• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 1997

This study was carried out from January to March in 1996 to investigate subjective symptoms of cumulative trauma disorder (CTD). This survey was done by questionnaire of the Personal Ergonomics Profiles (PEP), which was developed by Johnson & Johnson. Number of respondents was 365 employees who were working in three furniture manufactories in Kwangjoo at Province Kyungki. The results were as follows : 1. There was no difference between clerical and labor workers in pain frequencies classified by general characteristics. However, labor workers showed statistically significant differences between working process in pain frequencies. Employees undertaking lifting work showed highest scores in frequencies of pain complaints. Comparing the number of pain occurrences, the married and the female was resulted in high score than the single and the male. There was no differences between ages and working experiences in group. 2. According to the mean frequency of body pain, the back was the most part to be complained in 1. 16 and followed by shoulder, neck, knee, wrist/hand, and forearm in order. Although, the study results showed that the workers working in furniture manufacture were not shown that they have had severe CTD, the female, the married and the the lifting workers were indicated as risk groups to CTD. Therefore, the development of backache prevention programe is necessary to manage pain control and to reduce health risks of CTD employees in their work environment.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.42-51
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to develop a checklist of risk factors for quantitative assessment of musculoskeletal complaints in shipbuilding workers. A key point was to develop comprehensive a checklist including the worker's physical ability, as ergonomic and workload factors. ln the first, through correlation analysis between musculoskeletal complaints and physical abilities in shipbuilding workers, risk factors related to physical abilities were selected. In the second, after the development of a checklist was composed of physical, ergonomic and workload factors, factor analysis was used to test the validity of the developed checklist. Each factors selected finally showed that physical factors were hand grip strength, spinal curvature, and flexibility (sit to reach), ergonomic factors were posture, total exposed time, duration, and force of working, and workload factors were physical and psychological workload perceived by worker. The results showed that musculoskeletal complaints was associated with physical abilities (p<.05). The developed checklist had a reliability of .761 (Cronbach=.761) and a validity and explanation of 54.9%. The criterion of management was classified in 4 stages by relative weights of each factor. It is suggested that active intervention is needed to reduce musculoskeletal complaints in workers with more than a 14.31 score.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.158-166
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• 2010

Objectives: This study aimed to find gender distinctions in terms of the sociology of the population; to determine work-related factors; to analyze gender differences in daily living, work, sports, and art performances; and to identify gender-related factors that limited performance of daily living and work activities. Methods: A questionnaire was designed that included disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH), accident history, disease history, work duration at current workplace, marital status, job satisfaction, job autonomy, and physical demands of the job. Out of 1,853 workers surveyed, 1,173 questionnaires (63.3%; 987 males, 186 females) included responses to DASH disability and DASH optional work and were judged acceptable for analysis. Results: Upper extremity functional limitation during work and daily living was higher for females than males. The limitations for males increased according to their household work time, accident history, work duration, job satisfaction, physical demand, and job autonomy. Meanwhile, female workers' upper extremity discomfort was influenced by their disease history, job satisfaction, and physical demands. In addition, the size of the company affected male workers' upper extremity function, while marriage and hobbies influenced that of female workers. Conclusion: This study addressed sociodemographic factors and work-related factors that affect each gender's upper extremity function during daily living and working activities. Each factor had a different influence. Further studies are needed to identify the effect that role changes, not being influenced by risks at work, have on musculoskeletal disorders.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.254-259
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the interactions between the job strain and social support in the workplace on the development of workrelated neck pain in office workers. Methods: The participants included 62 office workers without neck pain over the last twelve months. A battery of measures evaluating the potential workplace risk factors in office settings were conducted at the baseline, and at the 12 month incidence of work-related neck pain was reported via monthly questionnaires. Survival analysis evaluated the interaction effect between job strain and social support on the development of work-related neck pain. Results: The incidence of work-related neck pain was 1.91 (95% CI: 1.06 - 3.45) per 100 person months. The interaction effect between job strain and social support found that job strain may increase the risk of developing new work-related neck pain when lower social support existed in the workplace. On the other hand, the adverse effects of job strain on the development of neck pain were not significant when workers had higher social support from their colleagues and supervisors. Conclusion: An investigation of the moderating effects of risk factors on neck pain might reveal the unexplained relationship between the risk factors for the development of neck pain in office workers. Therefore, the interest in prevention plans and treatments should involve a comprehensive understanding of the risk factors at workplace.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.61-74
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• 2022

In a rapidly changing environment, it is essential for companies to develop their capabilities for sustainable growth. To this end, informal learning at work plays an important role for small and medium-sized enterprises that are having difficulties in human resource development. If the GRIT of workers and the spiritual leadership of leaders are maintained at an appropriate level, the effect of informal learning will increase. This study derived the following results through a survey of workers participating in the Work-learning Dual System in Korea. First, experience and feedback among informal learning activities have a significant positive effect on competency development. Second, the higher the level of the GRIT of workers, the greater the magnitude of the positive effect of experience and feedback on competency development, showing a positive moderating effect. Third, in the case of workers with high GRIT, capacity development is strengthened as experience or feedback increases, and the higher the level of spiritual leadership, the greater the scope of reinforcement. On the other hand, it can be seen that in the case of workers with low GRIT, competency development weakens as experience or feedback increases, and the higher the level of spiritual leadership, the greater the extent of the weakening.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.249-261
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• 2020

