• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.464-476
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the exposure levels of tollbooth workers to diesel particulate matter using black carbon (BC) and to find the correlations among variables associated with BC using the motor vehicle management act regulated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Methods: This study was performed over 14 days at a university in Seoul. BC levels were monitored using an aethalometer and were conducted around the breathing zones of the workers. There were three sampling locations: inside the tollbooth (front gate and rear gate) and an office as a control group. T-test, correlation, and multiple linear regression analysis were performed using SPSS. Results: The geometric mean (GM) of BC_30min concentrations in the exposure group was 2.44 ㎍/㎥, approximately 1.4 times higher than the control group (1.75 ㎍/㎥). The GM of BC_30min concentrations was 2.75 ㎍/㎥ during the heavy traffic time (9-10 am) and 2.30 ㎍/㎥ during non-heavy traffic times (p<0.001). The multiple linear regression analysis shows that the number of all types of vehicles and PM_2.5 concentrations in the atmosphere were factors increasing the GM of BC(ln(BC_30min)) concentrations (adjusted R²=0.42, p<0.001). The workers were constantly exposed to low concentrations (GM of BC_30min=2.44 ㎍/㎥), but they were exposed to peak concentrations instantly (BC_10sec=3545.04 ㎍/㎥). When the GM of BC_30min concentrations was momentarily represented as high, it was identified that a vehicle mainly using diesel fuel or an aging vehicle had passed. Conclusions: A ventilation system should be installed in the closed tollbooth or aging vehicles should be controlled so as not to pass tollbooths.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.123-138
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• 2018

In this paper, we use panel dataset from Korean linked worker-firm to analyse the effects of the workforce age structure on the productivity or labor costs. We measure 'labor productivity' as added value per capita, 'cost of labor' as labor cost per capita and estimate a dynamic panel model to study the effects of the workforce age structure on the productivity or labor costs. Empirical analysis results show that the workforce age structure is positively related to productivity and labor costs, but only up to the aged of 35-39. That is, we find that an increase in the proportion of younger workers or elder workers rather than the aged 35-39 has a negative effect on productivity and labor cost. In particular, the difference between the estimation coefficient of productivity and labor cost when the share of workers aged 50 or older is increased instead of the aged 35-39 is higher than the difference between the estimation coefficient of productivity and labor cost when the share of workers aged 30 or younger is increased instead of the aged 35-39. Our results exhibit that it is reasonable for firms to worry about declining productivity of elderly workers, whereas firms already used older workers efficiently, such as by adjusting their labor costs.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.573-583
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of noise exposure and aging on changes in hearing threshold level and the relationship between age and noise. Materials: The author selected 274 male shipyard and assembly line workers as the noise exposed group and 582 males not exposed to noise as the general population group. Data were collected from five years of consecutive annual audiometric tests performed from 2008 to 2012. Results: In the general population and noise exposed groups, there was a reverse phenomenon that hearing threshold level for 2009 was lower than that of 2008, which seemed to be due to the learning effect, but from 2010 hearing threshold level increased. In the noise exposed group, the mean hearing threshold level in the left ear was significantly higher than that for right ear. In the general population group, the older was the age, the higher was the hearing threshold level, especially at 4000 Hz. In the general population and noise exposed groups, frequency, age group and noise exposure independently affected hearing threshold level, and there was no relationship between age and noise exposure. Over all frequencies, the change of hearing threshold level was larger in the noise exposed group than in the general population group. In the noise exposed group below thirty years old, the change at 4000 Hz was remarkable. Conclusions: Age and noise exposure seem to affect hearing threshold level independently and contribute to an additive effect on hearing threshold level.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.513-523
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• 2017

Purpose: We evaluated the psychometric properties of a questionnaire on the acceptance of the quality improvement information system (QIIS) among long-term care workers (mostly nurses). Methods: The questionnaire composes of 21 preliminary questions with 5 domains based on the Technology Acceptance Model and related literature reviews. We developed a prototype web-based comprehensive resident assessment system, and collected data from 126 subjects at 75 long-term care facilities and hospitals, who used the system and responded to the questionnaire. A priori factor structure was developed using an exploratory factor analysis and validated by a confirmatory factor analysis; its reliability was also evaluated. Results: A total of 16 items were yielded, and 5 factors were extracted from the explanatory factor analysis: Usage Intention, Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, Social Influence, and Innovative Characteristics. The five-factor structure model had a good fit (Tucker-Lewis index [TLI]=.976; comparative fit index [CFI]=.969; standardized root mean squared residual [SRMR]=.052; root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA]=.048), and the items were internally consistent(Cronbach's ${\alpha}=.91$). Conclusion: The questionnaire was valid and reliable to measure the technology acceptance of QIIS among long-term care workers, using the prototype.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.257-272
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• 2015

