• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.155-162
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• 2022

Background: Workers are exposed to several risks in academic laboratories due to the presence of potentially hazardous substances. The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of accident occurrence and associated risk factors among laboratory workers at the scientific laboratories of the public university in Lebanon and the impact of safety measures training and availability. Methods: In this observational study, a survey was conducted for one year in scientific laboratories at faculties of the public university. Results: Among the participants (N = 220), 45.0% have had accidents; the main cause was exposure to chemicals (73.7%) and more specifically by inhalation (45.4%). Females (85.9%) were more exposed to accidents than males. Laboratory workers with a master's degree, a full-time schedule, and more than ten years of experience were significantly more exposed to accidents (p < 0.05). A significant association was found between accident occurrence and training on management of hazardous products (p = 0.044), risks related to workplace (p = 0.030), eyewash and emergency shower (p < 0.001), first aid (p = 0.012), and facial protection availability (p = 0.019). In spite of the lack of safety culture and efficient training on laboratory safety, participants have shown a very good perception regarding safety measures to be applied in case of work accidents. Conclusion: Based on our findings, the prevalence of accident occurrence is elevated among lab workers at the public university. The impact of regular training on laboratory safety preventive measures is of great importance to ensure the efficiency of occupational health and safety in scientific laboratories.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.19 no.2 s.20
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• pp.177-183
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• 1986

Subjective symptoms, counts of blood cells and liver function test were conducted on 198 male workers who were exposed to toluene in Kyungin area from September to November, 1986. According to the level of urinary hippuric acid concentration, the total sample was classified into the high exposure group ($concentration{\geqq}3g/1$) and the low exposure group(concentration<3g/1). The following findings were obtained by comparing the two group: 1) Contrary to the previous findings. the urinary hippuric acid concentration of toluene exposed workers showed bimodal distribution. It meant that the toluene exposed workers were mixed with the non-exposed or minimal exposed workers. 2) The high exposure group showed a lower level of leucocytes counts ($6,630{\pm}1,860{\mu}l$) than the low exposure group ($6,340{\pm}1,960/{\mu}l$). 3) The high exposure group showed a higher level of SGOT, SGPT and r-GTP than the low exposure group (p<0.05). 4) The high exposure group complained much more subjective symptoms (e. g. skin rash, loss of appetite, palpitation) than the low exposure group.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.169-174
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• 2014

We have been examining the issue of healthcare workers' exposure to antineoplastic drugs for nearly a decade and have observed that there appears to be more publications on the subject matter originating from Europe than from North America. The concern is that findings from Europe may not be generalizable to North America because of differences in handling practices, regulatory requirements, and training. Our objective was to perform a literature review to confirm our observation and, in turn, identify gaps in knowledge that warrants addressing in North America. Using select keywords, we searched for publications in PubMed and Web of Science. All papers were initially classified according to the originating continent and then categorized into one or more subject categories (analytical methods, biological monitoring, occupational exposure, surface contamination, and probability of risk/exposure). Our review identified 16 papers originating from North America and 55 papers from Europe with surface contamination being the subject matter most often studied overall. Based on our results, we are of the opinion that North American researchers need to further conduct dermal and/or urinary drug contamination studies as well as assess the exposure risk faced by healthcare workers who handle antineoplastic drugs. Trends in exposure levels should also be explored.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.57-64
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• 1994

The purpose of this study is to investigate the present state of worker's physical. behavioral effects and recognition about the hazard factors in their workplace. The subject consisted of 208 workers in the organic solvents related industry. The workers were surveyed by means of a Questionnaire during the period of March 24 to May 26. 1994. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. t-test. AVOVA using the SAS program. The result of the study are follows: 1. The more than half of workers in the organic solvents related industry have experienced 'eye disturbance', 'headache', 'sputum formation' and 'dizziness'. 2. $83.4\%$ of workers have recognized the name of organic solvents in using of their workplace. $62.4\%$ of workers have recognized the harmfulness of organic solvents. $41.7\%$ of workers have not recognized the difference of harmfulness of various organic solvents. 3. $27.8\%$ of workers have called on clinic when have experienced physical symptoms. About $90\%$ of workers have called on hospitals and drugstores when have experienced physical symptoms.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.544-555
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• 2016

Purpose: This study examines the relationship among emotional labor, job burnout and organizational effectiveness of public healthcare center workers. In specific, authors focus on the relationships between emotional labor and job burnout and the one between job burnout and organizational effectiveness and mediating effect of job burnout between emotional labor and organizational effectiveness. Methods: For the empirical analysis, survey was conducted of workers in the public healthcare center, and 502 final data was secured after eliminating the insufficient ones, which were used in the statistical analysis. Results: Emotive effort showed to have a positive effect on organizational effectiveness, however emotive dissonance showed to have a negative effect on organizational effectiveness. Emotive effort showed to reduce the level of all job burnouts while emotive dissonance showed to increase the level of all job burnouts. All job burnout showed to have negative effects on organizational effectiveness. Job burnout showed to have mediating effect between emotional labor and organizational effectiveness. Conclusion: Emotive efforts of emotional labor has positive impact on organizational effectiveness while emotive dissonance has negative impact on organizational effectiveness overall. Therefore, public healthcare center should try to seek for proper way to reduce job burnout of workers, because job burnout functions as mediating element between emotional labor and organizational effectiveness.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.235-240
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• 2012

