• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.293-301
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• 2018

This study examined the effects of a multifaceted intervention program on the psychological condition, empowerment, work readiness, and functional capacity for job performance of industrially injured workers. Twelve injured workers in C hospital were included in this study. The subjects participated in a social rehabilitation program 2 hours a day, twice a week, for 8 weeks in total, as well as a work hardening program 3 to 4 hours a day, 5 times a week, for 8 weeks in total. The study was conducted from March to September, 2017. A multi-dimensional psychological examination, empowerment scale, work readiness interview and functional capacity evaluation were conducted and the test scores compared before and after the program with the Wilcoxon signed rank test. In the multi-dimensional psychological examination, there were significant differences in the levels of anxiety, depression, lack of social support, and somatization symptoms (p<.05) except anger. The participants also showed significant differences in the empowerment scale, work readiness scale, and functional capacity evaluation. This study suggests that a multifaceted intervention program can be effective in improving the psychologic condition, empowerment, work readiness, and functional capacity of industrially injured workers and, in turn, may improve their rate of returning to work.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.27 no.2 s.46
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• pp.299-312
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• 1994

This survey was performed to obtain the basic information for the prevention and management of occupational low back injury (LBI). The subjects of this survey were 952 workers (male, 892 ; female, 60) who had taken occupational LBI in some industries of Pusan area from January 1 to December 31, 1991. Observation period was 2.6 years from the beginning to the end of medical treatment. The obtained results were summarized as follows ; 1. The proportion of LBI workers was 15.9% of the workers who had taken any occpational injuries and 0.32% of all workers in this surveyed area. 2. 8.0% of the workers had taken LBI on the 1st day of employment and 55.2% of the workers were within one year, 91.4% of the workers were within 10 years according to cumulative frequency distribution. 3. Handling of heavy objects was the most common cause of LBI (32.0%) and fall down (26.9%) and slip down (16.3%) were the next in order. 4. The most common causes of both lumbar sprain and HNP were handling of heavy objects and that of lumbar fracture was fall down. 5. The mean duration for medical treatment of LBI workers was 143 days. 6. The total direct compensation cost for LBI workers was 6,736 million Won and the proportion of medical, resting, disability compensation costs were 25.0%, 37.0%, 38.0 % respectively. 7. The percentages of retreated workers and disabled workers were 11.9% (113 persons) and 22.9% (218 persons) of total LBI workers respectively.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.34
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• pp.17.1-17.10
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• 2022

Background: This study aimed to investigate the decline in quality of life (QOL) by examining changes in the employment status of workers who had completed medical treatment after an industrial accident. Methods: This study utilized the Panel Study of Worker's Compensation Insurance cohort (published in October 2020) containing a sample survey of 3,294 occupationally injured workers who completed medical care in 2017. We divided this population into four groups according to changes in working status. A multivariate logistic regression model was utilized for evaluating QOL decline by adjusting for the basic characteristics and working environment at the time of accident. Subgroup analysis evaluated whether QOL decline differed according to disability grade and industry group. Results: The QOL decline in the "maintained employment," "employed to unemployed," "remained unemployed," and "unemployed to employed" groups were 15.3%, 28.1%, 20.2%, and 11.9%, respectively. The "maintained employment" group provided a reference. As a result of adjusting for the socioeconomic status and working environment, the odds ratios (ORs) of QOL decline for the "employed to unemployed" group and the "remained unemployed" group were 2.13 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.51-3.01) and 1.47 (95% CI, 1.13-1.90), respectively. The "unemployed to employed" group had a non-significant OR of 0.76 (95% CI, 0.54-1.07). Conclusions: This study revealed that continuous unemployment or unstable employment negatively affected industrially injured workers' QOL. Policy researchers and relevant ministries should further develop and improve "return to work" programs that could maintain decent employment avenues within the workers' compensation system.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.68 no.4
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• pp.97-118
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• 2016

The primary goal of this study was to investigate factors affecting job satisfaction of injured workers who returned to work. There are two types of injured workers' returning to work returning to pre-injury job and getting a new job. After separating the two types of workers we conducted the multiple regression analysis on the data from the Workers'Compensation Insurance Panel of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service Corporation(2014). The sample consisted of 1,333 occupationally injured workers who were finished with medical treatment(693 workers returned to previous work place, and 640 workers found new work places). Main results are as follows. First, injured workers who got new jobs were vulnerable to sustainability to job, work status, average monthly wage as well as job satisfaction compared with injured workers who returned to pre-injury job. Second, gender, educational level, skill fitness, average monthly wage, welfare benefits, family income/leisure life/residential environment/social relation satisfaction, and maintenance of relation with business owner during medical care were related to job satisfaction of injured workers who returned to pre-injury job. Third, gender, work status, skill fitness, continuous work possibility, average monthly wage, family income/leisure life/social relation satisfaction, substitute worker for assigned task during medical care and maintenance of relation with business owner during medical care affected on job satisfaction of injured workers who got new jobs. Based on these findings implications for policy and interventions were discussed in regards to job satisfaction of injured workers.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.196-204
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• 2020

Objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) is characterized by persistent airflow limitations associated with chronic inflammatory response due to noxious particles or gases in the lung. Increasing oxidative stress associated with COPD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influencing factors of biomarkers for oxidative stress in retired miners with COPD. Methods: The levels of total peroxide(TPx), total antioxidant capacity(TAC), and oxidative stress index(TPx/TAC ratio, OSI) in plasma as biomarkers for oxidative stress, serum C-reactive protein(CRP) as a biomarker for inflammation, and general characteristics were measured in 93 male subjects with COPD. COPD was defined as post bronchodilator FEV₁/FVC<0.7 by spirometry. Results: Mean levels of TPx(p=0.013), TAC(p=0.010), OSI(p=0.040), and CRP(p=0.024) were higher in current smokers. Levels of TPx(β=0.445, p<0.001), TAC(β=0.490, p<0.001), and OSI(β=0.351, p<0.001) were related to CRP levels, and CRP levels were related to %FEV₁ predicted(β=-0.295, p=0.003) and current smoking(β=0.214, p=0.032). Conclusions: These results suggest that oxidative stress was related to inflammation, and inflammation were related to decreasing %FEV₁ predicted and current smoking in retired miners with COPD.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.461-472
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• 2021

Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the differences in EC concentrations according to the type of sampler by measuring and analyzing EC. Methods: Elemental carbon was measured in diesel engine vehicles and at the roadside. Using NIOSH method 5040, a cassette was coupled to 37 mm and 27 mm quartz filters and measurements were performed 21 times. There were 14 types of measurement methods, and polystyrene, polypropylene, and metal samplers were evenly placed inside the movable chamber. Results: The results measured using the 37 mm conductive cassette (closed/open) and the IOM sampler made of conductive materials showed a higher ratio than the other results. When the 37 mm conductive cassette was measured with the lid open, it showed a statistically significantly higher ratio than with other measurement methods (p<0.05). Conclusions: Checking the EC concentration a total of 21 times at each ratio based on the concentration of the 3-stage polystyrene cassette, it was statistically significantly higher when the 37 mm conductive cassette was open. This same cassette also showed a slightly higher EC concentration when closed. It was ascertained that some DEE was collected on the cassette wall surface due to the electrical conductivity of the polystyrene cassette, resulting in sample loss. Since EC is composed of fine particles, it is thought that electrical conductivity may affect its concentration.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.69-74
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• 2010

It is the law that injured workers must be paid compensation through occupational health and safety insurance. But sometimes, construction companies cover the compensation for an accident by themselves in order to conceal the fact of an accident. The reason for this concealment is that they wish to get a high mark in PQ. From the point of view of a subcontractor, another reason is to avoid any negative consequences in bids. According to interviewees, some workers, knowing the vulnerability of their employers in this area, demand unreasonable levels of compensation. This study examined the circumstances, influences and participants' perception of accidents on construction sites.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.216-220
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• 2013

A 46-year-old man who had worked as a bumper spray painter in an automobile body shop for 15 years developed lung cancer. The patient was a nonsmoker with no family history of lung cancer. To determine whether the cancer was related to his work environment, we assessed the level of exposure to carcinogens during spray painting, sanding, and heat treatment. The results showed that spray painting with yellow paint increased the concentration of hexavalent chromium in the air to as much as $118.33{\mu}g/m^3$. Analysis of the paint bulk materials showed that hexavalent chromium was mostly found in the form of lead chromate. Interestingly, strontium chromate was also detected, and the concentration of strontium chromate increased in line with the brightness of the yellow color. Some paints contained about 1% crystalline silica in the form of quartz.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.131-144
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• 2015

Objectives : This study investigated the health care utilization patterns and length of stay (LOS) determinants of fracture patients with workers' compensation insurance (WCI) and national health insurance (NHI). Methods : The discharge summary data of 4,394 WCI fracture patients were compared to 28,874 NHI patients. Health care utilization characteristics were compared with a logistic regression analysis, and the LOS determinants were identified with linear regression analysis. Results : The average LOS of the WCI fracture patients was 2.4 times higher than that of the NHI patients. WCI patients used more small or medium sized hospitals, and were more frequently admitted through the emergency room. Females, older patients and patients admitted through emergency room had a significant positive impact on LOS. Conclusions : Healthcare utilization by the WCI fracture patients may include medically unnecessary hospital stays. Therefore, policy makers need to respond appropriately to the inefficient use of health resources by WCI patients.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.31-37
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• 2016

Analyses were performed with Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale. The population was 1,391 Korean workers in total. Subjects who get scores of self-esteem lower than those before the accidents were 539 people(42.34%). On the other hand, subjects who get the same or higher scores of self-esteem than those before the accidents were 802 people(57.66%). The average score of the whole showed 30.09 point that is higher than 29.99 points that were analyzed from primary panel data. The odds ratio of self-esteem is analyzed to find that what is the most important factor for improving self-esteem of the workers group. The result of odds ratio analysis was 1.60 in the not-to-return-to-work group, significantly higher of the score of self-esteem than the return-to-work group. The statistically significant odds ratio of unemployed workers group from the group of workers who return to work prove the academically conventional social norms. This result shows that the workers condition, whether or not they can return to their work, affects the workers' self-esteem. Therefore, the workers' condition for returning to the work should be considered the most important service for Korean workers' compensation and welfare services.