• Title/Summary/Keyword: Occupational environment

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A Survey on Characteristics of Distribution for Indoor Air Pollutants in Museum Environments (박물관내 실내공기오염물질의 분포 특성 실태조사)

  • Kim, Yoon-shin;Roh, Young-man;Yoon, Young-hun;Lee, Cheol-min;Kim, Ki-yeon;Kim, Jong-cheol;Jeon, Hyoung-jin;Sim, In-suk
    • 보존과학연구
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    • s.28
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    • pp.91-104
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    • 2007
  • The goal of this study was to provide basic data for arrangement of management in museum environment. We investigated characteristics of distribution on indoor air pollutants at exhibition halls and storages in museums between July and August, 2007. The monitoring carried out at three cultural sites, Pusan, Daejeon and Kyungjoo which is possessed their own exhibition hall and storage in Museums. We adopt the several pollutants for this survey such as $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$ $CO_2$, Formaldehyde, TBC, CO, $NO_2$, Rn, VOCs, $O_3$ and followed the standard method of Ministry of Environment, Korea for sampling and analysis, respectively. The results of this survey revealed that average concentration of $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ in storages were $117.3{\mu}g/m^3$ and $92.6{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. The average concentration in storages of gases pollutants and microorganism such as $CO_2$, Formaldehyde, $NO_2$, Rn, TVOC, $O_3$, and TBC showed as: 788.8ppm, $30.7{\mu}g/m^3$, 0.4ppm, 6.4ppb, $1.3pCi/{\ell}$, $1,374.9{\mu}g/m^3$, 2.4ppb, and $119.4cfu/m^3$, respectively. In addition, average concentration of $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ in exhibition halls were $49.5{\mu}g/m^3$ and $56.1{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. The average concentration in exhibition halls of gases pollutants and microorganism such as $CO_2$, Formaldehyde, $NO_2$, Rn, TVOC, $O_3$, and TBC showed as: 475.2ppm, $94.1{\mu}g/m^3$, 0.3ppm, 12.4ppb, $0.3pCi/{\ell}$, $1,179.1{\mu}g/m^3$, 5.2ppb, 2.4ppb, and $24.8cfu/m^3$, respectively.

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Microbial Exposure Assessment in Sawmill, Livestock Feed Industry, and Metal Working Fluids Handling Industry

  • Park, Hyun-Hee;Park, Hae-Dong;Lee, In-Seop
    • Safety and Health at Work
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    • v.1 no.2
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    • pp.183-191
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    • 2010
  • Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate the distribution patterns and exposure concentrations of bioaerosols in industries suspected to have high levels of bioaerosol exposure. Methods: We selected 11 plants including 3 livestock feed plants (LF industry), 3 metal working fluids handling plants (MWFs industry), and 5 sawmills and measured total airborne bacteria, fungi, endotoxins, as well as dust. Airborne bacteria and fungi were measured with one stage impactor, six stage cascade impactor, and gelatin filters. Endotoxins were measured with polycarbonate filters. Results: The geometric means (GM) of the airborne concentrations of bacteria, fungi, and endotoxins were 1,864, $2,252\;CFU/m^3$, and $31.5\;EU/m^3$, respectively at the sawmills, followed by the LF industry (535, $585\;CFU/m^3$, and $22.0\;EU/m^3$) and MWFs industry (258, $331\;CFU/m^3$, and $8.7\;EU/m^3$). These concentrations by industry type were significantly statistically different (p < 0.01). The ratio of indoor to outdoor concentration was 6.2, 1.9, 3.2, and 3.2 for bacteria, fungi, endotoxins, and dust in the LF industry, 5.0, 0.9, 2.3, and 12.5 in the MWFs industry, and 3.7, 4.1, 3.3, and 9.7 in sawmills. The respiratory fractions of bioaerosols were differentiated by bioaerosol types and industry types: the respiratory fraction of bacteria in the LF industry, MWF industry, and sawmills was 59.4%, 72.0%, and 57.7%, respectively, and that of fungi was 77.3%, 89.5%, and 83.7% in the same order. Conclusion: We found that bioaerosol concentration was the highest in sawmills, followed by LF industry facilities and MWFs industry facilities. The indoor/outdoor ratio of microorganisms was larger than 1 and respiratory fraction of microorganisms was more than 50% of the total microorganism concentrations which might penetrate respiratory tract easily. All these findings suggest that bioaerosol in the surveyed industries should be controlled to prevent worker respiratory diseases.

