• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.159-164
• /
• 2020

Background: This study aimed to examine the association between educational level and unable to work due to ill-health (UWdIH) among 30- to 79-year-old South Koreans. Methods: A cross-sectional nationwide survey of the 2010-2016 Korea National Health and Nutritional Evaluation Survey was used for analyses. A total of 29,930 participants aged ≥30 and < 80 years, who do not have any disability in their daily life because of health problems, were included. Educational level and reason for nonworking are self-reported with multiple choices. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine an association between education level and UWdIH by setting those who graduated college as their final education (n = 6,997) as a baseline while controlling for potential confounding factors. Results: In the age-stratified result, the ratio of UWdIH was increased as age increases in 3 educational groups (p < .0001). There was a tendency that low-level educated [International Standard Classification of Education (0-2)] participants showed higher ratio of UWdIH than high-level educated [International Standard Classification of Education (5≤)] participants in both sexes (odds ratio: 2.54, 95% confidence interval: 2.12-3.05). Conclusion: There is a clear link between educational level and UWdIH; the less the educated, the more likely to be UWdIH. Policy priority should be given to plans that can help this vulnerable social group to work and enjoy healthy lives.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.3 no.3
• /
• pp.199-208
• /
• 2012

Objectives: Although evidence-based medicine (EBM) is a useful method for integrating evidence into the decision-making process of occupational physicians, occupational physicians lack EBM knowledge and skills, and do not have the time to learn the EBM method. In order to enable them to educate themselves at the time and place they prefer, we designed an electronic EBM course. We studied the feasibility and utility of the course as well as its effectiveness in increasing EBM knowledge, skills, and behaviour. Methods: Occupational physicians from various countries were included in a within-subjects study. Measurements were conducted on participants' EBM knowledge, skills, behaviour, and determinants of behaviour at baseline, directly after finishing the course and 2 months later (n = 36). The feasibility and utility of the course were evaluated directly after the course (n = 42). Results: The course is applicable as an introductory course on EBM for occupational physicians in various countries. The course is effective in enhancing EBM knowledge and self-efficacy in practising EBM. No significant effect was found on EBM skills, behaviour, and determinants of behaviour. After the course, more occupational physicians use the international journals to solve a case. Conclusion: An electronic introductory EBM course is suitable for occupational physicians. Although it is an effective method for increasing EBM knowledge, it does not seem effective in improving skills and behaviour. We recommend integrating e-learning courses with blended learning, where it can be used side by side with other educational methods that are effective in changing behaviour.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.69-79
• /
• 2003

This study is plan to show what kinds of problems we have and how we can overcome problems about occupational safety and health education and training system in Korea, Some features which advanced countries had were found and characterized as follows; First, advanced countries realized the importance of safety and health education on the role of preventing accident and they had varieties of training and education programs on the industrial safety and health for employer and worker. Second, there were many safety and health education programs and grants which especially focused to the small businesses. Third, they had also several programs to induce employer and worker's concerning about the safety and health education voluntarily, In conclusion, we introduced some inducing models, and proposed to revise contents of the education programs and to increase participation of other parties in safety and health education market so that could vitalize our safety and health education and training.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.125-132
• /
• 2015

The primary purpose of present study, to take appropriate measures to prevent occupational accidents in the food service industry, was to evaluate characteristics of working condition and occupational safety and health. In order to fulfill our objective, profession and working environment, safety recognition and education, safety activities, physical conditions and accident experience were surveyed. To collect information and opinion in the field, face-to-face interviews were, using a structured questionnaire, carried out. Also, food service industry's accidents reported by Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency at 2014 were statistically analyzed. In the resulting of analyzing data from a questionnaire survey of food service industry employees, safety/health train and management were increased.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.24-31
• /
• 2004

With Zohar(1980)'s research on safety climate and industrial safety, occupational safety and health literatures begin to emphasize the influence of organizational context. Based on this research trend, this paper tried to review the relationship between individual/ organizational factors and occupational accidents. Based on the responses from 643 manufacturing workers, this paper reviewed the relationship between antecedents(safety knowledge, safety motivation, safety education, and safety precaution activity) and safety consequences(accident parts, accident number, resting days). The results of statistical analysis showed that many antecedents have significantly negative relationships with safety consequences.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.107-118
• /
• 2012

