• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.213-217
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• 2016

Background: The objective of this study is to identify high-risk groups for industrial accidents by setting up 2003 as the base year and conducting an in-depth analysis of the trends of major industrial accident indexes the index of industrial accident rate, the index of occupational injury rate, the index of occupational illness and disease rate per 10,000 people, and the index of occupational injury fatality rate per 10,000 people for the past 10 years. Methods: This study selected industrial accident victims, who died or received more than 4 days of medical care benefits, due to occupational accidents and diseases occurring at workplaces, subject to the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act, as the study population. Results: According to the trends of four major indexes by workplace characteristics, the whole industry has shown a decreasing tendency in all four major indexes since the base year (2003); as of 2012, the index of industrial accident rate was 67, while the index of occupational injury fatality rate per 10,000 people was 59. Conclusion: The manufacturing industry, age over 50 years and workplaces with more than 50 employees showed a high severity level of occupational accidents. Male workers showed a higher severity level of occupational accidents than female workers. The employment period of < 3 years and newly hired workers with a relatively shorter working period are likely to have more occupational accidents than others. Overall, an industrial accident prevention policy must be established by concentrating all available resources and capacities of these high-risk groups.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.3
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• pp.31-40
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• 1993

The objective of this study was examine sick leave rates of hospital employees. The sick leave data of 2,123 employees in three(3) general hospitals located in Seoul during the period from January 1, 1992 to December 31, 1992 was analyzed to achieve the study objective. The sick leave rates were computed in compliance with the standards recommended by the International Association on Occupational Health. Univariate analysis methods($X^2$-test and ANOVA) were used to assess the sourse of variance in the rates. The results were as follows : 1. The total annual rates of sick leave were 4.8% in frequency(persons), 0.23% in lost time, 0.68 days in duration and 14.0 days in severity. 2. The sick leave rates of frequency(person). duration and lost time were significantly higher in female than male, in groups of 40-49 years than in the other age group, the married than the unmarried and in the long employment of 8 years or above than the short employment. But there was no significant difference in the rate of severity. Only the sick leave rate of frequency(person) was significantly related to the educatial status, but there was no significant difference in other analytical factors of sick leave rate. 3. The main causes of sick leave were injury and poisoning(24.3%), and disease of the digestive system, disease of the nervous system and sense organs, and complications of pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium(respectively 11.6%). The severity rate was the highest in neoplasms(32.2 days), and followed by endocrine, nutritional and metabolic disease and immunity disorders, injury and poisoning, and infections and parasitic disease in descending order. 4. The sick leave rates of frequency(person), duration and lost time were the highest in nutritional workers followed by registered nurses. However, severity rate was the highest in doctors and pharmacists and followed by in nutritional works. 5. The main cause of sick leave was complication of pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium in registered nurses(26.3%), injury and poisoning in nutritional workers(78.6%) and disease of respiratory system and digestive system in other workers.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.3
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• pp.5-20
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• 1993

This study was aimed to investigate the actual condition of the performance of the occupational health nursing services, and to analyze a main cause which affects on the execution of its duties for occupational health nurses in occupational group health service. It had been surveyed by responsed data from the 105 respondents out of 180 persons. The results were as follows : 1. In performance of occupational health nursing services by the number of assigned plant, participation rate of health examination tended to significantly increase with decreasing the number of assigned and it was observed that the visiting rate of every month was also significantly higher on touring inspection of work plant, recommendation of facility improvement for work environment, understanding the modification of manufacturing process, and inspection of welfare and sanitation facilities. 2. While they executed their nursing services according to duration of service, the more, their duration of service was, the higher, participation rate of health examination, health check in returning to work for injured workers, talk with other health managers on promoting welfare, service evaluation for a year plan, record of health statistic, and experience of first aid service were. And it was found out that the visiting rate of every month was also significantly higher on touring inspection of work plant. 3. In regard to occupational health nursing services by age, the participation rate of health examination and the experience of first aid service were significantly higher as the age increased. And also the visiting rate of every month was significantly higher on touring inspection of work plant, compared with young ones. 4. In performance of occupational health nursing services by the time required visiting plant, The shorter, the time required visiting plant was, the higher, the visiting rate of every month was, on time of health consultation for diseased workers, and inspection of welfare and sanitation facilities. 5. The subjects of health education were mostly liver disease and occupational hearing loss and video tape was used mostly in health education, monthly health education was the highest in 1-3 times(74.5%) and its duration was the highest in about 60 minutes(33.3%). 6. Vaccination of hepatitis among the specific health services was the highest accounting for 64.7%.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.110-117
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• 2011

