• Title/Summary/Keyword: Occupational environment

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Exposure Assessment of Black Carbon among Tollbooth Worker at a University (서울시 소재 대학교 차량 요금정산소 수납원의 블랙카본 노출 평가)

  • Kim, Dongwon;Jo, Hyeri;Woo, Cheolwoon;Ryu, Seung-Hun;Yoon, Chungsik
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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    • v.29 no.4
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    • pp.464-476
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    • 2019
  • Objectives: This study aimed to assess the exposure levels of tollbooth workers to diesel particulate matter using black carbon (BC) and to find the correlations among variables associated with BC using the motor vehicle management act regulated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Methods: This study was performed over 14 days at a university in Seoul. BC levels were monitored using an aethalometer and were conducted around the breathing zones of the workers. There were three sampling locations: inside the tollbooth (front gate and rear gate) and an office as a control group. T-test, correlation, and multiple linear regression analysis were performed using SPSS. Results: The geometric mean (GM) of BC30min concentrations in the exposure group was 2.44 ㎍/㎥, approximately 1.4 times higher than the control group (1.75 ㎍/㎥). The GM of BC30min concentrations was 2.75 ㎍/㎥ during the heavy traffic time (9-10 am) and 2.30 ㎍/㎥ during non-heavy traffic times (p<0.001). The multiple linear regression analysis shows that the number of all types of vehicles and PM2.5 concentrations in the atmosphere were factors increasing the GM of BC(ln(BC30min)) concentrations (adjusted R2=0.42, p<0.001). The workers were constantly exposed to low concentrations (GM of BC30min=2.44 ㎍/㎥), but they were exposed to peak concentrations instantly (BC10sec=3545.04 ㎍/㎥). When the GM of BC30min concentrations was momentarily represented as high, it was identified that a vehicle mainly using diesel fuel or an aging vehicle had passed. Conclusions: A ventilation system should be installed in the closed tollbooth or aging vehicles should be controlled so as not to pass tollbooths.

Recruitment and Selection of Police Officials in the United States -the System and it's Implications- (미국 경찰관 모집·선발제도의 특징 및 함의)

  • Park, Dong-Kyun
    • The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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    • v.11 no.5
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    • pp.384-392
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    • 2011
  • Recruitment and selection are separate but mutually reinforcing processes. The goal of recruitment is to attract the largest number of applicants possible to apply to the agency, and selection is the process of weeding out unqualified candidates and identifying qualified candidates. In this context, the recruitment and selection system of police officials is an important issue because it affects their future performance as police officers on the job, especially their policing skills, perception of society, occupational ethics. This study suggested the characteristics of U. S. recruitment and selection system of police officials. In the U. S, each police agency sets up its own recruitment and selection standards and procedures. However, recruitment and selection process follows a certain sequence : receiving application, psychological examination, background check, polygraph test, drug screening, interview, physical agility, and medical test. Special characteristic of American police system regarding recruitment and selection is that many law enforcement agencies use a polygraph test to ensure the integrity of the candidates. Another interesting screening process is a drug test because many Americans abuse illegal drugs. A candidate officer must submit urine or a hair sample for screening test. Police human resources specialists should continually identify the most innovative tests and approaches recruit and select police officers. Recruitment and selection strategies should increasingly attract and retain those officers who have the attributes to work in a community-oriented policing environment.

A Study on Universal Design Using PSD (Preference Set-Based Design) Method (PSD법을 이용한 유니버설 디자인에 관한 연구)

  • Nahm, Yoon-Eui;Ishikawa, Haruo
    • Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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    • v.38 no.3
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    • pp.127-135
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    • 2015
  • Universal design is defined as the design process of products and environments usable by all people to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. The benefits of universal design have been promoted primarily through illustrative 'success stories' of public, residential and occupational environments and products. While case examples may be informative, they may unfortunately be limited in terms of generality to other designs or tasks. Therefore, design methods and criteria that can be applied systematically in a range of situations to encourage universal design are needed. In addition, the seven principles of universal design are intended to guide the design process. The principles provide a framework that allows a systematic evaluation of new or existing designs and assists in educating both designers and consumers about the characteristics of more usable products and environments. However, exactly how these principles are incorporated into the design process has beenleft up to the designer. Since the introduction of universal design, designers have become familiar with the principles of universal design, and they have developed many products based on universal design. However, the principles of universal design are qualitative, which means designers cannot quantitatively evaluate their designs. Some have worked to develop more systematic ways to evaluate products and environments by providing design guidelines for each of the principles. However, recommendations have not yet been made regarding how to integrate performance measures of universal design into the product design process before the product is mass produced. Furthermore, there are sets of requirements regarding each user group that has different age and ability. Consequently, there is an urgent need for design methods, based on a better understanding of age and ability related factors, which will lead to a universally designed product or environment. The authors have proposed the PSD (Preference Set-Based Design) method that can generate a ranged set of feasible solutions (i.e., robust and flexible solution set) instead of single point solution that satisfies changing sets of design targets. The objective of this paper is to develop a general method for systematically supporting the universal design process. This paper proposes the applicability of PSD method to universal design. Here, the proposed method is successfully illustrated with a universal design problem.

