• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.156-169
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• 2009

In this study, the authors introduced DASH (Disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand), which had been developed for evaluating the functional impairment in the movement of upper extremities in regular daily activities, work ability and sports/performing arts ability. It is an ergonomic risk assessment tool used for industrial workers and also a disability measurement tool for upper extremity disorders arising from musculoskeletal disorders and symptom. This study intended to examine the applicability of DASH in occupational health field. Firstly, DASH development process and composition were reviewed through The DASH outcome measure user's manual and early articles. Secondly, reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the DASH in various languages at the application stage as well as its reliability and validity at the early stage of development were investigated. Thirdly, focusing on the application of DASH to clinical cases, workers with musculoskeletal symptoms, healthy workers, workers with other diseases, and general population were discussed besides workers with major musculoskeletal disorders. Lastly, DASH questionnaire was examined for its potential as a reference for assessing the functional impairment in the movement of upper extremities of workers with musculoskeletal symptoms in industrial workers in Korea.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2012.04a
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• pp.178-185
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• 2012

In Korea, researches on the exposure assessment of the hand-transmitted vibration started from the mid-90, however, they were performed in the limited industries such as auto-assembly plants and the evaluation of the vibration was mostly conducted by ISO 5349(1986). Therefore, it was necessary to assess hand-transmitted vibration levels of workplace such as ship building/repairing industry or mining industry where occupational injuries are largely occurred and to evaluate the vibration levels using revised ISO 5349(2001). The SVAN 949 Four Channels Sound & Vibration Analyser was used for the measurement. The workers using a chain saw were exposed to $1.7{\sim}2.8m/s^2$ of daily vibration level. Workers using a rock drill in a coal mining were exposed to the highest vibration acceleration among workers and the levels were $7.1{\sim}10.8m/s^2$. Vibration levels of grinders were different according to the types of grinders. The hand-transmitted vibration of 3 types of grinders were measured and the levels were $3.3{\sim}11.1m/s^2$. Workers using a impact wrench were exposed to $1.5{\sim}1.6m/s^2$ of vibration. Out of 20 kinds of machines, only 4 tools provided the information of vibration acceleration on the instructions. In addition, the current condition of workplaces to control vibration was not much different from the past because there are no vibration exposure limit.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.940-948
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• 2012

In Korea, researches on the exposure assessment of the hand-transmitted vibration started from the mid-90, however, they were performed in the limited industries such as auto-assembly plants and the evaluation of the vibration was mostly conducted by ISO 5349(1986). Therefore, it was necessary to assess hand-transmitted vibration levels of workplace such as ship building/repairing industry or mining industry where occupational injuries are largely occurred and to evaluate the vibration levels using revised ISO 5349(2001). The SVAN 948 Four Channels Sound & Vibration Analyser was used for the measurement. The workers using a chain saw were exposed to 1.7~2.8 $m/s^2$ of daily vibration level. Workers using a rock drill in a coal mining were exposed to the highest vibration acceleration among workers and the levels were 7.1~10.8 $m/s^2$. Vibration levels of grinders were different according to the types of grinders. The hand-transmitted vibration of 3 types of grinders were measured and the levels were 3.3~11.1 $m/s^2$. Workers using a impact wrench were exposed to 1.5~1.6 $m/s^2$ of vibration. Out of 20 kinds of machines, only 4 tools provided the information of vibration acceleration on the instructions. In addition, the current condition of workplace to control vibration was not much different from the past because there are no vibration exposure limit.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.363-373
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate nail hygiene behaviors and to identify the relationship between hand hygiene beliefs and nail hygiene behaviors among dental hygienists, dental's aide and dental coordinator in South Korea. Methods: The subjects were 291 dental workers including dental hygienists, dental assistant and dental coordinator working full-time at dental clinics, dental hospitals, general dental hospitals and dental university hospitals in Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi-do. The questionnaire consisted of a total 35 items, including 4 items on general characteristics, 25 items on hand hygiene, 2 items on "nail art" experience, and 4 items on nail hygiene behaviors. The collected data were analyzed using an independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, chi-square test, correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis, where ${\alpha}<0.05$ was considered statistically significant. Results: The scores of behavioral beliefs, normative beliefs, control beliefs and nail hygiene behaviors were $5.15{\pm}0.58$, $5.26{\pm}0.81$, $3.69{\pm}0.96$ and $5.03{\pm}0.98$, respectively. Statistically significant relationships were detected in terms of participants' clinical experiences with respect to behavioral and normative beliefs (p<0.05 for all three belief categories). Participants working in general dental hospitals and dental university hospitals demonstrated the highest scores for behavioral, normative and control beliefs (p<0.05). Participants working in dental clinics reported the highest "nail art" experience rates in the last two years (45.5%) and at the time of the survey (15.7%; p<0.05). Nail hygiene behaviors were more likely to be observed in individuals with stronger behavioral and stronger normative beliefs (p<0.05). Conclusions: More specific infection control guidelines for "nail art" among dental workers should be established and promoted, so that both patients and dental workers can interact in a safe environment.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.67-76
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• 2024

