• Communications for Statistical Applications and Methods
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.583-604
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• 2017

The most popular regression model for the analysis of time-to-event data is the Cox proportional hazards model. While the model specifies a parametric relationship between the hazard function and the predictor variables, there is no specification regarding the form of the baseline hazard function. A critical assumption of the Cox model, however, is the proportional hazards assumption: when the predictor variables do not vary over time, the hazard ratio comparing any two observations is constant with respect to time. Therefore, to perform credible estimation and inference, one must first assess whether the proportional hazards assumption is reasonable. As with other regression techniques, it is also essential to examine whether appropriate functional forms of the predictor variables have been used, and whether there are any outlying or influential observations. This article reviews diagnostic methods for assessing goodness-of-fit for the Cox proportional hazards model. We illustrate these methods with a case-study using available R functions, and provide complete R code for a simulated example as a supplement.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.87-95
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• 2024

Background: This study focuses on assessing occupational risk for the health hazards encountered during maintenance works (MW) in semiconductor fabrication (FAB) facilities. Objectives: The objectives of this study include: 1) identifying the primary health hazards during MW in semiconductor FAB facilities; 2) reviewing the methods used in evaluating the likelihood and severity of health hazards through occupational health risk assessment (OHRA); and 3) suggesting variables for the categorization of likelihood of exposures to health hazards and the severity of health effects associated with MW in FAB facilities. Methods: A literature review was undertaken on OHRA methodology and health hazards resulting from MW in FAB facilities. Based on this review, approaches for categorizing the exposure to health hazards and the severity of health effects related to MW were recommended. Results: Maintenance workers in FAB facilities face exposure to hazards such as debris, machinery entanglement, and airborne particles laden with various chemical components. The level of engineering and administrative control measures is suggested to assess the likelihood of simultaneous chemical and dust exposure. Qualitative key factors for mixed exposure estimation during MW include the presence of safe operational protocols, the use of air-jet machines, the presence and effectiveness of local exhaust ventilation system, chamber post-purge and cooling, and proper respirator use. Using the risk (R) and hazard (H) codes of the Globally Harmonized System alongside carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reprotoxic classifications aid in categorizing health effect severity for OHRA. Conclusion: Further research is needed to apply our proposed variables in OHRA for MW in FAB facilities and subsequently validate the findings.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.2239-2246
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• 2024

The present study aimed to assess the radioactive hazards associated with the application of granitoid rocks in building materials. An HPGe spectrometer was used to detect the levels of the radioactive elements uranium-238, thorium-232, and potassium-40 in the granitoid rocks. The results showed that the levels of these elements were lower (38.32 < 33 Bq kg^-1), comparable (47.19-45 Bq kg^-1) and higher (992.26 ≫> 412 Bq kg^-1) than the worldwide limits for ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K concentration, respectively. The exposure to gamma radiation of granitoid rocks was studied by various radiological hazard variables like the absorbed dose rate (D_air), the outdoor and indoor annual effective dose (AED_out and AED_in), and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR). A variety of statistical methods, including Pearson correlation, principal component analysis (PCA), and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was used, to study the relationship between the radioactive elements and the radiological hazards. According to statistical analysis, the main radioactive risk of granitoid rocks is contributed to by the elements uranium-238, thorium-232, and potassium-40. Granitoid rocks can be applied in building materials, but under control to prevent risk to the public.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.201-233
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• 1999

This study was carried out to find out the factors affecting on organizational commitment of hospital employees. For the purpose, the questionnaire-based research was done with 1280 hospital employees who were working in 2 university hospitals and 4 general hospitals located in Taegu City and Kyungpook Province from November 20, 1997 to December 22, 1997. The results of the study were summarized as follows. There were significant correlations among environmental variables, psychological variables, structural variables, vertical conflict, horizontal conflict, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment. By path analysis, variables such as pay, work involvement, work definiteness, met expectations, positive affectivity, distributive justice, job security, expectations before entering a hospital had significant positive effect on job satisfaction in order of size, while, vertical conflict, job opportunity, and horizontal conflict had significant positive effect on job satisfaction in order of size, while, vertical conflict, job opportunity, and horizontal conflict had signifecant negative effect in order of size. Variables such as job satisfaction, job security, work involvement, pay, vertical conflict, met expectations, distributive justice, positive affectivity, work unit control, job autonomy, and job routinization had significant positive direct effect on organizational commitment in order of size, while, job opportunity, job hazards and resource inadequacy had significant negative direct effects in order of size. It was found that the following variables, listed in order of size, had significant total effects on organizational commitment : job satisfaction, job security, job opportunity, work involvement, pay, met expectations, distributive justice, positive affectivity, job hazards, and work unit control. In considering abovc findings, it is recommended that programs for job satisfaction promotion, job security, decrease of intent to leave, work involvement promotion, adequate pay, met expectations, distributive justice, positive affectivity promotion, job hazards decrease, and work unit control grant should be implemented to increase organizational commitment.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.287-296
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• 2022

