• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.17-27
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• 2019

In recent years, dangerous materials and gas leak accidents have been frequently occurred. The hazardous materials storage facility accidents are not rapidly controlled when a leak is detected, unlike other chemical plants can be controled. Externally, the human has to approach and respond to the source of leaking directly. As a result, the human and material damage are likely to larger result in the process. The current approach has been passive response after ringing the alarm. In this study, the suggested tracking system of the leak resource is designed system to track the resource actively by utilizing the mobile sensor robot platform, which can be made easily through recent rapid development technology, is verified through prototype system. Thus, a suggested system should pave the way for minimizing the spread and damage of the accident based on the exact site situation of the initial leak and quick and early measures.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.96-101
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• 2019

Chemicals Control Act have been strengthened to control more safely hazardous chemicals from 2015. In particular, the standards for the installation and management of handling facilities was enhanced with specific regulations depending on type of the facilities and the hazardous chemicals. However, some standards for handling facilities caused difficulties in implementing the strengthened standards due to various field conditions, such as lack of physical space. The Ministry of Environment is implementing Safety Assessment System (SAS) to solve these problems since 2018. However, many plants have difficulties in preparing alternative methods to pass the safety evaluation. The purpose of this study was to review and analyze the SAS and to suggest alternative measures in terms of management and technical aspects through the case study of hydrochloric acid storage tanks. The following safety solutions were suggested for handling facilities that had insufficient the space and capacity for the retaining wall due to physical space. Firstly, insufficient space was resolved by introducing equipment relocation or demolition, and retaining wall expansion. Secondly, the wall of the surrounding buildings was used as an alternative to the retaining wall with additional chemical resistant treatment. Finally, sensor installation and facility inspection were suggested as ways to improve chemical safety. Therefore, improvement of chemical accident prevention system is required not only in terms of facilities supplementation but also management aspect. The results of this study are expected to be available for similar facilities and will be based on the preparation of additional safety assessment as alternatives measures in the future.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.726-734
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• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze and classify the characteristics of potential damage from hazardous chemical accidents in 229 administrative units in South Korea by reflecting the social and environmental characteristics of areas where chemical accidents can occur. Methods: A number of indicators were selected through preceding studies. Factor analysis was performed on selected indicators to derive factors, and cluster analysis was performed based on the factor scores. Results: As a result of the cluster analysis, 229 administrative units were divided into three clusters, and it was confirmed that each cluster had its own characteristics. Conclusions: The first cluster, "areas at risk of accident occurrence and spread of damage" was a type with a high potential for accident damage and a high density of hazardous facilities. The second cluster, "Urban infrastructure damage hazard areas" appeared to be a cluster with high urban development characteristics. Finally, the third cluster 'Urban and environmental damage hazard areas' appeared to be a cluster with an excellent natural environment. This study went further from the qualitative discussion related to existing chemical accidents to identify and respond to accident damage by reflecting the social and environmental characteristics of the region. Distinct from the previous studies related to the causes of accidents and the response system, it is meaningful to conduct empirical research focusing on the affected areas by analyzing the possibility of accident damage in reflection of the social and environmental characteristics of the community.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2022

Chemicals are widely used throughout society, and usage is expected to increase in the future. As a result, various accidents related to chemicals and dangerous substances are occurring, and the frequency of occurrence is expected to continue to increase. Thus, it is expected that this study will present problems and improvement directions through analysis of each associated agency's accident report and management system, and improve the research input system to increase efficiency in collecting and statistical calculation of chemical and hazardous accident.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.155-162
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• 2022

Background: Workers are exposed to several risks in academic laboratories due to the presence of potentially hazardous substances. The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of accident occurrence and associated risk factors among laboratory workers at the scientific laboratories of the public university in Lebanon and the impact of safety measures training and availability. Methods: In this observational study, a survey was conducted for one year in scientific laboratories at faculties of the public university. Results: Among the participants (N = 220), 45.0% have had accidents; the main cause was exposure to chemicals (73.7%) and more specifically by inhalation (45.4%). Females (85.9%) were more exposed to accidents than males. Laboratory workers with a master's degree, a full-time schedule, and more than ten years of experience were significantly more exposed to accidents (p < 0.05). A significant association was found between accident occurrence and training on management of hazardous products (p = 0.044), risks related to workplace (p = 0.030), eyewash and emergency shower (p < 0.001), first aid (p = 0.012), and facial protection availability (p = 0.019). In spite of the lack of safety culture and efficient training on laboratory safety, participants have shown a very good perception regarding safety measures to be applied in case of work accidents. Conclusion: Based on our findings, the prevalence of accident occurrence is elevated among lab workers at the public university. The impact of regular training on laboratory safety preventive measures is of great importance to ensure the efficiency of occupational health and safety in scientific laboratories.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.28-34
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• 2022

