• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.230-234
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• 2008

Epidemiological studies demonstrate an adverse effect of several environmental and occupational exposures on male sex hormone. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a weak estrogen and a widely used industrial chemical. Epoxy resin painters may be continuously exposed to BPA at high concentrations. The effect of occupational exposure of BPA on male reproduction was examined by measuring the urinary BPA, testosterone and gonadotropic hormones of epoxy resin painters in the shipyard. The painters had significantly higher concentrations of urinary BPA (2.61${\pm}$1.08 ${\mu}g$/g creatinine) than controls (1.38${\pm}$0.5 9 ${\mu}g$/g creatinine). In serum, the testosterone level of painters was significantly decreased but the luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels of painters were significantly higher than controls. Occupational exposure to BPA influences testosterone and gonadotropic hormones in male workers.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.108-111
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• 2018

Purpose: This study examined the effects of the forward head posture and tension type headache on neck movement among office workers. Methods: The subjects were 6 male and 21 female patients composed of a forward head posture group, forward head posture group with a tension type headache and a normal group. Each group consisted of 2 males and 7 females. The cranio-vertebral angle of the head and the angle of motion of the neck were measured. SPSS 23.0 was used for data analysis and one-way ANOVA was performed for the mean comparison of the neck movements in the three groups. Results: The participants had a limitation in the movement of all necks between the forward head posture group and forward head posture with tension type headache group compared to the normal subjects. The forward head posture with tension headache group had limited neck extension and lateral bending compared to the forward head posture group. Conclusion: Office workers have limitations in the movement of the neck when they are accompanied by forward head posture and tension headache. In particular, when accompanied with a tension headache, there is a restriction on the neck extension and side bending. This study is expected to provide basic data for the relief of tension headache and the treatment of forward head posture in office workers.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.355-361
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• 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate whether genetic polymorphisms of CYP2E1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 and lifestyle habits (smoking, drinking, and exercise) modulate the levels of urinary styrene metabolites such as mandelic acid (MA) and phenylglyoxylic acid (PGA) after occupational exposure to styrene. We recruited 79 male workers who had received chronic exposure in styrene fiberglass-reinforced plastic manufacturing factories. We found that serum albumin was significantly correlated with blood styrene/ambient styrene (BS/AS), urinary styrene (US)/AS, and US/BS ratios as well as urinary metabolites, that total protein correlated with US/MA and US/PGA ratios, and that low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol significantly correlated with US/BS, US/MA, and US/PGA ratios. Multiple logistic regression analyses using styrene-metabolizing enzyme genotypes and lifestyle habits as dependent variables and blood and urine styrene concentrations and urine styrene metabolite levels as independent variables revealed that $CYP2E1^*5$ was associated with the MA/US ratio and GSTM1 with US/BS, that a smoking habit was associated with US/AS and MA/US ratios and MA and PGA levels, and that regular exercise was correlated with PGA/US. In conclusion, the results suggested that genetic polymorphisms of styrene-metabolizing enzymes, lifestyle behaviors, and albumin and LDL-cholesterol serving as homeostasis factors together are involved in styrene metabolism.

• Journal of Labour Economics
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.61-89
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of sex of supervisor on the stress and promotion of Korean women workers in the workplace using the Korean Women Manager Panel. The results demonstrate that when the direct boss of female workers was female, stress in the workplace was high and the promotion rate of staff and assistant managers was low. According to the theory of queen bee phenomenon and role congruity theory, a structure of glass ceiling and the male-dominated working culture does not require positive qualities of female leadership but requires a high recognition standard or competitiveness. It can be interpreted that the female worker with the female supervisor showed more stress in the workplace and the probability of female promotion in staff and assistant managers is low.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.15-36
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to review previous domestic and foreign studies and to investigate personal work-life harmonization through theoretical research on familyfriendly management using a dual agenda approach. The authors briefly identified trends and critically reviewed domestic researches on family-friendly management and foreign studies of scholars that overcame the limitations of domestic studies to present a foundation for work-life harmonization through a dual agenda approach. As a result, the existing family-friendly management was found to be compatible with work and family but was not effective in developing personal careers. The workers who actively accepted family-friendly management as part of their work-life balance were mostly female laborers who were employed part-time, had lower academic education, earned lower wages and, in general, were non-professional workers without specific skills or career aspirations. The remainder of the workers, full-time male employees, with higher education and with professional knowledge and skills, inevitably worked longer, more labor-intensive hours, due to the advent of the dual agenda approach. A new work-life harmonization program is urgently needed not only for family-friendliness but also for healthy organizations, individual career development and personal wellbeing.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.728-733
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• 2011

