• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.359-364
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• 2006

Objectives: The object of this study is to assess the relationship between socioeconomic factors and the predicted 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease by using health risk appraisal of ischemic heart disease. Methods: The study population was taken from The 2001 Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey, and it consisted of 1,566 men and 1,984 women aged 30-59. We calculated 10-year risk using the risk function of ischemic heart disease as developed by Jee. The educational level and equivalized household income were dichotomized by a 12 years education period and the median income level. Occupation was dichotomized into manual/non-manual work. We stratified the population by age(10 years) and sex, and then we rated the risk differences according to socioeconomic factors by performing t-tests for each strata. Results: There were gradients of the predicted 10-year risk of ischemic heart disease with the educational level and the equivalized household income, and thet was an increasing tendency of risk differences with age. Manual workers didn't show significant risk difference from non-manual workers. Conclusions: There was definite relationship between low socioeconomic position and the predicted risk of ischemic heart disease in the future.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.138-152
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• 2005

Purposes: The purposes of this study are to investigate the definition, components, prevalence, and associated factors of metabolic syndrome and suggest the management strategies for workers. Method: This study was conducted by literature review. Results: Metabolic syndrome by the NCEP-ATP III is the clustering of three or more of five conditions: abdominal obesity, high triglycerides, low levels of HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high glucose(blood sugar). The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome by modified NCEP-ATP III in South Korean workers was about 20 to 25%. Metabolic syndrome is caused by many associated factors, namely, age, family history, socioeconomic status, job strain, shift work, psychosocial distress, bad health behaviprs and so on. Conclusions: To prevent metabolic syndrome at worksites, multifactorial risk factor assessments and preventive approaches are required. Socioeconomic factors such as education, working status should be nationally importantly considered for the health inequality of workers. Occupational health nurse, at first, can start weight control, smoking cessation program. stress management, the improvement of work environment. Next stage, early diagnosis and treatment for metabolic risk group can be performed.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.493-507
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sense of coherence (SOC) on occupational stress, psychosocial stress and quality of life (QOL) of nurses working in a hospital. Methods: The participants were 401 nurses working in S hospital in Seoul. A stratified random sampling was performed for the all nurses in S hospital which were grouped by age and work unit. Data were collected by a self-report survey. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, t-test, Pearson correlations, multiple linear regressions, and ANOVA. Results: This study showed nurses' occupational stress was at high risk and their psychosocial stress, at low risk. It also showed that those two types of stress are mutual predictors for each other and that SOC was a predictor for both types of stress. For QOL, SOC was also a predictor in SF-36 and MCS (Mental Component Summary). Therefore, SOC may be considered as a major controlling factor for stress and QOL. Conclusion: The results indicate the need to develop programs that enhances nurses' SOC, programs that could be utilized as an intervention to reduce nurses' stress and to promote nurses' QOL.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.201-206
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• 2022

Background: The present objective was to verify whether burnout (emotional exhaustion [EE], depersonalization [DP] and low professional efficacy [PE]) is a risk factor for long-term sickness absence (LTSA; 30 consecutive days) from the teaching role. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study with two years of follow-up that investigated 509 elementary and high-school teachers. Burnout was identified by Maslach Burnout Inventory. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to adjust for possible confounders. Results: The incidence of LTSA was 9.4%. High EE levels were associated with LTSA in the crude analysis, but the association lost statistical significance after adjustments (for sex, age, perception of work-life balance, general self-rated health, chronic pain and depression). High DP levels were associated with this outcome, even after all adjustments (relative risk = 1.80; 95% confidence interval: 1.05-3.09). Low PE levels were not related to LTSA. Conclusion: The results reinforce the need to improve teachers' work conditions to reduce burnout, particularly DP, and its consequences.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.36-49
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• 2023

Since the recently established obligation to implement safety and health measures for specialized workers as outlined in the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) for nine occupations in January 2020 and five occupations in November 2021, there is a need to verify and inspect the on-site operation of related systems. After a comprehensive fact-finding survey and risk factor analysis, it is necessary to examine the responsibility for on-site safety and preventive measures, along with the roles and responsibilities of specialized workers. Stakeholder analysis is essential to identify the fundamental problems related to the responsibility stipulated in the purpose of OSHA and to explore the entity responsible for implementing safety measures. Therefore, in this paper, we discuss the topic of implementation based on legal standards for on-site safety and preventive measures. Additionally, we develop a role model for appropriate safety measures, outlining the dynamic relationship between those who provide labor and those who provide labor in the context of specialized workers.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.173-183
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with the mental health-related quality of life (MHQoL) of Korean workers. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 192 Korean pay workers who worked in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk Province, Korea. Data were collected from May 15 to July 2, 2019, through selfreported questionnaires. The survey had a total of 87 questions including individual, organizational, and psychosocial factors. MHQoL was measured using short form-36 version 1. Data were divided into four domains of MHQoL and analyzed using a hierarchical linear regression model. Results: From the hierarchical linear regression analysis, when the psychosocial factors were included in the regression model, the R² change in the four domains of MHQoL increased significantly by 19~47%. A common predicting factor associated with the four domains of MHQoL was identified as perceived stress symptoms. Other factors affecting MHQoL showed slight differences in each domain. Conclusion: Based on the study results, it is necessary to monitor the psychosocial symptoms to improve MHQoL of Korean workers. Considering each factor affecting the four areas of MHQoL, workplace-based interventions to improve MHQoL should be provided to workers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.8-14
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• 2011

