• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.90-103
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• 2005

Objective: This study was carried out to assess the status of working environments, to improve the working environments, and to be helpful to prevent occupational disease. Methods: The authors measured the noise level, concentration of dust, heavy metals, organic solvents, and other chemicals at 95 industries (22 working processes) by type of working process in manufacturing industry of parts and accessories for motor vehicles and its engines from January to December 2003. Samples were measured and analyzed by regulations of Korea Ministry of Labor, manuals of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Results: Results are as follows. 1. Major processes exceeding mean noise levels provided the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV) were shakeout [97.5 dB(A)]. shot-blast [94.2 dB(A)], pressing [92.9 dB(A)], crushing [91.2 dB(A)], and cleaning [90.6 dB(A)]. 2. Mean concentrations of dusts were not exceeded to the TLV. But concentration on some points of processes as like welding (6.50 mg/m3), foundry (5.24 mg/m3) were exceeded. 3. Mean concentrations of heavy metals were not exceeded to the TLV. 4. Mean concentrations of organic solvents and chemicals were not exceeded to the TLV. 5. Improving rate for working environment were significantly higher in industries with health manager than without (p<0.05), and by increasing the year of working environmental measurement (p<0.01). Conclusions: The results suggest that working processes of exceeding to the TLV will be needed rapid improvement of the working environment, and also the others will be needed positive management of the working environment. Health managers must be recommended to employ in the workplace, and further studies for relationship between working environment and health effects for the workers must be carried out.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.478-486
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• 2022

Purpose: Although the working environment is measured at the construction site, only a few noise and vibration that are typically exposed for each process are performed without measuring the working environment by segmenting the exposed harmful factors. Therefore, it is intended to find the harmfulness of silicon oxide dust, which is most exposed at construction sites, and the complementary points of improvement measures currently being implemented at construction sites. Method: The status was analyzed using the actual condition survey report issued by the Korea Occupational Health Corporation and the Korea Occupational Health Association and data from the work environment measurement institution, and compared and analyzed with the rules on work environment measurement of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Result: The harmfulness of silicon oxide dust was identified and improvement measures were derived. Conclusion: It is expected that occupational diseases against silicon dust can be reduced if the harmfulness of silicon oxide dust at construction sites is derived and improvement measures are actively applied at the site.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.427-438
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aims to create a safer working environment by examining the working environment of cleanroom cleaning workers through a survey and comparing the differences in perception between workers and managers. Methods: The survey was written based on the working environment and the safety and health management system. In order to improve the quality of the study, we visited the sites in person and conducted an in-depth interview. SPSS Statistics 26 (IBM, USA) was used to analyze the data. Results: Based on the survey, differences were found in chemical used, MSDS sharing methods, risk factors during cleaning work, work environment measurement results, special health examination items, places considered dangerous, and work. Conclusions: It is necessary that there be different work environments and risk factors for cleanroom cleaning workers at respective workplaces. As a result of the survey, there was found to be a difference in perception between workers and managers, and both workers and managers should try to reduce this difference.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.375-383
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• 2023

Objectives: Coal-fired power plants feature diverse working conditions, including multi-layered employment structures and irregular work cycles due to outsourcing and non-standardized tasks. The current uniform occupational environment measurement systems have limitations in accurately assessing and evaluating these varied conditions. This study aims to propose alternative measurement and assessment strategies to supplement existing methods. Methods: Major domestic coal-fired power plants were selected as the study targets. To prepare for the study and establish strategies, work processes were identified and existing occupational environment measurement results were compared and analyzed. The study proceeded by employing three strategies: specific exposure groups (SEGs) measurement, continuous monitoring, and supplementary measurements, which were then compared and discussed. Results: Previous exposure index evaluations (5,268 cases) indicated that crystalline silica, a type of respirable particulate matter, had detection limits below the threshold (non-detectable) in 82.6% (4,349 cases) of instances. Exposures below 10% of the exposure limit were observed at a very low concentration of 96.1%. Similar exposure group measurements yielded results where detection limits were below the threshold in 38.2% of cases, and exposures below 10% of the limit were observed in 70.6%. Continuous monitoring indicated detection limits below the threshold in 12.6% of cases, and exposures below 10% of the limit were observed in 75.6%. Instances requiring active workplace management accounted for more than 30% of cases, with SEGs at 11.8% (four cases), showing a higher proportion compared to 3.0% (four cases) in continuous monitoring. For coal dust, exposures below 10% of the limit were highest in legal measurements at 90.2% (113 cases), followed by 74.0% (91 cases) in continuous monitoring, and 47.0% (16 cases) in SEGs. Instances exceeding 30% were most prevalent in SEGs at 14.7% (five cases), followed by legal measurements at 5.0% (eight cases), and continuous monitoring at 2.4% (three cases). When examining exposure levels through arithmetic means, crystalline silica was found to be 104.7% higher in SEGs at 0.0088 mg/m³ compared to 0.0043 mg/m³ in continuous monitoring. Coal dust measurements were highest in SEGs at 0.1247 mg/m³, followed by 0.1224 mg/m³ in legal measurements, and 0.0935 mg/m³ in continuous monitoring. Conclusions: Strategies involving SEGs measurement and continuous monitoring can enhance measurement reliability in environments with irregular work processes and frequent fluctuations in working conditions, as observed in coal-fired power plants. These strategies reduce the likelihood of omitting or underestimating processes and enhance measurement accuracy. In particular, a significant reduction in detection limits below the threshold for crystalline silica was observed. Supplementary measurements can identify worker exposure characteristics, uncover potential risks in blind spots of management, and provide a complementary method for legal measurements.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2014

