• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.97-114
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• 1998

The occupational health services for the minor enterprises are poor comparing with that of large enterprises in Korea. In 1997, Korean government announced officially the law on joint employment system of occupational health practitioners to solve the problems. This study is to develop the model on the joint employment system of occupational nurse practitioners for minor enterprises in Korea based on the opinions of occupational health nurses (OH Ns). The data were collected by questionnares from October to November in 1997. The number of subjects was 210 occupational health nurses who had participated the mandatory nursing education program provided by the Korean Occupational Health Nurses Association(KOHNA). The response rate was 47.1%. The contents of questionnaires were general characteristics, occupational & job characteristics of OHNs, and the views on the joint employment system. The SAS-PC program was used for the statistical analysis. The results were as followed, (1) The proper number of industies was 3 and the appropriate number of workers was 448 for one joint employed occupational nurse practitioner (J EONP). (2) 44.7% of the OHNs wanted that the Ministry of Labor monitored the way and content of contraction b/w JEONP and minor emterprises, 82.6% of the OHNs wanted that KOHNA managed the employment informations. (3) The OHNs of occupational health agencies showed more positive attitude than the OHNs of private industries on the joint employment system. (4) 88.3% of the OHNs wanted the education training for JEONP. Especially in occupational hygiene and safety control. (5) The OHNs expected the role expansion of Occupational Health Nursing by JEONP system. At the same time they worried the adverse effects. For the successful execution of this system, it is necessary the cooperation among the Ministry of Labor, KOHNA, the minor enterprises, and the OHNs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.20-29
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• 2022

To stem the ever-prevalent occurrence of industrial accidents in the construction industry, which is emerging as a social problem, efforts must be invested by various stakeholders. Specifically, among stakeholders, the orderer is at the top of a project's decision-making structure. Therefore, the orderer's awareness of safety and health directly affects the process of securing the safety of the overall construction site. In this light, the present study aims to identify differences in the perceptions of each stakeholder regarding the obligatory safety and health measures for clients that have recently been introduced. In addition, it suggests specific implementation plans in the Korean context. The data used for analysis were collected through a survey targeting stakeholders such as orderers, safety managers, and site managers, and the collected data were quantitatively reviewed by using multivariate analysis methods such as analysis of variance. As a result of the analysis, the introduction of safety and health obligations for the owner was found to be necessary, and the designation and operation of safety and health experts as an action plan was deemed reasonable. The authors expect that the results of this study can be used as basic data for revising the related regulations in Korea. Moreover, as a further study, a review of the effectiveness after improving regulations would contribute strongly to the domain.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.302-307
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• 2022

Background: In Brazil, asbestos was intensively used from the 1960s until its ban in 2017. Mesothelioma, asbestosis, and pleural plaques are typical asbestos-related diseases (ARD-T). To create an ARD-T national database, death records from 1996-2017 were retrieved from several health information systems (HIS). Methods: All national HIS containing coded diagnoses (ICD-10) and death information were obtained. Linkage was performed to create a single database of ARD-T death records, either as underlying or contributory causes, in adults aged 30 years and older. Results: A total of 3,057 ARD-T death records were found, 2,405 (76.4%) of which being malignant mesotheliomas (MM). Pleural MM (n = 1,006; 41.8%) and unspecified MM (n = 792; 32.9%) prevailed. Male to female MM ratio (M:F) was 1.4:1, and higher ratios were found for non-malignant ARD-T: 3.5:1 for asbestosis and 2.4:1 for pleural plaques. Male crude annual mesothelioma mortality (CM_mm ×1,000,000) was 0.98 in 1996 and 2.26 in 2017, a 131.1% increment, while for females it was 1.04 and 1.25, a 20.2% increase, correspondingly. The small number of deaths with asbestosis and pleural plaques records precluded conclusive interpretations. Conclusions: Even with the linkage of several HIS, ARD-T in death records remained in low numbers. MM mortality in men was higher and showed a rapid increase and, along with non-malignant ARD-T, higher M:F ratios suggested a predominant pattern of work-related exposure. The monitoring of workplace and environmental asbestos exposure needs to be improved, as well as the workers surveillance, following the recent Brazilian ban.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.291-297
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• 2023

