• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.181-191
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• 2007

With the 2-Butanethiol, which is an unidentified inhalation toxic material, acute inhalation toxicity was tested with SD rats. The $LC_{50}$ was evaluated to be 2,500 ppm (9.22 mg/L) or higher which falls under the criteria of acute toxicity Category 3 (500<$LC_{50}$<2,500 ppm) in the Industrial Safety and Health Act. In the subchronical inhalation toxicity test by 0, 25, 100, and 400 ppm, 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 13 weeks repeated exposure, though no death or particular clinical presentation was observed, in the female 25 and 400 ppm group, including weight change, and in each concentration group including 400 ppm, change of feed rate, eye stimulation, motility change in male group, and lesions in blood and blood biochemical were observed. In the internal organs weight, 25, 100, and 400 ppm groups in male and 400 ppm group in female showed significant (p<0.05) changes in kidney, liver, thymus, and lung. In the pathological tissue test, severe cortical tubular hyaline droplets were observed in the male 400 ppm group, and all male rats of 400 ppm group and 2 female individuals showed tubular degeneration/regeneration accompanied with pigmentation, showing that the target organs of inhalation exposure of 2-Butanethiol are spleen, kidney, nasal cavity, and adrenal. Through the tests, the NOEL of 2-Butanethiol was evaluated to be 25 ppm (0.092 mg/L) or less for both male and female.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2020

Background: As the impact of climate change intensifies, exposure to heat stress will grow, leading to a loss of work capacity for vulnerable occupations and affecting individual labor decisions. This study estimates the future work capacity under the Representative Concentration Pathways 8.5 scenario and discusses its regional impacts on the occupational structure in the Republic of Korea. Methods: The data utilized for this study constitute the local wet bulb globe temperature from the Korea Meteorological Administration and information from the Korean Working Condition Survey from the Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute of Korea. Using these data, we classify the occupations vulnerable to heat stress and estimate future changes in work capacity at the local scale, considering the occupational structure. We then identify the spatial cluster of diminishing work capacity using exploratory spatial data analysis. Results: Our findings indicate that 52 occupations are at risk of heat stress, including machine operators and elementary laborers working in the construction, welding, metal, and mining industries. Moreover, spatial clusters with diminished work capacity appear in southwest Korea. Conclusion: Although previous studies investigated the work capacity associated with heat stress in terms of climatic impact, this study quantifies the local impacts due to the global risk of climate change. The results suggest the need for mainstreaming an adaptation policy related to work capacity in regional development strategies.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.290-300
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• 2011

Objectives: There is limited data regarding the toxicity of methylcyclohexane, despite its wide use in rubber adhesives, paint diluents, and cleansing agents. This study aimed to verify the toxicity and influence on the reproductive system of methylcyclohexane after its repeated injection in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Methods: Methylcyclohexane was injected subcutaneously into male and female SD rats once a day, five times a week, for 13 weeks at different doses (0, 10, 100, and 1,000 mg/kg/day) for each group. The toxicity of testing material was verified by observing the change in body and organ weight, hematological change, pathological findings, and effect on the reproductive system at each different concentration. Results: In the 1,000 mg/kg/day group, there were cases of animal deaths. In animals that survived, hematological changes, including a decrease in the red blood cell count, were observed. A considerable weight gain or loss and pathological abnormalities in the liver, kidney, and other organs were found. However, the 10 and 100 mg/kg/day groups did not cause deaths or other specific abnormalities. In terms of reproductive toxicity, there were changes in hormone levels, including a significant decrease in hormones such as estradiol and progesterone (p < 0.001) in male animals. Menstrual cycle change for female animals did not show concentration dependency. Conclusion: When injected repeatedly for 13 weeks, methylcyclohexane proved to be toxic for the liver, heart, and kidney at a high dose. The absolute toxic dose was 1,000 mg/kg/day, while the no observed adverse effect level was less than 100 mg/kg/day. The substance exerted little influence on the reproductive system.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.109-115
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• 2017

This study was performed to investigate the changes in turnover intention according to the level of occupational stress and to find the mediating factor that reducing the turnover intention among fire officer. To compare change of turnover intention according to the degree of occupational stress, statistical analyses were done by using the logistic regression model. In logistic regression analysis, the possibility of high turnover intention in a group with high occupational stress was hjgher by 4.11 times than a group with low occupational stress. The results of analyzing the degree of change in turnover intention after applying the mediating parameters(physical condition, emotional labor, burn out), turnover intention decreased by about 50.6%(from 4.11 times to 2.03 times) at the high level of occupational stress. As a result, it was found that the occupational stress experienced by the fire-officers had a positive effect on the turnover intention. In order to reduce the turnover intention due to the occupational stress of the fire-officers, it is necessary to manage factors such as work environmental factors(emotional labor, burn out) and individual factor(physical condition).

