safety interventions in the context of public transport.