• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.457-466
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• 2023

Background: During hot environment work tasks with whole-body enclosed anti-bioaerosol suit, the combined effect of heavy sweating and exhaled hot humid air may cause the N95 medical respirator to saturate with water/sweat (i.e., water-blocking). Methods: 32 young male subjects with different body mass indexes (BMI) in whole-body protection (N95 medical respirator + one-piece protective suit + head covering + protective face screen + gloves + shoe covers) were asked to simulate waste collecting from each isolated room in a seven-story building at 27-28℃, and the weight, inhalation resistance (R_f), and aerosol penetration of the respirator before worn and after water-blocking were analyzed. Results: All subjects reported water-blocking asphyxia of the N95 respirators within 36-67 min of the task. When water-blocking occurred, the R_f and 10-200 nm total aerosol penetration (P_t) of the respirators reached up to 1270-1810 Pa and 17.3-23.3%, respectively, which were 10 and 8 times of that before wearing. The most penetration particle size of the respirators increased from 49-65 nm before worn to 115-154 nm under water-blocking condition, and the corresponding maximum size-dependent aerosol penetration increased from 2.5-3.5% to 20-27%. With the increase of BMI, the water-blocking occurrence time firstly increased then reduced, while the R_f, P_t, and absorbed water all increased significantly. Conclusions: This study reveals respirator water-blocking and its serious negative impacts on respiratory protection. When performing moderate-to-high-load tasks with whole-body protection in a hot environment, it is recommended that respirator be replaced with a new one at least every hour to avoid water-blocking asphyxia.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2007.10c
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• pp.59-61
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• 2007

This paper proposes optimized actuator to obtain a improved position control ability and respiratory performance with reduced weight. Respiratory organ uses actuator and controls patient's respiratory air volume. Therefore, actuator decides respiratory performance. Redesign actuator using surface response method. Actuator that is reestablished through 3D-simulations searches whether have suitable characteristic to respiratory organ.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1013-1021
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• 2017

Exposure to Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM) potentially causes adverse health effects (e.g. respiratory symptoms, lung cancer). Due to a lack of data on Elemental Carbon (EC) exposure levels in underground copper ore mining (unlike other underground mining industries such as non-metallic and coal mining), this case study aims to provide individual miners' EC exposure levels, and information on their work practices including use of personal protective equipment. EC measurement was carried out during different work activities (i.e. drilling, driving a loader, plant fitting, plant operation, driving a Specialized Mining Vehicle (SMV)) as per NIOSH Method 5040. The copper miners were working 10 h/day and 5 days/week. This study found that the most significant exposures to EC were reported from driving a loader (range $0.02-0.42mg/m^3$). Even though there were control systems (i.e. water tanks and DPM filters) on the diesel vehicles, around 49.5% of the results were over the adjusted recommendable exposure limit ($0.078mg/m^3$). This was probably due to: (1) driver's frequently getting in and out of the diesel vehicles and opening the windows of the diesel vehicles, and (2) inappropriate maintenance of the diesel vehicles and the DPM control systems. The use of the P2 type respirator provided was less than 19.2%. However, there was no significant difference between the day shift results and the night shift results. In order to prevent or minimize exposure to EC in the copper ore mine, it is recommended that the miners are educated in the need to wear the appropriate respirator provided during their work shifts, and to maintain the diesel engine and emission control systems on a regular basis. Consideration should be given to a specific examination of the diesel vehicles' air-conditioning filters and the air ventilation system to control excessive airborne contaminants in the underground copper mine.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.109-123
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• 2020

Objectives: The aims of this study were to review the standards and key components of the standards for disposable masks in Korea, the US, EU, Japan, and China and to evaluate the appropriateness of disposable masks during a virus pandemic. Methods: We reviewed the standards in the above countries and compared their key elements for each standard. For the second purpose, systemic paper gathering using key words like 'mask', 'respirator' 'virus', and 'coronavirus' in the PubMed search engine was performed. Fifty-three papers were selected and reviewed in regard to the appropriateness of test protocols with sodium chloride(NaCl) particles for virus filtration and the effectiveness against viruses. Results: The standards for masks are largely divided into two categories: US standards and EU standards. In Korea, the Ministry of Employment and Labor adapted the EU standards for workers and the Health Masks adopted the Ministry of Employment and Labor standards by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Regarding airborne viral infections, WHO emphasizes only droplet infection, while many studies have shown that small particles enter the air through coughing or sneezing, which increases the possibility of airborne infection. Compared to other particles, various factors such as airborne viability and the ability to replicate the virus in the body are further involved in the virus's airborne infection rate. Airborne infection is classified into absolute air infection, preferential air infection, and opportunistic air infection. The NaCl-certified N95 mask showed good filtration efficiency against viruses and NaCl particles were proved to be a surrogate material for viruses. From this, KF94 is also expected to be effective in blocking viruses. Conclusion: The N95 test method could be used as a surrogate test method for virus filtration. N95-class masks have been found to effectively block viral infections in the air. However, surgical or medical masks are only partially effective against airborne virus infection though they could effectively block large droplet infection. However, most studies considered in this study targeted N95 in foreign countries and studies on masks actually used in Korea are very limited, so studies on microorganisms and reuse on domestic masks should be conducted in the future.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.95-102
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• 2004

