• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 2023

Background: This study investigated the relationship between trauma exposure and suicidal ideation. Moreover, this study examines the moderating roles of organizational climate on the association between trauma exposure and suicidal ideation in Korean male firefighters. Methods: A total of 15,104 male firefighters who completed a questionnaire were analyzed. The data were obtained using an online self-administered questionnaire from the Firefighter Research on Enhancement of Safety and Health Study. Poisson regression analysis was performed to determine the effects of trauma exposure on suicidal ideation and the moderating effect of organizational climate. Results: The results showed that 389 firefighters (2.6%) responded that they had experienced suicidal ideation. In the final model, trauma exposure was positively related to suicidal ideation (adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 1.076; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.051-1.103), and organizational climate was negatively associated with suicidal ideation (aRR, 0.772; 95% CI: 0.739-0.806). Additionally, the interaction term (trauma exposure × organizational climate) was related to suicidal ideation (aRR, 1.016; 95% CI: 1.009-1.023). Conclusions: This study suggests that trauma exposure might play a significant role in developing suicidal ideation and that positive organizational climate moderates the negative effects of trauma exposure on suicidal ideation among firefighters. It is necessary to perform a follow-up study of various intervention strategies to maintain a healthy organizational climate or work environment. Such interventions should promote lasting trust within teams, provide social support and belonging, and nurture job value.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.394-400
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• 2022

Background: Impacts of exposure are generally monitored and recorded after injuries or illness occur. Yet, absence of conventional after-the-effect impacts (i.e., lagging indicators), tend to focus on physical health and injuries, and fail to inform if workers are not exposed to safety and health hazards. In contrast to lagging indicators, leading indicators are proactive, preventive, and predictive indexes that offer insights how effective safety and health. The present study is to validate an extended Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) that consists of six leading indicators. Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to 13 organizations (response rate = 93.1%, 1,439 responses) in Taiwan. Cronbach α, multiple linear regression and canonical correlation were used to test the reliability of the extended Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) which consists of six leading indicators (safe climate, transformational leadership, organizational justice, organizational support, hazard prevention and control, and training). Criteria-related validation strategy was applied to examine relationships of six leading indicators with six criteria (perceived health, burnout, depression, job satisfaction, job performance, and life satisfaction). Results: The results showed that the Cronbach's α of six leading indicators ranged from 0.87 to 0.92. The canonical correlation analysis indicated a positive correlation between the six leading indicators and criteria (1st canonical function: correlation = 0.647, square correlation = 0.419, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The present study validates the extended VPP framework that focuses on promoting safety and physical and mental health. Results further provides applications of the extended VPP framework to promote workers' safety and health.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.415-420
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• 2022

Background: Healthcare workers perform an emotionally exhausting daily work activity, making them prone to occupational hazards, namely psychosocial ones. This study aims to assess the impact of psychosocial risk factors on healthcare workers' mental health. Methods: A cross-sectional study was developed between May and June of 2021 with 479 healthcare workers from Portuguese hospitals. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale was used to assess mental health, and psychosocial risks were assessed through the Health and Work Survey - INSAT. Statistical analysis was performed to identify the psychosocial risk factors related to anxiety, depression, and stress. Subsequently, a multiple linear regression was performed to identify the models that better explained psychosocial risk factors' relationship with anxiety, depression, and stress. Results: Data showed a strong exposure to psychosocial risks. Work pace and intensity, work relationships, and emotional demands stood out with higher global average percentages for yes answers to "exposure and discomfort." The analysis of the b values and p-values from the multiple linear regression shows that some cross-sectional psychosocial risks are predictors of anxiety and stress dimensions, and other psychosocial risks differ in the two mental health dimensions. However, it is important to highlight that healthcare workers still showed great joy and pleasure in performing their work activities. Conclusion: Support network development in the work environment is needed to prevent healthcare workers' emotional stress and promote their psychological well-being. Therefore, new research is essential to understand the psychosocial risks that affect healthcare workers and assess the less visible effects of work-health relationships.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.429-439
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• 2022

Background: The risk observatory (RO) of the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) provides strategic support to the German Social Accident Insurance Institutions (GSAII) in proactive prevention. It does so by identifying future challenges and opportunities for occupational safety and health (OSH) resulting from new trends and developments that affect employees as well as children in elementary education, pupils, and students. Methods: The core of the RO is an online survey that relies on a pool of new trends and developments identified via internet and literature research. 865 prevention experts of the GSAII and the DGUV participated in the survey. They rated trends and developments regarding their sector-specific risks and opportunities for OSH in the 5 years to come. Results: Sector-specific and over-all results show that besides well-known OSH risks such as musculoskeletal stress and noise, developments relevant for OSH come to the fore that do not have their origin in work itself, but are strongly influenced by political, social, economic, environmental, or technical developments that accident insurance can only peripherally influence. Shortage of skilled staff was identified as a threat to OSH in almost all sectors. Conclusions: Prevention must find ways to address repercussions of such OSH risks. Cooperation and political awareness are therefore gaining in importance. Also, implementing a prevention culture in society and strengthening individuals' health and safety literacy, e.g., by target-group-specific communication and sensitization, as well as early safety and health education, help to counteract those OSH risks.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.50-58
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• 2023