Since semiconductor factories are located in densely populated areas, safe handling of hazardous materials handled in the manufacturing process is of utmost importance. In particular, the types of hazardous substances discharged after handling in the semiconductor manufacturing process are very diverse, and the treatment methods such as combustion, absorption and adsorption methods for each material are very complicated. Therefore, in recent semiconductor exhaust treatment processes, two or more treatment methods are applied to one treatment facility, and unexpected accidents occur due to the application of such a complex treatment method. In this study, the cause of accidents in treatment facilities that applied both the scrubber method and the electrostatic precipitation method, which are recent accident cases, are identified, and preventive measures are suggested to find out the points to be noted when applying the complex treatment method.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.39-48
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• 2022

The domestic gas detector installation standards applied to gas detectors, which are one of the facilities that can prevent accidents such as fire, explosion, and leakage that can cause serious industrial accidents, do not take into account the behavioral characteristics of hazardous chemicals in the atmosphere. It can be seen that the technical basis is insufficient because the standard is applied. Therefore, in this study, the size of the leak hole for each facility mainly used in chemical plants and the diffusion distance according to the concentration of interest of hazardous chemicals were analyzed, and based on this, the optimal installation distance for gas detectors for each material was suggested. Using the method presented in this study, more economical and effective gas detector installation can be expected, and furthermore, it can be expected to help prevent serious industrial accidents.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.28 no.spc
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• pp.44-49
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• 2022

It is necessary to establish a marine environment management system in Korea for hazardous noxious substances (HNS) effluent from marine industrial facilities because the Marine Environment Management Act primarily focuses on pollution control from vessels and offshore man-made structures. In this study, we investigated the effluent guidelines of foreign cases focusing on the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), which provides detailed information on the action levels and establishing principles for the industrial wastewater discharge of HNS. Based on the review, we also considered appropriate options for establishing new guidelines for Korea.

• Clean Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

Waste explosives such as useless ammunition discharged from the military and coproduced useless explosives during the manufacturers production process have been continuously produced. These are difficult to dispose with normal waste treatment facilities due to the dangers of fire and explosion. An open burning or an open detonation at military designated disposal facilities is a classical treatment method for the dangerous explosives. The classical method raises various environmental problems by the emission of hazardous materials. An air pollution by the emission of hazardous gases such as SO_x and NO_x, soil and water contaminations by the accumulation of non-biodegradable heavy metals, are representative pollution examples. To overcome these problems, various processes for eco-friendly waste treatment methods have been developed, and some processes have already been operated in some countries. In the current report, various eco-friendly disposal processes for waste explosives or harmful materials, and their advantages and disadvantages are documented to suggest future development directions for reducing the hazardous substances by the treatment processes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.447-454
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• 2023

Objective: This study aims to investigate the impact of changes in working conditions on job-related stress and musculoskeletal disorders using the results of seven surveys conducted at a single workplace from 2004 to 2022 regarding factors hazardous to the musculoskeletal system. Additionally, the study aims to propose alternative methods of investigating factors hazardous to the musculoskeletal system. Methods: A car parts manufacturing plant where the same survey was taken seven times from 2004 to 2022 was selected and the survey data was analyzed. The main contents of the survey were weekly working hours, Borg's scale, work intensity, job-related stress, and the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms. The statistical analysis was performed using SAS (version 9.4). Results: The results of this study are as follows. Firstly, changes in working conditions have an impact on job-related stress. Secondly, changes in working conditions have an impact on work intensity indicators. Thirdly, changes in working conditions have an impact on the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms. Fourthly, even with an increase in age and length of service, job-related stress and musculoskeletal symptoms were alleviated when working conditions were improved. Conclusions: In order for measures to reduce musculoskeletal disorders to be successful, working conditions must not deteriorate, and it is necessary to demand revisions to regulations, etc. to reflect these points in the investigation of hazardous factors to the musculoskeletal system.