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 2016

The incidence of occupational injuries and diseases associated with industrialization has declined markedly following developments in science and technology, such as engineering controls, protective equipment, safer machinery and processes, and greater adherence to regulations and labor inspections. Although the introduction of health and safety management systems has further decreased the incidence of occupational injuries and diseases, these systems are not effective unless accompanied by a positive safety culture in the workplace. The characteristics of work in the $21^{st}$ century have given rise to new issues related to workers' health, such as new types of work-related disorders, noncommunicable diseases, and inequality in the availability of occupational health services. Overcoming these new and emerging issues requires a culture of prevention at the national level. The present paper addresses: (1) how to change safety cultures in both theory and practice at the level of the workplace; and (2) the role of prevention culture at the national level.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.169-181
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to obtain information regarding classification and health hazards that may result from a 13-week inhalation exposure to 2-methylpentane by Sprague-Dawley rats. Materials: The testing method was conducted in accordance with OECD guidelines for the testing of chemicals No. 413. The rats were divided into four groups(ten male and ten female rats in each group) and exposed to 0 ppm, 290 ppm, 1,160 ppm, 4,640 ppm 2-Methylpentane in each exposure chamber for six hours per day, five days per week, for 13 weeks. Results: No death or particular clinical presentation including weight change and change of feed rate was observed. The relationships between dose, gender and response were also not significantly changed in urinalysis, hematologic examination, or biochemical examination of blood(except for total cholesterol being up, total protein being up, and chloride ion being down in males), and blood coagulation time. For the relative weight measurement of organs, in the male group the weight change of both kidney and liver were increased in proportion to dose. In histopathological examination, nephropathy in the kidney(cystic change of renal tubules, regenerative tubule, inflammatory cell infiltration and necrosis in the interstitial tissue) was increased in a dose-dependent manner in the male group(290 ppm, 1,160 ppm, 4,640 ppm). However, other organs were not affected by the test substance. Conclusions: 2-methylpentane was estimated as a chemical causing nephropathy in the male group. NOAEL(No Observable Adverse Effect Level) in the female group is more than 4,640 ppm, while inthe male group it is less than 290 ppm.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.35
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• pp.20.1-20.7
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• 2023

The policy proposal by the current Korean government that proposes flexible overtime rules is causing social controversy. This study has explored the 612 experts' opinions on the occupational safety and health impacts of the policy using an online self-report survey. They expected short-term overwork (87.25%), overwork inequality (86.44%), irregular working hours (84.31%), chronic overwork (84.15%), long working hours (83.66%), and unpredictability of working hours (81.86%) as a result of the policy change. They also responded that the policy change would increase industrial accident deaths (87.25%), mental illnesses (87.09%), deaths due to overwork or cardiovascular diseases (83.84%), and accidents (83.33%). They disagreed that the government's flexibilization policy, while agreeing that the necessity of policies on regulating night work (94.77%), guaranteeing wages to eliminate overtime (90.36%), establishing working time regulations for the bogus self-employed (82.84%), and applying the 52-hour workweek system to all workplaces (76.47%). These expert opinions are consistent with previous research on the health effects of working hours.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.34
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• pp.26.1-26.13
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• 2022

It is important to assess the blood flow of fingers in the verification of hand-arm vibration syndrome. In the Republic of Korea, most assessments of the blood flow in the fingers are performed using a cold provocation test with finger skin color change. However, this test is a non-objective method with a relatively low sensitivity, leading to possible social and legal problems. Thus, we reviewed the characteristics of several tests that assess the blood flow in the fingers. Among these tests, using the radioactive isotope method, Raynaud's scan has a relatively higher sensitivity and specificity than other tests, provides objective results, and is approachable in many hospitals. So we suggest using Raynaud's scan as an alternative test when cold provocation test with finger skin color change is negative in vibration exposed worker.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.140-147
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the types of worksite health promotion programs. Method: Data were collected from the excellent 35 cases chosen at the contest for worksite health promotion held by Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency. Result: Out of all the health promotion programs, the exercise program recorded 35.0%, the nutrition program 29.4%, the smoking cessation program 28.0%, and the alcohol reduction program 7.6%. The major element of worksite health promotion programs were awareness raising intervention. Behavior change intervention and supportive environment intervention occupied a small portion of the health promotion programs. Evaluation of health promotion programs was made mainly by indicators of health behavior change and clinical symptom. Yet economical indicator was not used at all. Conclusion: Use of various evaluation indicator and development of various interventions including behavior change and supply of supportive environment are required to encourage worksite health promotion program.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.299-309
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate about student's experiences in occupational therapy through clinical fieldwork, such as the change in perception of occupational therapy, the stress that students experience, and the satisfaction of clinical fieldwork. We conducted a focus group interview with 10 participants to see what they experienced during the clinical fieldwork. The contents of the interview were recorded and conducted, and the meaning was analyzed according to the focus group interview procedure through repeated listening. Components were psychological experience, professional experience, environmental experience, changes of values, and behavioral changes. In psychological experience, he experienced anxiety and burden. Experiential experience was the connection of theory and clinical experience and realization of major knowledge. In the environmental experience, we experienced clinical guidance management system, and the change of values experienced change of perception of occupational therapy and change of perception of disabled person. Finally, behavioral changes have experienced an active response through clinical practice experience. Clinical fieldwork is a basic element that prepares students to become occupational therapists. It affects the role of occupational therapist and perception performance through various experiences in new environment. It is thought that the efforts of the institution are needed. The results of this study will help occupational therapists to direct clinical fieldwork in the right direction in clinical fieldwork.