• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.393-403
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• 2014

Objectives: Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency(KOSHA) intended to provide guidance to respirator program administrators on respirator selection. The purpose of this project is to suggest a preliminary respirator selection guide(PRSG) for the final guidance certified by KOSHA for the correct selection of respirators in the workplace. Materials: This PRSG was made on the based of current status of respirator usage including respirators available in Korea, foreign documents search and so on. PRSG was partially modified NIOSH pocket guide to chemical hazards, 3M Respirator Protection Resource Guide(RPRG) and OSHA Assigned Protection Factor(APF) rulemaking. Results: Respirators for chemicals having Korean Occupational Exposure Limits(KOELs) can be recommended in PRSG. For the others chemicals that have no KOELs, PRSG tells you what respirators you can select, using a simple step-by-step approach after health hazard assessment like HSE procedure. Conclusions: PRSG helps you to decide the right level of protection for a given hazardous substance and how to select the right respirators. PRSG is thus expected to reduce significant misuses of respirators for the work environment.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.521-530
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• 2021

Objectives: This was to examine and explore the elements of Size Korea 6th 3D head anthropometric database and to provide basic information for the selection of respirators in Korea. Methods: This was a pilot study for the first year of work in a two-year-project initiated at KOSHA in 2021. 3D head dimensions data were obtained from the Size Korea Center managing the Size Korea 6th 3D national anthropometry survey databases. The 3D head dimensions data, including 45 dimensions, were used in line with ISO standards (e.g., ISO/TS 16976-2) for examinations, comparisons, statistical analyses, etc. Results: A total of 3,088 subjects were finally determined in this study. The main features were: Male subjects were 52.5%; the highest age group was 15-29 at 36.7%; unhealthy weight group based on BMI was 31.7%; and survey area was the capital region. For the 6th 3D head dimensions data with 45 items, the means and standard deviations for 'Face length' were 115.9±7.5 cm for males and 107.3±6.9 cm for females respectively while those for 'Face width' item were not available since there was no such item in the data. Numerous findings were discussed accordingly. Conclusions: This study showed that there were likely requirements for improvements in the 6th 3D head anthropometric data as follows: Standardization of Korean and English terms; addition of head dimensions items missed in the Size Korea survey; and reliability of generalizability for subjects, suggesting that the study results can be used for further studies or improvement of respirator selection in Korea.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.424-431
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• 2021

Background: This study aims to introduce the formulation of the regulation for the selection of respirators for accident preparedness chemicals (APCs) according to chemical workplace situations and to determine on-site applicability. Methods: Workplaces were grouped into seven work categories, and APCs were classified into six groups to select adequate respirators. A survey was conducted to enhance the understanding of work situations and adequate respirators. The total number of subjects surveyed in 2018 was 201 managers and handlers, and that in 2019 was 91 handlers and 204 managers. Results: Adequate respirators were allocated to each cell using the matrix method. The study observed an overall lack of understanding of work situations, especially in the operation of open devices, which was the highest at 32.7%. Despite its implementation in 2015, 17.6% and 25.0% of the managers and APCs handlers, respectively, were unaware of the regulations for selecting respirators. Only 70.4% of the APCs handler wore respirators in compliance with regulations. Conclusion: The method for selecting respirators according to work situations using the matrix method is considered reasonable. Thus, this study suggests that the development of educational contents and reinforcing education should be essential steps to increasing awareness of regulations.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.117-129
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• 2023

This study tested the effect on the toxicity of formaldehyde to select a shelter site due to formaldehyde leakage. As a result of the experiment, the range of ERPG-2 and 3 is between 2.2km and 9.6km, ASET is 6 minutes at 1km, 15 minutes at 3km, 22 minutes at 5km, and the lethality rate is 99.9% at 1km and 9% at 3km. In areas where refuge time is less than 15 minutes or the lethality rate is more than 2%, a shelter is installed. This is because if there are only a few evacuees, the evacuation time may take longer than the pre-movement time of 15 minutes or less specified in PD 7974-6:2004, and the lethality rate with the lowest number of deaths was calculated to be 2%. The shelter must be equipped with a hepa-filter, positive pressure equipment, air purifier, air respirator, goggles, chemical protective clothing type 4 and sufficient parking space must be secured to ensure the safety of evacuees.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.247-264
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• 2023

Objectives: The study was to examine the features of three-dimensional(3D) face dimensions and to develop fit test panels for the labor population using respirators in South Korea. Methods: This study was part of the first-year work of a two-year-project conducted at Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute in 2021. After 3D head dimensions data were collected from Size Korea Center managing Sixth Size Korea databases, 3D face dimensions DB for the South Korean labor population was established for 21 items of face dimensions in line with the ISO/TS 16976-2 and KS A ISO 15535. With the South Korean labor population 3D face dimensions DB, in accordance with the ISO/TS 16976-2, the descriptive statistics of 3D face dimensions were calculated and two fit test panels were developed. Results: A total of 2,752 subjects were finally determined and they were 52.9% for male, 41.2% for the highest age-group of 15-29, and residents in the capital area. Mean and standard deviation were obtained for each of the 21 3D face dimensions items for the South Korean labor population. Among the items, male and female face widths were 137.6±5.7 mm, 133.2±5.0 mm, respectively. Male and female face lengths were 116.6±7.0 mm, 107.8±6.8 mm, respectively. Two new South Korean fit test panels, a bivariate test panel and a principal component analysis test panel, were developed using the 3D face dimensions DB as well. Conclusions: Using the 3D face dimensions DB, the mean and standard deviation were featured for each of the 21 items and also the two fit test panels were newly developed in the study. It is suggested that the study outputs should be utilized practically and effectively in selection, use, and management of respirators at work, expecting that respiratory protection can be furthermore improved for respirator users including labor population across the country.