Objectives: An epidemiological investigation was requested for a worker who developed COPD and IPF after long-term molding and firing at a domestic tile manufacturing site. We would like to share the results of the exposure assessment and the estimation of past work. Methods: The content of crystalline silica in four raw materials was analyzed, and the respirable fraction of crystalline silica and dust generated in the air from molding and firing workers and other processes were measured. The measurement and analysis method referred to the NIOSH method. Results: The crystalline silica content of the raw material was 24~47%. The concentration of crystalline silica in the molding and firing process workers and the surrounding area was at the level of the exposure standards set by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and ACGIH, and the respirable and total dust exposure levels were generally low. The crystalline silica concentration of the area samples measured to estimate past work was about twice as high as the exposure standard of the Ministry of Employment and Labor (0.05 mg/m3), and the exposure levels of respirable dust were also quite high at 0.903 and 1.332 mg/m3. Conclusions: It was confirmed that tile molding and firing workers are currently exposed to a fairly high level of crystalline silica, and a high level is also confirmed in area samples to estimate past work. In the past, it is judged that the level of exposure would have been much higher due to differences in production volume, working method, presence/absence of local ventilation facilities, and process layout. When working in such a working environment for a long time, respiratory diseases such as lung cancer, COPD, and IPF can occur.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.409-420
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• 2021

The safety and health ledger system, which gives the responsibility of safety and health management for construction site workers to the construction project owner, was introduced as part of the overall revision of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. There is a need to explain the system's effectiveness in terms of economic feasibility to solve the execution problem of the system caused by low awareness and implementation rate. In this study, the economic effect of implementing the safety and health ledger system was analyzed using cost-benefit analysis based on the data discussed at the time of the introduction of the system. Results show that creating and managing the design safety and health ledger caused additional costs in implementing the system. As a result of comparing the cost of preparation and the direct and indirect benefits caused by the reduction of industrial accidents, the benefits were evaluated higher than the costs. Thus, it is thought that the safety and health ledger system reduces construction work accidents and generates economic effects.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.37-39
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• 2002

Geometric mean of airborne welding fume concentration at technical high schools was 4.80mg/㎥(N.D∼35.39mg/㎥) and the percentage of samples exceeded TLV of the Korean ministry of labor was 43.6％, Geometric mean of airborne Mn concentration was 0.06mg/㎥(N.D∼0.42mg/㎥) and the percentage of samples exceeded TLV of ACGIH was 15.4％. In case of airborne Mn concentration, there is a significant difference among schools (P＜0.05). Mn concentrations in blood of the exposed and control groups were 1.84$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎗ and 1.91$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎗, respectively. Mn concentrations in urine of the exposed and control groups were 1.36$\mu\textrm{g}$/$\ell$ and 0.57$\mu\textrm{g}$/$\ell$, respectively. In case of Mn concentrations in urine, there is a significant difference between both groups(P＜0.001) and among schools(P＜0.05). Mn concentrations in blood and urine of exposed group were not over BEIs of the Korean ministry of labor. Mn levels in blood and urine were not significantly affected by smoking, drinking and residence. There was no correlation between Mn concentration in air and blood, but there was a statistically significant correlation between Mn concentration in air and urine(r=0.323). There was no a Statistically significant correlation between Mn concentration in blood and urine.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.32-40
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• 2008

