• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.66-72
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• 2014

Background: The purpose of this study was to enumerate the annual morbidity and mortality incidence and estimate the direct and indirect costs associated with occupational injuries and illnesses in Bangkok in 2008. In this study, data on workmen compensation claims and costs from the Thai Workmen Compensation Fund, Social Security Office of Ministry of Labor, were aggregated and analyzed. Methods: To assess costs, this study focuses on direct costs associated with the payment of workmen compensation claims for medical care and health services. Results: A total of 52,074 nonfatal cases of occupational injury were reported, with an overall incidence rate of 16.9 per 1,000. The incidence rate for male workers was four times higher than that for female workers. Out of a total direct cost of $13.87 million, $9.88 million were for medical services and related expenses and $3.98 million for compensable reimbursement. The estimated amount of noncompensated lost earnings was an additional $2.66 million. Conclusion: Occupational injuries and illnesses contributed to the total cost; it has been estimated that workers' compensation covers less than one-half to one-tenth of this cost.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.353-356
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• 2015

Background: In 2012, the Alaska Section of Epidemiology investigated personnel potentially exposed to a Brucella suis isolate as it transited through three laboratories. Methods: We summarize the first implementation of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2013 revised recommendations for monitoring such exposures: (1) risk classification; (2) antimicrobial postexposure prophylaxis; (3) serologic monitoring; and (4) symptom surveillance. Results: Over 30 people were assessed for exposure and subsequently monitored for development of illness. No cases of laboratory-associated brucellosis occurred. Changes were made to gaps in laboratory biosafety practices that had been identified in the investigation. Conclusion: Achieving full compliance for the precise schedule of serologic monitoring was challenging and resource intensive for the laboratory performing testing. More refined exposure assessments could inform decision making for follow-up to maximize likelihood of detecting persons at risk while not overtaxing resources.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.50-58
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• 2023

Background: Occupational health services are not available for more than 80% of the global workforce. This pertains especially to informal workers, workers in agriculture and in small enterprises, and self-employed. Many are working in hazardous conditions. The World Health Organization, the International Labor Organization, the International Commission on Occupational Health, and the World Organization of Family Doctors promote as part of a solution, basic occupational health services (BOHS) integrated in primary or community health care. Quality information on this topic is difficult to find. The objective of this study is to develop an open access bibliography, a repository, referring to publications on BOHS and similar innovations, to support progress and research. Methods: The database design and sustaining literature searches (PubMed, Google Scholar, SciELO) are described. For each publication selected, basic bibliographic data, a brief content description considering copyright restrictions, and a hyperlink are included. Results: Searches resulted in a database containing 189 references to publications on BOHS such as articles in scientific journals, reports, policy documents, and abstracts of lectures. A global perspective is applied in 43 publications, a national or regional perspective is applied in 146 publications. Operational and evaluative research material is still scarce. Examples of references to publications are shown. Conclusion: The repository can inspire pioneers by showing practices in different countries and can be used for reviews and in-depth analyses. Missing publications such as from China, Russia, Japan, Republic of Korea, and Spanish/Portuguese speaking countries, can be added in the future, and translated. Search functions can be developed. International collaboration for the promotion of occupational health coverage for all workers must be intensified.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 1998

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries embarked on Oct. 8, 1996, incorporating most of the previously fragmented maritime administrations into one single organization But the maritime administrative functions related to safely and security missions have not yet been merged into a synergetic whole, with versatile multi-functional systems working so effectively that better services to the public might be expected. Enhancing administrative capabilities requires that these missions be integrated into one institution and an enterprising management system be adopted to overcome bureaupathologies, such as complacency and inertness of administration.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.13-33
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• 1997

