• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.507-534
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• 2015

The present work investigates the behavior of the embankment models resting on soft soil reinforced with ordinary and stone columns encased with geogrid. Model tests were performed with different spacing distances between stone columns and two lengths to diameter ratios (L/d) of the stone columns, in addition to different embankment heights. A total number of 42 model tests were carried out on a soil with undrianed shear strength $${\sim_\sim}10kPa$$. The models consist of stone columns embankment at s/d equal to 2.5, 3 and 4 with L/d ratio equal 5 and 8. Three embankment heights; 200 mm, 250 mm and 300 mm were tested for both tests of ordinary (OSC) and geogrid encased stone columns (ESC). Three earth pressure cells were used to measure directly the vertical effective stress on column at the top of the middle stone column under the center line of embankment and on the edge stone column for all models while the third cell was placed at the base of embankment between two columns to measure the vertical effective stress in soft soil directly. The performance of stone columns embankments relies upon the ability of the granular embankment material to arch over the 'gaps' between the stone columns spacing. The results showed that the ratio of the embankment height to the clear spacing between columns (h/s-d) is a key parameter. It is found that (h/s-d)<1.2 and 1.4 for OSC and ESC, respectively; (h is the embankment height, s is the spacing between columns and d is the diameter of stone columns), no effect of arching is pronounced, the settlement at the surface of the embankment is very large, and the stress acting on the subsoil is virtually unmodified from the nominal overburden stress. When $(h/s-d){\geq}2.2$ for OSC and ESC respectively, full arching will occur and minimum stress on subsoil between stone columns will act, so the range of critical embankment height will be 1.2 (h/sd) to 2.2 (h/s-d) for both OSC and ESC models.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.192-202
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• 2018

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are accumulative disorders that are most frequently found in agricultural farmers. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors that affect symptoms resulting from work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Cambodian farm workers working in fruit plantations in the eastern region of Thailand. Methods: The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, Rapid Upper Limb Assessment, and Hazard Zone Jobs Checklist techniques were used to interview 861 farmers who participated in the study. Results: The data showed that men who had been working for >10 years were more at risk of neck pain than those working for <1 year with adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.90, 14.5). Among women those who had been working for >10 years experienced lower back pain with aOR 8.13, 95% CI (1.04, 63.74), compared with those who had been working for <1 year. Men whose tasks required raising the arms above shoulder height had a risk factor contributing to neck pain of aOR 1.68, 95% CI (1.08, 2.61) when compared with those who did not work with this posture, and women had aOR 1.82, 95% CI (1.07, 3.12) when compared with those who did not work with this posture. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it is recommended that work-related health conditions are monitored in migrant plantation workers to reduce the risks of musculoskeletal disorders.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2006

Work-related musculoskeletal disorder has been associated with long hours of computer work and prolonged periods of static posture. In clinical settings, postural correction is a common treatment approach for individuals with neck, shoulder, and back pain. This study was designed to identify the effect of Forward Head Posture Correctional Device during computer work. Twelve healthy adults (mean age, 27.4 yrs; mean height, 165.0cm mean weight, 65.8 kg) participated in the study. They had no medical history of neurological or surgical problems with their upper extremity. The subjects were asked to perform Head Forward Posture under the guidance of physical therapists and the measured angles were analyzed using a 3-D motion analysis system. Markers were placed on the C7 spinous process, tragus of the ear and forward head angle was between the line from the tragus to the C7 line and the Y-axis at the C7. The statistical significance of difference between, "without" and "with" correctional device was tested by paired t-test. A level of significance was set at ${\alpha}$=.05. In comparison of the computer work between "without" and "with" correctional device, Forward Head Angle was showed significant difference (p<.05). In conclusion, the range of Forward Head Angle was significantly decreased during computer work with the correctional device. Further research is needed to understand the nature of motor control problems in deep muscles in patients with neck, shoulder, and back pain.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.243-250
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to observe office workers' postural behaviors during computer work to identify the risk factors for head and thorax postural behaviors. Methods: The participants included 57 office workers who worked longer than 20 hours on a computer. Postural behaviors during computer work were measured using 3-D wearable motion sensors on the forehead and sternum. A multivariate linear regression model evaluated the association between various risk factors (neck pain, demographics, and environmental factors) and non-head and thorax postural behaviors. Results: The participants maintained their head and thorax in neutral postures (defined as 10° extension~10° flexion and 5° extension~10° flexion, respectively) for 24.7% and 39.3% of the total recorded time. Those who reported neck pain at the measurement of postural behaviors showed less time spent in thorax postures. Current neck pain, high desk height, and the distance between the keyboard and the edge of the desk (cm) were found to be related to less time spent in a neutral thorax posture. Conclusion: Office environment factors and current neck pain might affect workers' thorax postures, which might also determine the orientation of head postures during computer work.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.186-193
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• 2008

