• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.437-441
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• 2011

Objective: The objective this paper is to introduce the agricultural ergonomics and to show the importance of it in improving the agricultural works. Background: Despite of rapid advancement of technologies and adoption of modern mechanical equipments at farms in Korea, most of agricultural works have still remained manual and thus have regarded as one of the hardest works. With aging and feminization in rural areas, the need to improve agricultural works has grown quite much. Agricultural ergonomics have been known as a good tool in improving agricultural works around the world. Recently Korean government initiated a national program of providing assistive equipments to help farmers and a few ergonomists started to apply agricultural ergonomics in our rural villages as a part of this program. Method: This study reviewed how Ergonomics was used for the agricultural work. Results: Methods of Ergonomics which are used for the agricultural ergonomics and the simple procedure of the agricultural ergonomics were presented. Conclusion: It was found that agricultural works can be improved quite much using the agricultural ergonomics principle and the musculoskeletal stress of farmers can be reduced significantly.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.409-418
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• 2011

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate the child-care teachers' job in relation to physical work. Background: Child-care teacher is directly related to the quality of child care. And their physical activity is higher than general education teachers because the proportion of day care is high. But analyzes of child-care teachers' job burdens and the work environment associated with physical activity is not well established. Method: To conduct this study, the child-care teachers' job was classified into 18 physical works. After classification, posture was evaluated by ergonomic posture evaluation schemes of OWAS, RULA, REBA and evaluated for each physical part. Next, musculoskeletal subjective symptoms were analyzed. Results: The results showed the following: The highest assessment on the posture evaluation was "helping children to ride a school bus", "feeding: meal/snack", "brushing children's teeth" and "arrangement of nap-stuff". The rank of high-risk assessment on the neck/trunk/leg part was arranged by: "feeding: meal/snack", "helping children to ride a school bus", "making nap", "arrangement nap-stuff" and "brushing children's teeth". The rank of high-risk assessment on the upper limbs part was arranged by: "helping children to ride a school bus", "the bust - group activity", "meal/snack time - preparing, feeding, arrangement", "nap time - preparing, arrangement", "brushing children's teeth", and "using the toilet". According to the results of each musculoskeletal subjective symptom, teachers ordered the pain area as follows: waist, shoulder, leg/feet, and neck, and they showed more pain on trunk than the upper limbs. Conclusion: To sum up the results from ergonomic posture evaluation and a subjective symptom, the following are high working pressures: "feeding: meal/snack", "the bust - group activity", "making nap", "brushing children's teeth" with deep bending and waist twisting, "helping children to ride a school bus", "brushing children's teeth" with lifting shoulder; "meal/snack time - preparing, arrangement", "nap time - preparing, arrangement", and "using the toilet" with moving or an up-down position in their job. Application: The results of this study might be information for improvement of the child-care teachers' job environment.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.245-253
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• 2014

Purpose: School foodservice employees (SFEs) could be exposed to the risk of musculoskeletal disease and of job stress due to their job characteristics. This study was to evaluate the level of job stress and the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal symptoms (WRMS) in Seoul city's SFEs, and to determine associations between job stress and WRMS. Methods: The study design was cross-sectional, and 975 SFEs were recruited. Self-administered questionnaire included the 'Korean occupational stress scale-short form' and the 'KOSHA GUIDE H-9-2012' instrument to evaluate the job stress and WRMS, respectively. SFEs' medians of job stress were compared to the reference values of published study in Korean workers. Results: The participants reported greater levels of job demand and physical environment than the general Korean population. WRMS were reported in 89.0% of participants at any body part, and 41.1% were presumed to need for medical intervention. High levels of job demand and of physical environment were significantly associated with WRMS. Conclusion: Subscales of job demand and physical environment were relatively high in SFEs and those were related to the occurrence of WRMS. To reduce the WRMS prevalence, a job stress management program focused on job demand and physical environment may be required.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.266-273
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• 2021

Objective: The objective of this study was to suggest improvement methods for investigations and systems through a review of musculoskeletal risk factor investigation reports conducted in the workplace. Methods: A total of 34 reports on musculoskeletal risk factor investigations were reviewed. To confirm the appropriateness of the evaluation, reevaluation was conducted through a field investigation using other evaluation tools. In order to understand the effectiveness of the improvement plan, a survey was conducted with those in charge of tasks with ergonomic burdens. Results: As a result of performing a field survey using the work sampling method recommended by the KOSHA (Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency) for ten tasks, eight tasks were determined to pose an ergonomic burden. When 30 tasks were evaluated with RULA (rapid entire body assessment), 90% of them were evaluated at a higher level than the results of the workplace survey. Among the improvement measures, only 36% of the field workers affirmed them, and in only 19% of the workplaces were actual improvements made. Conclusions: In order to improve the ergonomic investigation system for risk factors in the ergonomic burden task, it is necessary to secure the objectivity of the evaluation performed by the institution and enable the active participation of workers in improvement activities.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.687-694
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• 2012

