• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.69-75
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• 2009

This paper was proposed to show the comprehensive review of laws and regulations on the musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) that are being established and carried out in various countries. Ten countries including USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, and 6 European countries which were regarded as the leaders in the prevention of MSDs were selected for review. Comparative analysis were performed on the laws, regulations, and guidelines of MSDs among different countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of the various efforts of the advanced countries concerning on preventing MSDs and suggest the improvement factors that might be introducible to Korean policies. Some recommendations were made to improve the appropriateness and efficiency of our MSDs prevention policies based on the comprehensive review and comparative analysis. It is expected that the results of this study would be used as valuable information when revising relevant legal system.

• Bulletin of the Korean Institute for Industrial Safety
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2003

In recent years, work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are one of major issues in occupational safety and health in Korea, since the number of injured workers has rapidly increased and the related regulation was amended to improve the work conditions. Main risk factors of WMSDs in Korean industries include manual handling of heavy weight loads, awkward postures, repetitive tasks, prolonged static muscle contraction, and so on. in this article, some ergonomics case studies for identifying the risk factors of WMSDs and far their prevention were introduced. They include a biomechanical analysis for the heavy-weight handling task in a machine-repair shop, physiological evaluation of backpack-carrying tasks in a beverage delivery job, and a set of psychophysical studies to evaluate static-postural load. These studies showed that there are several different ergonomic approaches to identifying and evaluating risk factors of WMSDs and to eliminating them or reducing their levels, and that it is important to select proper methods and apply them in improving the work conditions according to the characteristics of the task. In addition, it needs to develop practical and effective ergonomic tools to prevent WMSDs and to provide these tools to the safety managers in the field so that they can improve the tasks by themselves.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.131-135
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• 2014

Background: Cassava and corn milling is a growing small-scale enterprise in Africa. We aimed to determine the incidence of hand-arm musculoskeletal complaints among vibration-exposed Congolese cassava and corn millers in the previous 12 months. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, prior to a follow-up study, from March to May 2013 among cassava/corn millers in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, in which 365 millers age-matched to 365 civil workers anonymously answered a questionnaire. Results: Overall incidence of hand-arm musculoskeletal complaints was 25.8% in millers (vs. 5.2% in civil workers; p < 0.001). The risk of experiencing musculoskeletal symptoms was seven times higher in millers [vs. civil workers; odds ratio (OR) = 7.10; 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.03-12.50; p < 0.0001]; 2.4 times higher in smoking millers (vs. smoking civil office workers; OR = 2.36; 95% CI: 1.42-3.88; p < 0.001); 3.6 times higher in millers with longer daily exposure (> 8 hours; vs. those working ${\leq}8$ hours; OR = 3.56; 95% CI: 1.93-3.61; p = 0.026); and 7.4 times higher in young millers (vs. older millers, OR = 7.39; 95% CI: 1.29-75.52; p < 0.001). Smoking, number of cigarettes, and daily exposure duration were positively correlated with musculoskeletal complaints. Conclusion: This study revealed a relatively high incidence of musculoskeletal complaints among African cassava and corn millers. The use of anti-vibration protective equipment and the regulation of this hazardous occupation may reduce the burden of musculoskeletal disorders in millers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.57-61
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• 2008

In order to maintain the continual safety management in a company, it needs to evaluate and monitor its implementation of safety management. Because the number of major-accidents is not an effective method of indicating company's safety performance, various efforts to develop more reasonable indicators have been made in world wide. After Korean government has legally required the PSM report, PSM compliance audit has been developed and made by the authorities concerned since 2005. However, this audit consists of complicate procedures difficult to utilize as companies' own audit program and corresponds to only a conformity check that confirms whether the PSM be operated and maintained properly. So a new index by which to measure easily the level of safety performance and self-monitor the implementation of safety management is needed. We have studied a new method that may quantitatively evaluate the performance of safety management by investigating application cases in foreign countries and doing the domestic survey of lots of companies subject to PSM regulation in Korea. This study proposes three of safety performance indices(SPI) together with the several prerequisite preconditions and the timing for application of each index. Although the first draft of SPI needs further legal support, it might help to evaluate every company's safety level. The second draft of SPI is a voluntarily evaluating method based on web-site online program. The last draft of SPI consists of a series of simple questions about 12 elements of PSM. Also each of 3 indices has differences in evaluation methodology and application area and, therefore, they may be used concurrently.

