• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.95-103
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aims to identify general, workplace, and health-related characteristics of outdoor workers exposed to high temperatures, and to compare the risk of disease according to outdoor high temperature exposure. Methods: This secondary analysis study used the 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey (2017) to identify 4,915 outdoor workers exposed to high temperatures. Results: Outdoor workers exposed to high temperatures were mostly male, elderly, less educated, and daily contract workers. Most of them were engaged in agriculture, forestry and fishing, and construction industries. About 40~50% of them complained of musculoskeletal pain and overall fatigue. The results showed that high temperature exposure increased the risk of illness (hearing problem, skin problem, backache, muscular pains in upper and lower limbs, headache/eyestrain, injuries, depression, and overall fatigue) among workers. Conclusion: High temperature exposure might increase the risk of illness among workers. The results of this study demonstrated that the outdoor workers should be protected from high temperatures.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2023.05a
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• pp.205-206
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• 2023

This paper presents a new method for indoor localization track workers in construction sites. While GPS and NTRIP are effective for outdoor positioning, they are less accurate when used indoors. To address this issue, the proposed method utilizes Aruco markers to measure the distance between workers and the markers. By collecting data values, the location of each worker can be determined in real-time with high accuracy. This approach has the potential to enhance work efficiency and safety at construction sites, as it provides more precise indoor positioning compared to conventional methods, leading to improved work efficiency.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.437-444
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• 2019

Background: Headache/eyestrain symptoms are common health problems that people experience in daily life. Various studies have examined risk factors contributing to headache/eyestrains, and physicochemical exposure was found to be a leading risk factor in causing such symptoms. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of headache/eyestrain symptoms with physicochemical exposure among Korean construction workers depended on worksite. Methods: This study used data from the 4th Korean Workers Conditions Survey and selected 1,945 Korean construction workers as participants. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine the relationship. Results: Exposure to vibrations among all construction workers affected the moderate exposure group [odds ratio (OR) 1.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-2.32], the high exposure group (OR 1.77 95%CI 1.17-2.67), and the indoor high exposure group (OR 1.61, 95%CI 1.02-2.55) and among outdoor construction workers, the moderate group (OR 6.61, 95%CI 15.4-28.48) and the high group (OR 6.61, 95%CI 1.56-27.98). When exposed to mist, dust, and fumes, the indoor high exposure group was significantly affected (OR 1.63, 95%CI 1.07-2.47). All construction workers exposed to organic solvents were affected, high exposure group (OR 1.69, 95%CI 1.15-2.49) and indoor high exposure group (OR 1.77, 95%CI 1.08-2.89). The high exposure group in all construction worker (OR 1.70, 95%CI 1.20-2.42) and the indoor high exposure group (OR 1.83, 95%CI 1.17-2.89) also were affected by secondhand smoking exposure. Conclusion: Many physicochemical exposure factors affect headache/eyestrain symptoms among construction workers, especially indoor construction workers, suggesting a deficiency in occupational hygiene and health environments at indoor construction worksites.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.29-37
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• 2019

Since construction sites are exposed to outdoor environments, working conditions are significantly dangerous. Thus, wearing of the personal protective equipments such as safety helmet is very important for worker safety. However, construction workers are often wearing-off the helmet as inconvenient and uncomportable. As a result, a small mistake may lead to serious accident. For this, checking of wearing safety helmet is important task to safety managers in field. However, due to the limited time and manpower, the checking can not be executed for every individual worker spread over a large construction site. Therefore, if an automatic checking system is provided, field safety management should be performed more effectively and efficiently. In this study, applicability of deep learning based computer vision technology is investigated for automatic checking of wearing safety helmet in construction sites. Faster R-CNN deep learning algorithm for object detection and classification is employed to develop the automatic checking model. Digital camera images captured in real construction site are used to validate the proposed model. Based on the results, it is concluded that the proposed model may effectively be used for automatic checking of wearing safety helmet in construction site.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.46-58
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• 2017

Objectives: Particulate matter (PM) at construction sites mostly originates from either construction activities or the atmospheric environment. This study was conducted to evaluate the exposure level to PM and the contribution ratio of atmosphere sources at construction sites. Methods: We reviewed literature and governmental systems related to PM exposure in occupational settings and summarized them. In the field evaluation, five construction sites and one golf course were selected: two from Gyeonggi-do Province and four from North Gyeongsang-do Province. For each site, personal samples from outdoor construction workers and area samples from the outdoor area around the construction site office were collected according to construction work types. PM concentrations reported from nearby National Ambient Air Monitoring Stations were recorded. Respirable dust concentrations, respirable silica concentrations, and several metal concentrations including Cd, Cr, Pb, and As were monitored over four months. In the end we suggested how to manage particulate matter exposure at construction sites. Results: There was little literature reporting on exposure levels of construction workers to PM. Respirable dust concentrations measured in Gyeonggi-do Province were higher than those measured in North Gyeongsang-do Province. The geometric means of respirable dust concentrations in personal samples and area samples were $37.89{\mu}g/m^3$ and $92.86{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. The respirable dust concentrations were higher than the PM concentrations reported from nearby National Ambient Air Monitoring Station. The geometric means of respirable silica concentrations of personal samples and area samples were $1.3{\mu}g/m^3$ and $1.1{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. All metal concentrations were lower than 10% of individual Korean occupational exposure limits. Conclusions: Assuming that personal samples consisted of ambient PM and dust originating from work activities and area samples only collected ambient PM, we concluded that the dust exposure of outdoor construction workers originated 40.8% from the atmosphere and 59.2% from construction activities. PM exposure at construction sites should be controlled by employers, as in the case of outdoor heat stress. The Korean government needs to consider setting an occupational exposure limit for respirable dust.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.145-151
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• 2018