Objectives: This study examines the occurrence of disease resulting from low back pain and factors of working environment meaningfully influencing the occurrence of lumbago as well as analyzes '2nd Korean Working Condition Survey (KWCS)' conducted in 2010 so as to establish the prevention and improvement measures. Methods: The analysis method is that it is to compare the prevalence rate of low back pain according to working environment via odds ratio and to implement the test about the factors having the difference in working environment between low back pain group and normal group through weighted t-test. Results: As a result, it indicates that there is a meaningful difference for prevalence rate of low back pain according to age, status in employment and education level which are socio-demographical factors. The analysis in working hours shows that the period of work is a factor raising the prevalence rate of low back pain rather than weekly working hours. The analysis in the work risk factor indicates that the increase in prevalence rate of low back pain takes place to either workers with repetitive movement and continuously standing posture or those with heavy stress and emotional labour. Conclusions: Workers with low back pain have suffered from accident, depression, anxiety disorder and sleep. The factors in which the prevalence rate of low back pain decrease are to provide information on health and safety and working speed, and enough rest.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
• /
• 2004.12a
• /
• pp.72-72
• /
• 2004

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.533-536
• /
• 2020

Strengthening of the health system is a safety imperative, especially in a crisis as caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While there is a need for enhancing the number and skill sets of the public health professionals, especially the frontline workers, it will be prudent to use the digital health technologies, including artificial intelligence, in enhancing the capacity of the healthcare professional education and delivery. However, it has to be ensured that an ethical and safe approach is adopted to develop and use digital health technology and, ethically appropriate training is imparted, to enhance the capacity of the human resources for health, leading to an overall health system strengthening.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.235-246
• /
• 2020

Purpose: In Korea, the proportion of female workers among occupational injury is steadily increasing. The purpose of this study was to identify the workplace risk factors that threaten the safety and health of the female workers. Methods: Qualitative study was conducted, using focus group interview. Data were collected from five focus groups of eighteen female workers who were working in the manufacturing, health service, and educational service industries. Results: The seven themes of occupational safety and health risks of women workers are as follows: 1) Workplace with various risks; 2) Sliding, falling, burning, and cutting accidents; 3) Chronically lasting musculoskeletal symptoms; 4) Chemicals that may be harmful to workers; 5) Unprotected infectious disease; 6) Psychological safety accidents(Relationship conflict and emotional labor); 7) Loud, hot, stuffy, scary, and tired. Conclusion: The Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) Act should be rearranged gender sensitively and women's participation in the OSH decision-making process should be guaranteed. OSH education should be properly implemented in the field, and support should be provided for women workers in small businesses. A supportive organizational culture for marriage, pregnancy and childbirth should be established, and the working environment should be provided safely, taking into account gender differences.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.199-206
• /
• 2020

Background: In a wide range of industries, noise-induced hearing loss remains one of the most prevalent occupational problems. This study aimed to assess the noise exposure level and associated factors of hearing loss among textile workers in Yangon Region, Myanmar. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a Textile mill (Thamine), Yangon Region, from April to December 2018. In total, 226 workers who were randomly selected from 3 weaving sections participated in face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. A digital sound level meter and pure-tone audiometer were used for the assessment of noise exposure level and hearing loss, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the associated factors of hearing loss. Results: In total workers, 66.4% were exposed to ≥85 dB(A) of noise exposure, and the prevalence of hearing loss was 25.7%. Age ≥35 years, below high school education, hearing difficulty, tinnitus, hypertension, > 9 years of service duration in a textile mill were positively associated with hearing loss. After adjusting confounding factors, age ≥35 years (adjusted odds ratio = 6.90, 95% confidence interval = 3.45-13.82) and tinnitus (adjusted odds ratio = 2.88, 95% confidence interval = 1.13-7.37) were persistently associated with hearing loss. Conclusion: Providing occupational hazard education and enforcement of occupational safety regulations should be taken to decrease the noise exposure level. The regular audiometry test should be conducted for assessment of hearing threshold shift. The employer needs to implement a hearing conservation program in workplace when noise exposure reaches or exceeds 85 dB(A) for 8 hours.