This paper has analyzed compressed air-breathing that fire fighters use in Korea. And the local and the foreign standards for compressed air have been compared. Through the survey, it has been found that over 75% of all the respondents have ever had simple abnormal symptoms after wearing air respirators, and among the abnormal symptoms, nausea and headache are most frequent. Maintenance and exchange of compressor filters were poor and it can be another cause of abnormal symptom of fire fighters. Korea does'nt have any particular standards for compressed air-breathing, and the compressed air that is used by fire fighters is not different from air for industrial use. However, advanced countries like Europe, Canada and America, they have special standards for compressed air-breathing that fire fighters use. Through the analysis of components of the compressed air used in Korea, it has been found that all the samples have more water than the international standards.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.21 no.2 s.74
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• pp.138-142
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• 2006

Occupational asthma is commonly known to be induced by isocyanate exposure. Spray painters generally use isocyanates for 2-pack spray painting to coat wooden panel surfaces in the furniture industry in South Australia. Due to a lack of actual exposure data, this study conducted environmental and dermal/ocular monitoring from a company in the furniture industry. According to this study, there was no significant airborne contamination, due to the use of high volume low pressure (HVLP) spray guns, low concentration of hardener in paint solutions and appropriate respirator like full face-air line respirator. There was no significant HDI detection in the general work area around the spray booths. Owing to the use of disposable nitrile gloves during the spray painting, no significant dermal exposure was found. According to color monitoring, there was a possible dermal exposure from surfaces in the workplace, unless either protective gloves were worn or appropriate working practices like clean-up process and storage in a secure places. No eye contamination was detected from the spray painters. No significant exposure levels from inhalational, dermal, ocular were found. The area of most concern was work practices.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.117-129
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• 2023

This study tested the effect on the toxicity of formaldehyde to select a shelter site due to formaldehyde leakage. As a result of the experiment, the range of ERPG-2 and 3 is between 2.2km and 9.6km, ASET is 6 minutes at 1km, 15 minutes at 3km, 22 minutes at 5km, and the lethality rate is 99.9% at 1km and 9% at 3km. In areas where refuge time is less than 15 minutes or the lethality rate is more than 2%, a shelter is installed. This is because if there are only a few evacuees, the evacuation time may take longer than the pre-movement time of 15 minutes or less specified in PD 7974-6:2004, and the lethality rate with the lowest number of deaths was calculated to be 2%. The shelter must be equipped with a hepa-filter, positive pressure equipment, air purifier, air respirator, goggles, chemical protective clothing type 4 and sufficient parking space must be secured to ensure the safety of evacuees.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2011

The adsorption capacity of charcoal is a function of the airborne concentration of the target chemical. To evaluate the adsorption capacity of charcoal packed in the cartridges of air purifying respirators, breakthrough tests were conducted with carbon tetrachloride for three commercial cartridges (3M models #7251, #6000 and AX) at 25, 50, 100, 250 and 500 ppm. Adsorption capacities were calculated using a mass transfer balance equation derived from the curve fitting to the breakthrough curves obtained experimentally. Carbon micropore volumes were estimated by iteration to fit the Dubinin/Radushkevich (D/R) adsorption isotherm. They were 0.6566, 0.5727 and 0.3087 g/cc for #7251, #6000 and the AX cartridge, respectively. Above 100 ppm (at high challenge concentrations), #7251 and #6000 showed higher adsorption capacities. However, as the challenge concentration decreased, the adsorption capacities of #7251 and #6000 sharply dropped. On the other hand, the adsorption capacity of the AX cartridge showed little change with the decrease of the challenge concentration. Thus, the AX showed a higher adsorption capacity than #7251 and #6000 at the 5-50 ppm level. It is concluded that service-life tests of cartridges and adsorption capacity tests of charcoal should be conducted at challenge concentration levels reflecting actual working environmental conditions. Alternatively, it is recommended to use the D/R adsorption isotherm to extrapolate adsorption capacity at low concentration levels from the high concentration levels at which breakthrough tests are conducted, at a minimum of two different concentration levels.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.419-426
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aims to develop an Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) guide for the safe cleaning of contaminated machinery, equipment, and parts used in the electronics manufacturing process. Methods: A literature review, field investigations, and discussions were conducted. An initial draft of an OSH guide was developed and reviewed by experts with significant experience in maintenance work in the electronics manufacturing process in order to refine the guide. Results: Workers involved in cleaning processes with chemicals, solvents, and abrasive blasting can face exposure to a wide range of chemicals, abrasives, and noise. Identifying potential risks associated with each cleaning technique was an essential first step toward enhancing safety measures. The OSH guide comprises approximately eleven to twelve sections spanning 20-25 pages. It includes engineering and administrative protocols systematically organized to address the necessary actions before, during, and after cleaning tasks, depending on the technique. It is recommended that airline respirator masks be used in conjunction with an air purification system to ensure adherence to air quality standard "D" for atmosphere level. The use of an oil-free air compressor is advised, preferably a stationary model that does not rely on fuel sources like diesel. Conclusions: This OSH guide is designed to protect workers involved in maintenance activity in the electronics industry and aligns with global standards, such as those from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and Semiconductor Equipment and Material International, ensuring a higher level of safety and compliance.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.97-103
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to verify the change in temperature humidity perspiration of fire suit when applying phased intensive exercises to fire fighter wearing fire suit. For this study, three male fire fighters took basic physical test and performed 10 minute phased intensive exercises -exercise intensity I (30%VO2max), exercise intensity II (45%VO2max), exercise intensity III (60%VO2max) based on maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max)- wearing fire suit (helmet, boots, air respirator) in treadmill and took a rest. The result of study shows that the temperature in the suit elevated during stabilization period after each exercise intensity, humidity elevated as exercise intensity increased, perspiration elevated as exercise intensity increased. This study indirectly ascertained the fire suit's physiological change in fire fighters during field activities.