• Title/Summary/Keyword: occupational safety management

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A Method of Estimating Radionuclide Accumulation in Coolant Purification System (원자력발전소 냉각수 정화계통의 핵종누적량 예측기법)

  • Whang, Joo-Ho;Lee, Jae-Min
    • Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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    • v.22 no.3
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    • pp.183-193
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    • 1997
  • The amount and kinds of radionuclide contained in waste volume should be known to prepare for occupational exposure management, perform safety assessment and finally to license a repository. Although the volume of filters and resins are small, activities of them comprise most of the radioactivity that made during power generation. This study aims at developing a method of estimating the radionuclide accumulation at the filters and resins of coolant systems. In this study, accumulated amount of radionuclides is estimated by a computer program which makes use of instantaneous decontamination factor, DF, instead of average DF. A FORTRAN program was developed for the estimation. Data from in-plant source-term measurements at Rancho-Seco nuclear power plant in the United States are employed for verification of the estimating method. And experimental data are employed, too. The instantaneous-DF-method showed smaller error than the average-DF-method. Accumulated amount of radionuclides can be calculated with only the DF and the radionuclide concentration, which are measured periodically according to the operating guide. However, especially, when the operating condition of nuclear power plant changes rapidly, the measuring term of DF and radionuclide should be shortened to ensure the accurate estimation.

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Literature review of the Reduction of Hydrogen Sulfide and Ammonia in Livestock Pen: Comparison between Korean and Chinese cases (축사 내 황화수소와 암모니아의 저감방안 고찰: 한중비교)

  • Yan, Ding;Moon, Chan-Seok
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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    • v.29 no.4
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    • pp.442-451
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    • 2019
  • Objectives: The aim of this study was to review the reduction methods for ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) exposure in livestock. Methods: By reviewing domestic and international research reports from Korea and China, reducing ammonia and hydrogen sulfide in livestock pens was analyzed in terms of ventilation, deodorant, and feed additives. In addition, exposure limits in Korea and China were examined through a comparison between 'TLV-TWA and STEL under the Industrial Safety and Health Act in Korea' and 'Management Standards for Air of Livestock Pens in China'. Results and Discussion: In order to effectively control hazardous gases and odors in livestock pens, the enhancement of natural ventilation or the addition of ventilation fans at the pollution source are being examined. Deodorants are used as adsorbents or masking deodorants. Additives to feed were zeolite powder, FeSO4·7H2O, enzymes, and microbial preparations. Use of feed additives was low-cost and had significant effects compared to other methods. Zeolite was the most commonly used in feed additive in Chinese cases and proved to be low-cost and effective for reducing harmful gases. Enzyme preparations were shown to stimulate the growth of livestock, but were expensive. Conclusions: This study reviewed and examined domestic and international research papers in Korea and China for reducing ammonia and hydrogen sulfide concentrations in livestock pens. More diverse research and the development of feed additives are needed.

Analyzing Driving Risk Self-Perception Characteristics of Elderly Drivers (노인 운전자의 운전 위험성 자각 특성 분석)

  • Choi, Seong-Youl
    • Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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    • v.10 no.7
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    • pp.223-231
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    • 2020
  • Older drivers have an increased risk of accidents due to poor function, but they also develop self-regulation ability to check their own changes. Thus, information on whether the actual elderly driver responds to changes in driving ability and risk may provide a meaningful basis for the clinic and research of the elderly's driving ability assessment. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to provide basic data for the evaluation of elderly drivers by analyzing the driving risk self-perception characteristics in terms of driving behavior and function with Korean elderly drivers. A self-reporting assessment was conducted on 500 elderly drivers living in the community and the characteristics of driving risk perception were analyzed. As a result, it was confirmed that many elderly drivers are aware of the driving risk when their vision and hearing are impaired or when they find it difficult to adapt to changes in driving conditions. On the other hand, the characteristics of insensitive reactions to changes in medical health conditions, such as drug use or epilepsy, seizures, and loss of consciousness, were identified. The researcher hopes this study will contribute to the safety management of elderly drivers in Korea, where aging is accelerating.