Background: Occupational health services are not available for more than 80% of the global workforce. This pertains especially to informal workers, workers in agriculture and in small enterprises, and self-employed. Many are working in hazardous conditions. The World Health Organization, the International Labor Organization, the International Commission on Occupational Health, and the World Organization of Family Doctors promote as part of a solution, basic occupational health services (BOHS) integrated in primary or community health care. Quality information on this topic is difficult to find. The objective of this study is to develop an open access bibliography, a repository, referring to publications on BOHS and similar innovations, to support progress and research. Methods: The database design and sustaining literature searches (PubMed, Google Scholar, SciELO) are described. For each publication selected, basic bibliographic data, a brief content description considering copyright restrictions, and a hyperlink are included. Results: Searches resulted in a database containing 189 references to publications on BOHS such as articles in scientific journals, reports, policy documents, and abstracts of lectures. A global perspective is applied in 43 publications, a national or regional perspective is applied in 146 publications. Operational and evaluative research material is still scarce. Examples of references to publications are shown. Conclusion: The repository can inspire pioneers by showing practices in different countries and can be used for reviews and in-depth analyses. Missing publications such as from China, Russia, Japan, Republic of Korea, and Spanish/Portuguese speaking countries, can be added in the future, and translated. Search functions can be developed. International collaboration for the promotion of occupational health coverage for all workers must be intensified.

• Informatization Policy
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.86-108
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• 2023

This study attempts to explain phenomenologically the shadow work that occurs among Kwangju·Jeonnam business support counselors as video consultation increases due to the counseling management systems used in business consulting for SMEs and digital transformation since COVID-19. Since digital shadow work is widespread, it has been considered basic and mandatory work, not recognized as shadow work itself, assuming that it is continuously used for a long time. We found that, in the case of the newly expanded video consulting systems, most of the users complain of burden and inconvenience and tend to choose face-to-face despite the time and cost savings associated with the former. These study results practically suggest that, in order to implement such digital systems successfully, a well-prepared system, an elaborate way of reducing the burden and inconvenience, and an adaptation period are considered critical as they can minimize the shadow work of users.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.453-464
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• 2023

To this day, conflicts have intensified between managers who want to preserve biosphere reserves and citizen who want to develop them. Based on this problem, this study seeks to investigate the establishment of a forum for communication between various stakeholders and to promote the economic development of local communities while preserving biodiversity. First, in terms of conservation, the results indicated that Gyeonggi Province and Namyangju City highly valued direct conservation activities in biosphere reserves, whereas Pocheon and Uijeongbu City highly valued indirect conservation functions through management or monitoring. Second, in terms of development, it was found that there were differences in the roles, perceptions and responsibilities with respect to biosphere reserves among the different layers of government: the central government agency, the Cultural Heritage Administration, the metropolitan government, Gyeonggi-do, and the local governments, Pocheon, Namyangju, and Uijeongbu. Third, in terms of logistical support, which serves as a function for communication and practical participation among management entities, the results suggested that it was necessary to establish a comprehensive decision-making organization for efficient management and operation and to provide opportunities for active participation. The study can be utilized as a basic reference for developing efficient communication by management entities in protected areas with similar challenges.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.185-193
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• 2023

The purpose of the study was to analyze the narrative meaning of the peritext in the picture-book of 『The Legend of Pat-bing-su』. For the purpose, based on the narrative components proposed by Nam and Kim, the narrative meanings of the peritext were analyzed. As the results, the peritexts of 『The Legend of Red Pat-bing-su』 include basic information of the title, author's name, and publication information, and physical elements of hard cover binding with matte rectangular paper that matches the narrative, which support prior understanding of the narratives. In addition, the peritext components such as covers, endpapers, title page, and copyright page lead readers to predict or expand narratives components to predict, expand, or transform the narrative, and provide additional information for understanding plots or genres.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.625-631
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• 2023

This study proposes an analysis model that can reflect the actual behavior of the rail floating track, and the most reasonable model was analyzed through field measurement and numerical analysis. It was analyzed that the current design theory analysis results of rail floating tracks were different from the field measurement results and were not suitable to reflect the actual behavior. In the rail floating track, it was analyzed that the subsidence of the point directly affects the total displacement rather than the displacement due to the bending of the rail. As a result of numerical analysis, it was analyzed that the analysis result of the proposed model, which is a parallel arrangement spring model that does not have a support point directly below the rail, reflects the actual behavior. The analysis model presented in this study can be used to predict track behavior when designing and maintaining rail floating tracks in the future.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.371-376
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• 2023

Time-honored Brand refers to a product, technology or service with a long history, and refers to a brand that has a traditional Chinese cultural background and deep historical heritage, and has been socially recognized and has formed an excellent reputation. Some Time-honored Brand are developing, but some Time-honored Brand are facing a crisis of survival, and the Chinese government and society are announcing various support policies to strive for continued development. Currently, there is a lack of research on Time-honored Brand in Korea, so this study analyzed the history, current status, and competitiveness of the Chinese cosmetics brand XieFuchun. As a result of the research, XieFuchun is the first cosmetics company in China, has manufacturing techniques inherited from traditional culture, and currently maintains a significant market share. XieFuchun's competitiveness was analyzed using the 5-Forces model, and implications and development models for Time-honored Brand enterprises were presented.