• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.272-281
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• 2022

Background: The constant consumption of chemical products owing to expanding industrialization has led to an increase in public interest in chemical substances. As the production and disposal processes for these chemical products cause environmental problems, regional information on the hazard level of chemical substances is required considering their effects on humans and in order to ensure environmental safety. Objectives: This study aimed to identify hazard contribution and spatiotemporal characteristics by region and chemical by calculating a hazard-based result score using pollutant release and transfer register (PRTR) data. Methods: This study calculated the chemical discharge and hazard-based result score from the Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI) model, analyzed their spatiotemporal patterns, and identified hotspot areas where chemical discharges and high hazard-based scores were concentrated. The amount of chemical discharge and hazard-based risk scores for 250 cities and counties across South Korea were calculated using PRTR data from 2011 to 2018. Results: The chemical discharge (high densities in Incheon, Daegu, and Busan) and hazard-based result scores (high densities in Incheon, Chungcheongnam-do, and some areas of Gyeongsangnam-do Province) showed varying spatial patterns. The chemical discharge (A, B) and hazard-based result score (C, D) hotspots were identified. Additionally, identification of the hazard-based result scores revealed differences in the type of chemicals contributing to the discharge. Ethylbenzene accounted for ≥80% of the discharged chemicals in the discharge hotspots, while chromium accounted for >90% of the discharged chemicals in the hazard-based result score hotspots. Conclusions: The RSEI hazard-based result score is a quantitative indicator that considers the degree of impact on human health as a toxicity-weighted value. It can be used for the management of industries discharging chemical substances as well as local environmental health management.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.280-291
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• 2020

Objectives: Hazard classification is a controversial issue in the new MSDS system in which chemical companies have to prepare and submit MSDS for chemicals that they manufacture or import to the competent authorities according to the amended Occupational Safety and Health Act. The aim of this study is to suggest how to apply and manage harmonized hazard classification criteria and results by investigating current hazard classification systems and trends. Methods: The domestic issues about different hazard classification criteria and results were investigated by reviewing the literature and business outcomes regarding KOSHA. We also checked official and unofficial reports from the UN to understand international discussion about the topic. Chemical hazard classification results from agencies providing chemical information were analyzed to compare a harmonized rate between classifications. Furthermore, a field survey of a few chemical companies was conducted. Results: Under the related competent authorities, an integrated standard proposal was developed to harmonize the domestic hazard classification criteria. Although harmonized chemical information is strongly needed, we recognized the uncertainty and difficulty of harmonized hazard classification from the UN global list project review. In practice the harmonization rate of the classification was generally low between the classification in KOSHA, MoE, and EU CLP. Among hazard classes, health hazards largely led the disharmony. The field survey revealed a change of perception that the main body of chemical information production is manufacturers. Approaches and solutions about hazard classification issues differed depending on business size, types of chemical handling, and other factors. Conclusions: We proposed reasonable ways by time and step to apply hazard classification in the new MSDS system. Chemical manufacturers should make and offer chemical information including responsible hazard classifications. The government should primarily accept these classifications, evaluate them by priority, and support or supervise workplaces in order to communicate reliable chemical information.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2011

Object: we investigated some factors which can affect workers' comprehension of chemical hazard information and their actions to protect themselves from the hazard. Method: Comprehension score of chemical hazard information and the rate of wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) was surveyed for the 109 workers from 15 factories who were exposed to N, N-dimethylformamide. Difference of the worker's comprehension score of hazard information was analyzed by education interval, work duration and the way of occupational safety and health management between self-managed or sub-contracted. Result: Mean comprehension score of N, N-dimethylformamide hazard, which was given as a short quiz composed of 10 "true" or "false" problems, was 65%. Mean percentage of wearing PPE was improved as the education program was done within a month but decreased after 6 months. Eighty seven % of workers got the chemical hazard information from the material safety data sheet placed at workplace. Conclusion: Education interval and comprehension score affected the rate of wearing PPE. The way of occupational safety and health management self-managed or sub-contracted did not affect the workers' comprehension score on hazard information nor the rate of wearing PPE.