Evaluation of Main Factors Affecting on the Legibility of One-Syllable Korean Characters and Numbers (한글과 숫자 낱글자의 가독성에 미치는 주요 요인 평가)

  • Lee, In-Seok;Mo, Seung-Min;Kong, Yong-Ku;Song, Young-Woong;Jung, Myung-Chul
    • Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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    • v.28 no.4
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    • pp.1-7
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    • 2009
  • The purpose of this study was to evaluate the legibility of one-syllable Korean characters with the participation of sixteen subjects. The experiment considered nine factors including age (young and old), gender (male and female), illuminance (150lx and 600lx), viewing distance (50cm and 200cm), material type (paper and LCD), typeface (Ming and Gothic), thickness (plain and bold), color contrast (black letter/white background and white letter/black background), and complexity (simple, complex, and number) to examine main effects with a $2^{6-3}\times3$ fractional factorial design. The dependent variables were minimum character size of 100% correctness, maximum character size of 0% correctness, and minimum character size of comfortable reading preference. The results of analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that age, illuminance, viewing distance and complexity were significant for all dependent variables, except gender which was significant only for the minimum character size of comfortable reading preference. In general, the young could see twofold smaller size letters than the elderly. The subjects could see smaller sized letters with the illuminance of 600lx and viewing distance of 50cm than 150lx and 200cm, respectively and also with numbers, simple characters, and complex characters in that order. The findings of this study could be characterized about the legibility of Korean characters and be good resources for developing its standard.

A Study on the Monitoring Technique for Musculoskeletal Safety Management and Implementation of the System (근골격계 안전관리를 위한 모니터링 기법에 관한 연구 및 시스템 구현)

  • Shin, Yeong-Ju;Joo, Ha-Young;Yang, Jin-Hong
    • The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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    • v.13 no.3
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    • pp.267-276
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    • 2020
  • Manufacturing workers are easily exposed to the risk of musculoskeletal disorders caused by repetitive tasks in their working environment. This is due to problems with occupational characteristics that repeatedly use the body. However, the current lack of monitoring systems for monitoring and prevention has led to an increase in workers' exposure to risks each year. This paper presents how to solve these problems in real working environment by producing wearable devices using IMU sensors. After wearing a wearable type device, the user's movement is judged through data analysis by receiving the rotation value according to musculoskeletal movement. At this time, the risk is determined by measuring the number of rotations of the user by eliminating bias and eliminating cumulative error, acquiring sophisticated data, and analyzing it in the form of dynamic threshold values. Using the wearable device proposed in this paper, the effect of this method could be checked through a web page measuring the number of rotations for elbow musculoskeletal disorders.

A Study on Private Security Guards' Working Position - Focusing on the Prevention and Management of Low Back Pain Caused by Working in a Standing Position - (민간경호원의 근무 자세에 관한 연구 - 선자세로 인한 요통의 예방과 관리를 중심으로 -)

  • Song, Sang wook;Roh, Jung gu;Lee, Sang bin
    • Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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    • v.5 no.1
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    • pp.142-158
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    • 2009
  • The increasing number of crimes in rapidly changing modern society is enhancing people's desire for safety. As of 2008, 2,900 private security businesses with 133,000 employees operated in the private security industry which emerged in response to growing demands from society and people. Of the employees, bodyguards (hereinafter referred to as "private security guard") accounted for about 10% or 13,000. Most private security guards were suffering from various occupational diseases. Especially as they needed to guard their clients many hours a day and worked in a standing position for a long time, private security guards often complained of low back pain. Under the pain, they were hardly expected to perform their tasks efficiently. There are several causes of low back pain. The most prevalent cause is muscle weakness and imbalance around low back. Especially because private security work often requires security guards to maintain a standing position for a long time, many of them are suffering from low back pain. This study pursued the following purposes. First, it tried to identify the pathogenesis of low back pain caused by muscle weakness and imbalance around low back. Second, it tried to provide private security guards, who can hardly have personal time at work, with an easy method to prevent and manage low back pain any time by researching an effective therapy for low back pain caused by muscle weakness and imbalance around low back.