This study is to verify how the economic, social and moderating effect factors of baby boomer generation workers' affect the subjective health evaluation. The subjective of this study was 1,202 workers of baby boomer generation by using the 4th data of Korea longitudinal study of aging(KLoSA) from Korea Labor Institute in 2012. Economic and social factors were selected as scales to analyze if there is meaningful difference in subjective health evaluation. Method of frequency analysis, t-test, ANOVA and correlation analysis was used, and multi regression analysis was also conducted to verify whether the private health insurance has control effect over the relation between the subjective health evaluation and the economic & social factor. As a result of the study, age, education, home ownership, peer group meeting, overall satisfaction, private health insurance were major factors affecting the subjective health evaluation of baby boomer generation. Moreover private health care were turned out to have a moderation effect in relation between economic, social factor and subjective health evaluation.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.291-300
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• 2020

Background: The study aimed to determine the association of individual cognitive ability in late midlife with labor market participation among older workers. Methods: This prospective cohort study estimates the risk of long-term sickness absence, disability pension, early retirement, and unemployment from scores on the Intelligenz-Struktur-Test 2000R by combining data from 5076 workers from the Copenhagen Aging and Midlife Biobank with a register on social transfer payments. Analyses were stepwise adjusted for age, gender, physical and psychosocial work environment, health behaviors, occupational social class, education, and chronic diseases. Results: In the fully adjusted model, low cognitive ability (≥1 standard deviation below the mean for each gender) and high cognitive ability (≥1 standard deviation above the mean for each gender) were not associated with risk of any of the four labor market outcomes. Conclusion: Individual cognitive ability in late midlife was not associated with risk of long-term sickness absence, disability pension, early retirement, and unemployment in the fully adjusted model. Thus, no direct effect of individual cognitive ability in late midlife was observed on the risk of permanently or temporarily leaving the labor market.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.100-106
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• 2013

According to the Statistics Korea, in 2011, people over the age of 65 years old accounted for 11.8% of Korea's population. This number is expected to rise to 15.0% by 2019, making Korea an "aged society". As age increases, physical ability degrades to the point that the workload must be adjusted limitations. However, workloads are given regardless of workers' ages or abilities. In addition, a decline in work efficiency due to aging also increases the risk of work-related injuries. Furthermore, the cases of stress related diseases along with musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs) rise as main factors of industrial disasters and excessive job stress gives negative influence not only on mental health but also on physical health so that job stress becomes a hot issue as a main cause of work ability falloff and turnover. The purpose of this research is to examine how the sociodemographic characteristics, MSDs symptoms and musculoskeletal workload of workers in the manufacturing industry of automobile parts influence work ability and job stress. As a result of the research, job ability showed significant differences statistically according to age, working year, sex, marital status and musculoskeletal workload and job stress showed significant differences statistically according to age, working year, marital status and musculoskeletal workload. In addition, it showed that as the worker's job ability decreases, job stress increases.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.3845-3857
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• 2015

This study is an analysis of the factors affecting the re-employment will and re-employment of the elderly workers, using the aging pannel(KLoSA). As a results of the analysis, re-employment will of high school graduates is higher than that of college graduates, but re-employment possibility is lower. This is somewhat contradictory results with other studies. This seems to be influenced by a large number of highly educated baby boomers' retire. 50s' re-employment will was lower than 60s'. As job factors, employed period and scale has a positive effect. In contrast, type of industry, job haven't. In order to induce the re-employment of the elderly, inhibiting expansion of self-employment, job creation, irregular and minimum wage system improvements, Customized services are needed.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1221-1227
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• 2013

This study aims to establish the prevalence and risk factors of knee pain. Study subjects in this survey were 306 farm workers of the two-Myon, Keumsan-Gun, Chungnam-Do. Collected data was self-administered questionnaires that were investigated in February 1 to march 31, 2012, about the existence of knee pain, age, sex, height, weight, and the type of farm work. As a results, females had more knee pain than males. Aging was a major cause of knee pain in both genders. About half of persons over 60 years old had knee pain. Tall and heavy females had more knee pain than short and light females, but this trend was not observed in males. these results represent fundamental data for prevention of knee pain.