• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.321-327
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• 2011

Objectives: To find out from an analysis of empirical data the levels of influence, which a labor union (LU) and Occupational Safety and Health Committee (OSHC) have in reducing the occupational injury and illness rate (OIIR) through their accident prevention activities in manufacturing industries with five or more employees. Methods: The empirical data used in this study are the Occupational Safety and Health Tendency survey data, Occupational Accident Compensation data and labor productivity and sales data for the years 2003 to 2007. By matching these three sources of data, a final data set (n = 280) was developed and analyzed using SPSS version 18 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: It was found that a workplace with a LU has a lower OIIR than one without a LU. In manufacturing industries with five or more employees in 2007, the OIIR of the workplaces without a LU was 0.87%, while that of workplaces with a LU was much lower at 0.45%. In addition, workplaces with an established OSHC had a lower OIIR than those without an OSHC. Conclusion: It was found that the OIIR of workplaces with a LU is lower than those without a LU. Moreover, those with the OSHC usually had a lower OIIR than those without. The workplace OIIR may have an impact on management performance because the rate is negatively correlated with labor productivity and sales. In the long run, the OIIR of workplaces will be reduced when workers and employers join forces and recognize that the safety and health activities of the workplace are necessary, not only for securing the health rights of the workers, but also for raising labor productivity.

• Journal of Construction Engineering and Project Management
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2014

Comparatively, the construction industry has, on average, a higher rate of fatal and major injuries, work induced ill-health and damage to properties than other industrial sectors; and this is a source of concern to industry stakeholders. The study showed that although subcontracting could be contributory to an increase in workplace accidents in the construction industry, contractual aspects of subcontracting arrangements (such as the power imbalance that exist along the client-customer interface) also present opportunities for improvements in health and safety management (HSM) practices in organisations. This conclusion was reached after an analysis of a questionnaire survey (with a 27% response rate) that assessed the attitudes and perception to health and safety issues.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.192-198
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• 2012

Objectives: Slip and fall accidents in the workplace are one of the top causes of work related fatalities and injuries. Previous studies have indicated that fall risk was related to postural and dynamic stability. However, the usage of this theoretical relationship was limited by laboratory based measuring instruments. The current study proposed a new method for stability assessment by use of inertial measurement units (IMUs). Methods: Accelerations at different body parts were recorded by the IMUs. Postural and local dynamic stability was assessed from these measures and compared with that computed from the traditional method. Results: The results demonstrated: 1) significant differences between fall prone and healthy groups in IMU assessed dynamic stability; and 2) better power of discrimination with multi stability index assessed by IMUs. Conclusion: The findings can be utilized in the design of a portable screening or monitoring tool for fall risk assessment in various industrial settings.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.73-80
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• 2001

The purpose of human factor study is to help the people in good conditions, and to increase the efficiency of physical productivity and mental creativity Also for the furniture design field, the applications of human scale dimensions are considered as the very important aspects. For the design of the office systems furniture, designer must consider the onveniences of variable users as much as possible. To design the office systems for the various work environment, it is necessary to analyze the human scale dimensions according to the furniture items and the user behaviors. In these days, many countries are interested about the workplace ergonomic regulations to reduce a class of injuries called ‘Musculoskeletal Disorders(MSDs)’ by controlling risk factors. In this study, I intend to research and to analyze the features of human scale dimensions and the user behaviors of office environment, and propose some office furniture design tips.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.53-64
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• 2004

Repetition Strain Injury (RSI) is usually caused or aggravated by poor work processes and unsuitable working conditions - that involve repetitive or forceful movements or the maintenance of constrained or awkward postures. The condition is characterized by discomfort and persistent pain. There are three essential steps to eliminate or control hazards In workplace. Case and Demographic Characteristics for Work-related Injuries and illnesses Involving Days Away From Work, 2002. U.S' was examined. Causes of press operators' RSI were carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS), tendonitis, low back pain, and occupational stress. Recommendations for improvement of productivity are redesign of working conditions, exercise, prevent of RSI and avoiding stress.

