• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.105-114
• /
• 2017

Objectives: The Ministry of Employment and Labor's enforcement programs, such as workplace monitoring inspection, are one of the major public efforts to protect worker's health. Therefore, a more effective inspection method is required for workplace monitoring, which is helpful for controlling health hazards in the workplace. Methods: For this study, we investigated the related safety and health laws, regulations, and inspection guidelines from the USA, Japan, and Korea. We also analyzed the provisions of industrial safety and health acts, which are related to enhancing the reliability of workplace monitoring. We applied the process of opinion convergence through an experts meeting for our research. Results: We proposed an efficient inspection scheme for workplace monitoring that includes how to select companies(mainly randomized inspections by using a workplace measurement database and workers' compensation insurance database), how to proceed with the inspection process(mainly unannounced visits), and who should carry out this project. Conclusions: We conclude that our proposal for the inspection of workplace monitoring could be a very effective tool for reducing the numbers of companies that do not undertake workplace monitoring and could produce reliable monitoring results.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.310-321
• /
• 2007

Status of benzene exposure was evaluated upon petrochemical workers in the Yeosu Industrial Complex, based on questionnaire responses by workers, review of previous work environment assessment reports between 1996 and 2004, in addition to short-term exposure measurements for unit tasks in the field. Questionnaire results showed that workers in the field were suffering concern on and symptoms of respiratory diseases, cancers or other illnesses of unknown causes. In particular, workers were highly worried about the risk of exposure to chemical hazards including benzene, while conducting specific tasks (e.g. sampling, draining, gauging) among normal operations during which equipments are opened and contents are exposedin the air, as well as periodic turnaround (TA) task. However, the review of previous work environment assessment reports found out that short-term exposure assessment data for unit tasks accounted for less than 1% of total data, and most of them were on 8-hr average exposure level. It also turned out that benzene was not detected in 83% of total samples, suggesting routine but pointless sampling has been repeated. Short-term exposure level was assessed focusing on tasks with high level of complaints on the exposure risk, based on the questionnaire responses. As predicted, a maximum of 741 ppm benzene exposure was reached depending on types and conditions of operations involved. In conclusion, these findings suggest that the evaluation and management on the short-term high exposure tasks including turnaround are crucial in reducing benzene exposure and preventing haematopoietic cancer in workers in the petrochemical industry.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.270-276
• /
• 2005

This study was conducted to examine whether a specific synthetic metalworking fluid (MWF), "A", in use for 10 months without replacement, displayed microbial resistance and to identify the additives associated with the control of microbial growth. Three synthetic MWF products ("A", "B", and "C") were studied every week for two months. Microbial deterioration of the fluids was assessed through evaluation by endotoxin, bacteria and fungi levels in the MWFs. In addition, formaldehyde, boron, ethanolamine, and copper levels were also studied to determine whether they influence microbial growth in water-based MWFs. Throughout the entire study in the sump where MWF "A" was used, bacteria counts were lower than 103 CFU/mL, and endotoxins never exceeded 103 EU/mL. These levels were significantly lower than levels observed in sumps badly deteriorated with microbes. Boron levels in MWF "A" ranged from 91.7 to 129.6 ppm, which was significantly higher than boron levels found in other MWF products. The total level of ethanolamine (EA) in MWF "A" ranged from 35,595 to 57,857 ppm (average 40,903 ppm), which was over ten times higher than that found in other MWFs. Monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA) concentrations in MWF "A" were also significantly higher than seen in other MWFs. However, although EA and boron might improve anti-microbial performance, their abuse can pose a serious risk to workers who handle MWFs. From an industrial hygiene perspective, our study results stress that the positive synergistic effect of boron and EA in reducing microbial activity in MWF must be balanced with the potentially negative health effects of such additives. Our study also addresses the disadvantage of failing to comprehensively report MWF additives on Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). Future research in MWF formulation is needed to find the best level of EA and boron for achieving optimal synergistic anti-microbial effects while minimizing employee health hazards.

• Explosives and Blasting
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.32-45
• /
• 2023

Environmental regulations in Korea for blasting at industrial sites have conservative standards, which often result in reduced efficiency and cost-effectiveness due to the consideration of environmental regulations and public complaints. Therefore, there is a need for blasting methods that can reduce environmental damage while improving construction efficiency and cost-effectiveness. In this study, we analyzed the effects of the PA-Deck (Paraffin Air-Deck) blasting method, which is a kind of Air Decoupled Charge method in principle utilizing a paraffin-infused paper tube as an air gap, on reducing blasting hazards and improving blasting efficiency. The analysis also evaluated the effectiveness of newly applied equipment for collecting blasting vibration data, and derived the relationship between the explosion velocity and vibration velocity of explosives, and performed frequency analysis of the vertical component. The results of the blasting vibration velocity analysis showed that the Paraffin Waxed Paper Tube-based blasting method exhibited significantly lower vibration velocities compared to conventional blasting methods, and it was judged that more uniformly small-sized fragmented rocks were generated.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.191-196
• /
• 2008

This study is a case study for application of the RTI warning model to Korea which was previously developed to predict landslide potential and occurrence time during a rainfall event. The rainfall triggering index (RTI) is defined as the product of the rainfall intensity I (mm/hr) and the effective accumulated rainfall $R_t$ (mm). This index is used to evaluate the landslide and debris-flow occurrence potential at time t during a rainfall event. The upper critical value ($RTI_{UC}$) of RTI and the lower critical value ($RTI_{LC}$) of RTI can be determined by historical rainfall data of a certain area. When the rainfall intensity exceeds the upper critical value, there are high potential to occur land-slides. The analysis result can predict landslide occurrence time of an area during a rainfall event as well as land-slide potential. The result can also be used as an important data to issue early-warning of landslides. In order to apply the RTI warning model to Korea this study analyzed rainfall data and landslides data in Inje county, Gangwon province, Korea from July 13 to July 19, 2006. According to the analysis result, the rainfall intensity exceeded the upper critical value 23 hours ago, 11 hours ago, and 9 hours ago from 11:00 in the morning, July 16. Therefore, landslide warnings would be issued three times for people evacuation for avoiding or reducing hurts and dam-ages from landslides in mountainous areas of Inje.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.32 no.2D
• /
• pp.111-119
• /
• 2012