Background: Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent worker health conditions worldwide. Although the effect of noise exposure on hearing is well researched, other workplace exposures may account for significant hearing loss. The aim of this review was to determine whether occupational hand-arm vibration exposure through use of power or pneumatic tools, independent of noise exposure, is associated with permanent hearing loss. Do workers suffer from hand-arm vibratione-induced hearing loss? Methods: Peer-reviewed articles published in English between 1981 and 2020 were identified through five online databases with five search keywords. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines, including online database search methodology, study selection, article exclusion, and assessment of potential study design confounders and biases, were followed. Results: Database searches retrieved 697 articles. Fifteen articles that reported 17 studies met the criteria for review. All but two studies revealed statistically significant associations between occupational exposure to hand-arm vibration and hearing loss. The majority of the study results revealed associations between hand-arm vibration and hearing loss, independent of potential age and noise confounders. Conclusion: Few studies have examined the association between occupational exposure to hand-arm vibration and hearing loss. Dose response data were limited as only one study measured vibration intensity and duration. Although the majority of studies identified statistically significant associations, causal relationships could not be determined. Further research using standardized and uniform measurement protocols is needed to confirm whether the association between occupational exposure to hand-arm vibration and permanent hearing loss is causal and the mechanism(s).

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.289-299
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• 2007

Objectives : To investigate the related factors on musculoskeletal symptoms among Korean female workers. Methods : A total of 1,875 female workers (1,002 office workers and 873 blue-collar workers) was analyzed. They were randomly selected among female workers by cluster sampling and interviewed by well trained interviewer, who filled out a structured questionnaire on the musculoskeletal symptoms. Other factors such as general and occupational characteristics including workplace location, employment condition, work duration, and working condition were also investigated. Results : Current smokers and drinkers were significantly more common in blue-collar workers than in office workers. Those working full time were significantly more common in blue-collar workers than in office workers. Those working over 8 hours per day were also popular in office workers than in blue-collar workers. Subjective musculoskeletal symptoms were significantly higher in the type of work including excessive repetitive work, work using awkward stretching hand upwards, work using repetitive wrist movements, static work using awkward hand posture, and heavy manual lifting and handling works. The mean score of the symptoms were significantly higher in blue-collar than in office workers. The significantly different working factors between two groups were work duration, employment condition and daily work hours. Conclusion : We suggest that the type of work including awkward and repetitive works as well as job type may be one of the most important factors related to musculoskeletal symptoms of female workers in the workplace. Preventive strategy will be needed to prevent the negative impact on health status of working women in the workplace.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.115-141
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to understand the changes from adopting daily two-shift roster in child care institutions. To accomplish this purpose, we collected data mainly from depth interview with managers, child care workers, and children in child care institutions adopting daily two-shift roster, and analysed these data through qualitative case study approach. The results of this study are as follows. First, child care workers take the chance of recreation, their working conditions improved, they were participated in self-development activity, and they could make relationship with persons in social network. But, some participants worried about decrease of responsibility of workers. Second, one hand, possibility of high-quality care for child is increased, on the other hand, possibility of improving attachment relationship between workers and children is decreased. some children is confused by shift. But, most important strength is that partners have complementary parenting roles through discussion about parenting skills. They have developed communication skills by trial and error, and growed with children through sharing. Third, many qualified persons have applied for institution because of improvement of working conditions, thus institutions had the chance of adopting qualified workers. These workers have various abilities and resources, could mobilize resources from community, and could progress various programs and intervene for children. But, institutions had many difficulties in process adopting daily two-shift roster because of unstable financial support and previous structure. Most of participants worried about that local government may cut down a subsidy.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.41-53
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• 2006

This study was carried out to investigate the linkage between health care and social services for the elderly in Jeonnam Province and its related factors. The subjects were 831 persons of visiting health service workers and social welfare workers in Jeonnam Province who responded the mail questionnaire (85.5% respondse rate). The data were collected from 15th May to 30th June, 2004 using the structured questionnaire. It was composed of the socio-demographic characteristics, the content and frequency of services referred between health care and social welfare workers, and interdisciplinary perception. Data was analysed by SPSS for Windows 12.0. 374(45.0%) reported having experience of service cooperation between health care and social welfare workers for the last three month. The most service that health care workers requested to social welfare workers was to get information for the client, on the other hand the most service that social welfare workers requested to health care workers was to visit and treat the elderly. These service providers in rural area and good attitude toward the cooperation between health care and social welfare service showed more linkage. The findings of this study could provide the basic data for the development of efficient coordinating program of health and welfare.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.6
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• pp.227-266
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• 2001

These days the use of personal computer has become generalized at factory, office, house, etc and this fact indicates that visual display terminal work became popular in every field of our society. The use of computer improves work efficiency, productivity & qualify but in addition, it also generated the physical and mental diseases or defects so called VDT syndrome to workers. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the computer-work-related anti-physical, anti-psychogenic symptoms & side effects through the data drawn from workers who use computers on their works, and to find out methods of improvement & humanization of computer works. The follows are the results of questions about personal sensibility of VDT syndrome. 1. Female workers are more sensitive to the side effects of computer labor than males. 2. Workers aged twenties feel more severe symptoms of VDT syndrome than thirties or fourties, but there are no level of significance. 3. Middle managements workers are the most sensitive group to VDT syndrome, on the other hand tow managements are less sensitive than operators. 4. The result of questions indicates that a phone conductress show more severe VDT syndrome symptoms than business affairs or an engineer workers, with level of significance. 5. The longer computer work engagement period, the more evident VDT syndrome symptoms appear. For instance, workers who have more than 2 year engagement period complain more severe symptoms, compared workers who have less than 2 year engagement period. 6. Long computer working time per day also increases VDT syndrome severity specially people who have more than 2 hours in working time in a day have much less severe symptoms, compared people whose daily working time exceeds 2 hours. 7. Specific body part which shows VDT syndrome symptoms is shoulder, wrist, neck, finger, eye, waist, arm in the order of severity. 8. Sensibility of VDT syndrome symptoms have effect on degree of vocational satisfaction.