Accidents resulting in disability in vulnerable populations and their consequences: A study of vulnerable worker groups in South Korea (취약계층의 사고 후 장애 발생으로 인한 결과: 한국사회의 취약한 노동계층 중심으로)

  • Pak, Haeyong;Bahk, Jinwook;Paek, Domyung;Lee, Eun-Hee;Pak, Yun-Suk
    • Journal of Digital Convergence
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    • v.15 no.2
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    • pp.225-232
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    • 2017
  • This study aimed to identify worker groups that are to accidents and to track the changes in their socioeconomic status there after. We analyzed the Korean Labor and Income Panel Study (KLIPS) database(2001-2006) were recorded according to the participant's economic activity status at the beginning of follow-up, and economic activity status was. During the follow-up period, the unemployed group experienced more accidents that resulted in disability than the economically active group. Interestingly, the unemployed group also had the highest industrial accident rate. Among the employed, daily and unpaid family workers were more vulnerable to disabilities. After the accidents, the participants tended to become economically inactive or unemployed. Compared to other worker groups, the economically inactive, unemployed, and daily and unpaid family workers experienced higher rates of accidents and faced graver conditions as a result. Although they constitute a significantly large part of society, these vulnerable workers are not currently covered by any social security measures, such as accident surveillance, training, and accident insurance. Social policy should therefore be directed toward protecting these vulnerable worker groups.

A Survey on the Persons in Charge for Economic Estimation Analysis and Improvement of BTL Projects (BTL사업의 경제성 평가 현황조사 및 개선을 위한 실무자 설문조사연구)

  • Lee, Chun-Kyong;Cho, Bong-Ho;Park, Tae-Keun
    • Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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    • v.8 no.4
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    • pp.73-80
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    • 2007
  • As BTL(Build-Transfer-Lease) private investment business benchmarking PHI(Private Finance Initiative) of USA and Japan is introduces to Korea since 2005, as a part of supplying high leveled public service and early expanding required facilities for SOC, Value for Money on private investment business from treasury investment business at the beginning gets to be needed. Accordingly, this survey has been conducted in order to analyse BTL projects status, propriety of economic analysis method(VFM analysis, calculation of estimated business expenses, valuation of bidding price, etc.) by business advance phases from the viewpoint of person in charge, necessity of improvement and alternative plants. As the result of conducting cross tabulation analysis and correlation analysis by occupational group, BTL project advance phases and alternative plans for improvement, it is necessary ye prepare standardized service level against business expense and basis for calculating and evaluation operation expenses. Based on the necessity of quantitative analysis (LCC analysis) of VFM, standard for calculating management, maintenance and administration expenses is required. In addition, reliable economic valuation system considering domestic BTL environment should be setup, for business efficiency.

Pulmonary Function and Influence Factors among Residents around Gwangyang Steel Mill (광양 제철소 주변지역 거주자들의 폐기능과 영향 요인)

