• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.15-27
• /
• 2009

Background and Goals: This study set out to apply the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), which is known to provide good explanations about human behavior, and test it to see if it could predict safety behavior by affecting the intention for safety behavior and perceived behavioral control and if intention for safety behavior would be influenced by attitude toward behavior, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control. Methods: The subjects were 98 dental technology majors in D City. The questionnaires were distributed, filled out and collected on the spot. Each item was measured on a seven-point scale, and it's interpreted that the higher mean of each item would translate into safety behavior. Results: The analysis results of the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) variables indicate that only subjective norm ($\beta$ = .528, p < .000) had explanatory power of 27.2% (F = 37.170, P <.001) for intention for safety behavior. The results show that subjective norm and attitude toward behavior affect intention for safety behavior. The analysis results of the TPB variables revealed that intention for safety behavior had explanatory power of 26.6% (F = 36.072, p <.000) for behavior. When intention was added by perceived behavioral control, the explanatory power increased to 34.5% (F = 26.530, p <.000). And when it's added by knowledge, the explanatory power increased to 39.0% (F =21.661, p <.000). The results suggest that intention has the biggest influence on predicting safety behavior. Conclusion: The results show that the TPB model by Ajzen (1985) has greater forecasting power for intention and act of safety behavior than the TRA model by Fishbein & Ajzen (1980) and the TPB model can applied in the prediction of safety behavior. Thus safety behavior is considered as behavior whose determination control is limited. And safety education programs that add knowledge to the TPB variables will help the students promote their safety behavior.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.23-26
• /
• 2014

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the concentration of total airborne bacteria (TAB) in biosafety cabinets (BSCs) at universities and hospital microbial laboratories to assess the performance of BSCs. Methods: TAB was determined by using the single-stage Anderson sampler (BioStage Viable Cascade Impactor). The samples were obtained three times (with the BSC turned off and the shield open; with the BSC turned off and the shield closed; and with the BSC tuned on and operating) from the areas in front of 11 BSCs. Results: TAB concentrations of accredited and nonaccredited BSCs were determined. No significant differences were observed in the TAB concentrations of the accredited BSCs and the nonaccredited BSCs for the areas outside the BSCs in the laboratories (p > 0.05). TAB concentrations for the BSCs sampled with the shield open and the instrument turned off showed differences based on the sampling site outside the BSC in each laboratory. Conclusion: These results imply that TAB concentration is not altered by the performance of the BSCs or TAB itself and/or concentration of TAB outside the BSC is not a good index of BSC performance.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.26-33
• /
• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to investigate the relationship between exposure of Korean workers to petrochemicals in the refinery/petrochemical industry and lymphohematopoietic cancers. Methods: The cohort consisted of 8,866 male workers who had worked from the 1960s to 2007 at one refinery and six petrochemical companies located in a refinery/petrochemical complex in Korea that produce benzene or use benzene as a raw material. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated for 1992-2007 and 1997-2005 based on the death rate and cancer incidence rate of the Korean male population according to job title (production, maintenance, laboratory, and office workers). Results: The overall mortality and most cause-specific mortalities were lower among these workers than those of the general Korean population. Increased SMRs were observed for leukemia (4/1.45; SMR 2.77, 95% CI: 0.75-7.09) and lymphohematopoietic cancers (5/2.51; SMR 2, 95% CI: 0.65-4.66) in production workers, and increased SIRs were also observed in leukemia (3/1.34; SIR 2.24, 95% CI: 0.46-6.54) and lymphohematopoietic cancers (5/3.39; SIR 1.47, 95% CI: 0.48-3.44) in production workers, but the results were not statistically significant. Conclusion: The results showed a potential relationship between leukemia and lymphohematopoietic cancers and exposure to benzene in refinery/petrochemical complex workers. This study yielded limited results due to a short observational period; therefore, a follow-up study must be performed to elucidate the relationship between petrochemical exposure and cancer rates.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.2 no.3
• /
• pp.243-249
• /
• 2011

Objectives: Cement contains hexavalent chromium, which is a human carcinogen. However, its effect on cancer seems inconclusive in epidemiologic studies. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to elucidate the association between dust exposure in the cement industry and cancer occurrence. Methods: The cohorts consisted of male workers in 6 Portland cement factories in Korea. Study subjects were classified into five groups by job: quarry, production, maintenance, laboratory, and office work. Cancer mortality and incidence in workers were observed from 1992 to 2007 and 1997-2005, respectively. Standardized mortality ratios and standardized incidence ratios were calculated according to the five job classifications. Results: There was an increased standardized incidence ratio for stomach cancer of 1.56 (27/17.36, 95% confidence interval: 1.02-2.26) in production workers. The standardized mortality ratio for lung cancer increased in production workers. However, was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Our result suggests a potential association between cement exposure and stomach cancer. Hexavalent chromium contained in cement might be a causative carcinogen.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.27-36
• /
• 2013

Objectives: Mental health has been shown to be linked with certain underlying physiological mechanisms. The objective of this cross sectional study was to investigate the relationship between depressive symptoms and brachial artery reactivity (BAR) in an understudied population: police officers. Methods: Participants were 351 police officers who were clinically examined in the Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Police Stress (BCOPS) study. BAR was performed using standard B-Mode ultrasound procedures. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scale. Mean values of the difference between the baseline and maximum diameters of the brachial artery were determined across three categories of CES-D score using the analysis of variance and the analysis of covariance. p-values for linear trends were obtained from linear regression models. Results: The mean age (${\pm}$ standard deviation) of all officers was $40.9{\pm}7.2$ years. Women had a slightly higher mean CES-D score than men ($8.9{\pm}8.9$ vs. $7.4{\pm}6.4$) and a slightly higher percentage increase of BAR than men (6.90 vs. 5.26%). Smoking status significantly modified the associations between depressive symptoms and BAR. Among current smokers, mean absolute values of BAR significantly decreased as depressive symptoms increased after adjustment for age, gender, race/ethnicity, hypertension, and diabetes; the multivariate-adjusted p-values were 0.033 (absolute) and 0.040 (%). Associations between depressive symptoms and BAR were not statistically significant among former smokers or never smokers. Conclusion: Depressive symptoms were inversely associated with BAR among police officers who were current smokers and together may be considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease among police officers. Further prospective research is warranted.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.124-130
• /
• 2023

