• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.412-419
• /
• 2013

Firm's competitive advantage and profitability can be gained over competitors by human resources and human resource management that are characterized by idiosyncrasies or differentiation. Yet, the results of previous studies have been a emerging consensus that the isomorphism and homogeneity of HRM and HR practices among firms regardless of thoese industrial areas, size, organizational settings, etc. are universal. Based on the previous studies of similarities of HRM, the paper theoretically investigates the background and reasons of introducing similar HR practices among firms. The paper shows the dynamism of HR system in Korean firms, adapting a new HR system. Three types of reasons are found, coercive isomorphism, mimetic isomorphism, and normative isomorphism. However, it is also discussed that there is an important gap in the theoretical and empirical research. More empirical research is suggested in order for gaining meaningful results on HR studies.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.37-46
• /
• 2018

The Minamata Convention on Mercury entered into force on August 16, 2017. It requires Parties to the Convention to control and, where feasible, reduce mercury emissions from the listed sources. To implement the Convention, Japan amended the Air Pollution Control Law and added clauses that force operators to control their mercury emissions below emission limit values (ELVs). The ELVs have been established separately for new and existing sources, targeting the source categories listed in the Convention: coal-fired boilers, smelting and roasting processes used in the production of non-ferrous metals (lead, zinc, copper and industrial gold), waste incineration facilities and cement clinker production facilities. The factors used to establish the ELVs include the present state of mercury emissions from the targeted categories as well as the mercury content in fuels and materials, best available techniques (BATs) and best environmental practices (BEPs) to control and reduce mercury emissions and ELVs or equivalent standards to control mercury emissions in other countries. In this regard, extensive data on mercury emissions from flue gas and the mercury content of fuels and materials were collected and analyzed. The established ELVs range from $8{\mu}g/Nm^3$ for new coal-fired boilers to $400{\mu}g/Nm^3$ for existing secondary smelting processes used in the production of copper, lead and zinc. This paper illustrates the ELVs for the targeted source categories, explaining the rationales and approaches used to set the values. The amended Law is to be enforced on April 1, 2018. From future perspectives, checks of the material flow of mercury, following up on the state of compliance, review of the ELVs and of the measurement and monitoring methods have been noted as important issues.

• Industry Promotion Research
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.159-166
• /
• 2016

The purpose of this study is to present and identify the relationship for the effects of performance-based human resource practices on the organizational effectiveness with focusing on small and medium-sized enterprises around Shandong province of China. The performance-based human resource practice factors include selective employment system, education training system, evaluation system, compensation system and the career promotion ladder opportunity system. As a result, among ten hypotheses, six hypotheses turned out to be the meaningful approaches. In addition there exist some human factors that interfere with the fairness of the evaluation due to the regional and personal factors, assessment system difference among firms. Finally the compensation system and organizational investment for increasing or decreasing will critically affect the enthusiasm of the staff members of firms, and the less invested for thema, the greater the likelihood of their turnovers.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.245-254
• /
• 2014

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate hand washing awareness of females and load of indicator bacteria on their hands. This study focused on the variation according to their age. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire survey and bacterial analysis of indicator bacteria were carried out for 100 Korean women in their age from 20 s to 60 s. Hand samples were collected through a modified glovejuice method. Results: In the survey, significant difference (p < 0.05) was found among the age groups in the use of hand washing agents. The levels of aerobic colony count (ACC) were the highest in both hands among the 20s (p < 0.05). The levels of Escherichia coli were higher in both hands in their 20s and 30s. No significant difference was found in the levels of Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp. However, the positive rates of S. aureus (left hand, 37.5~47.1%; right hand, 58.5~62.5%) and Salmonella spp. (left hand, 25.0~52.9%; right hand, 37.5~64.7%) were higher in the hands of the 20s and 30s, and then showed decreasing trend according to increase of age. The effect of hand washing frequency on the ACC level of hands was significant (p < 0.001). Conclusions: These results indicate that there was no remarkable difference of hand hygiene awareness among female age groups. The detection of S. aureus and Salmonella spp. on the hands of some females in each age group revealed poor hand hygiene practices. The significant effect of hand washing frequency on the ACC level suggests that frequent hand washing is helpful to reduce hand contamination.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
• /
• v.25 no.2_2
• /
• pp.257-262
• /
• 2022

With the shortage of labor force in small and medium-size industries, the Korean Employment Permit System (EPS) continues to bring migrant workers. However, the question remains of the health and safety management of their migrant workers. Considering that a significant part of safety and health problems are caused by migrant workers due to a lack of information on identifying risk and inexperience in the field. Telephone interviews were conducted to investigate the migrant workers' perspectives on workplace safety practices. The survey focused on workers' accident histories, understanding of safety practices, and responding to industrial accidents. A total of 66 accidents occurred among 30 participants. 10 accidents were not reported to the employer (company), which the foreign workers judged to be minor injuries that should not be reported as accidents. 80.0% of the participants expressed dissatisfaction with the PPE they were using. Among various reasons lack of understanding due to language barriers, lack of awareness of the importance of safety, communication difficulties were major reasons for the caused accidents and potential health issues. It is necessary to improve the safety and health support system by providing practical support through specialized educational institutes with experts in the field. A legal framework and a proper safety management system need to be maintained. This study suggests changing the current policy to improve the health and safety of migrant workers by, establishing specialized educational institutes with locally grown foreign experts in the field.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.86-92
• /
• 2022