The paper tries to understand the other side of characteristics on occupational injuries and diseases in forestry. Occupational injuries and diseases in forestry seems to be greatly influenced by the environmental characteristics of the mountain district and individual's ability of workers. A traditional method on the analysis of occupational injuries and diseases data may show that the main cause of occupational injuries and diseases is the material factors significantly. To identify the other side of occupational injuries and diseases in forestry, the occupational injuries and diseases data of 3,091 workers in forestry was analyzed. The data in forestry, 2009 shows certain characteristics among the recent occupational injuries and diseases data. The first step is to classify the data according to standard of classification of original cause materials. Material factors are 72.3% and human factors (included managerial factors) and environmental factors are 27.0%. The next step is to reclassify the first step data by using the concept of influence factors which caused and influenced occupational injuries and diseases. The result is that material factors are 2.4%, human factors(included managerial factors) and environmental factors are 97.0%. Also, an aging degree of workers in forestry is higher than other categories of business. It is true that an aging degree of injured or diseased workers in forestry is higher than that of other categories of business. However, relevance with increase of occupational injuries and diseases could not be explained. An injury and disease rate in forestry is remarkably increased recently than other categories of business. One of the reason why an injury and disease rate increased remarkably in 2009 could be considered as the increase of the number of workers and related budget. Therefore, this study proposes important measures or means to prevent occupational injuries and diseases in forestry.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.213-225
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• 2021

Objectives: This study identifies the trends in possible and probable occupational disease among chromium workers and reviews the literature on domestic and foreign chromium workers to review the industries, biological exposure levels, and major results. Methods: The results of the Ministry of Employment and Labor's special health-screening program for hazard agents among workers from 2009 to 2019 were used. Also, the industries, biological exposure levels, and major results on chromium workers were reviewed using PubMed and RISS. Results: The average annual proportion of both possible and probable occupational disease for chromium workers has recently increased. The average annual proportion of possible and probable occupational disease that can occur was high for both men and women in their 60s or older by age and 10 to 14 years by work duration. By industry, possible occupational disease showed high in manufacturing. In the literature review, many electroplating-related chromium-workers reported high levels of exposure to blood and urine chromium, as did dental technicians; tannery, tile factory or glass mill workers; cement workers; and sodium bichromate workers. Furthermore, a number of main findings in recent studies have reported that chromium exposure is related to genetic toxicity among workers. Conclusions: In this study, the average annual rate of both possible and probable occupational disease in domestic chromium workers is increasing, and a body of literature shows that chromium exposure is related to genetic toxicity and associated indicators among workers, which requires more systematic study.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.144-155
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• 1997

In December 1990, Occupational Safety and Health Law was amended to reinforce employer's responsibilities on employees' health and safety. Among the amended law it was important to expand the role of an occupational health nurse to the role of an occupational health manager. An occupational health manager should take charge of coordinating periodic health examination and environmental hazard evaluation, providing primary care, monitoring employees' health status, giving the workplace walk-through, selecting safe protection equipment, providing health information, counseling and health education, independently. This position of occupational health nurse is equivalent to the role of doctors or occupational hygienists. In 1991, government made a master plan to prevent occupational disease and injury. Under the plan, Korea Industrial Nursing Association (KINA) was established in 1994 with the purpose of improving health services and upgrading career opportunities for members. Therefore, this study was designed to analyze the transition of occupational health nursing education with the changes of law and policy in Korea between 1991 and 1996. In details, it was to analyze the rate of school providing occupational health nursing practice based lecture, lecture hours, lecture contents in undergraduate curriculum, program contents of graduate school, kinds of continuing education, etc. For this purpose, we conducted survey two times. In February 1991, baseline study was conducted with all nursing programs in Korea (19 BSN programs and 43 nursing departments of junior college). From April to May in 1996, the second survey was conducted with all nursing programs (38 BSN programs and 69 junior colleges). The first response rate was 66.1% and the second was 40.6%. Structured questionnaires were mailed to the deans or the community health nursing faculties. In the case of graduate school, telephone survey was conducted with 10 school of public health or environmental health area. Data from the yearbook of Industrial Safety Training Institute (ISTI), the history of Korea Industrial Health Association, and the journals of KINA were also included in the analysis. As the results, we found that there were remarkable improvement in undergraduate and graduate programs, obligatory as well as voluntary continuing education in terms of occupational health nursing expertise between 1991 and 1996. 1) The number of school providing occupational health nursing practice-based lecture was increased with the rate from 7.3% to 25.6%. The rate of school giving over 15 class-hours was increased from 33.3% to 46.6%. 2) Content areas were composed of introduction of occupational health, occupational epidemiology, industrial hygiene, occupational disease and injury, law and policy, health education, concept of occupational health nursing, role of occupational health nurse, occupational health nursing process, etc. Of content areas, occupational health nursing process was more emphasized with the increased rate from 43.9% to 88.4%. 3) In the case of graduate school, occupational health programs were increased from 4 to 10. One of them has developed occupational health nursing program as an independent course since 1991. 4) The law increased educational hours from 28 hours to 36 hours for introductory course at the time of appointment, and from 14 hours to 24 hours every 2 years for continuing education. Course contents were Occupational safety and health law, introduction of occupational health, health education methodology, planning and evaluation, periodic health exam, occupational disease care, primary care, emergency care, management, industrial environment evaluation, etc. In 1996, Korea Industrial Nursing Association has begun to provide continuing education after Industrial Safety Training Institute. 5) Various educational programs in voluntary base were developed such as monthly seminar, CE articles, annual academic symposium, etc. It was shown that changes of law and policy led rapid growth of occupational health nursing education in various levels. From this trend, it is expected that occupational health nurse expertise be continuously to be enhanced in Korea. Legal and political supports should proceed for the development of occupational health nursing in early stage.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.75-80
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• 1981