Emerging Zoonoses: the "One Health Approach"

  • Rabozzi, Giulia;Bonizzi, Luigi;Crespi, Eleonora;Somaruga, Chiara;Sokooti, Maryam;Tabibi, Ramin;Vellere, Francesca;Brambilla, Gabri;Colosio, Claudio
    • Safety and Health at Work
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    • v.3 no.1
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    • pp.77-83
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    • 2012
  • Zoonoses represent a public health risk recently pointed out by the spreading of previously unknown human infectious diseases emerging from animal reservoirs such as severe acute respiratory syndrome and avian influenza caused by H5N1-virus. These outbreaks have shown that animal breeding activities can pose a significant public health risk. Until now, the risk of zoonoses has probably been underestimated, particularly in occupational settings. The emergence or re-emergence of bacterial (Mycobacterium bovis and Brucella spp) or viral (hepatitis E virus) infections shows that zoonoses should be considered as emerging risks in agricultural and animal breeding and should be addressed by specific preventive interventions. Close cooperation and interaction between veterinarians, occupational health physicians and public health operators is necessary, for a worldwide strategy to expand interdisciplinary collaborations and communications in all aspects of health care for humans, animals and the environment. This is what the One Health Approach was intended to be.

Essential Occupational Safety and Health Interventions for Low- and Middle-income Countries: An Overview of the Evidence

  • Verbeek, Jos;Ivanov, Ivan
    • Safety and Health at Work
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    • v.4 no.2
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    • pp.77-83
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    • 2013
  • There is still a considerable burden of occupational diseases and injuries in the world. It is not well known which interventions can effectively reduce the exposures at work that cause this burden. The objective of this article is to summarize evidence from systematic reviews of interventions to prevent occupational diseases and injuries. We included systematic reviews of interventions to reduce the incidence of work-related cancer, dust-related diseases, occupational asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, noise induced hearing loss, back pain, and occupational injuries. We searched Medline and Embase with predefined search strategies to locate systematic reviews of these interventions. We found 23 systematic reviews of which the results are also applicable to low- and middle income countries. Effective measures to reduce exposure leading to work-related cancer, dust-related diseases, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, noise, and injuries are available. However, better implementation of these measures is needed. Regulation, enforcement of regulation, and incentives for employers are effective interventions to achieve this goal. There is evidence that feedback and rewards for workers help in reducing occupational injuries. There is no evidence in many studies that back pain can be prevented. Personal protective equipment technically has the potential to reduce exposure but this is difficult to put into effect. There is no evidence in the studies regarding the effectiveness of education and training, preventive drugs, or health examinations. There is evidence that the implementation of technical measures enforced by regulation can prevent occupational diseases and injuries. For other interventions such as education or health examinations, there is no evidence that supports their effectiveness. More systematic reviews are needed in the area of injury prevention.

Occupational Safety and Health Among Young Workers in the Nordic Countries: A Systematic Literature Review

  • Hanvold, Therese N.;Kines, Pete;Nykanen, Mikko;Thomee, Sara;Holte, Kari A.;Vuori, Jukka;Waersted, Morten;Veiersted, Kaj B.
    • Safety and Health at Work
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    • v.10 no.1
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    • pp.3-20
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    • 2019
  • This review aimed to identify risk factors for occupational accidents and illnesses among young workers in the Nordic countries and to attain knowledge on specific vulnerable groups within the young working force that may need special attention. We conducted a systematic review from 1994 to 2014 using five online databases. Of the 12,528 retrieved articles, 54 met the review criteria and were quality assessed, in which data were extracted focusing on identifying occupational safety, health risk factors, and vulnerable groups among the young workers. The review shows that mechanical factors such as heavy lifting, psychosocial factors such as low control over work pace, and organizational factors such as safety climate are all associated with increased injury risk for young Nordic workers. Results show that exposures to chemical substances were associated with skin reactions, e.g., hand eczema. Heavy lifting and awkward postures were risk factors for low back pain, and high job demands were risk factors for mental health outcomes. The review identified young unskilled workers including school drop-out workers as particularly vulnerable groups when it comes to occupational accidents. In addition, apprentices and young skilled workers were found to be vulnerable to work-related illnesses. It is essential to avoid stereotyping young Nordic workers into one group using only age as a factor, as young workers are a heterogeneous group and their vulnerabilities to occupational safety and health risks are contextual. Politicians, researchers, and practitioners should account for this complexity in the education, training and organization of work, and workplace health and safety culture.

tudy on the Improvement of Reliability Assessment of Work Environment Measurement in Korea (작업환경측정 신뢰성평가제도 개선방안에 관한 연구)

  • Hwang, Gyuseok
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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    • v.29 no.1
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    • pp.50-56
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    • 2019
  • Objective: The aim of this study is to analyze the reliability assessment of work environment measurement, and to propose ways of improving the system. Methods: We have reviewed reports and articles on the reliability assessment written by KOSHA and academia in order to analyze problems related with the system and propose the alternatives. Results: There are three ways to improve the system of the reliability assessment. First of all, it is necessary to perform the reliability assessment by measuring the work environment when workers raise questions about the results so we can make workers trust these results of the reliability assessment. Secondly, we should inspect the workplace at first, not the work environment service provider, so we can increase the employer's recognition of his duty to practice the work environment measurement. Thirdly, the technical committee is needed for technical issues related with the work environment measurement. Conclusions: Above all, it is crucial to get the workers' interest and trust to improve the work environment measurement. The reliability assessment should support the meaning and value of the work environment measurement by practicing the reliability assessment whenever workers have a demand for this and operating the technical committee.