• Proceedings of the ESK Conference
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.160-167
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• 1997

The statistics of work related Low Back Pains(LBPs) in Korea and outside the countires have erviewed. Despite improved working enviroment with increased automation in industry, the LBPs hve been gradually increased and the workers compensation of such injuries has increased drama- tically. An epidemiological study indicated tha tthe LBPs is te major cause of injury, lost time and medical costs in many industrial workplace especially, a high occurrence rate of LBPs among construction and manufacturing workers. The objective of this study is to investigate problems involved with LBPs in Korea and outside the country for identifying its possible causal factors and characteristics. This study will thus contribute as a basic reference to the industries and ergonomic practitioners for preventing and managing LBPs.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.11-20
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• 2000

Today, technologies and automation have been accelerated up in the industrial workplace. Nevertheless, many systems still require humans to handle materials manually. The Low Back Pain (LBP) is one of modern human being's most common and complex ailments. Many risk factors with the onset of LBP have been identified, however, lifting out of Manual Material Handling(MMH) was the most important factor to the LBP. The Virtual Reality(VR) is used in a variety of ways and often in a confusion and misleading manner. In order to solve the prevention of the LBP, a lifting box was translated in the Virtual Environment(VE). As simulating under the VE, optimal lifting works could be constructed. The purpose of this study is to reduce the chronical low back pain for the manual material handlers.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.95-103
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aims to identify general, workplace, and health-related characteristics of outdoor workers exposed to high temperatures, and to compare the risk of disease according to outdoor high temperature exposure. Methods: This secondary analysis study used the 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey (2017) to identify 4,915 outdoor workers exposed to high temperatures. Results: Outdoor workers exposed to high temperatures were mostly male, elderly, less educated, and daily contract workers. Most of them were engaged in agriculture, forestry and fishing, and construction industries. About 40~50% of them complained of musculoskeletal pain and overall fatigue. The results showed that high temperature exposure increased the risk of illness (hearing problem, skin problem, backache, muscular pains in upper and lower limbs, headache/eyestrain, injuries, depression, and overall fatigue) among workers. Conclusion: High temperature exposure might increase the risk of illness among workers. The results of this study demonstrated that the outdoor workers should be protected from high temperatures.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2015.10a
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• pp.138-141
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• 2015

The South Korean construction industry has shown a high proportion of industrial accidents (approximately 28% of whole injuries) and the continuously increasing accident rate. Although many safety research emphasized that the 3E (Enforcement, Education, and Engineering) approach is a potential solution to enhance workplace safety, there should be benefits to consider psychological (i.e., Emotional) effects on the safety performance since most construction works are human-oriented. Thus, understanding construction workers' psychological conditions can be a priority. This research studied the relationships between psychological conditions-which cover stress, personal temperament, emotional disturbance, and drinking habit-and specific safety-related factors including safety motivation and knowledge, and safety performance of individual workers at a construction site. This study conducted a survey of 430 respondents and analyzed the data with the multiple linear regressions. The results imply persistence, trait anxiety, and problem-focused coping style are the critical factors that should be controlled for enhancing jobsite safety. Finally, the research outcomes could be applied to build a strategic safety management plan for a construction manager.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.42-52
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• 2018

Background: Maintenance operations on-board ships are highly demanding. Maintenance operations are intensive activities requiring high man-machine interactions in challenging and evolving conditions. The evolving conditions are weather conditions, workplace temperature, ship motion, noise and vibration, and workload and stress. For example, extreme weather condition affects seafarers' performance, increasing the chances of error, and, consequently, can cause injuries or fatalities to personnel. An effective human error probability model is required to better manage maintenance on-board ships. The developed model would assist in developing and maintaining effective risk management protocols. Thus, the objective of this study is to develop a human error probability model considering various internal and external factors affecting seafarers' performance. Methods: The human error probability model is developed using probability theory applied to Bayesian network. The model is tested using the data received through the developed questionnaire survey of >200 experienced seafarers with >5 years of experience. The model developed in this study is used to find out the reliability of human performance on particular maintenance activities. Results: The developed methodology is tested on the maintenance of marine engine's cooling water pump for engine department and anchor windlass for deck department. In the considered case studies, human error probabilities are estimated in various scenarios and the results are compared between the scenarios and the different seafarer categories. The results of the case studies for both departments are also compared. Conclusion: The developed model is effective in assessing human error probabilities. These probabilities would get dynamically updated as and when new information is available on changes in either internal (i.e., training, experience, and fatigue) or external (i.e., environmental and operational conditions such as weather conditions, workplace temperature, ship motion, noise and vibration, and workload and stress) factors.