Analyzing the typhoon wind hazards is crucial to determine the extreme wind load on engineering structures in the typhoon prone region. In essence, the typhoon hazard analysis is a high-dimensional problem with randomness arising from the typhoon genesis, environmental variables and the boundary layer wind field. This study suggests a dimension reduction approach by decoupling the original typhoon hazard analysis into two stages. At the first stage, the randomness of the typhoon genesis and environmental variables are propagated through the typhoon track model and intensity model into the randomness of the key typhoon parameters. At the second stage, the probability distribution information of the key typhoon parameters, combined with the randomness of the boundary layer wind field, could be used to estimate the extreme wind hazard. The Chinese southeast coastline is taken as an example to demonstrate the adequacy and efficiency of the suggested decoupling approach.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.104-111
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• 1996

A system was developed that could predict hazardous states for safe operation of chemical plants. This system aimed to prevent hazards of chemical processes from misoperation before real operation. In this study, a data base was organized which consisted of all hazards in the chemical processes. The structure of process was represented by signed direct graph(SDG) of NODEs and ARCs. Each NODE and ARC have property variables ; connected structure and state of processes etc. The hazards that could be occurred in processes were divided into two classes ; one is by operation of unit and the other is by hazardous materials. Using Hazardous States Transition Network, we could recognize transition progress of process states.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.9-21
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• 2024

Static-electricity-induced fires and explosions persistently occur every year, averaging approximately 80 and 20 cases annually according to fire statistics provided by the National Fire Agency and industrial accident statistics provided by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, respectively. Despite the relatively low probabilities of these accidents, their potential risks are high. Consequently, effective risk assessment methodologies and accident investigation strategies are essential for efficiently managing static-electricity hazards in fire- and explosion-prone areas. Accordingly, this study aimed to identify the causal variables essential for accident investigations, thereby facilitating risk assessments and the implementation of effective recurrence prevention measures to mitigate static-electricity hazards in fire-and explosion-prone regions. To this end, industrial accident statistics recorded over the past decade (2012 to 2021) by the Ministry of Employment and Labor were analyzed to identify major fire and explosion incidents and related industrial accidents wherein static electricity was identified as a potential ignition source. Subsequently, relevant investigation reports (63 cases) were thoroughly analyzed. Based on the results of this analysis, existing electrostatic fire and explosion risk assessment techniques were refined and augmented. Moreover, factors essential for investigating electrostatic fire and explosion disasters were delineated, and the primary causal variables necessary for effective risk assessments and scientific investigations were derived.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.95-109
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• 2010

The objectives of this study are to identify the survival function (hazard function) of small and medium enterprises by using technology rating data for the companies guaranteed by Korea Technology Finance Corporation (KOTEC), and to figure out the factors that affects their survival. To serve the purposes, this study uses Kaplan-Meier Analysis as a non-parametric method and Cox proportional hazards model as a semi-parametric one. The 17,396 guaranteed companies that assessed from July 1st in 2005 to December 31st in 2009 are selected as samples (16,504 censored data and 829 accident data). The survival time is computed with random censoring (Type III) from July in 2005 as a starting point. The results of the analysis show that Kaplan-Meier Analysis and Cox proportional hazards model are able to readily estimate survival and hazard function and to perform comparative study among group variables such as industry and technology rating level. In particular, Cox proportional hazards model is recognized that it is useful to understand which technology rating items are meaningful to company's survival and how much they affect it. It is considered that these results will provide valuable knowledge for practitioners to find and manage the significant items for survival of the guaranteed companies through future technology rating.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.199-209
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• 2022

In this study, we analyzed the preparedness of Korean citizens for earthquake hazards. For this purpose, we developed a questionnaire on the preparedness of citizens for earthquake hazards, consisting of three constructs (knowledge, awareness, and management). A total of 1,256 citizen responses were collected through probability proportionate-to-size sampling and then subjected to Rasch analysis, inferential statistical analysis, and cluster analysis. The findings are as follows. First, questionnaire analysis showed that overall, the earthquake preparedness of citizens was 'normal', with a lower management score than knowledge and awareness scores. Second, analysis of variables related to preparedness for earthquake hazards, gender, education level, actual distance, and safety awareness were found to influence preparedness for earthquake hazards. Third, correlation analysis revealed a high correlation between the three constructs of preparedness for earthquake hazards, namely knowledge, awareness, and management, indicating a structurally close relationship with each other. In addition, even if gender and education level differed, these structural correlations were similar. Through cluster analysis, the citizens were further divided into five groups; the group with moderate levels of the three constructs accounted for the majority of citizens. Considering these findings, we propose an educational orientation that fosters the preparedness of citizens for earthquake hazards.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.69-81
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• 2016

Consumer anxiety about food safety is increasing, and the ability to make an accurate assessment is inadequate due to the lack of food safety information. This research focuses on relations among main variables, such as food hazard awareness, food apprehension, food safety information awareness, and food safety management system evaluation. In addition, to the moderating effects of food safety information awareness between food hazards awareness, food apprehension, and food safety management system evaluation. First, food hazards awareness and apprehension was slightly higher than the average level, also there was a significant difference in food hazard apprehension according to food hazard awareness. However, the level of food safety information was not high, meaning consumers were not as well informed as expected. We divided food safety management system evaluation into awareness and practice, subsequently, the results of both were at a low level. Food safety information awareness' moderating effect was also confirmed. Consumer organizations and the government need to provide specific and correct information to Korean consumers, that also implement a wide range of consumer education related policies.