Objective: This study aims to survey the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders(MSD) among Korean hospital workers and to analyze the relationship of MSD symptoms and workload perceived by workers. Background: Despite of high exposure to the MSD risk factors and high MSD symptom prevalence among health care workers, there were not enough studies of MSD prevalence among the hospital workers. Method: This study designed a survey based on Nordic questionnaire to obtain MSD symptoms and the degree of four perceived workloads: work repetition, urgency, physical exertion and satisfaction. In this survey, 1,846 workers in a hospital participated. The prevalence of MSD was analyzed for each body part, and MSD cases, which were predetermined in this study, were identified. The relationship between the MSD cases and each perceived workload was analyzed using chi-square test. Results: The pain in the shoulder was the most prevalent among the workers as 52%, and the low back(37%) and leg discomfort(36%) followed. The MSD cases, in which degree of pain was more than severe, were also the most prevalent in the shoulder(13%). Female workers had higher rate of MSD cases than the males. Among the four workload variables, the physical exertion was the statistically related to MSD cases for all the body parts. In addition, the others also had significant relation to MSD cases except one or two body parts. Conclusion: This study found that Korean hospital workers had MSD symptoms mainly in the shoulder, low back and legs in order, and the perceived workload surveyed in this study was highly correlated with MSD symptoms. Application: This study provides another evidence that subjective physical exertion perceived by workers is an important factor to explain MSD cases as same as the objective one.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.67-75
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• 2006

Purpose: Many kinds of musculoskeletal disease and symptom are caused by the longtime computer works. However, trapezius muscle tonus has not been established in regarding to keyboard height during typing. Therefore, this study is to evaluate the relationship between trapezius muscle tonus and the height of keyboard while typing, controling for the postures of neck, Lumbar, cervical vertebra. Methods: The experimental height of keyboard was set at elbow height, 3cm higher, 6cm higher, 9cm higher, than elbow. We studied trapezius tonus with the mean value for 2 minutes by EMG in 15 males and 15 females worker of hospital in seoul, who did not have a history of muscle disease, neurological signs, nerve damage. Results: In this experimental, as the height of the keyboard went up, the trapezius tonus significantly increased with shoulder abduction of brachium. Second, right and left trapezius tonus appeared similar while typing. Third, the best height that release the trapezius tonus the was as high as elbow and 3cm higher than elbow. Conclusion: With these above results, we suggest that the appropriate height of keyboard during typing to release the trapezius tonus most is the height of the elbow and 3cm higher than elbow. The study has important implications for focusing on the height of VDT worktable and complaining of a pain by oneself which are useful to establish a method of prevention of musculoskeletal disorder in work in the future.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.37-50
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• 2001

Objects : This study is to be applied effectively to the acupuncture treatment for VDT syndrome. Methods : I referred to occidental and oriental medical records. Results and Conclusion : VDT syndrom is the concept focalizing work environment and labor load, and named all that symptoms according to excessive VDT works. The disorders of VDT syndrome is divided into 2 groups with muscaloskeletal disorders and non-musculoskeletal disorders, and non-musculoskeletal disorders is secondly divided into 3 groups with visual disorders, stress disorders and others. The risk factor of VDT syndrome is divided 4 groups with repetitive acts, consistent works, uncomfortable work postures, unprofitable light environments, jobs needs for excessive power and mental or physical fatigues. In oriental medicine area, I apply VDT syndrome to Kyunbitong(jianbeitong, 肩臂痛) to base on similarities of the risk factors and disorders between VDT syndrome and Kyunbitong(jianbeitong, 肩臂痛), that is painful illness on shoulders, arms, hands and fingers. And, Kyunbitong(jianbeitong, 肩臂痛) is divided 3 groups into Susamuhm(shousanyin, 手三陰), Susamyang(shousanyang, 手三陽) and Joktaeyang(zutaiyang, 足太陽) on the ground of meridian. Disorders related to Kyunbitong(jianbeitong, 肩臂痛) is grounded on kyungmaek(Jingmai, 經脈) disorder called sidongbyung(shidongbing, 是動病) and sosaengbyung(suoshengbing, 所生病) and Kyungkeun(Jingjin,經筋) disorder related to Kyunbitong(jianbeitong, 肩臂痛). As a result of this study, there is many similarities between VDT syndrome and Kyunbitong (jianbeitong, 肩臂痛). On acupuncture treatment, VDT syndrome can be applied to Kyunbitong(jianbeitong, 肩臂痛)'s on the basis of meridians, because of similarities of risk factors and disorders between VDT syndrome and Kyunbitong(jienbeitong, 肩臂痛).