The SPS, Strut as a Permanent System, method is widely adopted for the main structural member in addition to temporary strut function for the shuttering of excavation work. Although the SPS method has contributed to cost saving, time reduction, enhancement of structural stability, improvement of construction environment and so on at the building construction site, it caused the problems of increase of basement height and additional work for fire protection of steel structure. The increase of basement height caused the increase of shuttering depth and excavation, and the fire protection caused the additional cost as well as the deterioration of construction environment. In order to improve the problems, this paper is to propose a modularized hybrid structural system(HSD). The detail of the system is introduced and the structural performance and constructibility are proved through the experiment and site application.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.23 no.4_2
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• pp.593-601
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• 2020

This study was conducted to analyze the physical strain with heart rate monitor in timber harvesting operations in order to reduce occupational accidents. The timber harvesting activities are manual cutting(felling, limbing and bucking) with a chainsaw and extraction by cable yarder. The study took place on Japanese larch stand. The average height was 26m and average diameter at breast height(DBH) was 3 7cm. The havest unit was gentle slope to steep slope. Results showed that the heart rate increases for chocking, felling, limbing and bucking were 94.0%, 87.9%, 84.8% and 56.4% respectively. The rate of Work Load Index was higher in the limbing(61.4%) activity than other activities chocking(55.2%), felling(54.1%) and bucking(32.1%). During 50% working heart rate test it was found that limbing(1.09), chocking(1.05) and felling(1.04) was exposed to high work intensity compared to bucking(0.83). The results showed that maximum acceptable work times(felling, chocking and limbing) were 2.30 hour, 1.85 hour and 1.60 hour respectively. To avoid occupational accidents, timber harvest workers may use a suitable working hour schedule to felling, chocking, limbing.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.297-307
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• 2021

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze kinetic variables between thermotherapy and dynamic warm-up during drop-landing. Method: Twenty male healthy subjects (Age: 21.85 ± 1.90 years, Height: 1.81 ± 0.06 cm, Weight: 68.5 ± 7.06 kg) underwent three treatments applied on the thermotherapy of femoral muscles and a dynamic warm-up. The thermotherapy was performed for 15 minutes while sitting in a chair using an electric heating pad equipped with a temperature control device. Dynamic warm-up performed 14 exercise, a non-treatment was sitting in a chair for 15 minutes. Core temperature measurements of all subjects were performed before landing at a height of 50 cm. During drop-landing, core temperature, joint angle, moment, work of the sagittal plane was collected and analyzed. All analyses were performed with SPSS 21.0 and for repeated measured ANOVA and Post-hoc was Bonferroni. Results: Results indicated that Thermotherapy was increased temperature than other treatments (p = .000). During drop-landing, hip joint of dynamic warm-up was slower for angular velocity (p < .005), and left ankle joint was fastest than other treatments (p = .004). Maximum joint moment of dynamic warm-up was smaller for three joints (hip extension: p = .000; knee flexion/extension: p = .001/.000; ankle plantarflexion: p = .000). Negative work of dynamic warm-up was smaller than other treatments (p = .000). Conclusion: In conclusion, the thermotherapy in the local area doesn't affect the eccentric contraction of the thigh. The dynamic warm-up treatment minimized the joint moment and negative work of the lower joint during an eccentric contraction, it was confirmed that more active movement was performed than other treatment methods.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.41-47
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• 2009

