Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

The Korean Society of Occupational & Environmental Medicine (대한직업환경의학회)
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Relationship between Workplace Physical and Chemical Hazard Exposures and Mental Health Problems in Korea

직장 내 물리적, 화학적 유해인자 노출과 정신건강 문제의 관련성

  • Joh, Kee-Ock (Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • Park, Tae-Jun (Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • OH, Jae-Il (Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • Paek, Do-Myung (Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • Park, Jung-Sun (Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency) ;
  • Cho, Sung-Il (Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University)
  • 조기옥 (서울대학교 보건대학원 직업환경의학교실) ;
  • 박태준 (서울대학교 보건대학원 직업환경의학교실) ;
  • 오재일 (서울대학교 보건대학원 직업환경의학교실) ;
  • 백도명 (서울대학교 보건대학원 직업환경의학교실) ;
  • 박정선 (한국산업안전보건공단) ;
  • 조성일 (서울대학교 보건대학원 직업환경의학교실)
  • Published : 2011.09.30
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Abstract

Objectives: Mental health and work efficiency are adversely affected by exposure to physical and chemical hazards in the workplace. This study is the first large scale evaluation of the relationship between physical and chemical hazard exposure in the workplace in relation to the mental health of Korean workers. Methods: A national survey of a random sample of workers (n=10,043) was conducted between June and September 2006 in Korea. Physical and chemical hazards in the workplace were considered if exposure occurred over more than a quarter of the time spent at work. Mental health problems were defined as work-related depression, anxiety or insomnia. We analyzed whether physical and chemical hazards were independent risk factors for work-related mental health problems by multiple logistic regression analysis after adjusting for age, gender, employment type, education, occupation, duty schedule, work hours, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Results: The mean age of surveyed workers was 42 years and 58% were male. A total of 7.8% of workers had work-related mental health problems. Exposure to high temperature, mist, fumes, dust, chemicals, and radiation were associated with an increased risk of work-related mental health problems. Conclusions: This study reaffirmed that physical and chemical hazard exposure in the workplace significantly elevates the risk of work-related mental health problems.

목적: 우리나라 작업환경에서 물리적, 화학적 유해인자들 중 어떠한 유해인자들이 노동자들이 호소하는 정신건강문제와의 상관관계가 더 높은지를 파악하고자 하였다. 방법: 이 연구는 한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원에서 시행한 2006년 취업자 근로환경 전국표본조사에 포함된 근로자 10,043명을 대상으로 하였다. 직장 내 물리적, 화학적 유해인자는 지난 12개월 동안 물리적, 화학적 유해인자에 일정 수준 이상의 노출이 있었다고 응답한 경우로 정의하였다. 정신건강문제는 일과 관련하여 우울, 불안 또는 불면증이 있다고 응답한 경우로 정의하였다. 단변량분석과 다중로지스틱 회귀분석을 통해 여러 가지 변수를 보정한 후에 물리화학적 유해인자가 정신건강 문제의 독립적인 연관요인인지를 분석하였다. 결과: 조사대상자의 평균연령은 41.5세 이며, 남성이 57.8% 를 차지 하였다. 정신건강문제는 전체의 7.8%가 경험하였다고 보고하였다. 정신건강 문제와 유의한 관련을 가진 변수는 전신진동, 소음, 고온, 저온, 분진, 미스트, 흄, 유기용제, 화학물질, 방사능노출 간접흡연노출이었으며, 다중 로지스틱 회귀분석에서 다른 변수를 보정한 후에도 방사능, 미스트, 흄, 분진, 간접흡연, 전신진동, 화학물질, 고온, 소음 노출이 정신건강문제와 유의한 연관성을 보였으며, 그 밖에도 고용형태, 직업종류, 교대근무, 작업시간, 음주여부, 업무속도에 따른 변수 등이 통계적으로 유의미한 연관성을 나타냈다. 결론: 본 연구는 작업환경의 물리적, 화학적 유해인자들 중에서도 상대적으로 방사능, 미스트, 흄, 분진, 간접흡연, 전신진동, 화학물질, 고온, 소음 노출이 노동자들의 정신건강문제와 연관성이 높음을 시사하며, 향후 지속적인 연구가 필요함을 뒷받침한다.

Keywords

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