• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.147-152
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• 2007

The aim of this study was to evaluate the musculo-skeletal symptomatic features of municipal sanitation workers and to compare differences of the musculo-skeletal symptoms by work types. We conducted descriptive cross-sectional survey concerning the musculo-skeletal symptomatic features of 315 street cleaners in Seoul and GyeongGi Province, Korea, during 2 weeks of September 2006. Questionnaires were consisted of general characteristics, occupational characteristics and musculo-skeletal symptoms. And we observed their works and evaluated their movement and posture by REBA. For work types, tools and subjective physical work loading, there were statistical difference whether or not NIOSH symptom positive on upper limb. Musculo-skeletal symptoms on upper limb were claimed from 43.2% of street cleaners, more than in 32.4% of cleaners. Musculo-skeletal symptoms on upper limb were reported higher in the group who felt their subjective physical work loading severe than in the otherwise group. The REBA results were over 'high risk stage' in street cleaners. Street cleaners had more repetitive motions than solid waste collectors on upper limbs. Works according to the criteria of musculoskeletal burdened work by the Ministry of Labor results were over 'high risk stage' of No. 2 and No. 4 in street cleaners. We found that street cleaners complained musculo-skeletal symptoms on upper limb more than solid waste collectors. This study suggests that it is necessary for street cleaners to carry out the prevention program of musculo-skeletal diseases. For street cleaner, the measure plans such as job rotation, automatic street sweepers, reducing work hours are helpful in preventing musculoskeletal symptoms on the upper limb.

• 한국안전학회지
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• 제25권6호
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• pp.169-179
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to investigate occupational and individual risk factors and working conditions in relation to musculoskeletal symptoms in street cleaners. Investigation was conducted through a survey of 395 male street cleaners employed by the government office in Seoul, Gyeonggi and Chung-Nam from July to August of 2009. The control group was comprised of 143 male drivers and security guards. Risk factors for musculoskeletal symptoms in street cleaners were investigated by multiple logistic regression analysis and also evaluated ergonomic risk factors by assessing working conditions of 4 street cleaners. As a result of symptom questionnaires, all of the prevalent rates of musculoskeletal symptoms in street cleaners had significantly higher results than those of the control group(p<0.05). On binary logistic regression analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms, street cleaners showed significant higher odds ratio as 18.84(95%CI: 6.56-54.12) in the arm/elbow, 10.49(95%CI: 4.29-25.65) in the hand/wrist compared to the control group. Both absence of rest breaks and exposure to ergonomic risk factors showed to be important internal risk factors of musculoskeletal symptoms among street cleaners. The exposure levels of QEC(Quick exposures checklist) in street cleaners were revealed to be higher on the shoulder/arm, wrist/hand, and neck than back, or from stress. The findings appear to show that street cleaners were high-risk group of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Therefore street cleaners require a holistic interventional strategy, including adequate arrangement of rest breaks, improvement of working tools and control of individual risk factors such as obesity and smoking.

• 한국지역사회생활과학회지
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.49-60
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• 2006

It was measured the energy expenditure in each season, the cold tolerance in winter and the heat tolerance in summer. Farmers' adaptability to the change of environment was compared with those of city-dwellers such as indoor workers and street cleaners to determine the effect of living environment, especially living temperature, on the health of human body. It turned out that farmers had experienced wide range of temperature that was higher in summer and lower in winter than indoor workers. Farmers and street cleaners showed seasonal adaptation in energy expenditure, which was high in winter and low in summer. However, indoor workers did not show seasonal changes. Energy expenditure had an inverse correlation with the temperature in work place where subjects spend the longer time in a day except in female indoor workers in Seoul. And It was proved that farmers and street cleaners had stronger cold tolerance and heat tolerance than indoor workers.

• 한국의류학회지
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• 제30권8호
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• pp.1178-1187
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to conduct a questionnaire survey on the actual conditions of the working uniform and protective equipment put on by street cleaners, then to identify their inconvenience and problems and to draw solutions to improve them, and finally to design a spring-and-autumn street cleaner uniform which has enhanced functionalities such as motional flexibility, safety and soil proof. The questionnaire survey of this study was done by street cleaners who were in charge of street cleaning and collecting the recyclable waste. The result of this study, easily worn-out parts of the working clothing were the sleeve hems and the front part on the upper uniform, and the trouser hems and zipper on the lower uniform. Easily soiled parts were the sleeve hems, parts of arm on the upper uniform, and the trouser hems and knee parts on the lower uniform. Based on the results of the questionnaire survey, the sample uniforms were designed in consideration of material, design and pattern. A soil-proof material was used for easily soiled parts such as sleeve hems, knee parts and trouser hems. Reflective material was applied to the parts such as chest, back and the side lines of sleeves and trousers to raise visibility in working and to ensure safety. A crease was given to each side of the back. The height of sleeve cap was lowered to lift the motional flexibility of back and arm parts. Darts were applied to elbow and knee parts for a three-dimensional design. Gussets were inserted in the thigh part to give it activity. Then quantitative evaluation and a sensory evaluation, which was composed of outward appearance, motional flexibility and fitness for field operation, were conducted. According to these evaluations, the sample uniform was found to be more satisfactory than current uniform.