While commercialization of IoT technologies in the safety management sector is being promoted in terms of industrial safety of large indoor businesses, implementing a system for risk management of small outdoor work sites with frequent site movements is not actively implemented. In this paper, we propose an efficient dynamic workload balancing strategy which combined low-power, wide-bandwidth (LPWA) communication and low-power Bluetooth (BLE) communication technologies to support customized risk management alarm systems for each individual (driver/operator/manager). This study was designed to enable long-term low-power collection and transmission of traffic information in outdoor environment, as well as to implement an integrated real-time safety management system that notifies a whole field worker who does not carry a separate smart device in advance. Performance assessments of the system, including risk alerts to drivers and workers via Bluetooth communication, the speed at which critical text messages are received, and the operation of warning/lighting lamps are all well suited to field application.

• Journal of Wellbeing Management and Applied Psychology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.49-56
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• 2024

Purpose: Construction sites are currently facing a socialization problem as the incidence of thermal disease-related disasters increases due to summer heat waves, exacerbated by factors like the concentration of middle-aged and older workers and global warming. The reason why construction sites are particularly vulnerable to heat waves is that there are many outdoor work, which is the peculiarity of the construction industry, and most of the construction workers are elderly. This study analyzes disaster statistics of workers at construction sites for five years to investigate the occurrence of thermal diseases and analyze factors through disaster cases to provide basic data for future disasters to be reduced. Research design, data, and methodology: According to the Construction Workers' Mutual Aid Association, as of June, more than 60% of the construction workers working in the field were in their 50s and 60s. More than 24% are in their 60s and older. Thermal diseases caused by heat waves occur when exposed to high heat or strong sunlight for a long time, accompanied by headaches and dizziness. The problem is that many elderly people have underlying diseases, so if they lose consciousness, they cannot easily recover and are likely to die. Results: According to industrial accident statistics, 182 people were injured by heat-related diseases in the summer from 2016 to 2021, of which 29 died. In particular, in the construction industry, which has a lot of outdoor work, 87 people were injured and 20 people died. Conclusions: In order to prevent heat diseases caused by outdoor work, it is emphasized that exposure time is controlled, and sufficient rest and hydration are essential. Rest, water, and shade are in line with the three principles.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.629-638
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• 2023

This study introduces an innovative approach to monitor the whereabouts of workers within indoor construction settings. While traditional modalities such as GPS and NTRIP have demonstrated efficacy for outdoor localizations, their precision dwindles in indoor environments. In response, this research advocates for the adoption of Aruco markers. Leveraging computer vision technology, these markers facilitate the quantification of the distance between a worker and the marker, subsequently pinpointing the worker's instantaneous location with heightened accuracy. The methodology's efficacy was rigorously evaluated in a real-world construction scenario. Parameters including system stability, the influence of lighting conditions, the extremity of measurable distances, and the breadth of recognition angles were methodically appraised. System stability was ascertained by maneuvering the camera at a uniform velocity, gauging its marker recognition prowess. The impact of varying luminosity on marker discernibility was scrutinized by modulating the ambient lighting. Furthermore, the camera's spatial movement ascertained both the upper threshold of distance until marker recognition waned and the maximal angle at which markers remained discernible.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute Of Construction Engineering and Management
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• autumn
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• pp.316-322
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• 2002

In case of reducing working time, it is difficult that the construction industry is analyzed far-reaching effects caused by a reduction of working time, by approaching with just the total amount of work. Because it has the properties such as the singularity, the outdoor using, a sense of the season unlike other industries. In order to analyze the effect of a reduction of working time on the construction industry, the example of a reduction of working time in domestic other industries related with it was analyzed intensively first. And an example in Japan, which is similar to our existing related laws and industrial structure among foreign construction industries was analyzed, and a relation with the domestic construction industries and an issue were drown a conclusion. This was applied to a field worker and a related main group participating in a real production. And it showed the prediction model for a working pattern and a dealing plan to prepare in a construction site by predicting a working pattern in the management side of a construction site annually.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.305-316
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• 2021

Construction accidents occur due to a number of reasons-worker carelessness, non-adoption of safety equipment, and failure to comply with safety rules are some examples. Because much construction work is done outdoors, weather conditions can also be a factor in accidents. Past construction accident data are useful for accident prevention, but since construction accident data are often in a text format consisting of natural language, extracting construction hazards from construction accident data can take a lot of time and that entails extra cost. Therefore, in this study, we extracted construction hazards from 2,026 domestic construction accident reports using text mining and performed a seasonal analysis of construction hazards through frequency analysis and centrality analysis. Of the 254 construction hazards defined by Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, we extracted 51 risk factors from the construction accident data. The results showed that a significant hazard was "Formwork" in spring and autumn, "Scaffold" in summer, and "Crane" in winter. The proposed method would enable construction safety managers to prepare better safety measures against outdoor construction accidents according to weather, season, and climate.