• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.90-95
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to investigate industrial safety and health experts' opinions on the examination system of WMSDs(work related musculoskeletal disorders) risk factors. For doing this, a questionnaire study and two FGIs(focused group interview) were conducted. A questionnaire with open questions about the examination system was developed, and sent to 42 experts consented bye-mail. Of the experts, 24 experts responded, whose data were used in the analysis. The FGIs were performed for the persons in charge of industrial safety and health in industries and ergonomists. The questionnaire study revealed that most experts(91.3%) agreed with legalization of employers' duty for preventing WMSDs, necessity of the 11 tasks designated by Ministry of Labor, the examination system and ergonomics program, and pertinency for the examination system classification of periodic and occasional one. However, more than half experts disagreed with timeliness and appropriateness of the legal system. This was validated by the low approval rates for appropriateness of the 11 tasks, methods of the examination, charge person in the examination and ergonomics program. FGIs showed that it was desirable for the examination system to be legalized, and that the system was generally properly performed. It was suggested that the system be partially revised with reflecting problems disclosed during its enforcement rather than whole revision. It is expected that when revising relevant legal system, the results of this study would be used as valuable data.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.219-225
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• 2020

With the aging population, the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in the elderly continues to increase. In addition, musculoskeletal disorders are the third most common social and economic loss among occupational illnesses in Workers' compensation insurance benefits as of 2015 standard and are also common among workers. In this study, a vest that can assist in the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders of the waist was produced, and it is intended to confirm the presence or absence of the effect through experiments. Diseases of the waist are closely related to core muscles. Therefore, the produced vest was made in a form that supports the core muscles. Before and after wearing the vest for effectiveness verification, the While performing 10-times of the Mackenzie exercises, a waist extension exercise, collected the EMG data of the internal oblique, Rectus abdominis, and Erector spinae, which correspond to the core muscles. The collected data were analyzed through the electromyography analysis program RM-3 to obtain RMS values for 10-times measurements of each muscle and to compare the average values. After comparing the data, to verify the significance, the technical statistical value of the measurement result was calculated and the average difference was verified through PASW ver18.0, And the paired t-test is performed on the experimental results to perform statistical processing. and Statistical processing was performed by setting the significance level to α=.05.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.163-170
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to identify the harmful factors of teacher's job stress and occupational-related musculoskeletal diseases, and to investigate according to job types to seek solutions and improvement measures for removing harmful factors. A total of 168 elementary and high school teachers in Seoul were surveyed. As a result, the average RULA score of the teacher was 4.2 points, and the average RULA score of the teacher who did not complain of musculoskeletal diseases was 4.3 points. In addition, the average job stress score of the teacher was 58.9 points, and the stress score by factor was in the order of student guidance, work burden, loss of authority, organizational structure and curriculum, treatment and welfare, human relations. As a result of analyzing the teacher's RULA score and job stress, it was possible to derive a correlation between musculoskeletal disorders and job stress caused by occupation.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.255-267
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors affecting work-related musculoskeletal symptoms in farmers. Methods: In order to examine the factors affecting the musculoskeletal symptoms among farmers, data of 'Occupational Disease Survey for Farmers' was performed by the RDA(Rural Development Administration). Results: The odds ratio of work-related musculoskeletal symptoms among female farmers were 1.42(1.30-1.56) times higher than male farmers. The older aging and longer the agricultural work period, the higher odds ratio of musculoskeletal symptoms was shown. By major crops, all crop farmers showed higher odds ratio of musculoskeletal symptoms compared to rice crop farmers. As a result of examining the effective factors on the odds ratio of musculoskeletal symptoms by body parts, female farmers had higher odds ratio of musculoskeletal symptoms than male farmers by 1.38(1.26-1.51) times in waist, 1.58(1.44-1.74) times in knee, 1.32(1.05-0.67) times in hand/wrist, and 1.30(1.06-1.59) times in foot/ankle. By crops, animal husbandry farmers had higher odds ratio of musculoskeletal symptoms than rice crop farmers by 1.44(0.89-2.35) times in waist, and field crop farmers were 1.37(1.07-1.77) times higher in knee. Compared with rice crop farmers, odds ratio of the shoulder part the shoulder parts were 1.19(0.81-1.76) times higher in greenhouse crop farmers and 1.16(0.97-1.38) times higher in dry field crop farmers. Odds ratio of the hands/wrist parts were higher odds ratio of musculoskeletal symptoms than rice crop farmers by 1.69(1.00-2.87) times in greenhouse crop farmers. Conclusions: The results of this study would help to select the group that needs to be managed first, and could be used as basic data for the development of customized musculoskeletal disorders prevention programs.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 2008