Objective: This research focuses on the working environment of office workers and aims to propose an ideal seating posture and chair design. Background: Generally, office workers having to seat in a fixed posture for long periods of time tend to suffer from an increased rate of musculoskeletal disorders. Method: The measurement and survey of 123 office workers on their working conditions and literature survey will lead to a suggestion of an ideal seating posture and workstation design theory. Results: Work environment satisfaction appeared low for chair and desks. Work-related pain over the last year was experienced among 47.2% of the respondents in shoulder (34.2%), neck (30.9%). Observation of working posture revealed that only 27.6% of workers utilize backrest during work. Conclusion: Office work embodies many situations where risks of musculoskeletal disorders may be high. Thus, the seated workplace must be set up to allow proper seating posture for workers. Application: The results of this study can be applied as baseline data for preventing musculoskeletal disorders of office workers.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.105-115
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• 2020

With the decrease of the agricultural population in Korea, the workers who is vulnerable to labor are increasing in agricultural industry because of aging, feminization of population. They are exposed in poor working environment with higher temperature and concentrations of dust, gas. Higher concentration of harmful gas and dust can cause chronic and acute disease to workers depending on exposure intensity and frequency. In order to improve the working environment in the livestock facilities, It is important to secure monitoring data of the thermal environment and the concentration of harmful gases and fine dust. Multi-point measurement was performed to analyze the regional environmental conditions in the pig rooms. When analyzing the working environment, video monitoring was conducted to analyze the concentration changes of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and fine dust according to worker movement and work type. Ammonia and hydrogen sulfide monitoring result showed 1.5~2 times higher concentrations than other work when working in the pigs living zone, and 2~4 times higher than other work when working to increase the activity of pigs. In the case of fine dust, the result was 1.3 times higher than the worker's exposure standard in a specific work. The concentrations of gases and dusts from pig farms are not of concern for acute poisoning in normal work, but there is a risk of chronic respiratory disease if they are continuously exposed. Accordingly, there is a need for development of work environment monitoring device tailored to workers and preparation of alternatives.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.362-370
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• 2022

The assessment of specific impacts on the environment is a preventive measure for environmental protection which is based on the definition and proposal of measures that can prevent harmful effects, reduce or eliminate them. In the physical sense, vibration is the oscillating motion of an object with the effect of internal or external forces applied to it. People who touch a vibrating surface or object will feel these vibrations. In general, there are two types of vibration exposure. The first are the vibrations of the hands and arms transmitted by the held parts of tools or machinery. The second are whole-body vibrations transmitted from a seat or surface to a motorized car. The risk of injury to workers exposed to vibration varies depending on the size, frequency, type, duration of exposure, and organ affected. The purpose of this paper is to review the measurements of vibrations in the Kosovo Energy Corporation in the mine Sibovc Southwest, where coal with a rotary excavator is exploited and the evaluation of vibrations for working conditions for workers working in that environment and improving working conditions for the measurement of vibrations we have used the device Minimate DS 078, the purpose of such environmental impact assessment is to collect data and predict the harmful impacts on the environment, namely the impact on water, air, soil, life and health of as well as identify and propose measures that could prevent, reduce or eliminate altogether.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.65-76
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• 2024

