• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.136-143
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• 2009

The injuries as a result of fall accidents is the one of the most common kind of injuries in Korea, especially fall from height is the top most common kind for fatal injuries. Futhermore, the number of fall injuries in manufacturing industry has been steadily increasing from 2000 to 2007. In 2007 the number of fall fatal injuries increased 10.6 % in comparison with the number in 2006. These numbers are 6~17 times higher than those for foreign countries such as the U.K and the USA. So, it is needed to make a study to reduce these numbers for manufacturing industry. To get the goals, we did research as followings. First, this study analyzed statistics by industry, by fall height, by common agent and so on to gain an insight into real aspect of fall injuries. It showed that ladder is the commonly cited agent for manufacturing industry, and 3 risky activities ; the ladder work, the load/unload work, and the maintenance work. Secondly, this study made a survey of manufacturing workers for their understandings of the most 3 risky activities. It showed that 'tendency to work easily' and 'difficulty of applying measures due to inherent working conditions' are main reasons for workers not to implement the preventive measures against the fall accidents. Thirdly, this study tested the slip characteristics of ladder base and lungs. The tests were done based on ANSI standard and KS. In addition to the standard condition, this study performed slip tests in wet and sandy conditions and compared the results with the those of standard condition. It showed that friction coefficient is standard condition > wet condition > sandy condition, and the friction coefficient of ladder for sandy condition is measured to be reduced by 63.9% compared with that for standard condition. Finally, this study developed safety work models for using of portable ladders in consideration of the safety standards of foreign countries such as the U.K, the USA, and the Australia.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.381-389
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• 2009

Confined spaces are inherently dangerous workplace and many fatal and nonfatal accidents have been reported. Even though these accidents occur in various kinds of confined spaces, there has rarely been reported on the health hazard agent, i.e., the types of gases and their concentration ranges. Therefore in this study, we evaluated several toxic and asphyxiating gas concentrations in various confined spaces. We surveyed 57 manholes, 3 sewage treatment plants, 2 yellow radish manufacturing companies and 7 barges to measure the concentrations of oxygen($O_2$), hydrogen sulfide($H_2S$), carbon monoxide(CO), ammonia($NH_3$). Lower Explosion Limits(LEL) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Those four types of confined spaces occupies 56% of accidents during last 9 years in Korea. In 57 manholes, the concentration varied according to the types of manholes; rainfall and sewage, and by location; residential and industrial areas. Sewage manhole in industrial area was evaluated as the most hazardous than other types of manhole like rainfall manholes, residential sewage manholes. The highest $H_2S$ concentration and the lowest $O_2$ concentration at sewage manhole in industrial area were 300 ppm, 8.7% respectively. In 3 sewage treatment plants, $H_2S$ and $NH_3$ concentrations were reached up to the 500 ppm and 200 ppm respectively. Two yellow radish manufacturing companies showed the concentrations of 316 ppm, 505.2 ppm, 90 ppm and 15.7% for $H_2S$, CO, VOCs and $O_2$, respectively. Seven barges showed 15.9%~20.9% oxygen concentration. Gas species and concentration ranges varied by the types and location of confined spaces; CO, $H_2S$, $O_2$ could be hazardous in manhole, especially manhole connected to sewage plants. CO, $H_2S$, LEL, $O_2$, $NH_3$ should be controlled in sludge silo and sluge pumping confined spaces in sewage treatment plant. The activity of lifting out radish from the storage tank was evaluated more hazardous rather than the other activities in yellow radish manufacturing industry. The employers must conduct the survey to identify all possible confined spaces in their local workplace prior to performing the tasks. At the national level to reduce the accidents in the confined spaces, we suggest that systemic approach and active education program including possible hazards, standard operation procedures, ventilation plan, and personal protective equipment in confined spaces should be implemented.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.22-29
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• 2012

