Journal of the Korean Society of Safety (한국안전학회지)

The Korean Society of Safety (한국안전학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Risk and Improvement Measures of Work from Home in the Post-COVID-19 Era - Focusing on Mental and Physical Issues

포스트 코로나 시대 재택근무의 위험성과 개선방향 - 정신적, 신체적 사안을 중심으로

  • Tae Soo Eum (Department of Safety Engineering, Incheon National University) ;
  • Eun Taek Shin (Department of Safety Engineering, Incheon National University) ;
  • Chang Geun Song (Department of Safety Engineering, Incheon National University)
  • 엄태수 (인천대학교 안전공학과) ;
  • 신은택 (인천대학교 안전공학과) ;
  • 송창근 (인천대학교 안전공학과)
  • Received : 2023.03.27
  • Accepted : 2023.06.09
  • Published : 2023.06.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted how people work, resulting in a massive shift towards working from home or remotely. Work from home has played a critical role in reducing the transmission of COVID-19 by limiting in-person interactions and reducing the density of people in office buildings. It also enabled businesses and organizations to continue operating while keeping their employees safe and healthy. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of work from home in business and organizational sectors worldwide, and it is likely to continue as a preferred mode of work even after the pandemic is over. This shift towards working from home has not only impacted the way people work but also has significant implications for urban development, transportation, and the environment. This study intends to develop measures for addressing potential physical and mental health issues among remotely working employees. Additionally, it identifies the major influencing factors of home workers' health hazards and proposes improvement measures that can be applied to working from home, along with existing laws and prevention methods.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by Korea Environment Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI) through R&D Program for Innovative Flood Protection Technologies against Climate Crisis Project, funded by Korea Ministry of Environment (MOE) (2022003470001).

References

  1. Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Press Release: Social Distancing Level 4 for the Seoul Metropolitan Area [Internet], South Korea, July 9 [cited 2021 August 28], 2021.
  2. New York Times, What if You Don't Want to Go Back to the Office?, 2020. 5. 5.(https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/ 05/business/pandemic-work-from-home-coronavirus.html)
  3. J. M. Barrero, N. Bloom and S. J. Davis, COVID-19 is also a Reallocation Shock (No. w27137), National Bureau of Economic Research, 2020.
  4. National Information Society Agency, Smart Work Fact-finding Report, 2019.
  5. Ministry of Employment and Labor, Work-family Compatibility Survey as of 2018, 2019.
  6. Y. I. Bae and H. R. Shin, COVID-19 Accelerates the Untact Society, Issue & Analysis (Gyeonggi Research Institute), Vol. 416, pp. 1-26, 2020
  7. H. K. Kim, M. H. Lee and H. J. Song, "Safety Estimation Index of Infectious Disease (COVID-19) in Workplaces", J. Korean Soc. Saf., Vol. 37, No. 2, pp. 88-96, 2022.
  8. H. Oh and M. K. Bae, "Analysis of the Effect of Urban Characteristics on the Number of COVID-19 Confirmed Patients", J. Korean Soc. Saf., Vol. 37, No. 4, pp. 80-91, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2022.37.e228
  9. Alternatives of Telecommuting Facilitation for Metropolitan Transportation Improvement, Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements, 2005.
  10. Blok, Groenesteijn, Schelvis and Vink, "New Ways of Working: Does Flexibility in Time and Location of Work Change Work Behavior and Affect Business Outcomes?", Work, Vol. 41, pp. 2605-2610, 2012. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-2012-1028-2605
  11. Main Contents and Q&A of the Telecommuting Guidelines of the Ministry of Employment and Labor, 2020.
  12. J. S. Han and H. O. Hong, A Study on Working and Preferred Environment of Home-based Telecommuter, 2012.
  13. Ministry of Employment and Labor, Comprehensive Manual for Working from Home, 2020.
  14. T. H. Kim et al., "Social Distancing in COVID-19: Whatare the Implications for Musculoskeletal Problems and the Quality of Llife?", J. Korean Phys. Ther., Vol. 33, No. 2, pp. 84-90, 2021. https://doi.org/10.18857/jkpt.2021.33.2.84
  15. S. U. Jo, S. Y. Shim and S. N. Nam, "The Effect of Body Composition, Pulmonary Function, and Physical Fitness in Sedentary Office Worker by Exercise", J. Korean Soc. Living Environ Sys., Vol. 19, No. 3, pp. 336-343, 2012.
  16. U. Ekelund et al., "Physical Activity and Gain in Abdominal Adiposity and Body Weight: Prospective Cohort Study in 288,498 Men and Women", Am J Clin Nutr., Vol. 93, No. 4, pp. 826-835, 2011.
  17. J. P. Thyfault et al., "Physiology of Sedentary Behavior and its Relationship to Health Outcomes", Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 47, No. 6, pp. 1301-1305, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000000518
  18. S. H. Park, "Effects of Employment Status Changes on Mental Health", Seoul University, Dissertation of Master's Degree, 2009.
  19. S. B. Lee, "Effects of Change in Employment Status before/after the COVID-19 on the Depression Change: Moderating Effects of Age", The Journal of Humanities and Social Science, Vol. 12, No. 3, pp. 1213-1226, 2021.
  20. EU-OSHA'S Prevention Measures to Counter Prolonged Sitting Risks, 28th July, 2021.
  21. Research on Cerebral Cardiovascular Disease Overwork Criteria, Labor, 2008.
  22. M. Kivimakiet et al., "Long Working Hours and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Published and Unpublished Data for 603838 Individuals", The Lancet, Vol. 386, pp. 1739-1746, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60295-1
  23. G. S. Moon, "The Study for the Potential Injury of Spinal Column on using the Smart Phone with the Postures", Korean J. Sport Sci., Vol. 25, No. 4, pp. 1529-1540, 2016.
  24. J. H. Park, "The Influences of Postures, Daily Habits, Smartphone Usage, Physical Activity Levels and Physical Fitness on the Spinal and Pelvic Deformations", Kyung Hee University, Dissertation of Doctorate Degree, 2018.
  25. C. Y. Kim, A Correlation Study on the between Actuality of using a Visual Display Terminal in University Students and VDT Syndrome", HanSeo University, Dissertation of Master's Degree, 2016.
  26. J. C. Song et al., "Work Related Upper-extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders among Visual Display Terminal (VDT) Users in a Telecommunication Company in Seoul, Korea, Korean J. Aerosp Environ Med., Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 37-45, 2003.
  27. Key Statistics for Medical Expenses in 2019, Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, 2020.
  28. European Working Conditions Survey Exploring Selfemployment in the European Union, Eurofound, Research Report, 2015.
  29. E. Lee, "Corona 19 Generation, Good Mental Health!", Issue& Analysis, Vol. 2020, No. 5, pp. 1-25, 2020.
  30. COVID-19 National Mental Health Survey, Ministry of Health and Welfare, 2022.
  31. C. Brod, "Managing Technostress: Optimizing the use of Computer Technology, Pers. J., Vol. 61, No. 10, pp. 753-757, 1982.
  32. C. Brod, Technostress: The Human Cost of the Computer Revolution, Addison-Wesley, 1984.
  33. Analysis of Treatment Status for Depression and Anxiety Disorders in the Last 5 Years (2017-2021), Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, 2022.