• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.419-429
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• 2016

Objectives: According to the new Chemical Control Act from the Korean Ministry of Environment (2014-259), workers handling hazardous chemicals should wear personal protective equipment (PPE). However the act simply states in basic phrases that every worker handling one or more of the 69 listed chemicals should wear PPE and does not consider the unique hazard characteristics of chemicals and work types. The main purpose of this study is to provide basic data to revise the act to suit particular work processes and situations. Methods: The hazard rank of the substances was classified based on hazardous characteristics such as LC50 and vapor pressure using matrix analysis. The workplace exposure risk of the substances was also determined through a matrix analysis based on the previously determined hazard ranks and the demands of manual handling together with the likelihood of accident frequency of the operation combined with the exposure of workers during spill accidents. Results: To meet the demands for developing subsequent guidelines for the risk-based application of PPE in hazardous workplaces, this study sorted the 69 listed chemicals into five hazardous categories based on their LC50 and vapor pressures, and also assigned exposure categories according to exposure vulnerability for various types of work which are frequently performed throughout the life cycle of the chemicals. Conclusion: In the next study, an exposure risk matrix will be produced using the hazard rank of chemicals and workplace exposure risk, and then PPE will be selected to suit the categories of the exposure risk matrix.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.62-69
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• 2017

Chemical accidents are systematically managed by the Chemicals Control Act. However, the definition and case studies of violent incidents by hazardous chemical substances need to be adequately organized. In this study, we focused on suggesting improvement directions of the legal and institutional system to prevent the violent incidents of hazardous chemical substances by studying the problems of current legislation and drawing up implications through domestic and foreign cases. The suggestions for improvement are as follows: 1) Strengthening prevention through amendment of laws (1) Selection of the competent department; 2) Enforcing regulations on online and offline commerce (1) Setting personal purchase amount; and 3) Increasing public awareness and public education (1) Improvement of the continuous system through the Chemical Evaluation Committee.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.209-220
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• 2022

Objectives: This study was performed to suggest how to re-establish criterion for toxic substances under the Chemical Control Act (CCA) in South Korea by comparing the GHS (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals) score and toxic properties. Methods: Toxic substances were classified into seven groups (Acute toxicity (1A), Chronic toxicity (2C), Environmental hazards (3E), Acute toxicity & chronic toxicity (4AC), Chronic toxicity & environmental hazards (5CE), Acute toxicity & environmental hazards (6AE), and Acute toxicity & chronic toxicity & environmental hazards (7ACE)) according to their toxic properties. The GHS score was calculated to sum up five toxicity indicators (health acute toxicity, health repeated toxicity, carcinogenicity, health other chronic toxicity and environmental hazards). Results: The GHS score of 7ACE was higher by 7 times that of 1A. 1A is the only group which has lower than the total GHS score. The highest score was 47, for sodium chromate (CAS no. 7775-11-3), which belongs to group 7ACE. This is classified as acute toxicity, carcinogenicity, germ cell mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity, and acute and chronic environmental hazard. On the other hand, the lowest score was 2.75, which was assigned to 177 chemicals belonging to group 1A. When the health acute toxicity indicator was omitted from the toxic criterion, toxic substances could be divided into the sub-groups 'human chronic hazards group' (HCG) and 'environmental hazards group' (EG) according to their GHS score and properties. Conclusions: The proposed criterion for toxic substances is to establish sub-groups defined as HCG and EG for separate control and that the 1A group be moved to substances requiring preparation for accidents under the CCA.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.52-56
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: Three commercial biopesticides containing derris extract, which is permitted as a commercial biopesticide substances by the Environmentally-friendly Agriculture Promotion Act, have been marketed in Korea. But, the quantitative analytical method of active substances for crop protection in biopesticides containing derris extract has not known. METHODS AND RESULTS: Solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridge clean-up method for the quantitative analysis of rotenone and deguelin in biopesticides containing derris extract was developed and validated by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). The clean-up method was established using hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB) SPE cartridges for the bioactive substances in biopesticides containing derris extract, and the eluate was analyzed to quantify the rotenone and deguelin by the UPLC. LOQ and recovery rates of rotenone and deguelin were 0.085 and 0.044 mg/L, 95.7 and 93.3%, respectively. The content of rotenone and deguelin in three biopesticides containing derris extract were analyzed by the developed method, the results showed 0.001-0.236 and