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.14-29
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• 2006

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to survey the extent of pain and discomfort in the musculoskeletal system among visiting housekeepers, above all concerning neck, shoulder, back, wrist, knee, and arm pain and to find possible relations between symptoms and various working conditions. Method: A questionnaire was answered by 174 woman visiting housekeepers living in Kyeonggi-do and Seoul from December 1, 2003 to February 30, 2004. The symptoms of musculoskeletal system were coded by the pain index which illustrates the extent of the symptoms, and analyzed in view of NIOSH guideline and Kim, et. al.'s notion. Result: 1. As to the complaint rate of subjective musculoskeletal symptoms by body region, the figure was the highest for shoulder with 78.2%, followed by back with 66.7%, knee 53.6%, neck 56.3%, wrist 40.2%, and arm 29.2%, respectively. The logistic analysis showed shoulder pain and arm pain have no relation with working and health conditions, and back pain was significantly related to current health condition. In same way, knee pain and wrist pain were found to be mainly related to marital status. 2. Following the NIOSH guideline, the positive rate of subjective musculoskeletal symptoms was found out in following order: shoulder 69.5%, back 59.2%, knee 54%, neck 46%, wrist 32.8%, and arm 25.3%. To investigate the main cause of each disease, the symptoms were classified by pain index, where the value of more than 3 comes to the NIOSH case, and analyzed in term of complaint rate using discrete logistical method : shoulder pain was highly related to the housekeeping time after work, back pain was to current health condition and the heavy weight carrying and neck, wrist, arm pain were commonly related to the ordinary health condition. For knee pain, working speed was a main cause. 3. In view of Kim et. al.'s standard, where the pain index is over 7, the positive rate was showed in order slightly different from previous analyses : shoulder 33.3%. knee 29.9%, back 28.2%, neck 17.2%, wrist 17.2%, and 16.7%. From the logistical analysis, insufficient rest was shown as the main cause of shoulder, back, arm and wrist pain. For neck pain, ordinary health condition was mainly related. In case of knee pain, any apparent relation is not found. Conclusion: According to the logistic regression analysis of musculoskeletal system, there was strong suggestion that the less insufficient physical rest, the more significant disorder complaint. This means that the most musculoskeletal symptom among the visiting housekeepers can be prevented and cured by sufficient physical resting.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.245-256
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to research the situation and related knowledge and behavior of Korean beauty artists on their musculoskeletal disorders and the factors on them. It was researched by questionnaire from March 1 to May 31, 2003, and the subjects were 984 of beauty artists who were working as hair designers, skin care specialists, and make-up artists over 1 year in big cities including Seoul, Daegu, Busan and Gwangju. The analyzation was done by frequency, percentage, $x^2-test$, t-test. The results can be summarized as follows; 1. As for their degree of pain according to part of their body, the highest was shoulder as 88.3%, and next were neck(cervical region) as 83.2%, waist as 77.6%, and wrist(hand) as 71.8%, in order. 2. The level of knowledge on the muscloskeletal disorder was 65.6 points on the basis 100points. As for their level of protective behavior and knowledge on the disorders of musculoskeletal system according to their educational experience, the higher educational level they had the higher knowledge level they showed, as 42.6% of 'high', 30.4% of 'medium', and 27.0% of low; and as for degree of performing the protective behavior, they showed the higher protective behavior level when they had the higher educational level. 3. As for their level of knowledge on disorders of musculoskeletal system according to their general uniqueness as beauty artists, they showed statistical significance on the field of their marriage status, educational degree, specialized field, and numbers of customers they manage; and as for the degree of their protective behavior, they showed statistical significance in the field of age, marriage status, specialized field, and rank in their jobs. 4. The level of protecting behavior on the muscloskeletal disorder was 57.4 points on the basis 100points. As for their degree of pain on each part of their body according to their protective behavior and knowledge on musculoskeletal system, it had statistical significance on their elbows and hips, and the less pain they showed when the higher knowledge they had; it had statistical significance on their neck(cervical region), shoulders, backs, waists, knees and ankles(feet) according their protective behavior, and the less pain they showed when the higher level of protective behavior they did.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.45-51
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• 2008

Purpose: We evaluated the physical stress and pain to the musculoskeletal system of a dental practitioner when engaging in a dental scaling training exercise to prevent the development of musculoskeletal injuries. Methods: The 18 female (average age: 21$\pm$1 years) subjects were voluntarily picked from a group of juniors who have completed a one-and-a-half year training course that includes training exercises on the dentiform and on live subjects (other trainees). The test is done by measuring pain, activity, grip strength, and finger dexterity for each subject's hand and wrist. Before the test all subjects were confirmed to be right-handed and were informed of the study and its objective. Measuring was done before and after each subject performed dental scaling for one hour using the scaler and the curet. Results: Pain levels increased for both hand and shoulders, but hand pain was often greater than shoulder pain. Grip strength significantly declined in the right hand but not the left. For joint mobility, the flexion and the extension for the shoulder joint did not change; but the range of motion for both wrist joints significantly increased. For the dexterity test, both hands showed increased dexterity after the exercise. Conclusion: Dental scaling can affect the shoulders and wrists/hands. Therefore, a musculoskeletal injury prevention program for dental practitioners, which may include encouraging them to assume correct body posture when at work, must be sought. This study evaluated only the shoulders, wrists, and hands; but future studies should include areas such as the cervical area, the back, and the lower limbs.