Robot related injuries in industrial accidents statistics during 2008~2010 have accounted for a total of 109 cases equivalent to 30~40 cases for each of those years. The number of injured compared to the dissemination of industrial robots(51,302 units/2004) can be regarded as quite low. However, the fatal injuries sustained by 7 (6.4%) out of 109 cases paints the stark reality of robot-related accident fatalities. It is a sad probability that as the automation process expands its use of industrial robots which have increased significantly in demand, the incidence of workplace accidents will also increase. Therefore, the incidence of accidents throughout the period of 2008~2010 has been analysed to prevent the injuries due to the increased use of industrial robots. In the analysis, the injuries occurred during the industrial robot operation accounted for 45.9% of the entire accidents. Thus, we examined the present status of the industrial robot operation to analyze the root cause of accidents occurred in our studied time period. We looked at a total of 469 workplaces. 456 workplaces responded in the year 2009 and survey studies were implemented at 13 of the 29 workplaces where work injuries were sustained in the year 2010. Even where protective measures and interlock devices were in place, our studies indicated that workers could access the robot area to perform the tasks in 188 sites(40.1%). Also, the 143 sites(30.5%) had control measures and equipment located in the safety fence. In addition, the robots found at 164 sites(35.0%) could be restarted without additional restarting operation. These three causes accounted for most of the workplace injuries during the industrial robot operations. Futhermore, we confirmed the fact that the protective measures of the current safety regulations were not strictly enforced. Based upon our studies and the investigation of the present status of the industrial robot operation, higher standards in training and supervision of workers in the robot operation must quickly be met in order to prevent these industrial injuries.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.227-232
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• 2015

Background: In comparison with other industries, the construction industry still has a higher rate of fatal injuries, and thus, there is a need to apply new and innovative approaches for preventing accidents and promoting safe conditions at construction sites. Methods: In this study, the effectiveness of a new incentive system-the surprising incentive system-was assessed. One year after the implementation of this new incentive system, behavioral changes of employees with respect to seven types of activities were observed. Results: The results of this study showed that there is a significant relationship between the new incentive system and the safety performance of frontline employees. The new incentive system had a greater positive impact in the first 6 months since its implementation. In the long term, however, safety performance experienced a gradual reduction. Based on previous studies, all activities selected in this study are important indicators of the safety conditions at workplaces. However, there is a need for a comprehensive and simple-to-apply tool for assessing frontline employees' safety performance. Shortening the intervals between incentives is more effective in promoting safety performance. Conclusion: The results of this study proved that the surprising incentive would improve the employees' safety performance just in the short term because the surprising value of the incentives dwindle over time. For this reason and to maintain the surprising value of the incentive system, the amount and types of incentives need to be evaluated and modified annually or biannually.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.37-40
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• 2014

Article 29(3) of Occupational Safety And Health Act, which states a contractor can request a design change to an employer of businesses under the risk condition of construction of temporary structure, was established. Accordingly, in this study, recent fatal accidents caused by temporary structures were analyzed, and the level of inclusion of temporary structures in the design document were examined, and high risk temporary structures were classified. In addition, the requirements of design change of temporary structures were presented, and the qualifications of expert to certify the design change were proposed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.56-62
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• 1990

This study is conducted to analyze exact causes of occupational fatalities and results are as follows ： 1) The number of fatalities in establislment which employed less than 50 workers is 605(40.1％ ). Age of sixties and seventies is occupied by 10 percent with there being old-aged trend. Fatal workers who were employed less than 3 months are 39.5 percent and fatal workers who were employed more than 10 years are 11.9 percent. Safety training is necessary for newly recruited and long employed workers. 2) Accident type is, in sequence, fall from elevation, traffic accident, disease, contact with electric current, and hazardous condition is, in order, inadequate guard, hazardous method or procedure, public hazard, and agency of accident is, in sequence, temporary structure/building/structure, powered transport vehicle, passenger vehicle, hoisting or lifting apparatus, and unsafe act is, in order, driving error, failure to secure or warn. 3) The results of cross-tabulation for hazardous condition and accident type is, in sequence, traffic accident by public hazard, fall from elevation by hazardous method or procedure, fall from elevation as well as contact with elctric current by inadequate guard. The result of cross-tabulation for agency of accident and accident type is, in order, fall from elevation by temporary structure/building/structure, traffic accident of passenger vehicle and powered transport vehicle, contact with electric apparatus. The result of cross-tabulation for agency of accident and hazardous condition is, in sequence, public hazard of passenger vehicle, hazardous method or procedure of temporary structure/building/structure, publit hazard of powered transport vehicle, inadequate guard of temporary structure/building/structure. The result of cross-tabulation for unsafe act and accident type is, in sequence, traffic accident by driving error, fall from elevation by inattention to footing or surrounding, contact with electric current by secure or warn.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to review the debate on the Article 28(Prohibition of Inhouse-Contract for Harmful Work) of the Industrial Safety and Health Law. Methods: Literatures and recent debate for prohibition and permission of inhouse-contract for harmful work were reviewed. Proposals of revision for the Article 28 of the Industrial Safety and Health Law were also reviewed. Results: It was not found reasonable to revise the Article 28 based on increased fatal accidents or diseases in the electroplating work and heavy metals handling works that are currently listed in the Presidential Decree under the law as the harmful works. Regulation types of prohibition or authorization for any harmful work shall have inherently poor coverage since the scope of application is extremely limited. Contractors for maintenance and repair of chemical facilities may not be included in the scope of application if the harmful works are defined as chemical handling works. If harmful works are prohibited, the contractor workers may loose their jobs. Therefore, it is necessary to consider balancing job security and occupational safety and health safety. Conclusions: Various limitations were found in the Article 28 and the proposals to revise it. Currently in-house subcontracting is widely spread in the workplace. Therefore, it may be inappropriate to set one or two Article such as the Article 28 and 29 to protect in-house subcontract workers from injury and illness. It is believed that it needs fundamental redirection and new approach with new paradigm to impose occupational safety and health duty to prime contractors.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.241-247
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• 2016