• Proceedings of the Safety Management and Science Conference
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• 2009.04a
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• pp.79-91
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• 2009

The government separated and established the industrial safety and health law from the Labor Standard law since 1981 to promote the labor's working environment and to improve the conditions of laborers. The government made a lot of effort to discharge the industrial safety and health law by continuous revision of the law thereafter. it is, however, difficult to establish clear-cut lines of authority and responsibility due to the fact that the substantial application of the industrial safety and health law is adapted by enterprise's autonomous management. There are frequent industrial disasters on the small and medium enterprises which have financial difficulty and it means this causes much more social cost. Finally, for the improvement of laborer's safety, health and working environment in the small and medium enterprises we need to raise the effectiveness of the industrial safety and health law through enhancing a government-office's administration and surveillance with the changing mind of a business proprietor. On this paper, we research on the actual condition of the administration, inspection and regulation of safety and health by means of the industrial safety and health law. Thereafter we analyze how much the Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency and vicarious businesses of safety & health management help. we used the survey method to gather data from 380 laborers directly and analysed the data by SPSS v17.0.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.367-376
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• 2016

Objectives: The production and use of nanoparticles have been increased. In 2014 Workplace Survey Results, 335 companies produce and treat nanoparticls. However, lack of data on nano-toxicity and a method for risk management and regulation on nanoparticles and the standard test method are not sufficient. Protective equipment selection guidelines for nanoparticles are not established. It is required to carry out respirator efficiency test against nanoparticles. This study was performed to evaluate filtration efficiency and manikin-based total inward leakage of particle filtering mask using in Korean country challenged with silver nanoparticles. Methods: We investigated filtration efficiency and total inward leakage of 7 respirator with silver nanoparticle. Results: The geometric mean diameters of Silver nanoparticles were 30 nm and number concentration were about $10^6{\sharp}/cm^3$. Filtration efficiency of six of the seven particle filtering masks was more than 98% and one particle filtering masks filtration efficiency was 94.9%. The filtration efficiency of particle filtering masks to 20 nm silver nanoparticels was highest. Artificial breathing machine with manikin based total inward leakage were 7.6% ~ 42.3%. Conclusions: The results of this study nano-silver filter efficiency was high but the total inward leakage was higher than filter penetration. Therefore, education on how to wear a respirator should be demanded. Especially for workers handling nanoparticles and toxic material, user seal checking and fit test must be performed.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3-13
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• 2013

The converted accident rates that included in Pre-Qualification (PQ) are to evaluate the results of accidents which have occurred. Therefore, it is demanded the development of proactive evaluation contents to evaluate the safety management activities and efforts on construction companies. The purpose of this study is to provide basic data for the establishment of proactive evaluation contents at public construction project in Korea through the collected and analyzed the PQ documentation applied by public agencies in Los Angeles, USA. The results indicated that diverse reactive safety evaluations are implemented to examine accidents which occurred in past projects such as occupational health insurance, regulation violation. And also, when the accidents occurred, it is evaluated the proactive safety management actions such as safety education, accident prevention programs, and safety management plans are reflected on the evaluation. Thus, if proactive safety related evaluation contents are established and reflected in PQ examinations together with diverse existing reactive safety evaluations considering converted accident rates, not only the existing function of converted accident rates can be reinforced but also businesses' active safety management activities can be induced and decreases in the construction industry's accident rate can be expected.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2014

Objective : This study was to perform the education of the ASI$^{(R)}$ intervention for six occupational therapists and to know the delivery of ASI$^{(R)}$ core principle through a self-assessment, a peer-assessment, an expert-assessment. Methods : The study performed from November 2013 to June 2014 for six occupational therapists without completion of the education of ASI$^{(R)}$ intervention. The participants were educated about the ASI$^{(R)}$ intervention during 8 weeks and took and assessed films before and after education. The assessment was the self-assessment, the peer-assessment, the expert-assessment and the data of assessment was analyzed by Mann-Whitney and ICC. Results : The result of process factors before and after education according to methods of assessment, the self-assessment was significant in 'self-regulation,' 'collaboration,' 'ensures success,' 'play,' 'alliance,' and 'total item'. The peer-assessment was significant in all item exception 'safety'. The expert-assessment was significant in all items exception 'sensory opportunities'. The results of self-assessment and expert-assessment before and after the education of ASI$^{(R)}$ intervention were significant in 'safety'. Conclusion : The results of this study provide to need the education of ASI$^{(R)}$ intervention for accuracy sensory integrative intervention. The occupational therapists need to check the style of intervention.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.33-46
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• 1998