Purpose : This study aimed to develop and validate a reliable tool, the Korean physical therapists' work environment scale (K-PTWES), for assessing the work environment of Korean physical therapists. The study also sought to examine the validity and reliability of the instrument. Methods : This methodological study involved the development and testing of the measurement tool. The conceptual framework was established through a literature review and in-depth interviews with clinical physical therapists. A total of 40 meaningful statements emerged from this process, leading to the generation of 29 primary items. Following a content validity test, 29 items were selected for the preliminary tool. Data were collected from 220 physical therapists across various job roles and unit types, such as outpatient and inpatient physical therapy rooms in domestic hospitals, with more than one year of experience. The final analysis included data from all 220 physical therapists. Results : Varimax rotated principal component analysis was employed for validities, revealing four factors: organizational support, working system, sustainable development, and relationship with coworkers, explaining a total variance of 54.97 %. The Cronbach's α coefficient for the final tool was .939, indicating high reliability. Conclusion : In this study, we developed a measurement tool reflecting the characteristics of the Korean physical therapists' work environment scale (K-PTWES). Our findings highlight the tool demonstrated both validity and reliability. Utilizing this tool is expected to contribute to understanding the work environment of Korean physical therapists and fostering a healthy work environment. Based on our findings, we recommend, firstly, conducting research on the work environment and related factors of physical therapists working in diverse settings using the K-PTWES. Secondly, future studies should focus on validating the tool's criterion-related validity, as it was not addressed in this research.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.96-105
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• 1995

The better industry develops, the more spaces need but in the limited area. Most building become larger and more complicated if the more spaces need in the constant area. And this leads to do underground work in long period generally six(6) months for 6 basement stories due to the selection of TOP DOWN technique. Working environment in this underground area can be problems and should not be overlooked, because air quality in underground spaces become quickly worse. Recently, department name to control construction safety has been changed to ENVIRONMENT & SAFETY TEAM from SAFETY TEAM. This means that it is very important to control against environmental condition at site so much. Overall construction work as well as underground work should conform to the requirement of working environment, particularly against inhabitants around the construction area. Strut protection, one of earth protection method, in case to 40m long strut may become weaker due to thermal stress or its longitudinally compressive strain and the another one, earth anchor protection may not be applied to the site In case of encroaching on vertical underground borderline because of regulation to prohibit it. It is necessary that TOP DOWN technique should be introduced in order to solve the external and internal problem of the site such as difficulty level of the work, potential danger with excavating depth, and shortening workperiod. It is needed that improving way of working condition should be shown and simplified computer simulation program should be also provided for checking pollution level & ventilation, excluding of lighting problem here. Results measured with conformance to the Regulation for Working Environment Measurement, enforced by Ministry of Labor have been applied to the computer program developed here. Sample air taken at unit workplace which was considered as exposing condition of pollutant at breathing point and within a range of behavior of the workers, Identified exposing group in underground work, using Moded Flow Life Finally, three types of ventilation system, type I with blower & ventilator, type II natural supply with mechanical ventilation system, and type I mechanical ventilation with Drivent Fan Unit System are selected for this study.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.328-337
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate differences in concentration according to the position at the left or right shoulder within a 30 cm of radius of workers' respirators and provide basic data for the establishment of an industrial health policy. Methods: Personal samples were collected from a total of 65 workers from 27 manufacturing firms in South Gyeongsang-do Province from November 5, 2011 to December 30, 2012 after classifying the laborers into left- and right-side groups. The organic compound samples were collected and analyzed in accordance with the NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM) 1501. Results: In terms of the concentration of organic compounds collected from both left and right shoulders at the position of workers' respirators, isobutyl acetate was the highest with 145 ppm at the left shoulder, followed by ethyl acetate (133.5 ppm) and toluene (38.13 ppm). At the right shoulder, on the contrary, ethyl acetate (149.3 ppm) was the highest, followed by toluene (46.26 ppm), xylene (29.63ppm) and isopropyl alcohol (28.06 ppm). Overall, the right shoulder was higher than the left shoulder in terms of concentrations. Conclusions: For the measurement of the working environment, workers' personal samples should be collected at the place closest to the respirator. In terms of the reduction of error, the attachment of two sample media is expected to reduce errors in exposure assessment.