The objectives are to compare the airborne asbestos concentrations resulted from mitering of abestos cement roof sheets by a high-speed motor and a hand saw, and to monitor whether other workers near the test sites are vulnerable to the fibers exceeding the occupational exposure limit. Four test cases were carried out and altogether 7 personal and 4 area air samples were collected. The NIOSH method 7400 was employed for the air samplings and analysis. Using the phase contrast microscopy, fiber counting was conducted under Rule A. The study showed that the fiber concentration medians for personal air samples gathered from the two tools were 4.11 fibers/cc (ranged: 1.33-12.41 fibers/cc) and 0.13 fibers/cc (ranged: 0.01-5.00 fibers/cc) respectively. The median for the area samples was 0.59 fibers/cc (ranged: 0.14-3.32 fibers/cc). Comparing each study case, the concentration level caused by the high-speed motor saw was more than twice that of the hand saw. According to the area samples, the workers nearby the test site are at risk from high exposure to asbestos.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.471-484
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to confirm the relationship between occupational safety and health information and self-rated health among precarious workers. Methods: A cross-sectional explanatory study design was conducted using data from the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency's 6th Korean Working Conditions Survey. The participants were 1,569 precarious workers living in South Korea. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis, and hierarchical regression were used for data analyses by SPSS (version 25.0). Results: As a result of the study, occupational safety and health information had a significant positive effect on the self-rated health of precarious workers. The results suggest that occupational safety and health information contributes to the self-rated health of precarious workers. Conclusions: Therefore, it is suggested that policies should be developed to improve occupational safety and health information in workplaces. In addition, strategies should be developed to promote the usefulness of occupational safety and health information to precarious workers.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.131-142
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• 1999

The purpose of this study is to grasp the relationship between the amount of physical activities at work perceived by workers and their health promotion behaviors. To achieve such a purpose. this survey was conducted on 476 Workers who work for 3 food product work-sites located in Keong-in area by means of questionnaire from June 15 to July 14 . 1998. Collected data were statistically analyzed by SPSS/WlN. The significant results were obtained as follows. 1. The average scores of the amount of physical activities at work and health promotion behavior were 3.18 and 2.84 respectively; the former was slightly higher than moderate score 2.5 and the latter was almost the same as it. It can be interpreted that workers perceive their physical activities at work are heavier than their daily activities, which seems to make their health promotion behaviors still inactivated. 2. The amount of physical activities at work, it was were greater revealed that the more activities workers do after work. the more they walk and the more exercises they do. It implies that the voluntary practice of good health habit at leisure can be greatly contributed to the activation of more productive activity at work. 3. The amount of health promotion behaviors was larger as workers do more physical activities at work and have lower PIBW(Percent Ideal Body Weight). It means that the voluntary practice of good health habit is closely related to the degree of obesity and their positive attitude toward their work. Average PIBW was 106.71; most of the workers are distributed within the standard range in their weight. So we can presume that most of them are not seriously conscious of weight maintenance in their daily lives. Therefore it is desirable that health promotion program for workers should be developed toward connecting their physical activities at work with those in their daily lives much more. Physical activities, health promotion behaviors

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2021

Purpose: To identify the differences in perception of and adherence to the COVID-19 social distancing behavior guidelines among health care workers, patients, and the general public and to use them to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Methods: From October 16 2020 to November 30, 2020, a survey was conducted among 85 health care workers, 85 patients, and 82 general public regarding the perception of and adherence to the COVID-19 social distancing behavior guidelines. Results: Patients scored significantly higher than the general public in the adherence to the COVID-19 social distancing behavior guideline, and there was no difference between health care workers and general public, and patients and health care workers. In the multivariate analysis, the factors that influence the adherence of the COVID-19 social distancing behavior guide were found in women and the perception of the COVID-19 social distancing behavior guideline. Conclusion: In order to promote the implementation of the COVID-19 social distancing behavior guideline, it is necessary to increase the perception of the COVID-19 social distancing behavior guideline and provide additional education in men. It is necessary to investigate the reason behind why men have low adherence to the COVID-19 social distancing behavior guideline.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.347-360
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the risk perception, safety climate and preventive behaviors of COVID-19 infections, and to verify the factors influencing the adoption of preventive behaviors by health care workers. Methods: A mixed-method approach was used based on a survey carried out in a general hospital. Quantitative data (N=181) were collected through a questionnaire and analyzed using multiple regression. Qualitative data (N=8) were collected through individual interviews and analyzed through Colaizzi's phenomological research method. Results: The factors influencing adoption of preventive behaviors by health care workers were safety climate (β=.41, p<.001), education (β=-.20, p=.025), work unit (β=-.16, p=.032), and risk perception (β=.15, p=.020). The explanatory power was 28.3%, and they have shown that these health care workers felt 'the threat of a pandemic like a battlefield', experienced 'struggle with quarantine rules' and realized 'the reality of infection control and the reorganization for change'. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that to increase the adoption of infection control preventive behaviors by health care workers when faced with new infectious diseases in the future, it is necessary to establish organizational support and a safe climate. This study confirms the need for preemptive support and education.