• Human Ecology Research
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• 제56권4호
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• pp.347-360
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• 2018

We surveyed 223 road workers between 2017 July-August about wearing and satisfaction in order to find basic data to develop safety clothing that enhances visibility of motion and comfort while meeting international standards. It was found that most of the current warning clothing owned by road cleaners and about 2/3 of policemen clothes were provided by public institutions. The purpose of wearing, color, properties, satisfaction and protectiveness differed significantly by occupation. Second, the most popular response for the type and quantity of warning clothing was 2 sets of spring/autumn, summer, and winter type for road cleaners, whereas policemen chose 2 sets of all types plus a safety vest. Therefore, a top-level (3rd class) warning clothing study is required. Third, satisfaction ranked Moderate>Good>Poor; in addition, the main reason for satisfaction was that 'retroreflective tape increases safety at night (54.4%)' for road cleaners and 'the fluorescent color stands out (43.7%)' for policemen. Thus, it was accepted that visibility contributed to safety. Fourth, body-protectiveness was evaluated higher compared to wearing satisfaction, and it was recognized more by road cleaners than policemen. Overall satisfaction was higher for road cleaners versus policemen both in Seoul than Incheon. Fifth, the main dissatisfaction in both groups was 'low sweat absorbency' showing improving the air permeability, moisture regain and permeability was the highest priority. Finally, those working 8 hours a day tended to evaluate more positively the 6 properties of the material.

• 한국의류학회지
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• 제44권6호
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• pp.1037-1052
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• 2020

This study evaluates the comfort and suitability of safety clothing. We made three safety clothes 'y', 'lg', 'lgH'. Only 'y' made with fluorescence fabric has passed International Standards (ISO 20471). A wearing test investigated the physiological response and subjective sensations at 30℃ and 50% RH, six men participated. Mean skin temperature and tympanic temperature showed significant difference with experimental course (p<.05). The micro-temperature (Tm) showed significant differences between three garments on the thigh (p<.01). When wearing 'lg', Tm was the highest. Micro-humidity indicated the interaction between clothing and the experimental course on the chest with no significant difference; however, there was a low tendency when wearing 'lgH' after the second half of exercise. The sweat rate indicated a significant difference between 'lg' and 'lgH' at 20 minutes of exercise (p<.05). Three sensations showed significant differences with the time (p<.01), there was also a tendency to feel hotter and more humid when wearing 'lg'. Skin sensation showed significant differences between pre-experiment and post-experiment (p<.05), 'y' was the most preferred. The 'lg' with long-sleeved currently worn in Korea tended to feel hotter, more humid and more uncomfortable than 'y'. It indicates that there is room for improvement in Korean safety clothing.

• 복식문화연구
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.503-518
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to illustrate the design of safety suits based on energy-harvesting technology, particularly targeting street cleaners who must work at night with high mobility. The design focuses on applying lightweight energy-harvesting tools and illuminant into the wear. The design development reflects feedback from testers collected via survey constituting a key methodology. The development process has two main stages. Each stage uses a process of design prototyping, internal examination, test sampling, test wearing, and wearers' feedback via survey that consists of questions on visibility, wearing convenience, and washability. The first stage results show the design of safety suits with energy-harvested LED illuminant inserted and the survey results collected from street cleaners dressed in 4 sample and 80 actual suits in total. Improved based on the first-stage survey results, the second stage designs the suits with detachable energy-harvested EL tape. From these 5 sample and 30 actual second-stage suits, the additional survey indicates that this second-stage design facilitates more visibility and convenience in washing and wearing than the first-stage design. Accordingly, one can expect that this new design can apply not only to safety suits for night workers but also to handicapped or outdoor sportswear applications in the future.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.219-224
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• 2019