In this study, the effect of safety improvement project was analyzed, and a decision making model for traffic accident reduction measures was suggested. The results of this study are as follow; First the overall number of traffic accidents and casualties were reduced, especially reduced the number of unauthorized crossing and centerline encroachments was remarkable. Second, the priorities of traffic accident reduction measures. through hazards roadway section improvement projects were determined. As, higher level evaluation items of AHP hierachy structure include civil facilities and transportation facilities. The civil facilities has 6 lower level evaluation items and transportation facilities has 4 items. The results of this study, It was revealed that traffic experts prefer civil facilities more than transportation facilities and the top 2 items of the each data (or index) took over 50%. In addition, one of the last evaluation contents through the verification, the top 3 items of civil facilities took 55.38%. The project according to the improvement projects for hazards roadway reduced traffic accidents and casualties as well as saving the cost. So these results should be available for basic information for the countermeasure about reducing the traffic accidents by local governments.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.55-76
• /
• 1999

In order to understand the local council members' attitudes to the health policy, we conducted mail surveys using self-administered questionaire for 2 months(February and March. 1995). The study subjects were 2.312 local council members in Korea, but only about 11% among whom. 257 persons, responded to 2 times mail survey. This response rate revealed that the local council members was not interested in health care fields. The main results were as follows; The respondents thought that the economic and income development was most important among 15 regional policy agendas and the health care was the 5th or 7th important agenda. They. who had more health needs of and poor access to health care, tended to think that the health care was more important. They considered lobbying to and persuading the civil servants as the best method to tackle the local health care policy agenda. The respondents, who had poor access to health care facilities. tended to set the highest priority for the expansion of public and private health care resources. They expected that the election of local governor would activate the public health program more than thought that the program was implemented more actively than other region. The main opinion of respondents was that the central government had to take over planning and financing for the public health program, and the basic local government had to implment the program and budgeting. The majority of respondents agreed the private dominant medical care delivery system and nation-wide uniformed financing mechanism. Over 60% of them suggested that they were ready to suffer environmental pollution inducing health hazards for the purpose of regional economic and income development. About 75% of them favour the campaign for antismoking regardless of reducing local government's revenue from sale tax.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.113-116
• /
• 2008

As the integration in semiconductor display develops, semiconductor process becomes multilayer. In order to form several layer patterns, etching process which uses photoresistor (PR) must be performed in multilayer process. Repeated etching processes which take long time and PR residue cause mortal problems in semiconductor. To overcome such problems, we studied about the solution which eliminates PR effectively by using normal dry and wet etching method using plasma activated PR strip solvent in liquid condition. At first, we simulate the device which activates the plasma and make sure whether gas flow in device is uniform or not. Under activated plasma, etching effect is elevated. This improvement reduces etching time as well as display production time of semiconductor process. Generally, increasing etching process increases environmental hazards. Reducing etching process can save the etchant and protect environment as well.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.87-96
• /
• 2011

In 1967, the problem of occupational lead exposure came to public attention in Korea. Since then, regular progress has been made in lowering workplace lead exposures, instituting new workplace controls, and implementing health examinations of exposed workers. Past serious lead poisoning episodes made it possible to introduce biological monitoring programs on a voluntary basis in high-lead-exposure facilities in Korea. Industry-specific occupational health services for lead workers in Korea during the last 22 years can be categorized into three phases. During the first phase (1988-1993), efforts were directed at increasing awareness among workers about the hazards of lead exposure, biological monitoring of blood zinc protoporphyrin began, and a respiratory protection program was introduced. During the second phase (1994-1997), a computerized health management system for lead workers was developed, blood-lead measurement was added to biologic monitoring, and engineering controls were introduced in the workplace to lower air-lead levels to comply with air-lead regulations. Finally, during the third phase (1998-present), a new biomarker, bone-lead measurement by X-ray fluorescence, was introduced. Bone-lead measurement proved to be useful for assessing body burden and to demonstrate past lead exposure in retired workers. Occupational health service practice for lead workers, including the industry-specific group occupational health system, has brought considerable success in the prevention of lead poisoning and in reducing the lead burden in Korean lead workers during the last several decades. The successful achievement of prevention of lead poisoning in Korea was a result of the combined efforts of lead workers, employers, relevant government agencies, and academic institutes.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.463-476
• /
• 2024

The shield TBM method can eliminate environmental hazards such as noise and vibration, and is environmentally friendly and allows safe tunnel construction even in soft ground conditions, but there are many restrictions on its application due to its high construction costs compared to the NATM. Therefore, in order to increase the applicability of the shield TBM method, it is necessary to ensure economic efficiency by reducing construction costs, and it is very important to reduce segment construction costs, which account for the largest proportion of shield TBM tunnel construction costs at about 35 to 40%. As part of this, this paper considers the changes in segment stress during tunnel construction and operation, tunnel external load conditions, etc. through analysis of long-term measurement data of shield TBMs in Japan, which has abundant experience in shield TBM construction, and compares and analyzes the differences between predicted values at the design stage and measured values during operation. Through this, we study improvements to ensure segment economic efficiency at the shield TBM design stage.