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 2022

Objectives: This study intends to review the impact on cleaning workers and suggest directions for improvement by reviewing the legal and institutional ways in which Article 86 Nos. 7 and 16 of the Enforcement Decree of the Occupational Safety and Health Act work on the maintenance and promotion of cleaning workers' health. Methods: The following laws and systems were reviewed and considered: First, the occupational safety and health legislation obligated or required to be applied to protect the health of cleaning workers; Second, the status of control of chemicals or mixtures used at cleaning sites through the Consumer Chemicals Product and Biocide Safety Control Act; Third, Control of consumer products according to foreign material safety data sheet related laws. Results: Legal and institutional measures necessary to protect the health of cleaning workers include the legal control of harmful substances to be controlled, work environment monitoring, and special health examinations. The application of the Consumer Chemicals Product and Biocide Safety Control Act does not satisfy the legal and practical level of health maintenance and promotion required by the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the communication of chemical information is insufficient. Overseas, there are restrictions on the use of consumer products in the workplace without material safety data sheets. Conclusions: It is necessary to improve the system to ensure the health of workers handling consumer chemical products. The remaining laws and regulations exempted from the obligation to prepare material safety data sheets should be additionally reviewed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.406-415
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the hazards of cosmetic ingredients in Korea. Methods: An Excel database of cosmetic ingredients was developed on a website(Korea Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary) and used for a hazard assessment based on Tox-free, a database containing toxic information such as on carcinogens, mutagens or reproductive toxicants(CMRs) and endocrine disrupting chemicals(EDCs), as well as other regulated chemicals in Korea. Results: A total of 16,605 chemicals were registered with the cosmetic ingredient dictionary and 308 of them were identified as either CMRs or EDCs. CMRs included formaldehyde and nickel gluconate, and EDCs included parabens, benzophenon, styrene, and toluene. Reproductive toxicants such as xylene, zinc chloride, toluene, and formaldehyde were regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Act on the Registration and Evaluation, etc. of Chemical Substances(the Chemical Control Act). Conclusions: Regulations on cosmetics components should be strengthened, and the right to know about cosmetics containing hazardous chemicals should be guaranteed.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.216-223
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• 2017

Chemicals are an indispensable element of modern society to the extent that more than 15 million species are commercially available worldwide. However, among them are chemicals whose toxicityposes a threat to public health and the environment, as illustrated by past cases of chemical accidents, which revealed their danger to human life. Chemical accidents can spread and cause huge damage in a short time because of their characteristics. Therefore, it is important to do as much as possible to prevent them in advance and to respond promptly after an accident. The legal system pertaining to domestic chemical substances is the "Toxic Chemical Control Act", which is made up of the "Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals" and the "Chemical Control Act" since 2015. Under this law, the Comprehensive Chemical Information System and Chemical Substance Data Processing system were established and are still operating;however, chemical accidents are still occurring. These systems are comprehensive information systems aimed at providing chemical information rather than acting as chemical response systems, which has limited the effectiveness of accident response. This study is intended to analyze the information management systems, response management systems and the basis of chemical substance management support for hazardous chemicals and suggest ways to improve the legal system for developing and operating chemical response systemswithin a municipality.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.137-147
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was conducted in order to evaluate the limitations of the regulations on the safety and health standards for special management materials(SMM) under the Industrial Safety and Health Act in Korea. Methods: Hazardous chemicals management systems in Germany(Hazardous Substances Ordinance), the UK(Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations), Japan(Ordinance on Prevention of Hazards due to Specified Chemical Substances) and Korea(Regulation of Occupational Safety and Health Standards, ROSHS) were investigated and compared in terms of 14 items. Results: Among the 14 items, we eventually found seven items which should be amended: 1) definition and scope, 2) general duties clause, 3) principles of management, 4) preventive measures, 5) control measures, 6) risk assessment, and 7) record keeping. The principal limitations of Korean regulations in comparison with those of other countries were that there were no preventive measures such as substitution, and no principles of good practices for the control of exposure to SMM. In terms of control measures, there were no regulations on suitable workplace design, reducing the number of exposed workers, reducing the level and duration of exposure, and reducing the quantity of hazardous substances in ROSHS. Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, ROSHS should be complemented with preventive measures and the principles of management related to SMM. According to the suggestions, an employer who deals with SMM should preferably consider the possibility of substitution and perform substitution so far as is reasonably practicable.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.10-17
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• 2022

Currently, in Korea, lower and upper tier qualifying quantities of the 97 substances requiring preparation for accidents have been designated. The information on the submission of chemical accident prevention management plan varies depending on whether the handling volume is above or below the lower or upper qualifying quantity. Because the criteria of the lower and upper qualifying quantities of substance requiring preparation for accidents are not stipulated in the Chemical Substances Control Act, this study attempted to establish a criterion through significance verification. In addition, the study investigated whether these qualifying quantities are related to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), toxic concentration endpoint, and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Finally, by comparing the risk categorization of the GHS, endpoint, and NFPA, it was evaluated whether the circulation-volume-based risk categorization of the substance requiring preparation for accidents that are in the top 13 is appropriate. The qualifying quantities of benzene, toluene, and sulfuric acid needed to be adjusted upward, while those of methyl alcohol and ammonia were adjusted downward from the current qualifying quantities. It is required to establish a quantified criterion that fully reflects the domestic situations in Korea and various indicators such as toxicity, physicochemical properties, and circulation volume for the qualified criterion of hazardous chemical substances. The study is expected to be helpful in establishing an efficient system by systematizing the criterion for qualifying quantity.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.42-50
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• 2013

With the rapid change of industry and the development of science and technology, more than 100,000 industrial chemicals are being used and 2,000 new materials are developed every year. Chemical products have had favorable influence on our daily life and contributed very much to the prosper of human culture. But some materials are inherently poisonous and dangerous. Korea ranks as the number 7 in world's chemical products market and the chemical sector is contributing to the economic revival through importing and exporting of the products. With the increasing domestic as well as international interests about REACH and GHS, the need for the effective and efficient chemical material management system is getting bigger and bigger. In this research, we compare the criteria in UN GHS and Safety Control of Dangerous Substances Act of Korea for the development of global standard test methods and the classification and labelling for the chemicals, and suggest an advancement plan for the introduction of the GHS in a building block approach. In addition, providing the harmonized information about chemical hazards is suggested for the elimination of international trade barriers for chemical industries.