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Prediction of Inhalation Exposure to Benzene by Activity Stage Using a Caltox Model at the Daesan Petrochemical Complex in South Korea (CalTOX 모델을 이용한 대산 석유화학단지의 활동단계에 따른 벤젠 흡입 노출평가)

  • Lee, Jinheon;Lee, Minwoo;Park, Changyong;Park, Sanghyun;Song, Youngho;Kim, Ok;Shin, Jihun
    • Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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    • v.48 no.3
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    • pp.151-158
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    • 2022
  • Background: Chemical emissions in the environment have rapidly increased with the accelerated industrialization taking place in recent decades. Residents of industrial complexes are concerned about the health risks posed by chemical exposure. Objectives: This study was performed to suggest modeling methods that take into account multimedia and multi-pathways in human exposure and risk assessment. Methods: The concentration of benzene emitted at industrial complexes in Daesan, South Korea and the exposure of local residents was estimated using the Caltox model. The amount of human exposure based on inhalation rate was stochastically predicted for various activity stages such as resting, normal walking, and fast walking. Results: The coefficient of determination (R2) for the CalTOX model efficiency was 0.9676 and the root-mean-square error (RMSE) was 0.0035, indicating good agreement between predictions and measurements. However, the efficiency index (EI) appeared to be a negative value at -1094.4997. This can be explained as the atmospheric concentration being calculated only from the emissions from industrial facilities in the study area. In the human exposure assessment, the higher the inhalation rate percentile value, the higher the inhalation rate and lifetime average daily dose (LADD) at each activity step. Conclusions: Prediction using the Caltox model might be appropriate for comparing with actual measurements. The LADD of females was higher ratio with an increase in inhalation rate than those of males. This finding would imply that females may be more susceptible to benzene as their inhalation rate increases.

Personal Dosimeters Worn by Radiation Workers in Korea: Actual Condition and Consideration of Their Proper Application for Radiation Protection

  • Eunbi Noh;Dalnim Lee;Sunhoo Park;Songwon Seo
    • Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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    • v.48 no.3
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    • pp.162-166
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    • 2023
  • Background: Assessment of the radiation doses to which workers are exposed can differ depending on the placement of dosimeters on the body. In addition, it is affected by whether the placement is under or over a shielding apron. This study aimed to evaluate the actual positioning of personal dosimeters on the body, with or without shielding aprons, among radiation workers in Korea. Materials and Methods: We analyzed the survey data, which included demographic characteristics, such as sex, age, occupation, work history, and placement of the personal dosimeter being worn, from a cohort study of Korean radiation workers. We assessed the use of personal dosimeters among workers, stratified by sex, age, working period, starting year of work, and occupation. Results and Discussion: Overall, high compliance (89.1% to 99.0%) with the wearing of dosimeters on the chest was observed regardless of workers' characteristics, such as age, sex, occupation, and work history. However, the placement of dosimeters, either under or over the shielding aprons, was inconsistent. Overall, 40.1% of workers wore dosimeters under their aprons, while the others wore dosimeters over their aprons. This inconsistency indicates that radiation doses are possibly measured differently under the same exposure conditions solely owing to variations in the placement of worn dosimeters. Conclusion: Although a lack of uniformity in dosimeter placement when wearing a shielding apron may not cause serious harm in radiation dose management for workers, the development of detailed guidelines for dosimeter placement may improve the accuracy of dose assessment.