Job Analysis of Pediatric Occupational Therapists in Korea: Focused on Sensory Integration Intervention (아동작업치료사의 직무분석: 감각통합치료 중심으로)

  • Choi, Jeong-Sil;Hong, Eunkyoung
    • The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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    • v.15 no.2
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    • pp.1-21
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    • 2017
  • Objective : The aims of the this study is to identify job characteristics, to generate job description, and additionally to investigate duty task of the job for Korean pediatric occupational therapist focused on sensory integration intervention. Methods : In the first stage, job analysis of pediatric occupational therapist focused on sensory integration intervention was performed by an advisory committee consist of the DACUM panel. Through the job analysis, job description with definition was established. In the second stage, a survey was performed for 141 pediatric occupational therapist using a questionnaire based on the job description in order to investigate importance, frequency and difficulty of duty task and task elements of the job. This process was done from May to September 2017. Results : The job definition drew from this study was 'Pediatric occupational therapist provides occupational therapy services to children and adolescents to support occupational performance and social participation including daily activities and play". Through the job description established in this study, 9 duties (consulting, evaluation, intervention plan, intervention, document, education, self-development, management, and administration), 28 tasks and 169 task elements were drew. In the survey, among the duty tasks and task elements, 'ensure physical safety' and 'perform a session' were selected as the most important task, and 'ensure safety of children, sensory integrative equipment and environment' and 'prepare a safe environment' were selected as the most important element. Conclusion : This study defined job demands and characteristics of pediatric occupational therapist who performs sensory integration intervention. It is expected that this study can be used a resource to develop and/or improve educational program related.

A Predictive Model of Workers' Quality of Life (근로자의 삶의 질 예측모형)

  • Lee, Bok-Im;Jung, Hye-Sun
    • Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.35-45
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    • 2011
  • Purpose: The purpose of this study was to propose and to test a predictive model that could explain the workers' quality of life. Methods: Data were collected using self-report questionnaires from 901 workers in Daejeon, Korea. The questionnaires included nine measured variables (safety culture, self-efficacy, activity of occupational health provider, knowledge in occupational health, age, health promotion behavior, workplace environment, health level, and quality of life), as revised PRECEDE model has suggested. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 15 and AMOS 6.01 version. Results: Based on the constructed model, behavior, environment, and health were found to have significant direct effect on quality of life. Indirect factors were perceived biological, predisposing, reinforcing, and enabling. The proposed model was concise and extensive in predicting quality of life of the participants. The final modified model yielded GFI=.85, AGFI=.89, NFI=.79, and RMSEA=.11 and exhibited good fit indices. Conclusion: Findings of this study may contribute to development of effective nursing interventions for promoting quality of life in workers.

Musculoskeletal Disorders in Northeast Lobstermen

  • Fulmer, Scott;Buchholz, Bryan;Scribani, Melissa;Jenkins, Paul
    • Safety and Health at Work
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    • v.8 no.3
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    • pp.282-289
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    • 2017
  • Background: The objective of this study was to report on the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in lobstermen in the northeast USA. Methods: Crews were randomly selected from those licensed to fish in Maine and Massachusetts and followed prospectively. The survey used a Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire format to characterize musculoskeletal disorders. Results: A total of 395 individuals participated. One half of the respondents reported low back pain. Back pain was attributed to or exacerbated by lobstering. Low back pain was prevalent among both captains and sternmen, while sternmen reported more hand/wrist pain than captains. Multiple locations for pain were common in individual participants. Conclusion: Equipment or technology to assist material handling should be a priority, as the body segments with high prevalence of pain (back, hand/wrists, shoulders, knees) are all affected by the repetitive and forceful handling of the lobster traps.

Photocatalytic Oxidation of Indoor Air Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in pub Level

  • Jo, Wan-Kuen;Kim, Dong-Hyun;Ki, Jae-Chang;Huh, Jeung-Soo
    • Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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    • v.19 no.E4
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    • pp.157-168
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    • 2003
  • This study evaluated the technical feasibility of the application of titanium oxide (TiO$_2$) photocatalysis for the removal of VOCs in low ppb concentrations commonly associated with non -occupational indoor air quality issues. A series of experiments were conducted to evaluate four parameters (relative humidity (RH), hydraulic diameter (HD), photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) reactor material (RM), and inlet port size (IPS) of PCO reactor) for the PCO destruction efficiencies of the selected target VOCs. None of the target VOCs presented significant dependency on the RH, which is inconsistent with a few previous studies. However, it is noted that the three parameters (HD, RM and IPS) should be considered for better VOCs removal efficiencies for the application of TiO$_2$ photocatalytic technology for cleansing non -occupational indoor air. The PCO destruction of VOCs at concentrations associated with non-occupational indoor air quality issues can be up to nearly 100%. The amount of CO generated during PCO would be negligible in comparison to the indoor CO levels. These results can make the PCO reactor an important tool in the effort to improve non-occupational indoor air quality.