To prevent musculoskeletal disorders(MSD) for dental hygiene students, who will potentially be at high risk of developing MSD while performing oral prophylaxis practice, an MSD prevention education program was designed and was offered to a group of dental hygiene students to find whether the program is effective. Before the program started and three months after the program ended, changes in the students' posture were filmed to observe them. The final subjects for analysis included 30 students in the experimental group and 41 students in the control group. To verify differences between the experimental and the control groups, repeated measures ANOVA was carried out before and after the program. After the education program, the experimental group's RULA scores for neck, left upper arm, right forearm, and wrist, RULA A score on both left and right side, RULA B score on left side, and total RULA score were significantly lowered during the operation on the upper jaw, compared with that of the control group. And, during the operation on the lower jaw, the experimental group's RULA A score, RULA B score, and total RULA score were very significantly lowered. The results of this study suggest the MSD prevention education program is effective in preventing the disorder. Thus, the program can be utilized as an education program for preventing MSDs during dental hygiene students' oral prophylaxis practice and clinical practice.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.79-87
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• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the symptoms of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), the influence of the WMSDs on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and to identify the differences of WMSDs and HRQoL between greenhouse farmers and paddy farmers. Methods: Subjects were 34 greenhouse farmers and 56 paddy farmers who were living in a rural community. The sociodemographic characteristics, health-related behavior, working characteristics, WMSDs and HRQoL were investigated. WMSDs symptoms were measured by a selfassessed questionnaire on musculoskeletal disorders symptoms and HRQoL was measured by the Euro Quality of Life (Euroqol) EQ-5D index. The differences on the WMSDs, EQ-5D and it's related factors between the groups were assessed with t-test and ${\chi}^2$-test. Results: Greenhouse farmers were longer the working hours per day and working duration than paddy farmers. The level of prevalence of the WMSDs in greenhouse farmers is higher than in paddy farmers. The EQ-5D index of greenhouse farmers and paddy farmers were 0.819 and 0.874, respectively. Overall, the mean value of EQ-5D index was significantly lower greenhouse farmers than paddy farmers. Conclusions: These results showed that the HRQoL for farmers are strongly influenced by WMSDs and agicultural type in that we are aware of the need to comply with regulations of WMSDs, especially greenhouse farmers.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.21-30
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• 2008