Due to rapid industrialization and economic development, the occupational diseases have appeared as one of the social problems in Korea. Up until now little has been known about the prevalence rate, predisposing factors and symptomatology of the occupational disease due to localized vibration in Korea. The researcher intends to investigate the prevalence rate and affecting factors of the occupational disease due to localized vibration among rock-drillers in the anthracite mines. A total of 135 rock-drillers were interviewed and examined from May 15th to 31th, 1980. The results were revealed as follows; 1. The prevalence rate of the vibration syndrome among rock-drillers was 12.6%. 2. The latent period of the vibration syndrome was 6.8 years. 3. The prevalence rate of the vibration syndrome was not significantly different between smokers and non-smokers. 4. With the increase of total vibration exposure time, the prevalence rate of the vibration syndrome increased also. 5. The average vibration sensation threshold was high (6.4dB) in stage 1 of the vibration syndrome and low (-0.6dB) in stage 0. 6. The average pain sensation threshold was high (4.4g) in stage 1 of the vibration syndrome and low (2.5g) in stage 0.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.315-322
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was conducted in order to prepare fundamental data and assess the short-term effects of applying cerebrovascular disease prevention programs by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) in Korea. Methods: The number of study subjects was 2,676 workers (58.5%) who were able to evaluate the level of incidence risk at pre- and post-applications of the program, among the 4,576 total workers who were enrolled in the cerebrovascular disease prevention program during 2011. The guidelines for this prevention program were adopted from KOSHA GUIDE H-1-2010. To determine the program' effectiveness, the workers'risks for cerebrovascular disease were assessed pre- and post-application of the program. Results: The blood pressure level was significantly reduced by 4.09 mmHg for the mean systolic blood pressures and 5.47 mmHg for diastolic blood pressures, respectively. The mean level of total cholesterol and BMI were also reduced significantly by 2.07 g/dl and 0.1 $0.1kg/m^2$. The rate of smoking was decreased by 4.0% and the percentage of workers engaging in regular exercise was increased by 29.8%. The level of overall cerebrovascular disease risk was reduced among 1,451 (70.7%) of 2,052 workers at low risk and above. The level of cerebrovascular disease risk was lower in the improved group for health behavior than the unimproved group (odds ratio =1.7, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The author considers that the application of the cerebrovascular disease prevention program by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency reduced cerebrovascular diseases risks among workers who were enrolled in the cerebrovascular disease prevention program and it must be accompanied by an improvement in health behavior for prevention of cerebrovascular disease.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.107-118
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• 2012

Objectives: This study examines the occurrence of disease resulting from low back pain and factors of working environment meaningfully influencing the occurrence of lumbago as well as analyzes '2nd Korean Working Condition Survey (KWCS)' conducted in 2010 so as to establish the prevention and improvement measures. Methods: The analysis method is that it is to compare the prevalence rate of low back pain according to working environment via odds ratio and to implement the test about the factors having the difference in working environment between low back pain group and normal group through weighted t-test. Results: As a result, it indicates that there is a meaningful difference for prevalence rate of low back pain according to age, status in employment and education level which are socio-demographical factors. The analysis in working hours shows that the period of work is a factor raising the prevalence rate of low back pain rather than weekly working hours. The analysis in the work risk factor indicates that the increase in prevalence rate of low back pain takes place to either workers with repetitive movement and continuously standing posture or those with heavy stress and emotional labour. Conclusions: Workers with low back pain have suffered from accident, depression, anxiety disorder and sleep. The factors in which the prevalence rate of low back pain decrease are to provide information on health and safety and working speed, and enough rest.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.78-82
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to review the labor force partitpation rate and work environment characteristics of female workers to provide basic information for establishment and implementation of effective policies related to accident prevention and workers health protection for female workers. It was analyzed employment status, work environment and injuries and illnesses based on economic activity census results, compensation of industrial injury and the second working condition survey. According to economic activity census results, female labor force participation rate has been steadily increased, whereas male labor force participation rate has been decreased since 1970. Industrial accident rate has been declined in male workers but that in female workers has been steadily increased even though male workers were higher accident rate than female workers. It was evaluated that female workers are vulnerable to industrial injuries and illnesses in the aspect of their working environment and employment status. Also, Substantial differences between female and male workers in occupational exposure patterns, occupational disease and occupational environments were observed. Therefore it was recommended that special care programs for female workers such as a specialized monitoring and management program should be introduced in the near future.