• 한국건축시공학회지
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• 제23권6호
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• pp.875-885
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• 2023

This research delves into the evolving interplay between occupational diseases, work-related illnesses, and accidents in the construction industry, focusing on the past twenty years. One significant discovery is the 19-fold escalation in reported occupational diseases, prompting an examination of their root causes and connections to workplace environments. Frequently encountered work-related ailments include physically strenuous tasks, low back pain, and cerebrovascular issues, highlighting the need for robust prevention and management approaches. Predominantly, noise-induced hearing loss and pneumoconiosis are the most common occupational diseases. The study unveils notable correlations between specific work-related illnesses and accidents, indicating the necessity for bespoke safety measures. Additionally, a pronounced association between work-related illnesses and occupational diseases offers insights into underlying risk factors. Remarkably, the findings propose a bidirectional link between occupational diseases and accidents, challenging traditional beliefs about causality. These insights are pivotal for enhancing safety protocols, focusing on preventive measures, and foreseeing occupational diseases that may arise following accidents in the construction industry.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제4권4호
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• pp.201-209
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• 2013

Background: The study was conducted to investigate the current status of the occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS) in the construction industry and the effect of OHSMS on accident rates. Differences of awareness levels on safety issues among site general managers and occupational health and safety (OHS) managers are identified through surveys. Methods: The accident rates for the OHSMS-certified construction companies from 2006 to 2011, when the construction OHSMS became widely available, were analyzed to understand the effect of OHSMS on the work-related injury rates in the construction industry. The Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency 18001 is the certification to these companies performing OHSMS in South Korea. The questionnaire was created to analyze the differences of OHSMS awareness between site general managers and OHS managers of construction companies. Results: The implementation of OHSMS among the top 100 construction companies in South Korea shows that the accident rate decreased by 67% and the fatal accident rate decreased by 10.3% during the period from 2006 to 2011. The survey in this study shows different OHSMS awareness levels between site general managers and OHS managers. The differences were motivation for developing OHSMS, external support needed for implementing OHSMS, problems and effectiveness of implementing OHSMS. Conclusion: Both work-related accident and fatal accident rates were found to be significantly reduced by implementing OHSMS in this study. The differences of OHSMS awareness between site general managers and OHS managers were identified through a survey. The effect of these differences on safety and other benefits warrants further research with proper data collection.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제3권3호
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• pp.155-165
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• 2012

Reflecting the current international trends toward proactive risk assessment and control at work with practical procedures, participatory action-oriented approaches are gaining importance in various sectors. The roles of these approaches in promoting the safety and health at work are discussed based on their recent experiences in preventing work-related risks and improving the quality of work life, particularly in small-scale workplaces. The emphasis placed on the primary prevention at the initiative of workers and managers is commonly notable. Participatory steps, built on local good practices, can lead to many workplace improvements when the focus is on locally feasible low-cost options in multiple aspects. The design and use of locally adjusted action toolkits play a key role in facilitating these improvements in each local situation. The effectiveness of participatory approaches relying on these toolkits is demonstrated by their spread to many sectors and by various intervention studies. In the local context, networks of trainers are essential in sustaining the improvement activities. With the adequate support of networks of trainers trained in the use of these toolkits, participatory approaches will continue to be the key factor for proactive risk management in various work settings.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.37-42
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• 2010

Over years it has been increasingly concerned with how upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMSDs) are attributed to psychosocial job stressors. A review study was conducted to examine associations between UEMSDs and psychosocial work factors, and to recommend what to consider for the associations. For studies in which the job demand-control-support (DCS) model or its variables were specifically employed, published papers were selected and reviewed. A number of studies have reported relationships between UEMSDs symptoms and psychosocial exposure variables. For example, the findings are: higher numbness in the upper extremity was significantly attributed to by less decision latitude at work; work demands were significantly associated with neck and shoulder symptoms while control over time was associated with neck symptoms; and the combination of high psychosocial demands and low decision latitude was a significant predictor for shoulder and neck pain in a female working population. Sources of bias, such as interaction or study design, were discussed. UEMSDs were shown to be associated with psychosocial work factors in various studies where the job DCS model was addressed. Nonetheless, this review suggests that further studies should be conducted to much more clarify the association between UEMSDs and psychosocial factors.

• 한국안전학회지
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.93-101
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• 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted how people work, resulting in a massive shift towards working from home or remotely. Work from home has played a critical role in reducing the transmission of COVID-19 by limiting in-person interactions and reducing the density of people in office buildings. It also enabled businesses and organizations to continue operating while keeping their employees safe and healthy. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of work from home in business and organizational sectors worldwide, and it is likely to continue as a preferred mode of work even after the pandemic is over. This shift towards working from home has not only impacted the way people work but also has significant implications for urban development, transportation, and the environment. This study intends to develop measures for addressing potential physical and mental health issues among remotely working employees. Additionally, it identifies the major influencing factors of home workers' health hazards and proposes improvement measures that can be applied to working from home, along with existing laws and prevention methods.