The purpose of this study, during the lifting task was researching the difference and a relationship between the ground reaction force and the grip strength by change of position. After grip strength has measured in symmetry position and asymmetry position at 45cm and 75cm of height of hand, ground reaction force was measured by same attitude lifting wooden box. We analyzed the difference of grip strength and ground reaction force in each position change. The results of grip strength, the grip strength of both hand were significant difference that in study subject symmetry and asymmetry position (p<0.01). The results of symmetry lifting task, the study subjects was significant difference of the ground reaction force difference by height (p<0.05). Asymmetry lifting task was significant difference of ground reaction force difference by direction of rotation was changed (p<0.01). The result of it will rotate with non-dominant hand side of lifting tasks from height 75cm where it easily maintains a balance possibility and decreasing the load of the hand. Therefore, from the workshop in the work people, it will be between the height 75cm and non-dominant hand side of trunk rotatory direction in the lifting tasks. Future study is necessary researched about the change of grip strength when the height of the hand is higher, and the difference of the ground reaction force when the change of weight.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.265-276
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• 2004

The purpose of this study,was to find out health status, characteristics related to working conditions, occurrence of low back pain and its related factors among dental hygienists working in dental clinics, and, thus, to provide basic information necessary to set up some plans for preventing the occurrence of low back pains and improving working conditions for dental hygienists. The data were collected from 310 dental hygienists working at dental clinics in Pusan and Kyungnam area, including Masan, Changwon, Jinhae and Jinju, with a self-administered questionnaire and were analyzed finally for 295 records with SPSS for Windows(7.52K) program. The results were as follows : Working condition was considered to be fair by 562% of dental hygienists were thought to threaten their health in the dental clinics. About seventy percent of dental hygienists worked over ten hours a day and 72.8% were standing while working over 7 hours, 65% considered working hours too long. Health status was thought be more than average for 82.3% while more than half perceived certain degree of stress frequently. The rate of complaining low back pains among dental hygienists was 87.8% with pains more than medium level for 39.3%. The variables significantly related to the degree of low back pains were height, uncomfortable postures, type of working postures and the height of working table, while some variables including height, hours of working on the feet, the presence of hazardous work environment, uncomfortable postures, the presence of hazardous works, the amount of working hours, type of working postures and work-associated stresses, were significantly related to the number of symptoms for low back pains. Multiple regression analysis showed that occurrence of low back pains was significantly influenced by 5 factors such as subjective status of health, work-related stresses, the degree of perception to work environment, the degree of perception to the amount of working hours and age. In conclusion, it might be necessary to manage working conditions effectively by reducing working hours, making good postures while working and removing stressful conditions in order to reduce risk factors for the occurrence of low back pains among dental hygienists. Therefore good working postures, assignment of appropriate rest time and some programs for early detection, care and education of low back pains should be provided for the dental hygienists.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Construction Safety
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2019

The average number of deaths in the construction industry reaches 500 per year, and in particular, it is confirmed that the type of accidents and deaths caused by disasters such as work platforms has occupied more than 60% of the total. In this study, we presented a structured and combined solution for technology, management, education, and cost that can solve systematically, politically, and external environmental factors as well as direct influence factors. In addition, we examined the safety and safety standards of domestic and international safety, and discussed implications. First, direct impact factors, organizational impact factors, policy influence factors, and external environmental impact factors were examined and classified into technical, education, and institutional dimensions. Second, in relation to the installation of the work scaffold, the standards (OSHA 1926.452), UK (The Work at Height Regulations 2005 No.735, BS5975), Japan (Labor Safety and Sanitation Regulations) and Germany (DIN 4420_4, DIN EN12810). In the case of domestic safety standards, similar to the foreign safety standards, safety measures such as materials and specifications are applied. However, details related to the installation, assembly and structure of the work platform are somewhat different from those in the United States and the United Kingdom excluding Japan. Using the results of this study, it is possible to understand the cause of the accident of foot pedestrian accident more systematically and comprehensively, and safety managers and researchers are expected to help in the accident investigation.