The trawl fishery is an important fishery accounting for around 30.0% of adjacent water fishery production in Korea, and the commercial fishing is associated with high rate of fatal and non-fatal occupational injury. The hazard analysis for the fishermen's safety of offshore trawler was conducted to serve as basic data for improving the healthy and safe working environment of fishermen using fishermen's occupational accidents of the national federation of fisheries cooperatives (NFFC) from 2012 to 2014 (n=464). As a result, the occupational accident occurrence rate of large powered trawl fishery was 241.4‰ in east sea trawl fishery, 6.9 times the rate of that. In addition, death and missing rate was found to have very serious level management to 97.7‱ in east sea trawl fishery of death at 6.2 times. The accident occurred in 91.7 to 100.0% was happened at sea. The slipping, others and struck by object and son on occurred more frequently in order in the frequency of accident occurrence pattern. However, the occurrence rate of death and missing did not match the frequency of accident pattern. In other words, slipping occurred more frequently while death and missing risk was not high. The fall in the waters was low while death and missing risk was high. The results are expected to help identify and assess safety hazard occurred in offshore trawlers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.188-194
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• 2015

The powered purse seine fishery is an important fishery accounting for 19.4% of adjacent water fishery production in Korea, and the commercial fishing is associated with high rate of fatal and non-fatal occupational injury. The hazard analysis for the fishermen's safety of offshore large powered purse seiner was conducted to serve as a basic data for improving the healthy and safe working environment of fishermen using fishermen's occupational accidents of the national federation of fisheries cooperatives (NFFC) in 2013 (n=583). As a result, the occupational accident occurrence rate of this fishery was 182.6‰ in all industries 30.9 times the rate of that. In addition, death and missing rate was found to have a very serious level management to 25.1‰ in all industries of death of 17.5 times. The accident occurred in 72.3 to 85.8% was happened at sea. The others, slipping and struck by object etc occurred more frequently in order in the frequency of accident occurrence pattern. However, the occurrence rate of death and missing did not match the frequency of accident pattern. In other words, slipping occurred frequently higher while death and missing risk was not high. And the contact with fishing gear and fall in the waters was low while death and missing risk was high. The results are expected to contribute for identification and assessment of safety hazard occurred in offshore large powered purse seiners.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.1129-1135
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• 2015

The stow net is a stationary gear made from netting, usually in shape like trawl net without wings. The nets are fixed by means of anchors, placed according to the direction and strength of the current. And the commercial fishing is associated with high rate of fatal and non-fatal occupational injury. The hazard factors analysis for the fishermen's safety of offshore stow nets vessel was conducted to serve as a basic data for improving the healthy and safe working environment of fishermen using fishermen's occupational accidents of the national federation of fisheries cooperatives (NFFC) from 2012 to 2014 (n=1,144). As a result, the average occupational accident occurrence rate of this fishery was 206.9‰ in all industries 36.9 times the rate of that. In addition, average death and missing rate was found to have a very serious level management to 50.4‰ in all industries of death of 42.0 times. The accident occurred in 84.5 to 94.6% was happened at sea. The struck by object, slipping, contact with machinery, contact by object or gear and others occurred more frequently in order on the frequency of accident occurrence pattern. However, the occurrence rate of death and missing did not match the frequency of accident pattern. In other words, slipping occurred frequently higher while death and missing risk was not high. And the contact with fishing gear and fall in the waters was low while death and missing risk was high. The results are expected to contribute for identification and assessment of safety hazard occurred in offshore stow nets vessel.