This study was designed to analyze the results of stress index by heart rate variability test. The subjects were workers in the automobile manufacturing industry. The subjects consisted of 23,767 workers who had answered about questionnaires of a job position, age, smoking, drinking, exercise state and sex. The stress index(SI) and stress resistance(SR) were examined by SA3000P. We analyzed the differences of SI and SR according to job positions, ages, the state of smoking, drinking, exercise and sex by T-test or ANOVA with SPSS ver. 17.0. Regarding the differences of SI among job positions, the SI was highest in sales positions. Among ages, the SI was highest in 30s. In smoking, the SI was lower in non-smoking group. In drinking, there was no significant differences in SI. In exercise, the SI was lower in exercise group. In sex, there was no significant difference. The case of SR, SR was lowest in sales positions. Among ages, the SR was lowest in 40s. In smoking, the SR was lower in smoking group. In drinking, there was no significant differences in SR. In exercise, there was no significant difference. In sex, the SR was lowest in male. According to these results, we should establish the methods of controlling stress from the perspective of Korean traditional medicine.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.66-72
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• 2014

Background: The purpose of this study was to enumerate the annual morbidity and mortality incidence and estimate the direct and indirect costs associated with occupational injuries and illnesses in Bangkok in 2008. In this study, data on workmen compensation claims and costs from the Thai Workmen Compensation Fund, Social Security Office of Ministry of Labor, were aggregated and analyzed. Methods: To assess costs, this study focuses on direct costs associated with the payment of workmen compensation claims for medical care and health services. Results: A total of 52,074 nonfatal cases of occupational injury were reported, with an overall incidence rate of 16.9 per 1,000. The incidence rate for male workers was four times higher than that for female workers. Out of a total direct cost of $13.87 million, $9.88 million were for medical services and related expenses and $3.98 million for compensable reimbursement. The estimated amount of noncompensated lost earnings was an additional $2.66 million. Conclusion: Occupational injuries and illnesses contributed to the total cost; it has been estimated that workers' compensation covers less than one-half to one-tenth of this cost.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.75-98
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• 2016

This study examines the work-life balance designing of new employees using qualitative research. Eight new employees at foreign IT companies in Korea were interviewed in two groups composed of two male workers and two female workers. The research determined two main themes and seven sub-themes related to the participants work-life balance using theme analysis. The first main theme was 'working conditions' which had sub-themes, 'performance-based system in foreign IT companies', 'flexible working conditions', 'family-friendly company culture', and 'positive evaluation of the company'. The second main theme was 'work-life balance' which included the sub-themes, 'changing priority during transitional periods of life', 'work-family balance designing as a family unit', and 'difficulties balancing between work and family'. The results revealed that workers prospected that flexible working condition might solve the demands of the child-rearing period and that work-family balance was determined as a family unit. Additionally, there were gender differences in the relationships between working conditions and work-life balance.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.347-351
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• 2018

Background: The success of an injury intervention program can be measured by the proportion of successful return to work (RTW). This study examined factors of successful return to employment among workers suffering from work-related injuries. Methods: Data were obtained from the Social Security Organization, Malaysia database consisting of 10,049 RTW program participants in 2010-2014. The dependent variable was the RTW outcome which consisted of RTW with same employer, RTW with new employer or unsuccessful return. Multinomial logistic regression was performed to test the likelihood of successful return with same employer and new employer against unsuccessful return. Results: Overall, 65.3% of injured workers were successfully returned to employment, 52.8% to the same employer and 12.5% to new employer. Employer interest; motivation; age 30-49 years; intervention less than 9 months; occupational disease; injuries in the lower limbs, upper limbs, and general injuries; and working in the manufacturing, services, and electrical/electronics were associated with returning to work with the same employer against unsuccessful return. Male, employer interest, motivation, age 49 years or younger, intervention less than 6 months, occupational disease, injuries in the upper limbs and services sector of employment were associated with returning to new employer against unsuccessful return. Conclusion: There is a need to strengthen employer commitment for early and intensified intervention that will lead to improvement in the RTW outcome.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.226-235
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there were differences in manufacturing industry worker's health issues depending on job stress, fatigue, and health and safety services. Methods: The purpose of the questionnaire survey and its contents were explained to manufacturing industry health personnel, and the questionnaires were collected from 666 workers from 17 manufacturing workplaces. Questionnaires with missing data were excluded from the analysis so a total of 632 questionnaires were included. Results: Overall, 74.1% of the respondents had experienced health issues during the preceding month. The factors affecting worker health were number of workers(OR=1.000034, p=.013), job demand(OR=1.82, p=.009), MFS(OR=1.85, p=.003), provision of safety & health information(OR=1.85, p=.048), wearing protector(OR=2.58, p=.021). Conclusion: It is necessary to strengthen the safety and health education to mitigate hazardous and risk factors. Employers should provide health managers in charge of safety and health education to control workplace risk factors. In case of small businesses, it may be necessary to strengthen safety and health education in existing worker health centers and government support projects.