Background: Korea has shown a rapid pace of aging and has become an aged society in a shorter period than Western countries. Therefore, it is important that middle-aged workers maintain their ability to work in the industrial field at the maximum level while maintaining their health. The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors affecting work ability and to use this data to maintain the working ability of middle-aged workers in the future. Methods: From 2015 to 2017, we surveyed 371 street cleaners who visited a health center for health promotion in a metropolitan city. The relationship between the general characteristics of the survey subjects and the Work Ability Index (WAI) was confirmed by a univariate analysis. Statistically significant (p<0.2) factors were selected and a multiple linear regression analysis was conducted with WAI scores as a dependent variable. Results: Age, body mass index, body fat percentage, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Korea (AUDIT-K) scores, the Psychosocial Well-Being Index-Short Form (PWI-SF) scores, maximal oxygen consumption ($VO_{2max}$), and hypertension showed statistically significant correlations with the WAI in the univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis, the $VO_{2max}$, AUDIT-K scores, and PWI-SF scores were included in the regression equation. $VO_{2max}$ had the greatest effect on the standardization coefficient indicating the relative contribution of independent variables, followed by the AUDIT-K scores and the PWI-SF scores. Conclusion: Programs to increase workers' physical work ability and alleviate psychosocial stress and drinking habits should be developed and implemented in the future.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.377-383
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• 2019

Objectives: Exposure to fine particles in urban air has been associated with a number of negative health effects. High levels of fine particles have been detected at underground stations in big cities. We investigated the exposure conditions in four occupational groups in the Stockholm underground train system to identify high-exposed groups and study variations in exposure. Methods: $PM_1$ and $PM_{2.5}$ were measured during three full work shifts on 44 underground workers. Fluctuations in exposure were monitored by a real-time particle monitoring instrument, pDR, DataRAM. Qualitative analysis of particle content was performed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Nitrogen dioxide was measured using passive monitors. Results: For all underground workers, the geometric mean (GM) of $PM_1$ was $18{\mu}g/m^3$ and of $PM_{2.5}$ was $37{\mu}g/m^3$. The particle exposure was highest for cleaners/platform workers, and the GM of $PM_1$ was $31.6{\mu}g/m^3$ [geometric standard deviation (GSD), 1.6] and of $PM_{2.5}$ was $76.5{\mu}g/m^3$ (GSD, 1.3); the particle exposure was lowest for ticket sellers, and the GM of $PM_1$ was $4.9{\mu}g/m^3$ (GSD, 2.1) and of $PM_{2.5}$ was $9.3{\mu}g/m^3$ (GSD, 1.5). The $PM_1$ and $PM_{2.5}$ levels were five times higher in the underground system than at the street level, and the particles in the underground had high iron content. The train driver's nitrogen dioxide exposure level was $64.1{\mu}g/m^3$ (GSD, 1.5). Conclusions: Cleaners and other platform workers were statistically significantly more exposed to particles than train drivers or ticket sellers. Particle concentrations ($PM_{2.5}$) in the Stockholm underground system were within the same range as in the New York underground system but were much lower than in several older underground systems around the world.

• 한국치위생학회지
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• 제13권6호
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• pp.1005-1014
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of the study is to obtain the basic data for an industrial oral health project enhancing the quality of life and oral health. Methods : Questionnaire consisted of 17 questions including 7 questions of general characteristics, 5 questions of oral health awareness, and 5 questions of the behavior of oral health. A self-reported questionnaire was carried out from September 1 to September 28, 2012, The subjects were 400 male and female sanitation workers in private corporations in Jeonju. A total of 354 questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS windows ver. 12.0 (SPSS Inc. Korea). Results : The majority of the subjects were male in 50's. Temporary contract workers are older aged and 2 to 5 years of career workers were the majority of the cleaners. Average monthly income was less than 2 million Korean Won. Those who had a higher academic background and permanent position tended to have oral health knowledge (p<0.05). Female workers had healthier subjective oral health status than male workers. Those who were in older age, single, temporary position, and 2 to 5 years of career tended to have healthier subjective oral health status (p<0.05). Those who were in older age, married, and long period of employment were worrying about their health (p<0.05). The subjective oral health knowledge was high in 49.7% of the workers because they were not able to brush teeth during work hours. They were able to brush their teeth only after dinner. It was low in female and older aged workers (p<0.05). The brushing method included a combination of top to bottom and from the side to side. Conclusions : This study showed the influencing factor of oral health in street workers. Work environment, education, age, monthly income, and types of employment were the important factors to oral health care. It is necessary to provide the right oral health care program for the workers in the near future.