Introduction : In Korea, national attention to the workplace health promotion programs (HPP) for employees began in early 1990s. Governmental supports for the HPP and education programs have given to the employees. The purpose of this study is to find the performance degree of employees' health promoting lifestyle(HPL). Subjects and Methods : For this study, 615 employees who attended governmental educations were selected as research samples. The tool for measuring HPL used in this study was developed for Korean by In-Sook Park in 1995. It is composed of 4-point scaled 60 items and divided into 11 subcategories. The data were collected by self reporting questionnaires from June to December in 1997. Those data were analyzed percentile, mean, standard deviation, ANOVA, t-test with SAS program. Major findings are as follows; 1. The total mean score of the employees' HPL performance was 2.66. The average scores of 'harmonious relationships' category were the highest as 3.11, whereas the one of 'professional health maintenance' were the lowest as 2.02. The remains were 'sanitary life'(2.90), 'emotional support(2.85), 'regular diet'(2.84), 'self achievement'(2.78), 'healthy diet'(2.56), 'rest and sleep'(2.56), 'exercise and activity'(2.54), 'diet control'(2.53), 'self-control'(2.52). 2. The factors affecting HLP were category of industries and sex, age, marital status, education level, major, educational experience of health promotion, among personal characteristics. The employees of service industries, female, older age, married, nurse, educated for health promotion, graduated from junior college performed HLP more than the others. 3. The participation rates of employees for HPP were 12.4%, because of limited time and facilities and equipments. Recommendations; 1. The regulation for performing the health promotion programs in the industries is essential for activating industrial health promoting movement. 2. More governmental supports for educations and services for health promotion programs in the industries are needed. 3. For behavioral changes of the employees, the contents of educations have to consist of exercise and activity, rest and sleep, diet and smoking habits. 4. The evaluating studies for ready made health promotion programs in the industries are expected.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.58-71
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• 2015

Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate the classification system of chemical substances in the Occupational Safety and Health Act(OSHA) and Chemical Substances Control Act(CSCA) and to compare several health indices (i.e., Time Weighted Average (TWA), Lethal Dose ($LD_{50}$), and Lethal Concentration ($LC_{50}$) of chemical substances by categories in each law. Methods: The chemicals regulated by each law were classified by the specific categories provided in the respective law; seven categories for OSHA (chemicals with OELs, chemicals prohibited from manufacturing, etc., chemicals requiring approval, chemicals kept below permissible limits, chemicals requiring workplace monitoring, chemicals requiring special management, and chemicals requiring special heath diagnosis) and five categories from the CSCA(poisonous substances, permitted substances, restricted substances, prohibited substances, and substances requiring preparation for accidents). Information on physicochemical properties, health indices including CMR characteristics, $LD_{50}$ and $LD_{50}$ were searched from the homepages of the Korean Occupational and Safety Agency and the National Institute of Environmental Research, etc. Statistical analysis was conducted for comparison between TWA and health index for each category. Results: The number of chemicals based on CAS numbers was different from the numbers of series of chemicals listed in each law because of repeat listings due to different names (e.g., glycol monoethylether vs. 2-ethoxy ethanol) and grouping of different chemicals under the same serial number(i.e., five different benzidine-related chemicals were categorized under one serial number(06-4-13) as prohibited substances under the CSCA). A total of 722 chemicals and 995 chemicals were listed at the OSHA and its sub-regulations and CSCA and its sub-regulations, respectively. Among these, 36.8% based on OSHA chemicals and 26.7% based on CSCA chemicals were regulated simultaneously through both laws. The correlation coefficients between TWA and $LC_{50}$ and between TWA and $LD_{50}$, were 0.641 and 0.506, respectively. The geometric mean values of TWA calculated by each category in both laws have no tendency according to category. The patterns of cumulative graph for TWA, $LD_{50}$, $LC_{50}$ were similar to the chemicals regulated by OHSA and CCSA, but their median values were lower for CCSA regulated chemicals than OSHA regulated chemicals. The GM of carcinogenic chemicals under the OSHA was significantly lower than non-CMR chemicals($2.21mg/m^3$ vs $5.69mg/m^3$, p=0.006), while there was no significant difference in CSCA chemicals($0.85mg/m^3$ vs $1.04mg/m^3$, p=0.448). $LC_{50}$ showed no significant difference between carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxic chemicals and non-CMR chemicals in both laws' regulated chemicals, while there was a difference between carcinogens and non-CMR chemicals in $LD_{50}$ of the CSCA. Conclusions: This study found that there was no specific tendency or significant difference in health indicessuch TWA, $LD_{50}$ and $LC_{50}$ in subcategories of chemicals as classified by the Ministry of Labor and Employment and the Ministry of Environment. Considering the background and the purpose of each law, collaboration for harmonization in chemical categorizing and regulation is necessary.