The live-line works are very dangerous because of direct contacts with the distribution line or neighboring contacts. So the purpose of this study is to identify the risk factor by accident occurrence form and accident case analysis, and to suggest the quantified risk index by risk occurrence frequency and risk strength analysis. And the risk index assessment is researched by accident cases analysis on work type. Accident cases of transmission distribution line are researched based on data of the Ministry of Employment and Labor in the last ten-year period (2000~2009). In results of this paper, high risk isn't always a priority of safety measures. Risk occurrence frequency and risk strength have to be considered according to detail work types, work methods and conditions of field work. And safety management measures must be planned according to risk occurrence frequency and risk strength.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.209-214
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• 2011

Objectives: To assess the risk of pushing or pulling the yarn-carrying cart, the survey was performed in some fiber manufacturing factories. Methods: We selected 6 fiber-twisting factories which agreed to in-site survey of their workplace. To measure both initial and sustained forces of the push-pull tasks, Chatillon CSD500 dynamometer(2004, Ametek, USA) was used. The mean of 3 tests for the same cart was adopted as the measured forces. Height and width of cart, weight of spooled yarns, and distance of movement were also measured. Inspection of cart wheel, moving path, and the actual hand position while moving was done. Results: More than one pushing or pulling task exceeded the push-pull force limits of design goal in 5 factories. Though the cart was not loaded the heaviest weight in the factory, the measured push or pull force exceeded the limits several times. A few cart wheels were worn out and tangled with pieces of yarn. It was also observed some holes in the moving path. Conclusions: While the push-pull task is not included in the 11 scopes of over-burdened work notified by Korean government, it should be recognized as risk factor of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The maintenance work such as regular change and frequent cleaning of cart wheel, the use of fitting wheel, and flattening of bumpy floor through the moving path should be advised importantly in the worksite management of work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.231-236
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• 2016

Background: To analyze the effects of the factors associated with different types of injury (superficial wounds, dislocations and sprains, bone fractures, concussion and internal injuries, burns scalding and freezing) caused by occupational accidents in automotive repair workshops. Methods: Study of a sample consisting of 89,954 industry accidents reported from 2003 to 2008. Odds ratios were calculated with a 95% confidence interval. Results: Belonging to a small company is a risk factor for suffering three of the five types of injury studied. Women are less likely to suffer burns and superficial wounds, and more likely to suffer dislocations or sprains. Foreign workers are more likely to suffer concussion and internal injuries. Conclusion: Health and safety strategies and accident prevention measures should be individualized and adapted to the type of worker most likely to be injured in each type of accident. Occupational health and safety training courses designed according to worker profile, and improving the participation of the workers in small firms creating regional or roving safety representatives would improve working conditions.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.496-504
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• 2021

Background: With the increasing demand for industrial robots and the "noncontact" trend, it is an appropriate point in time to examine whether risk assessments conducted for robot operations are performed effectively to identify and eliminate the risks of injury or harm to operators. This study discusses why robot accidents resulting in harm to operators occur repetitively despite implementing control measures and proposes corrective actions for risk assessments. Methods: This study collected 369 operator-injured robot accidents in Korea over the last decade and reconstructed them into the mechanism of injury, work being undertaken, and bodily location of the injury. Then, through the techniques of Systematic Cause Analysis Technique (SCAT) and Root Cause Analysis (RCA), this study analyzed the root and direct causes of robot accidents that had occurred. Causes identified included physical hazards and complex combinations of hazards, such as psychological, organizational, and systematic errors. The requirements of risk assessments regarding robot operations were examined, and three case studies of robot-involved tasks were investigated. The three assessments presented were: camera module processing, electrical discharge machining, and a panel-flipping robot installation. Results: After conducting RCA and comparing the three assessments, it was found that two-thirds of injury-occurring from robot accidents, causative factors included psychological and personal traits of robot operators. However, there were no evaluations of the identifications of personal aspects in the three assessment cases. Conclusion: Therefore, it was concluded that personal factors of operators, which had been overlooked in risk assessments so far, need to be included in future risk assessments on robot operations.