Work Environment Measurement Results for Research Workers and Directions for System Improvement (연구활동종사자 작업환경측정 결과 및 제도개선 방향)

  • Hwang, Je-Gyu;Byun, Hun-Soo
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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    • v.30 no.4
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    • pp.342-352
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    • 2020
  • Objectives: The characteristics of research workers are different from those working in the manufacturing industry. Furthermore, the reagents used change according to the research due to the characteristics of the laboratory, and the amounts used vary. In addition, since the working time changes almost every day, it is difficult to adjust the time according to exposure standards. There are also difficulties in setting standards as in the manufacturing industry since laboratory environments and the types of experiments performed are all different. For these reasons, the measurement of the working environment of research workers is not realistically carried out within the legal framework, there is a concern that the accuracy of measurement results may be degraded, and there are difficulties in securing data. The exposure evaluation based on an eight-hour time-weighted average used for measuring the working environment to be studied in this study may not be appropriate, but it was judged and consequently applied as the most suitable method among the recognized test methods. Methods: The investigation of the use of chemical substances in the research laboratory, which is the subject of this study, was conducted in the order of carrying out work environment measurement, sample analysis, and result analysis. In the case of the use of chemical substances, after organizing the substances to be measured in the working environment, the research workers were asked to write down the status, frequency, and period of use. Work environment measurement and sample analysis were conducted by a recognized test method, and the results were compared with the exposure standards (TWA: time weighted average value) for chemical substances and physical factors. Results: For the substances subject to work environment measurement, the department of chemical engineering was the most exposed, followed by the department of chemistry. This can lead to exposure to a variety of chemicals in departmental laboratories that primarily deal with chemicals, including acetone, hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, sodium hydroxide, and normal hexane. Hydrogen chloride was measured higher than the average level of domestic work environment measurements. This can suggest that researchers in research activities should also be managed within the work environment measurement system. As a result of a comparison between the professional science and technology service industry and the education service industry, which are the most similar business types to university research laboratories among the domestic work environment measurements provided by the Korea Safety and Health Agency, acetone, dichloromethane, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hydroxide, nitric acid, normal hexane, and hydrogen chloride are items that appear higher than the average level. This can also be expressed as a basis for supporting management within the work environment measurement system. Conclusions: In the case of research activity workers' work environment measurement and management, specific details can be presented as follows. When changing projects and research, work environment measurement is carried out, and work environment measurement targets and methods are determined by the measurement and analysis method determined by the Ministry of Employment and Labor. The measurement results and exposure standards apply exposure standards for chemical substances and physical factors by the Ministry of Employment and Labor. Implementation costs include safety management expenses and submission of improvement plans when exposure standards are exceeded. The results of this study were presented only for the measurement of the working environment among the minimum health management measures for research workers, but it is necessary to prepare a system to improve the level of safety and health.

Investigation into Occupational Disease of Merchant Crew (상선승무원들의 질병실태 조사)

  • Kim Jae-Ho;Chang Seong-Rok;Moon Serng-Bae;Ha Hae-Dong;Yang Won-Jae;Lee Sang-Woo
    • Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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    • v.30 no.6 s.112
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    • pp.551-559
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    • 2006
  • The purpose of this study was to find out morbidity rate and pattern of disease and affect of variables related disease and medical management of seafares'. The subjects this study were 1049 seafares' were took education in Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology. This questionnaire was focused on finding the basic data for prevention of disease and promotion health for the seafares'. The collected data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, cross tab, linear regression by SPSS 10.1 package. The result of this study are as follow. 1)The morbidity rate within recent 12 months was 69.0%. 2)there were significant differences qf occurred disease in age(p<0.05), income(p<0.01), career of ship on board(p<0.01), rank(p<.01), perceived health status(p<0.01), worry of health(p<0.01), fatigue symptoms(0.01), satisfy of job(p<0.05), rest time(p<0.05) 3) Considering disease unable to work more than 4 hour, the number of those who had oral disease 7.3%> tinea 6.6%> gastric ulcer 6.4, and musculoskeletal disease group were 20.9%, which revealed the highest rate oral disease 13.6%> skin disease> 12.4%, digestive disease> 12.1%. 4) As refer to medical management, The pain above 31days 35.7%, hospitalization and treatment below 7days were each 50.2%, 42.8%, medical service were doctor's office 27.9, which revealed the highest rate.