• 한국안전학회지
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.9-17
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• 2021

This study analyses the load imbalance of the tower crane used in telescoping work for structural safety, owing to the difference in wind speed and balance weight position. This is because wind speed and position of the balance weight have a significant impact on the structural stresses of a tower crane during telescoping work. Therefore, structural analysis was performed on the 290HC model, which is often used at construction sites and has only one cylinder installed. Moreover, two models were classified to determine the load acting on the connecting part of the telescopic cage to slewing platform and the cylinder. Five types of balance weight positions were applied at regular intervals from jibs; moreover, four types of wind load criteria were differently applied. Hence, the telescopic cage columns were destroyed at all balance weight positions at a wind speed of 30 m/s and only at certain locations at a wind speed of 20 m/s. Furthermore, failures occurred for cylinders, torsional, and bending at wind speeds of 30 m/s and 20 m/s, load imbalances above the allowable thresholds considering the safety factor. In addition, the load imbalance in the telescoping work also varied depending on the position of the balance weights. The results of these studies have validated that the current standards of adjusting the appropriate position of the balance weights on the jib are completely valid, with the telescoping work to be executed only at wind speeds of less than equal to 10 m/s.

• 한국건축시공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국건축시공학회 2023년도 가을학술발표대회논문집
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• pp.265-266
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• 2023

Recently, many disasters have occurred due to poor management of construction site. In addition, as legal regulations on safety management at construction sites are strengthened, its importance is being further emphasized. In relation to smart safety management technology, a study was introduced to build an analysis model through various safety-related data collected within construction companies. This model derives quantitative disaster risk about the site level through information related to past disasters and near misses. However, construction work is performed separately by work group of each partner company. There is a limitation in that individual workers cannot directly experience this analysis information. In this study, we propose a method to derive the safety disaster risk of individual work units from disaster risk of the site level. We expect that this study to be helpful for smart safety management technology of construction sites.

• 한국안전학회지
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.72-78
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• 2020

The accident fatality rate has decreased by more than 90% compared to 2006, due to the safety management and safety investment based on the Rail Safety Act. Most railway safety indicators, including fatality rates, have improved significantly from 60% to 80%, reaching the level of developed countries in terms of most railway safety indicators. However, the only staff fatality rate at work is not improved, and it is 3 to 5 times higher than that of developed countries. Most of the fatality occurred during employee's work recently occurred due to accidents hit by train while track work. In principle, when operating track need to check or maintenance, the operation of the train should be stopped and the work carried out. However, in Korea, due to the highest passenger density and train operating density in the world, it is caused by a structural problem that requires workers to enter the track while the train is running and perform various tasks such as maintenance and inspection. In this study, we analyzed the risk of accidents caused by hit by trains on the track, which is the biggest cause of staff fatality, using the main statistics of the last 10 years. In detail, the scenarios of the main causes of hit by trains and workers were formed to suggest the effectiveness of the current preventive measures and supplementary.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.372-377
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• 2020

Infection risks of handling specimens associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by public health laboratory services teams were assessed to scrutinize the potential hazards arising from the work procedures. Through risk assessments of all work sequences, laboratory equipment, and workplace environments, no aerosol-generating procedures could be identified except the procedures (mixing and transfer steps) inside biological safety cabinets. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as surgical masks, protective gowns, face shields/safety goggles, and disposable gloves, together with pertinent safety training, was provided for laboratory work. Proper disinfection and good hand hygiene practices could minimize the probability of SARS-CoV-2 infection at work. All residual risk levels of the potential hazards identified were within the acceptable level. Contamination by gloved hands was considered as a major exposure route for SARS-CoV-2 when compared with eye protection equipment. Competence in proper donning and doffing of PPE accompanied by hand washing techniques was of utmost importance for infection control.

• 유통과학연구
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.23-31
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the Safety and Logistical Distribution Management system in Thailand's Highway Work Zone based on data from Logistics drivers. Accidents in highway construction zones have caused enormous casualties in Thailand yearly. Statistical data shows evidence of correlation between numbers of accidents and drivers' recklessness. Research design, data, and methodology: In this study, we conducted an in- depth interview with 414 logistics drivers and highway construction workers in Khon Kaen province, Thailand. The data was collected based on 63 questionnaires aiming at capturing factors contributing to the risk of safety and cause of accidents in logistic infrastructures such as Highway work zone. Results: The result reveals two significant factors affecting safety in highway work zone, which includes construction environment and safety management system. Moreover, the result shows that feeling of afraid and confused while driving within the construction zones significantly affecting driver's risk of having an accident. Conclusions: The findings of this study offer that a strategic planning and evaluation of the logistics drivers' satisfaction and construction workers' participation to mitigate highway accidents at construction zones and that drivers' knowledge and perception toward construction safety management plays a significant role in preventing highway accidents at the construction areas.