The psychosocial stress and musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs) have been one of major health problems for hospital workers. This study tried to understand the relationship between symptoms associated with MSDs and risk factors such as working posture, job stress, psychosocial stress and fatigue. A total number of 655 hospital workers participated in this study. Specifically, REBA was applied for evaluating working posture and a checklist prepared by KOSHA(Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency) was used for symptom survey. A questionnaire from KOSHA was also used for collecting data associated with job stress, psychosocial stress and fatigue. All these data were formulated and modeled by path analysis which was one of major statistical tools in this study. Specifically, path analysis for the data we collected came up with several major findings. The risk scores from working posture based on REBA had indirect effects via fatigue factor(MFS) as well as direct effects on symptoms. The factors associated with job stress (KOSS) and psychosocial stress(PWI-SF) had significant effects on symptoms. Specifically, indirect effect of job stress factors via fatigue factors(MFS) had bigger than that of direct effect of job stress on symptom.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.101-112
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to contribute to the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in 119 emergency medical technicians (EMTs) by evaluating ergonomic risk factors of patient lifting work-postures. Methods: Four procedures were evaluated: using long back-board (LBB) on the sitting and standing main stretcher, using variable stretcher on the sitting and standing main stretcher. Wok-postures were assessed during training. Results: In using LBB on the sitting main stretcher, the OWAS-score was Mode:3 (Mean:2.30, Maximum:3), the REBA-score was Mode:9 (Mean:7.61, Maximum:11), requiring improvement soon. In using LBB on the standing main stretcher, the OWAS-score was Mode:3 (Mean:2.33, Maximum:3), requiring as soon as possible corrective action, the REBA-score was Mode:6 (Mean:5.44, Maximum:11), requiring improvement. In using variable stretcher on the sitting main stretcher, the OWAS-score was Mode:1 (Mean:1.85, Maximum:3), not requiring corrective action, the REBA-score was Mode:6 (Mean:6.78, Maximum:11), requiring improvement. In using variable stretcher on the standing main stretcher, the OWAS-score was Mode:3 (Mean:2.84, Maximum:3), requiring as soon as possible corrective action, the REBA-score was Mode:11 (Mean:9.38, Maximum:11), requiring immediate improvement. Conclusion: All four-procedures showed improvement in work-posture. Thereby, required attention and management in training, occupational health professionals should participate in change of lifting-method, and programs aimed at preventing MSDs should be developed and implemented in fire-academy and fire-station.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.239-247
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• 2008

Low back disorders (LBDs) have been the most common musculoskeletal problem in Korean workplaces. It affects many workers, and is associated with high costs to many companies as well as the individual, which can negatively influence even the quality of life of workers. The _evaluation of low back disorder risk associated with manual materials handling tasks can be performed using variety of ergonomic assessment tools such as National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Revised Lifting Equation (NLE), the Washington Administrative Code 296-62-0517 (WAC), the Snook Tables etc. But most of these tools provide limited information for choosing the most appropriate assessment method for a particular job and in finding out advantage and disadvantage of the methods, and few have been assessed for their predictive ability. The focus of this study was to _evaluate spinal loads in real time with lifting and pulling heavy cow leathers in variety of postures. Data for estimating mean trunk motions were collected as employees did their work at the job site, using the Lumbar Motion Monitor. Eight employees (2 males, 6 females) were selected in this study, in which the load weight and the vertical start and destination heights of the activity remained constant throughout the task. Variance components (three dimensional spaces) of mean trunk kinematic measures were estimated in a hierarchical design. They were used to compute velocity and acceleration of multiple employees performing the same task and to repetitive movements within a task. Therefore, a results of this study could be used as a quantitative, objective measure to design the workplace so that the risk of occupationally related low back disorder should be minimized.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.9-20
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• 2013

Background: This study was conducted to provide preventive measure for the musculoskeletal disorders in automobile parts manufacturing workers. Method: The author surveyed to the musculoskeletal symptoms prevalence and its related factors from 10th to 17th April 2011 with structured self administered questionnaires. 223 out of 225 collected questionnaires were used for final analysis, excluding 2 questionnaires with no valid response. Based on the diagnostic criteria of NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational and Health), an investigation was made into the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms as well as into the factors related to individual items. Results: The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms according to the criteria of NIOSH was the highest in the shoulder (52.9%), followed by the neck (39.%), the hand/wrist (35%), the waist (29.6%), the arm/elbow (24.7%), and the leg/food (23.8%). One-way analysis showed that among general characteristics, age was the musculoskeletal risk factor with the greatest effect. Whereas among work-related characteristics, significant risk factor didn't find. Yet it was shown that among ergonomic work postures, high degree of musculoskeletal risk was shown by the posture involving frequent and repetitive movement of the arm and the hand/wrist and also by the posture involving standing for a long time. Multiple regression analysis showed that musculoskeletal risk was 1.795 times higher in those age 50 and over than in those under age 50; 1.67 times higher in the high risk stress group than in the low risk stress group; and 1.131 higher in the group involving the repetitive use of the hand/arm than in the other groups (p<.05). Conclusion: The prevalence and stress score of automobile parts manufacturing workers were higher than other occupation workers. Among general characteristics, drinking and smoking were shown to be related to stress score; while age was shown to have significant effect on musculoskeletal risk.