  • Hong, Eun-Ju;Ahn, Gi-Sub;Chung, Eun-Kyung;Choi, Jae-Ho;Guo, Xinbiao;Son, Bu-Soon
    • Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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    • v.37 no.3
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    • pp.182-192
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    • 2011
  • Objectives: This study aims to identify the influential factors on the pulmonary function of targeted general residents in the areas surrounding Gwangyang Steel Mill. Methods: An PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) was conducted from May 2007 to November 2007 on 974 target residents (438 male, 536 female), including an exposed group (674 people) who resided within a radius of 5 km from Gwangyang Steel Mill in Gwangyang-si, Jeollanam-do and a control group (300 people) who resided outside a radius of 15 km. A survey related to personal characteristics, life habits, respiratory diseases and allergic symptoms, medical histories and living environments of the residents was also conducted to identify influential factors on pulmonary function. Results: As %$FEV_1$ and %FVC of the exposed group are 99.17% and 96.98%, respectively, and those of the control group are 105.47% and 101.91%, respectively, with the PFT values of the exposed group being lower than those of the control group (p<0.001), it turns out that the pollution in the industrial complex is likely to trigger a reduction in the pulmonary function of local residents. The odds ratio analysis result for asthma diagnosis history indicates that the odds ratios tend to be higher among surveyed residents who are living near above-average traffic volumes and are using beds, where it is statistically meaningful that especially the odds ratios are higher if the residences are closer to roads (p<0.01, CI=1.12-4.52). The factors that affect the FEV1 are identified as smoking, passive smoking, asthma diagnosis history, nasal congestion symptoms and allergic eye disease ($R^2$=0.154, p<0.001). The factors that affect the FVC are identified as smoking, passive smoking, asthma diagnosis history and allergic coryza ($R^2$=0.158, p<0.001). In addition, the analysis result for the relevance of air pollution levels to pulmonary function ($FEV_1$, FVC) shows that FEV1 and FVC tend to decrease as the concentration of $O_3$ increases. Conclusions: We believe that this study may provide preliminary data for the development of preventive measures for health effects on the residents and environmental health control measures for environmental pollution in the industrial complex area.

Characteristics of Humidifier Use in Korean Pregnant Women: The Mothers and Children's Environmental Health (MOCEH) Study

  • Chang, Moon-Hee;Park, Hye-Sook;Ha, Min-A;Kim, Yang-Ho;Hong, Yun-Chul;Ha, Eun-Hee
    • Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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    • v.27
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    • pp.3.1-3.4
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    • 2012
  • Objectives: The current use of humidifier detergent and its harmful impact on humans has arisen as a societal environmental health issue. Therefore, in this study we aimed to explore the relationship between demo-socio characteristics and humidifier use, as well as the monthly usage changes in pregnant women; thus, we report the actual status of humidifier usage of Korea's pregnant population. Methods: From a birth cohort of a Mothers and Children's Environmental Health (MOCEH) study, 1,144 pregnant women who responded through questionnaires including demo-socio characteristics, obstetric status and household environment including whether they use humidifier and frequency of use were included in this study. Statistical analyses were performed to explore the relationship between maternal characteristics and the relevance of the use of humidifiers was performed using a chi-square test, a t-test and univariate logistic regression analysis. The monthly usage rate was demonstrated in the graph. Results: The humidifier usage rate in pregnant women was 28.2%. The average frequency of humidifier usage was 4.6 days per week, 7.3 hours per day. The usage rate was higher in the multipara group and the above the age of 34 age group than in the primipara and below the age of 34 groups. Seoul showed a higher usage rate than Cheonan and Ulsan and as the education level and income increased, the usage rate of humidifiers among pregnant women also increased. In the monthly trend of usage rate, the winter season showed the highest usage rate of over 45% and the lowest in late summer and beginning of fall with a value of 12% or less. Conclusions: During pregnancy, the mother's body is especially vulnerable to hazardous environmental exposure that not only affects the pregnant woman but also the fetus. Further research is still needed to elucidate the route and effect of environmental risk factors. Therefore, based on precautionary and preventive principles, special interest and caution in harmful environments are strongly needed not only at an individual level but also at a national level.

Analyzing on the Fluctuation Characteristics of Management Condition of Construction Company (건설업체 경영상태 변동에 대한 특성 분석)

  • Jang, Ho-Myun
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.15 no.2
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    • pp.1118-1125
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    • 2014
  • The past IMF foreign exchange crisis and subprime financial crisis had a big influence on variability of macroeconomics, even if the origin of its occurrence might be different. This not only had a significant infrequence on the overall industries, but also produced many insolvent companies by being closely linked with a management environment of an individual construction company leading the construction industry. The purpose of this research is to investigate characteristics of management condition of construction company according to the size of construction company using KMV model developed on the basis of the Black & Scholes option pricing theory. This research has set 28 construction companies listed to KOSPI/KOSDAQ for applying the KMV model and measuring the level of the default risk of construction companies. The data was retrieved from TS2000 established by Korea Listed Companies Association (KLCA), Statistics Korea. The analysis period is between first quarter of 2004 and fourth quarter of 2010. This research examine characteristics of the level and fluctuation process of the management condition of construction company according to the size of construction company.