This study aims to describe the clinical experience of single and bridge crowns fabricated using a cementless screw-retained implant prosthesis system. In the case of single crown (#37), regular link (HDL) was used, and bridge crowns (#15~#24), (#26~#27), (#17~#14) (#24~#26) were fabricated by selecting regular link and short link considering the vertical height. One abutment was hex shaped to ensure that it could be mounted while preventing insertion and prosthesis rotation. The advantages of cementless implant prosthesis include shorter chair time and periodic care, strong retention with LINK abutment, safety from inflammation, bacterial infection, and complications due to peri-implant cement, and high patient satisfaction. Dentists should double-check the position of the implant fixture and dental technicians should continuously manage the fit of the link and prosthesis with digital equipment to reduce screw loosening and fractures.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.383-388
• /
• 2020

Ingestion of food contaminated with microorganism, if not always, could lead to severe health problem. Preservatives has been added to food to prevent food from being contaminated with microorganism. But, these have potential to threaten the health. Therefore, much effort has been taken to find the safe materials showing the anti-microbial activity. In this study, we investigated the anti-bacterial activity of Oenothera lamarckiana aerial part extract against eight bacteria strain. In paper disc assay, extract inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin-resistant S. aureus, Bacillus cereus and Shigella dysenteriae at 200 μg/disc, but not against Escherichia coli, E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhi and S. enteritidis. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin-resistant S. aureus, Bacillus cereus and Shigella dysenteriae is 250, 250, 500 and 500 μg/mL, respectively. Compared with reported MIC of other plant resources, O. lamarckiana aerial part extract showed the relatively high anti-bacterial activity. O. lamarckiana aerial part could be suitable for the preservative development. But, it still remains to be studied to evaluate safety and so on.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.139-143
• /
• 2013

In 2008, according to Statistics Korea's population over the age of 20 and 26.3% of the smokers, 73.7% were non-smokers, smokers and non-smokers by smoking of 22.0% was reported. 336 people of 255 people (75.9%) is currently also showed that smoking. Hypertension, 48 people(14.30%), the boundary type of high blood pressure 193 people (57.40%) of them, especially for high blood pressure appear as a systematic management is required. 336 people targeting taxi drivers smoking and blood pressure, and the relevance of the reserch results did not show a statistically significant difference. Current smokers of 336 people surveyed 255 people (75.90%), respectively. Men over 15 years old in Korea smoking population (1990) was reported as 73.2%, Lee 2001, according etc. Korea 61.8% of the adult male smoking rate is quite high as compared to what is reported. Taxi drivers are working in very bad working conditions. The health of a taxi driver affect the safety of customers were considered.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.455-463
• /
• 2023

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop an air sampling and analytical method for estimating worker exposure to linear carbonate solvents and to evaluate the method. Methods: The target substances were three linear carbonates: DMC, DEC, EMC. GC/FID was used for sample analysis. Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine desorption solvents and sample capacity, and to evaluate storage stability, accuracy, and precision. Results: Coconut Shell Charcoal (CSC, 100/50 mg) was used as the air sampling media, and a desorption solvent of 5% methanol/95% dichloromethane was selected. Recommended sampling capacities were 1~11 ℓ for DMC, 1~18 ℓ for DEC, and 1~24 ℓ for EMC. The stability of three linear carbonates was demonstrated over 30 days in a refrigerator (4℃). Detection limits were determined as follows: DMC 0.26 ㎍/sample, DEC 0.24 ㎍/sample, and EMC 0.25 ㎍/sample. The total coefficient of variation was calculated as DMC 0.064, DEC 0.079, and EMC 0.07. Conclusions: This sampling and analysis method is suitable for estimating personal exposure to linear carbonates in the workplace.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.55 no.1
• /
• pp.52-64
• /
• 2023

This study aimed to examine the types and characteristics of otorhinolaryngology examinations performed by clinical laboratory technologists and to investigate the working environment and scope of work of otorhinolaryngology laboratory personnel using online questionnaires. Based on the research results, constructive policy measures for the University-Association-Society were also presented. Most of the survey respondents were in their 40s (34.1%). Females accounted for 80.2% of respondents and 30.8% of them had a career spanning 15 years or more. We found that laboratory personnel had a wide scope of work, high work stress and frequently suffered occupational diseases. We observed that, to reduce stress and increase satisfaction, an expansion of the workforce was necessary. Compared to other occupations, 72% of clinical laboratory technologists occupied more senior positions, occupational distribution depended on senior positions (P<0.001). Clinical laboratory technologists performed about 26 types of otorhinolaryngology examinations. The most frequent test performed daily was pure tone audiometry, and polysomnography took the longest test time, with an average of 8 hours. In conclusion, clinical laboratory technologists were in charge of various specialized otorhinolaryngology examinations. Considering the importance of clinical laboratory technologists in otorhinolaryngology, the University-Association-Society should put in additional effort into nurturing otorhinolaryngology examination experts.