Background: A laboratory where chemicals are handled can be considered a hazardous environment, and hence, prudent practices should be strictly enforced. If not, deadly accidents and incidents could occur due to a lack of safety practices and poor safety culture. The purpose of this study is to analyze the existing safety culture and propose potential recommendations to enhance the level of safety education in the chemical laboratories in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. Methods: A survey questionnaire was administered among the laboratory supervisors of the chemical laboratories in the Western Province of Sri Lanka in 2019. Results: Even though 80 surveys were distributed among prospective participants, only 46 surveys were submitted, which is 58% of the response rate. Most of the individuals who participated in the survey were females below 35 years old, and approximately 96% of the participants had at least one year of working experience in the same laboratory setting. The majority considered safety as an important factor that requires further improvements with third-party safety inspections; however, 54% of the respondents mentioned that those inspections were conducted by the employees from their laboratory. Conclusion: From the study, it has been discovered that employees have knowledge of safety culture to a certain extent. A significant percentage (83%) of participants believed that further safety measures are required for a safer laboratory. However, the study revealed that the attitudes of some employees should be changed to have a better safety culture. Hence the authors would like to suggest having annual training sessions and well-formulated safety policies to improve the safety culture.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.461-467
• /
• 2020

Industrial consultation is a kind of personal service for companies. The Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation sets up a consultation contract in which a professor performs the consultation as the person in charge. Recently, there is an issue regarding taxation of the consulting fee paid to the professor; in short, there is no standardized practice for the imposition of income tax. In this study, we examine the characteristics of industrial consultation and present an acceptable taxation rule based on related laws. First, it is not appropriate to regard consulting fees as wage income, considering that there is no employment relationship between the Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation and the professor. Considering that the base consulting fee amount is the same as the invention compensation, according to accounting practices, and that an employee invention is apt to be derived in the consultation, it is reasonable that the consulting fee should be regarded as wage income similar to employee invention compensation. As treating the consulting fee as wage income could end up reducing industrial consultations, the government should amend the income tax law to include industrial consultation as a type of other income.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.239-253
• /
• 2008

This paper aims to explore the viability of a rural-industrial complex neighbouring in the metropolitan area and suggest policy implications for the restructuring of the rural industrial complex. In particular, the paper focuses on the location and management practices of the firms operating in the industrial complex. Research shows that the key elements of the viability of the rural industrial complex in Koryung-Gun are the geographical and relational proximities to the metropolitan city of Daegu and the decentralization of urban industries towards rural areas neighbouring in the large city as a result of the deterioration of location conditions in the large city. It is revealed that the major pull factors of location are 'availability of cheap industrial sites', 'agglomeration in a specialized industry' and 'proximity to major customers and suppliers' rather than 'availability of labour pool'. However, it shows that 'weak university-industry linkages' and 'insufficiency of cooperation culture' are the major limitations to attracting firms. In the context of pub1ic policy, the author argues that the restructuring of the rural industrial complex should be sought to promote social infrastructures centered on networks and learning rather than firm centered financial and tax incentives.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.92-100
• /
• 2018

According to 'The Analysis of Industrial Accidents in 2016' by Ministry of Employment and Labor, the number of deaths caused by accidents in the construction field is 391, accounting for 47% of 826 industrial fatalities in all industries. The breakdown of the 391 fatalities of the construction industry shows that 'struck by an object' accident had 30 fatalities, the 3rd in frequency following falling (235) and crashing (32) accidents. This study aims to explore ways to reduce the 'struck by an object' accident with emphasis on safety education and certificate system for rigging and slinging works. This study reviews literature on rigging and slinging works and analyzes 'struck by an object' accidents. The rules and regulation on the rigging and slinging works are also reviewed both for Korea and other countries with best practices in construction safety such as Singapore, Japan, U.K., and U.S. The rigging and slinging certificate systems of those countries are also reviewed to find any advantage in the construction safety management. In addition, a pilot rigging and slinging certificate system was executed in one of domestic construction site followed by two surveys: one on the riggers who participated in the pilot operation and the other on general managers in domestic construction sites. Based on the analysis of the 'struck by an object' accidents and pilot operation, this study proposes a rigging and slinging certificate system to reduce accidents, enhancing safety condition of construction sites. The certificate system was proposed in a way to accommodate working practice of construction sites. Depending on rigging careers and a crane load capacity, riggers are eligible to apply either basic or master certificate which makes difference in the level of rigging works. The safety condition of rigging and slinging work could be substantially enhanced if workers, managers, supervisors, administrators, and policy makers work together consistently.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.139-144
• /
• 2015

Background: The work force in industries are at risk of developing unduly high rates of health and behaviour related problems including abuse of alcohol, betel nut and cigarette (alcohol, betel nut and cigarette consumption). This study describes the relationships between alcohol, betel nut and cigarette consumption and health promoting behaviour among industrial workers. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted on workers in various industries of Ghaziabad city with concerned authority permission. A sample size of 732 workers was calculated based on pilot study. Through Simple random sampling 732 workers in 20 to 50 years age group with informed consent were interviewed through structured, pretested, validated questionnaire in vernacular language by one calibrated investigator. Data on socio demography, alcohol, betel nut and cigarette consumption pattern and health behaviour were collected. The association between health promoting behaviour and alcohol, betel nut and cigarette consumption was analysed by Logistic regression and Chi-square test through SPSS 16 at p<0.05 and 95%CI as significant. Results: Total prevalence of alcohol, betel nut and cigarette consumption in study population was 88%. The prevalence of individual alcohol, betel nut and cigarette consumption were 82%, 68% and 79% respectively. Combined alcohol, betel nut and cigarette prevalence in study population was 58%. Alcohol and cigarette users were significantly higher (p<0.001) in 30 to 40 years age group with lower level of education having poor attitude towards health promoting behaviour, poor oral hygiene practices and rare indulgence in regular physical exercise. Conclusions: This study stimulate further research on exploring methods to prevent initiation of health risk behaviour and promote healthy behaviour with cessation help for the current alcohol, betel nut and cigarette users.