• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.148-155
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• 2024

Objectives: Among the regulations that have recently attracted a lot of social attention in Regulation on Occupational Safety and Health Standards, we would like to specifically present the reasons why even companies with strong will to comply with regulations that are not effective or entail a number of legal problems, and suggest ways to improve them. Methods: The facts were confirmed and identified through various methods such as interviews and meetings with labor inspectors who enforce the Regulation on Occupational Safety and Health Standards and safety officials at industrial sites experiencing them. Results: Due to the lack of effectiveness in Regulation on Occupational Safety and Health Standards, there are not a few areas that do not function properly as a preventive standard. Although operating the regulatory nature of punishment as an administrative guideline without basing it on Regulation on Occupational Safety and Health Standards is a direct violation of the principles of the administration of the rule of law, there are many expedient ways to replace what should be placed in this rule as just an administrative guideline. Conclusions: It should be prioritized to explicitly stipulate effective regulations within the Regulation on Occupational Safety and Health Standards. In addition, as regulations on occupational safety and health standards play a large part in preventing industrial accidents, comprehensive and practical measures are indispensable rather than fragmented and formal measures to ensure that these rules function properly in the prevention industrial accidents.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.153-158
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• 2019

It is estimated that about 2,515 persons have been injured by conveyor for the past five years(2013 ~ 2017). Conveyors used in various industrial sites for transporting iron ore, coal, courier goods, etc., have various incidents such as a worker putting on or pulling a part of the body or work clothes on the driving part during maintenance. It is necessary for preventing similar accidents to conduct various researches. In order to propose the basis for revising laws and standards for the safety standards of the full cord switch to prevent conveyor accidents, this study compares Korea's Industrial Safety and Health Law (KISHL) with those of IEC, EN, Canada, and Australia. In addition, surveys of conveyor use plant and full cord switch domestic and foreign manufacturers was conducted. In this study, domestic and overseas related laws and technical standards compare and analyze to prevent conveyor accidents. In addition, we propose extension of safety certification for full code switch, establishment of safety inspection standard, and improvement of working method regulation through actual working condition investigation. It can be used as a basis for revising the occupational safety and health regulation and related notices, and thus contributing to enhancing the safe atmosphere of the conveyor business and improving the safety consciousness of the concerned persons.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.8-16
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• 2020

In Article 311 of the Regulation on Occupational Safety and Health Standards requires the use of Korean Industrial Standards Act in accordance with the Industrial Standardization Act. However, the classification, inspection, maintenance, design, selection, and installation of explosion hazard locations for explosion and explosion prevention and internalization of 'safety' in the performance maintenance phase of electrical machinery and equipment There is no technical and institutional management plan for remodeling and alteration. Analysis of actual conditions and problems related to the installation, use, and maintenance of explosion-proof equipment, comparative analysis of domestic and international technical standards and systems, technical, institutional and administrative systems and systems related to installation, use, and maintenance of explosion-proof equipment, technical personnel and qualifications, etc. It is to propose legislation, system improvement, and technical standard establishment related to the maintenance of explosion-proof facility performance through improvement of the necessity and feasibility study for establishment of the legal status of the management site and management plan. As technical measures, KS standard revision (draft), KOSHA guide (draft) and explosion-proof facility performance maintenance manual were presented. In addition, the institutional management plan proposed the revised rule on occupational safety and health standards, the revised rule on the restriction of employment of hazardous work, and the manpower training program related to the maintenance of explosion-proof facilities and the qualification plan. Enhance safety at the installation, use, and maintenance stage of explosion-proof structured electrical machinery. It is expected to be used to classify explosion hazards, select related equipment, and to update and standardize standards related to installation, use and maintenance.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.91-102
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was performed in order to devise a procedure for supplementing the Special Management Materials in the Occupational Safety and Health Act and recommend candidate materials. The results are expected to be used as fundamental data for classification and criteria necessary to manage Special Management Materials in workplaces. Also, they are expected to be used as a basis for selecting target materials to nominate as additional Special Management Material. Methods: We investigated the selection standards for candidates and review ranges of data sources to nominate Special Management Materials. The substances classified as GHS(Globally Harmonized System of classification and labeling of chemicals) category 1A(known to have carcinogenic potential and reproductive toxicity for humans) or 1B(presumed to have carcinogenic potential and reproductive toxicity for humans) carcinogens and reproductive toxicants among the Controlled Hazardous Substances of the Regulation on Occupational Safety and Health Standards and substances with OELs(Occupational Exposure Limits) were inspected as the candidates for Special Management Materials. Conclusions: A seven-step procedure for selecting candidates to designate as Special Management Materials was suggested, including the setting of target chemicals for evaluation, classification of CMR(Carcinogens, Mutagens or Reproductive toxicants) by GHS classification and criteria, suggestion and selection of the candidates, and more. This study recommends 58 chemicals as qualified candidates to supplement the Special Management Materials.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.33-37
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• 2013