Various types of assistive devices have been developed for upper limb amputees over the years, with myoelectric prosthesis particularly aimed at improving user convenience by enabling a range of hand gestures beyond simple grasping, tailored to the size and shape of objects. In this study, we developed a five-finger myoelectric prosthesis mimicking human hand size and finger movements, utilizing motor and worm gear mechanisms for stable and independent operation. Based on this, we designed a control system for independent finger control through electromyographic signal input, proposed a state transition-based hand gesture conversion algorithm by selecting representative eight hand gestures and defining conversion condition parameters. We introduced training and usability evaluation methods, and conducted usability assessments among upper limb amputees using dedicated tools, confirming the potential for commercial application of the algorithm and observing adaptive capabilities and high performance through iterative evaluations.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.134-141
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• 2007

It is crucial that the WRMSD is realized as a critical job-related diseases for the construction workers. It is caused by the characteristics of repetitive work, uncomfortable work methods and continuous unsuitable physical posture. The objective of this research is to evaluate the workload for the carpenters and structural steel workers. Investigation on the posture and behavior for the workers as well as personal sensitivity to the workload is conducted. The laboratory tests with graduate students are conducted to estimate inconvenience in terms of personal sensitivity to the workload. The results of this research will be used to perform the further researches on ergonomic and technological approaches to improvements of the hand-intensive tasks in the construction industry.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Industrial Safety Conference
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• 1997.11a
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• pp.135-142
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• 1997

For lighting of dark and hazardous workplaces such as compartments of ships under construction, workers should use hand lamps of explosion-proof type. However, the heavy weight of such lamps has prevented most impatient workers from using such types of lamps extensively. In this paper, ire developed a light weight hand lamp of intrinsic safety type which reduced the weight a lot while maintaining or improving the lighting and explosion-proof function. We made a Prototype which consisted of lamp fixture and low/high frequency power supply. Testing results show that the hand lamp meets well all the explosion-proof testing requirements of the Korea Industrial Safety Corporation.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.455-470
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• 2007