A Study on the Mixed Organic Solvent Dose and Subjective Symptoms of Direct and Indirect Bonding workers in Shoes Manufacturing Industrial (신발제조업체의 접착제 사용에 따른 직접·간접폭로 근로자들의 복합유기용제 폭로량과 자각증상 비교)

  • Byun, Jeong-Sik;Kim, Jeong-Yun;Cho, Young-Chae;Kim, Dong-Hyun
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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    • v.5 no.1
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    • pp.48-58
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    • 1995
  • This study was performed to find out the exposure level of mixed organic solvents, excretion of urinary hippuricacid and subjective symptoms according to the exposure of organic solvents of female workers who works on 5 shoes manufacturing industries in Taejon City from 24, september to 20, october 1993. The studied groups were divided into 3 groups that were consist of direct exposure group(48 workers), indirect exposure group(49 workers) and non-exposure group(68 workers) to the organic solvents. The exposure levels of toluene of direct exposure group which $89.86{\pm}56.20ppm$ had higher than that of indirect exposure group which had $40.23{\pm}47.21ppm$. In the exposure level of mixed organic solvent(R-value), direct exposure group was $2.84{\pm}1.53$ and exceeded approximatly 3 times the R-value. Whereas, indirect exposure group was not exceeded the R-value as $0.80{\pm}0.61$. In the excretion level of urinary hippuric acid, direct exposure group was $1.78{\pm}1.25g/l$, indirect exposure group was $1.22{\pm}0.93g/l$ and non-exposure group was $0.51{\pm}0.18g/l$ respectively. Therefore both direct exposure group and indirect exposure group were significantly higher than non-exposure group(P<0.01). In the correlation between toluene levels and urinary hippuric acid level, the direct exposure group had positive correlation(R=0.8309, P<0.01), also indirect exposure group had positive correlation(R=0.5859, P<0.05) and also in the correlation between the R value of mixed organic solvents and the urinary hippuric acid levels, the direct exposure group had positive correlation(R=0.4492, P<0.05), and indirect exposure group had ositive correlation(R=0.7911, P<0.01). In the complain rates of the worker's subjective symptoms at work, both direct exposure group and indirect exposure group were higher than non-exposure group(P<0.05, P<0.01). But the sujective symptoms of "floating sensation" of direct exposure group had significantly higher than indirect exposure group. In the percent of subjective symptoms complaints during the worker's daily life, both direct exposure group and indirect exposure group had generally more statistical significance than nonexposure group(P<0.01), direct exposure group had not statistical significant difference from indirect exposure group. As the results mentioned above, it has been analysed that the indirect at the adjacent manufaturing process are exposed to the considerable amount of solvent. Therefore, I think that there should be the betterment of surrounding through the complete working environment management to the occurrence source of the organic solvent, the changes of health management system to the indirect-exposed workers, and the systematic management of the special medical examination and the like.

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Bactericidal Efficacy of Non-thermal DBD Plasma on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (비열 유전체장벽방전 플라즈마의 포도상구균 및 대장균 살균효과)

  • Kim, Keyyoung;Paik, Namwon;Kim, Yonghee;Yoo, Kwanho
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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    • v.28 no.1
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    • pp.61-79
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    • 2018
  • Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the effect of non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge(DBD) plasma on decontamination of Staphylococcus aureus(S. aureus) and Escherichia coli(E. coli) as common pathogens. Methods: This experiment was carried out in a chamber($0.64m^3$)designed by the authors. The plasma was continuously generated by a non-thermal DBD plasma generator(Model TB-300, Shinyoung Air tech, Korea). Suspensions of S. aureus and E. coli of 0.5 McFarland standard($1.5{\times}10^8CFU/mL$) were prepared using a Densi-Check photometer(bio $M{\acute{e}}rieux$, France). The suspensions were diluted1:1000 in sterile PBS solutions(approximately$10^{4-5}CFU/mL$) and inoculated on tryptic soy agar(TSA) in Petri dishes. The Petri dishes(80mm internal diameter)were exposed to the non -thermal DBD plasma in the chamber. Results: The results showed that 95% of S. aureus colonies were killed after a six-hour exposure to the DBD plasma. In the case of E. coli, it took two hours to kill 100% of the colonies. The gram-negative E. coli had a greater reduction than the gram-positive S. aureus. This difference may be due to the structure of their cell membranes. The thickness of gram-positive bacteria is greater than that of gram-negative bacteria. The S. aureus is more resistant to DBD plasma exposures than is E. coli. It should be noted that average concentrations of ozone, a byproduct of the DBD plasma generator, were monitored throughout the experiment and the results were well below the criteria, 50 ppb, recommended by the Korean Ministry of the Environment. Thus, non-thermal DBD plasma is deemed safe for use in hospital and public facilities. Conclusions: There was evidence that non-thermal DBD plasma can effectively kill S. aureus and E. coli. The results indicate that DBD plasma technology can greatly contribute to the control of infections in hospitals and other public and private facilities.