The Ministry of Maritime affairs and Fisheries embarked on Oct. 8, 1996, incorporating most of the previously fragmented maritime administrations into one single institution. But the maritime administrative functions related to safety and security missions have not yet been merged into a synergetic whole, with versatile multi-functional systems working so effectively that better services to the public might be excepted. Enhancing administrative capabilities to meet future demands with limited resources requires that these missions be integrated into one institution and an enterprising management system be adopted to overcome bureaupathologies, such as complacency and inertness of administration.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.133-135
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• 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in movement restrictions being instituted globally and the cessation of work at many workplaces. However, during this period, essential services such as healthcare, law enforcement, and critical production and supply chain operations have been required to continue to function. In Singapore, measures were put in place to protect the workers from infection at the workplace, as well as to preserve the operational capability of the essential service in a COVID-19 pandemic environment. This paper critically analyses the measures that were implemented and discusses the extension to broader general industry.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.11-24
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide comprehensive measures for the development of public health care through a survey on consumers' awareness of health care use from the point of view of local residents. Research design, data and methodology: For about one week from January 07 to January 14, 2021, questionnaires were distributed to 800 local residents and analyzed. For statistical analysis of collected data, frequency analysis and cross-analysis were performed. Results: Regarding public health service, 'providing medical services that can be used by all citizens and protect and promote health' had the highest response rate of 95.2% of total respondents. Regarding health care system satisfaction, 'Accessibility to general treatment' had the highest score with an average of 3.31 points. Regarding comprehensive measures for the development of public health care, 'Establishment of an infection and patient safety system' had the highest score with an average of 3.91 points. Conclusions: The direction of public health care and services should include management of infectious diseases during national disasters, reduction of gaps in medical use by region and class, improvement of access to emergency medical care, and quality improvement of specialized medical care.

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

• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.191-202
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• 2023

This study aims to propose a framework for evaluating the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) services, based on the concept of AI service impact. It also suggests a model for evaluating this impact and identifies relevant factors and measurement approaches for each item of the model. The study classifies the impact of AI services into five categories: ethics, safety and reliability, compliance, user rights, and environmental friendliness. It discusses these five categories from a broad perspective and provides 21 detailed factors for evaluating each category. In terms of ethics, the study introduces three additional factors-accessibility, openness, and fairness-to the ten items initially developed by KISDI. In the safety and reliability category, the study excludes factors such as dependability, policy, compliance, and awareness improvement as they can be better addressed from a technical perspective. The compliance category includes factors such as human rights protection, privacy protection, non-infringement, publicness, accountability, safety, transparency, policy compliance, and explainability.For the user rights category, the study excludes factors such as publicness, data management, policy compliance, awareness improvement, recoverability, openness, and accuracy. The environmental friendliness category encompasses diversity, publicness, dependability, transparency, awareness improvement, recoverability, and openness.This study lays the foundation for further related research and contributes to the establishment of relevant policies by establishing a model for evaluating the impact of AI services. Future research is required to assess the validity of the developed indicators and provide specific evaluation items for practical use, based on expert evaluations.

• Industrial Engineering and Management Systems
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.172-184
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• 2014

Economic growth with rising household income has put more vehicles on the roads worsening traffic congestion, road accidents, and air and noise pollution. This situation is further aggravated by the potential working population who choose to drive to work instead of taking public transportation. Public bus transport (PBT) plays an important role in alleviating these problems. PBT is underutilized in Malaysia, and there is an opportunity to increase ridership without substantial investment. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the factors that influence the use of PBT in Malaysia. The data were collected using structured questionnaires from 400 respondents. The results of the analysis show that the twin factors consisting of perceived satisfaction of and perceived importance by users towards safety and comfort of facilities and services offered by PBT are significantly related to intention to use those services. The satisfaction of availability of season tickets, the importance of reliability of bus schedule and time table, and the importance of ticket pricing are also significant. By providing insights for both public bus operators and the government, this paper contributes to mitigate the underutilization of PBT in Malaysia and the consequences of putting more vehicles on the roads. From the theory perspective, this paper also contributes by extending the theory of reasoned-action to transportation studies.