Methyl bromide has been used as a representative fumigant for quarantine, and several poisoning cases have occurred recently by this chemical in Korea. The purpose of this study is to evaluate workers' exposures to airborne methyl bromide in the importing and exporting plant products quarantine companies. Air samples were collected 400/200 mg Anasorb 747TM and were analyzed by gas chromatograph /flame ionization detector according to the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) Method PV2040. Geometric mean (GM) and arithmetic mean (AM) of total 27 workers' exposure concentrations to airborne methyl bromide were 1.12 ppm and 0.24 ppm, respectively. Two exposures(12.1 ppm and 12 ppm as 8hr-TWA) of total 27 workers' exposures exceeded the Korean standard (5 ppm) of Ministry Labor, while 4 exposures (15%) exceeded the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) (1 ppm) of American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). Seven samples (11%) of total 63 short-term air samples exceeded the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) 20 ppm (Ceiling). The opening (management) task in wood fumigation by tent showed the highest short-term exposure concentrations (AM: 18.6 ppm, GM: 0.58 ppm, maximum: 340.7 ppm). The maximum level in treatment task of the same process was 2.01 ppm. Methyl bromide concentrations in opening operation was significantly higher than that in treatment operation (p<0.05). In conclusion, the GM of workers' 8hr-TWA exposures to airborne methyl chloride in the importing/exporting plant quarantine industry was estimated below the ACGIH TLV (1 ppm). However, opening task in the fumigation of wood being covered with tent or fumigation of pant products in container showed the levels exceeding ACGIH TLV (1 ppm), and opening task in the fumigation of wood being covered with tent showed the level exceeding the Korean standard of Ministry of Labor (5 ppm).

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.62-71
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• 2008

The use of chemical products to enhance and improve life is a widespread practice worldwide. But alongside the benefits of these products, there is also the potential for adverse effects to people or the environment. As a result, a number of countries or organizations have developed laws or regulations over the years that require information to be prepared and transmitted to those using chemicals, through labels or Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). While these existing laws or regulations are similar in many respects, their differences are significant enough to result in different labels or MSDS for the same product in different countries. Given the reality of the extensive global trade in chemicals, and the need to develop national programs to ensure their safe use, transport, and disposal, it was recognized that a Globally harmonization system of classification and labeling of chemicals(GHS) would provide the foundation for such programs. This study offered complementary details of GHS classification criteria adopted in Korea by analyzing the differences in chemical classification system between UN and Korea Ministry of Labor. Also it is proposed that mutual agreement of information DB used is required by comparing classification results of chemicals in Korea, Japan, and EU. We offered the lists of information sources useful for chemical classification.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.21-26
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• 2018

In this study, HRD-NET (http://hrd.go.kr), a vocational and training integrated computer network operated by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, is used to confirm whether job training information required by job seekers is being provided smoothly The question bulletin board was extracted using 'R' program which is optimized for big data technique. Therefore, the effectiveness, appropriateness, visualization, frequency analysis and association analysis of the vocational training system were conducted through this, The results of the study are as follows. First, the issue of vocational training card, video viewing, certificate issue, registration error, Second, management and processing procedures of learning cards for tomorrow 's learning cards are complicated and difficult. In addition, it was analyzed that the training cost system and the refund structure differentiated according to the training occupation, the process, and the training institution in the course of the training. Based on this paper, we will study not only the training system of the Ministry of Employment and Labor but also the improvement of the various training computer system of the government department through the analysis of big data.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.365-374
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• 2023

Objectives: After the MSDS submission and non-disclosure review system was introduced in January 2021, there were compliance difficulties in the field. Accordingly, for the establishment of the MSDS system, the government intends to investigate what has been improved and what urgently needs to be improved in the future, and to suggest detailed improvement plans. Methods: The background and problems of urgent difficulties in the field handling chemicals were investigated, and realistic improvement plans were derived through review of other laws related to the MSDS system and overseas cases. Results: In order to guarantee the safety of the public while at the same time promoting corporate R&D, it is necessary to alleviate the non-disclosure screening system for chemical substances for R&D, and to improve the irrationality of failing to implement the non-disclosure screening system due to information on unclassified substances being circulated. For this reason, it seems necessary to ease the requirement to submit all ingredients. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen punishment to raise awareness so that health problems do not occur due to the harmfulness and danger of hidden substances among workers who handle chemical substances and downstream users due to false descriptions in MSDS. Conclusions: All members of our society, including chemical manufacturers/importers and handling companies, academia, civil society, and the government, each subject of chemicals, should take an interest in the entire process from production to disposal of chemicals and work together to prevent harm to the public.