• Proceedings of the Korea Institute of Fire Science and Engineering Conference
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• 1997.11a
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• pp.252-259
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• 1997

A method to automate hazard analysis of chemical plants is proposed in this paper. The proposed system is composed of three knowledge bases - unit knowledge base, organizational knowledge base and material knowledge base, and three hazard analysis algorithms - deviation, malfunction and accident analysis algorithm. Hazard analysis inference procedure is developed based on the actual hazard analysis procedures and accident development sequence. The proposed algorithm can perform hazard analysis in two methods and represent all conceivable types of accidents using accident analysis algorithm. In addition, it provides intermediate steps in the accident propagation, and enables the analysis result to give a useful information to hazard assessment. The proposed method is successfully demonstrated by being applied to diammonium phosphate manufacturing process. A system to automate hazard analysis is developed by using the suggested method. The developed system is expected to be useful in finding the propagation path of a fault or the cause of a malfunction as it is capable to approach causes of faults and malfunctions simultaneously.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1996.10a
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• pp.87-90
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• 1996

Inherently safe plants are maintained through the systematic identification of potential hazards, and various hazard evaluation methods have been developed. Recently, much effort is given into the development of automated hazard evaluation system by introducing the expert system. An automated system will help to obtain consistency and to make the result more reliable. HAZOP study is one of the most systematic and logical evaluation procedure. However, it has disadvantages: experts should participate at the same time, the detailed study requires much man-hour, and the results depend on the expertise of the experts. Therefore, the automation of hazard evaluation is necessary to reduce the required time and to get the consistent evaluation results. In this study, HAxSYM, an expert system to automate HAZOP study, is developed. The case studies are performed to validate the effectiveness of the developed system, and the results are compared to the results of traditional method.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1992.10b
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• pp.430-435
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• 1992

Hazard identification is one of the most important task in process design and operation. This work has focused on the development of a knowledge-based expert system for HAZOP (Hazard and Operability) studies which are regarded as one of the most systematic and logical qualitative hazard identification methodologies but which require a multidisciplinary team and demand much time-consuming, repetitious work. The developed system enables design engineers to implement existing checklists and past experiences for safe design. It will increase efficiency of hazard identification and be suitable for educational purposes. This system has a frame-based knowledge structure for equipment failures/process material properties and rule networks for consequence reasoning which uses both forward and backward chaining. To include wide process knowledge, it is open-ended and modular for future expansion. An application to LPG storage and fractionation system shows the efficiency and reliability of the developed system.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.103-108
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• 2007

HAZOP analysis is a systematic method on the basis of the experts' experience and knowledge and is used for hazard identification and risk assessment by using brainstorming method. So, HAZOP analysis has been applied to major chemical industries efficiently. But it does not apply to small and midium chemical industries because of the insufficiency of the experts. Hence, in this study a new hazard identification method is proposed by modifying complexity and expertise of the HAZOP analysis and will be contributed to improve risk management for small and midium chemical industries.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.293-300
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• 2012

Objectives: In chemical hazard communication, information receiver's perception is a important factor, but the study on the perception was few. Therefore, this study evaluated the perception of managers and workers group about chemical hazard communication by chemical hazard communication tools that were being used in fields. Methods: 91 managers and 238 workers were surveyed in two companies where use chemicals. All subjects were asked about the comprehensibility and perception for MSDS and GHS Pictograms being used in their workplaces through face-to-face interviews. Results: Most of the respondents knew MSDS, and more than half of the respondents had used MSDS once or more per year. The level of use to find the information on chemicals with MSDS was higher in the managers in comparison with workers. Also, the managers could understand and find the information on MSDS easier(p < 0.05). In the question asking the meaning of GHS Pictograms, the managers responded more correctly, as well(p < 0.05). 86.8% of the managers and 62.6% of the workers were conscious of the possible health hazards of chemicals that they could be exposed at work. However, among the respondents conscious of the health hazards, only less than 70% were well aware of the contents of the health hazards correctly. Conclusions: In chemical hazard communication, it is very important to evaluate whether information receiver have proper and correct knowledge and perception or not and actions based on the evaluations as well as provide correct information.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.40-46
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• 2009

The early identification of thermal hazards associated with a process such as the heats of reaction, exothermic decompositions, and the understanding of thermodynamics before any large scale operations are undertaken. The evaluation of reaction factors and thermal behavior on esterification process in manufacture of concrete mixture agents are described in the present paper. The experiments were performed in the differential scanning calorimetry(DSC), C 80 calorimeter, and thermal screening unit($TS^u$). The aim of the study was to evaluate the thermal stability of single material and mixture in esterification process. We provided the thermal data of chemical materials to present safe operating conditions through this study.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.7-17
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• 1998

This study is to develop the consequence modeling methodology for quantitative prediction of the hazard distance(or toxic buffer distance) for two-phase flow continuous releases from the pressurized chlorine saturated liquid storage tank of the chemical plant facilities. The source term modeling was peformed by the refined analysis method based on USEPA's guideline and SuperChems model self-calculation, respectively. The hazard distance was predicted for STEL, IDLH and ERPGs(ERPG-2 and ERPG-3) concentrations being used as the toxic regultaion concentration in hazard estimation. To use as hazard estimation guideline for the establishment of the emergency response planning, the effects of source characteristics and meteorological vaiations on the hazard distance was especially considered for ERPG-2 concentration.