• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.299-305
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• 2020

Objectives: The most important occupational health activity is work environment measurement(WEM) along with the health examination. The preventive function of the WEM system could be achieved on the assumption that all subjected workplaces are performing correctly the WEM. To achieve properly the original purpose of WEM, we suggested a policy for subjected workplaces that they should register whether subjected or not. Methods: We made registration draft through reviewing laws, reports and thesis for WEM. And we conducted Focus Group Interview for industrial health experts using structured questionnaire about the registration. Results: There were 412 occupational deaths from 2013 to 2017. And it was found that only 130(31.6%) workplaces which involved in these occupational deaths had conducted the WEM. In order to operate the WEM system with effect, the subjected workplaces should register the subject status. Such registration must be completed at the stage of industrial accident insurance enrollment. Conclusions: Conducting WEM is the first step to prevent intoxication accident in workpalces. To operate properly WEM we should correctly understand subjected workplaces. So it is needed for all subjected workplaces to register whether they are subjected or not.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.185-195
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze noise exposure levels and the rate of exceedance of exposure limits in workplaces from a 2015 measurement of working environments according to area, industry, and scale of workplace and to determine changes compared to the past. Methods: Among the 408,875 measurements of noise in working environments from 27,030 workplaces in 2015, 16,359 workplaces that were linked to special health examination data were selected as the subjects of this study. The eight-hour corrected measurements and geometric mean values of the individual noise measurements of the workplaces were used to calculate noise exposure levels and the exceedance rate of exposure limits. Results: The average noise exposure level of the overall workplaces making up the subjects of this study was 83.6 dBA, and the exceedance rate of exposure limits was 15.1%. At least half of the noise measurements exceeded the exposure limits in 13.7% of the workplaces. Noise exposure levels were higher in the manufacturing industry and in smaller-scale workplaces. The exceedance rate of noise exposure limits was higher in the mining and manufacturing industries and in smaller-scale workplaces. Conclusions: Noise exposure has shown improvements compared to the past, but the exceedance rate of exposure limits was still high, and more than half of the workers were being exposed to noise of 85 dBA or higher. Therefore, it is necessary to make more active improvements in working environments in terms of noise exposure.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.166-174
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• 2018

Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the number and proportion of target workplaces for work environment monitoring and evaluate the implementation rate of work environment monitoring. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted by the Ministry of Employment and Labor between March and May 2017 among 96,295 manufacturing businesses with more than five employees. The response rate was 17.8%. Estimates of the number and proportion of target workplaces for work environment monitoring were calculated as follows: number of workplaces where work environment monitoring was performed in 2016 + exposure rate based on the questionnaire * number of workplaces where work environment monitoring was not conducted. Results: Of the 150,655 total manufacturing businesses with more than five employees, 63,146 are estimated to be subject to work environment monitoring, which accounted for 41.9% of the workplaces. It is estimated that 73.3% of the target workplaces performed work environment monitoring. The number of workers exposed to hazardous substances is estimated to be about 0.7~1.2 million. Conclusions: Information on the distribution of workplaces subject to work environment monitoring and the rate of implementation can be used as baseline information for management and evaluation of the effectiveness of the work environment monitoring system.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.312-318
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• 2018

Objectives: This study is aimed to illustrate the status of the occupational accident rate, fatality rate, and musculoskeletal disorder rate by safety and health management type in workplaces. Methods: In order to analyze the status of the occupational accident rate, fatality rate, and musculoskeletal disorder rate of different safety and health management types in workplaces, selected data from the Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute were used. Results: The occupational accident rate in workplaces where safety and health managers had been appointed was lower than in those where safety and health management was entrusted to other organizations, while the result was the opposite in regards to the fatality rate per 10,000 workers caused by accident. However, the occupational fatality rate per 10,000 workers in workplaces where safety and health managers have other roles was 426% higher than those where safety and health management was entrusted to other organizations. Moreover, the musculoskeletal disorder rate of the workplaces where safety and health managers have other roles was 15% higher than those where health management was entrusted to other organizations. Conclusions: It is necessary to review the effectiveness of systems in which safety and health managers can concurrently engage in other roles.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 2012

Purpose: This study is to identify factors associated with performance of occupational health services in small-sized workplaces in Korea. Methods: The data were collected from a random sample of 1,158 occupational health managers working for small-sized workplaces across the nation in which occupational health services were supported by Korean Industrial Health Association. A structured questionnaire was self-administrated by occupational health managers about characteristics of workplaces, occupational health managers, and performance level of occupational health services. Results: Stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed that factors associated with performance of occupational health services in small-sized workplaces included supervisor being designated, occupational health manager having received safety and health training, and employer's concern with activities of health management. Conclusion: Government should make efforts to raise the level of employer's concern to occupational health activities. And it is needed to promote health managing staff as a core personnel to self-management for occupational health system.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.17-27
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• 1996