The usage of appropriate disinfectants is essential for infection control in dental hospitals, dental clinics. Inadequate use of disinfectants is the cause of human or environmental toxicity and is a waste of cost. This study was aimed to assess the level of knowledge on the disinfection and chemical disinfectants among dental workers in dental hospitals, dental clinics. It's ultimately intended to serve as a basis for the preparation of more effective, appropriate educational programs on the disinfection and manuals on the use of disinfectants for dental workers. This study enforced a questionnaire with 184 dental workers employed in dental hospitals, dental clinics from 15 Aug. to 15 Sep. 2007, in the area of Daejeon. The obtained result were as follows; 1. The population sociological feature of dental hospital and dental clinic showed that significant differences of dental service career(pM0.039). Dental service career of dental workers shows; below 3 years 42.9%, 4~6 years 34.7%, more than 7 years 22.4% in dental hospitals, below 3 years 30.4%, 4~6 years 26.7%, more than 7 years 43.0% in dental clinics(pM0.039). 2. The average score of dental workers knowledge in 'Critical item soaks in high-level disinfectants for 20minutes was 2.73V0.49 point, got from knowledge of dental instrument is appropriate to immerse before sterilization in the dental device disinfection(pM0.002). 3. In the general disinfection which it follows in education experience of chemical disinfectants direction for use, 'Direction for use by Spaulding process classification' responded that the correct answer was the education experience dental workers 60.0%, the education non-experience dental workers 39.5%(p=0.026). 4. In the dental device disinfection which it follows in education experience of chemical disinfectants direction for use. 'High level disinfection is not applied for the non-critical items and equipment' responded that the education experience dental workers 49.2%, the education non-experience dental workers 31.9%(pM0.045), 'Semi-critical items is applied same method in presence of the infection disease which it acts responded that the education experience dental workers 44.6% answer back, the education non-experience dental workers 24.4%(pM0.017). 5. 'A hand disinfectants of anticeptics have effect' the education experience dental workers 78.5% answer back, the education non-experience dental workers 52.9%(pM0.003). 1t uses with hand disinfectants when the instruments which be imbrued and patient contact', the education experience dental workers 78.5% answer back, the education non-experience dental workers 62.2%(pM0.026), 'Boric acid solution uses for the skin disinfectants the education experience dental workers 52.3% answer back, the education non-experience dental workers is 37.0%(pM0.016), 'Gluconate have effective difference which it follows in chemical disinfectant consistency and the solution type' education experience dental workers 72.3% answer back, education non-experience dental workers 47.9%(pM0.004). 6. The education experience dental workers were appeared higher than the education non-experience dental workers in knowledge of the disinfection and chemical disinfectants. Consequently system and the specialty education which is standardized continuously must be provided to all dental workers.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.398-412
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the acceleration of vibration by the powered hand tools used in the shipbuilding industry, and to develop the prospective prevalence model for the hand-arm vibration syndrome among the shipbuilding workers.The acceleration levels and frequencies of six types of grinder were measured using the ISO5349 method along with the time of exposure to the vibration from the powered hand tools. Medical examination for 114 workers were performed using the cold provocation test. Comparisons were made between the estimated prevalence of hand-arm vibration syndrome from ISO5349 and the observed values from the medical examinations. By multiple regression, we developed the prospective prevalence model of hand-arm vibration syndrome produced by the hand tools used in the shipbuilding industry. 4 hour-energy-equivalent frequency-weighted accelerations were $6.23m/s^2$ in the grinding job done after welding, and $13.39m/s^2$ in the grinding job done before painting. The mean exposure time while holding powered hand tools was 4.64 hours. Prevalence rates of Raynaud's Phenomenon were 12.04% in the grinding after soldering, and 42.9% in the grinding before painting measured using the ISO5349 method. After exposure to vibration for 10.79 years, about a half of the workers in the grinding after welding could developed Raynaud's Phenomenon. For the workers in the grinding before painting, the latency was 5.02 years. The ISO equation for dose response relationship was not significantly correlated with observed recovery rates of finger skin temperatures, blood flows and amplitudes of nerve conduction velocities. A multiple regression model for dose-response relationship was proposed from the results. Recovery rate of the skin temperatures = -0.668+ 0.337 ${\times}$ 4 hour energy equivalent frequency-weighted accelerations + 0.767 ${\times}$ duration of vibration exposure(years) The validity was proved by multiple regression analysis after correlation transformation and regression results based on model-building data and validation data.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.9-17
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• 2017

Purpose : The easiest and most cost-effective way to prevent medical-related infections is known as proper hand washing of health care workers. The experience of MERS in domestic medical institutions has increased the importance of hand hygiene for medical workers to prevent infections in hospitals. It is necessary to investigate the level of hand hygiene practice by type of medical institutions and the factors influencing the infection prevention. Methods : Domestic and overseas hand hygiene related business cases and literature data were collected and analyzed in order to investigate the hand hygiene status of medical institutions in Korea. Result : As a result of hand hygiene monitoring of all hospital-level medical institutions in 2016, the total number of observations was 24,328 and the hand hygiene performance rate was 75.9%. The hand hygiene performance rate of hospitals was 71.5% for general hospitals, 75% for general hospitals, and 81.3% for hospitals. Implications : In general hospitals and hospitals, the HR(Hand Rubbing) method is preferred as a way of performing hand hygiene, whereas the HW(Hand Washing) method is relatively high in the small hospitals. It is estimated that the HW system is preferred because of the cost burden at the hospital medical institution. Therefore, it is necessary to compensate the related expenses to improve the hand hygiene performance of the physicians who are engaged in the hospitals.