This study was designed to survey exposure levels of formaldehyde among workplaces in some plywood industries and to compare three sampling methods including the impinger method(IM, NIOSH method No. 3500), the solid sorbent tube method(SS, NIOSH method No. 2541), and the passive bubbler monitor method(PB, SKC). The survey was conducted in seven particle board manufacturing factories, two resin manufacturing factories and two plywood manufacturing factories in Incheon area during the period from March 6 to April 20, 1995. The workplaces included were the hot/cold press, the roller/spreader, the soaking/drying, and the reaction/mixing areas. The results were as follows; 1. The average(GM, GSD) concentrations of formaldehyde by sampling methods were 0.11(4.43) ppm by IM, 0.27(2.03) ppm by SS, and 0.29(2.04) ppm by PB, respectively. The concentrations by 1M method were statistically very significantly lower than those of SS and PB methods, particularly at low air borne concentrations of formaldehyde (p<0.001). 2. The area average concentrations of formaldehyde by workplaces measured with PB bubblers were 0.23(2.08) ppm from the press, 0.23(1.77) ppm from the spreader, 0.24(1.51) ppm from the soaking, and 0.46(1.96) ppm from the reaction areas, respectively. The personal average concentrations of formaldehyde by workplaces measured with PB bubblers were 0.30(1.77) ppm from the press, 0.33(1.54) ppm from the spreader, 0.36(1.46) ppm from the soaking, and 0.84(1.19) ppm from the reaction areas, respectively. 3. No statistically significant differences of formaldehyde concentrations among workplaces except the reaction area(p<0.001) were found. 4. Formaldehyde concentrations from personal samples were higher than those of from area sam pies in all workplaces studied. But no statistically significant differences of formaldehyde concentrations both area and personal samples were found. In conclusion, this study found that although formaldehyde concentrations in some plywood industries in Incheon area were below the regulatory limit of 1 ppm, they were over the limits recommended by NIOSH and ACGIH. This study also suggests that the impinger method may underestimate true formaldehyde concentrations. It implies that there will be more workplaces not meeting current regulatory limit if either the solid sorbent or passive bubbler methods were used instead of the impinger method. It is suggested that passive monitors will be a reasonable alternative for area and personal sampling of formaldehyde if the accuracy and validity of passive monitors be verified before use.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.123-136
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• 2011

Korean workplaces can and should reflect the realities of the 21st century workforce. Leading companies try to plan and implement family-friendly policies for their employees, but most of them in fact do not offer family-friendly policies or offer only a few such policies. Therefore, this study seeks to suggest policies that can lead to better family-friendly cultures at workplaces. A family-friendly company culture allows for a better work-life balance, including flexible schedules and generous family-leave policies. This study suggests a family-friendly committee for work-life balance and a role for the government as a leading organization.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.200-207
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to analyze the variables of the state-of-the-art office planning for the productive workplaces of the North America and to predict the adaptability in Korea. Knowledge workers have been considered as the decisive factors for the survival and development of organizations. So, open workplaces have been considered appropriate for the workplace to stimulate their informal knowledge sharing. However, the low individual productivity due to low privacy and distraction in the open workplace has been the key problem. To solve the dilemma, this study suggests that closed individual offices are best for the individual productivity and open conference area and meeting places are essential for the informal knowledge sharing. Some state-of-the-art workplaces such as just-in-time offices and hotelings can provide more space for the individual workplaces and open meeting places without excessive cost burden of organizations.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.275-283
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• 2020

Background: In the absence of a vaccine or treatment, the most pragmatic strategies against an infectious disease pandemic are extensive early detection testing and social distancing. This study aimed to summarize public and workplace responses to Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) and show how the Korean system has operated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Daily briefings from the Korean Center for Disease Control and the Central Disaster Management Headquarters were assembled from January 20 to May 15, 2020. Results: By May 15, 2020, 11,018 COVID-19 cases were identified, of which 15.7% occurred in workplaces such as health-care facilities, call centers, sports clubs, coin karaoke, and nightlife destinations. When the first confirmed case was diagnosed, the Korean Center for Disease Control and Central Disaster Management Headquarters responded quickly, emphasizing early detection with numerous tests and a social distancing policy. This slowed the spread of infection without intensive containment, shut down, or mitigation interventions. After entering the public health blue alert level, a business continuity plan was distributed. After entering the orange level, the Ministry of Employment and Labor developed workplace guidelines for COVID-19 consisting of social distancing, flexible working schedules, early identification of workers with suspected infections, and disinfection of workplaces. Owing to the intensive workplace social distancing policy, workplaces remained safe with only small sporadic group infections. Conclusion: The workplace social distancing policy with timely implementation of specific guidelines was a key to preventing a large outbreak of COVID-19 in Korean workplaces. However, sporadic incidents of COVID-19 are still ongoing, and risk assessment in vulnerable workplaces should be continued.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.75-87
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• 2000

This study was conducted to investigate the composition, detection rate, and exposure concentration of the airborne organic solvents from the working environmental measurements of total 4181 different type of workplace in 3280 workshops in which organic solvents are used. The results are as follows : 1. For all workplaces except washing, the detection rate of toluene and benzene were 80% and 20%, respectively. 2. The number of detection of aromatic hydrocarbon and ketone were ranged 1.41-2.39 and 0.62-0.90 per a sample in all workplaces except that showed 1.01 in washing. 3. The mean of detection frequency was $3.3{\pm}2.5$ in all workplaces and there was no significant difference among that of each workplaces. 4. The airborne concentrations of methyl methacrylate, ethyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, and ethyl ether were $43.5{\pm}47.0{\;}ppm,{\;}22.5{\pm}51.0{\;},{\;}19.8{\pm}57.6{\;}ppm,{\;}19.8{\pm}40.14{\;}ppm, respectively. And those of cellosolve, methyl cellosolve acetate, and N,N-dimethyl formamide were $4.1{\pm}4.5$ ppm, $4.0{\pm}18.5{\;}ppm$, and $5.6{\pm}7.7{\;}ppm$, respectively and exceeded the occupational exposure limits enforced by Ministry of Labor in Korea. As the above results, it is suggested that the components of organic solvents should be indentified to efficient management, of working environment and conducted the engineering control for the workplaces using the hazardous materials.