A forklift truck, commonly used for transporting heavy materials in manufacturing industries, etc., is a useful machine. However accidents occur frequently during the operation of the machine. In order to prevent accidents it is necessary to examine the current safety regulations on a forklift truck. Because the regulations have not revised for a long time, they do not reflect the rapidly changing environment of industries. Proposed revision of standard on articles for forklift trucks was presented after analysing the causes of occurred injuries, comparing domestic standards with international standards and examining the survey results. We analyzed the safety regulation articles and the injuries according to the type of work conducted with forklift. The major differences in safety regulations between Korea and the major foreign countries were investigated. The opinions of field workers on the safety regulations were surveyed using e-mail or interview. As a result, it was found that preventing workers from contacting with the forklift is very important. To prevent accident due to movement of a stopped forklift, actions are necessary to prevent slip of a forklift. Also supervision is required to make workers fasten safety belt and to prohibit workers from using a forklift for undesignated purpose.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.226-236
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• 2021

Objectives: Concerns have been raised about the possible health effects of radon on both workers and consumers with the spread of social attention to the impact of radon exposure. Thus, an entire raw material handling workshop was investigated, and standards for radon levels in the workplace were newly established at 600 Bq/m³. However, regulations on the management of workers exposed to radon are still insufficiently developed. Therefore, by comparative analysis of overseas and domestic radon-related regulations for workplaces, this study aims to suggest improvement plans of protection regulations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) for the prevention of health disorders of radon-exposed workers. Methods: For overseas case studies, we consulted radon-related laws and reports officially published on the websites of the European Union (EU), the United States (U.S.) and the United Kingdom (UK) government agencies. Domestic law studies were conducted mainly on the Act on Protective Action Guidelines against Radiation in the Natural Environment and the OSH Act. Results: In Europe, the basic safety standards for protection against risks arising from radon (Council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM of 5 December 2013) was established by the EU. They recommend that the Member States manage radon level in workplaces based on this criterion. In the U.S., the standards for workplaces are controlled by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Action on radon in the UK is specified in "Radon in the workplace" published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Conclusions: The Act on Protective Action Guidelines against Radiation in the Natural Environment mainly refers to the management of workplaces that use or handle raw materials but does not have any provisions in terms of protecting naturally exposed workers. In the OSH Act, it is necessary to define whether radon is included in radiation for that reason that its current regulations have limitations in ensuring the safety workers who may be exposed to naturally occurring radon. The management standards are needed for workplaces that do not directly deal with radon but are likely to be exposed to radon. We propose that this could be specified in the regulations for the prevention of health damage caused by radiation, not in Article 125 of the OSH Act.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.384-392
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• 2013

Objective: This study inspected incident cases, legal control levels, and GHS(Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals) classification results of strong acids such as hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid, which have been responsible for many recent chemical accidents. As a result, it is deemed necessary for legal control levels of these strong acids to be revised and GHS classification be managed nation-wide. Methods: This study inspected incident cases and legal control levels for strong acids such as hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid. The study analyzed and compared chemical information status and GHS classification results. Results: There were 76 domestic incidents involving strongly acidic hazardous materials over the five years between 2007 and 2011. They include 37 leakage incidents(46.7%) within a workplace, 30 leakage incidents(39.5%) during transportation, and nine leakage incidents(13.8%) following an explosion. The strongly acidic materials in question are defined and controlled as toxic chemicals according to the classes of Substances Requiring Preparation for Accidents, Managed Hazardous Substance, Hazardous Chemical(corrosive) as set forth under the Enforcement Decree of the Toxic Chemicals Control Act and Rules on Occupational Safety and Health Standards of Occupational Safety and Health Act. Among them, nitric acid is solely controlled as a class 6 hazardous material, oxidizing liquid, under the Hazardous Chemicals Control Act. The classification results of the EU ECHA(European Chemicals Agency) CLP(Commission Regulation(EC) No. 790/2009 of 10 August 2009, for the purposes of its adaptation to technical and scientific progress, Regulation(EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on classification, labeling and packaging of substances and mixtures) and NIER (National Institute of Environmental Research) are almost identical for the three chemicals, with the exception of sulfuric acid. Much of the classification information of NITE (National Institute of Technology and Evaluation) and KOSHA(Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, KOSHA) is the same. NIER provides 12(41.4%) out of 29 classifications, as does KOSHA.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.237-252
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was conducted in order to improve the current understanding of rare earths(RE) and to provide supporting data for establishing occupational health policies by reviewing the toxicological data and issues caused by the use of RE compounds in various fields. Methods: To evaluate the potential toxicity of RE from the viewpoint of occupational health, we summarized extensive reviews of relevant articles in the toxicology(animals and cells), occupational health and safety, and epidemiologic literature. Results: Although occupational RE exposure occurs extensively from ore mining and refining to end users in various industrial applications, epidemiologic study has not been performed among workers up to now. Bioaccumulation and adverse effects of RE have also been mentioned in ore mining regions and nearby residences, but safety standards for each process are insufficient. Moreover, because new commercial recycling technology will soon be applied to various industries, regulation and policies are needed for preventing abuse of recycling. In the results of animal toxicity for a few REs(mostly cerium, lanthanum, and gadolinium), toxicities of liver, lung, blood, and the nervous system were identified due to oxidative stress, but study of long-term RE exposure is required. Understanding the dual effect for RE and discovery of biomarkers pose a scientific challenge in further mechanism studies. Conclusions: In the future, additional hazard evaluation based on animal experiments is required, alongside continuous research for developing analytical methods and discovering biomarkers. Finally, RE occupational health and safety management needs to be integrated into the sustainable use of these materials.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.137-147
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was conducted in order to evaluate the limitations of the regulations on the safety and health standards for special management materials(SMM) under the Industrial Safety and Health Act in Korea. Methods: Hazardous chemicals management systems in Germany(Hazardous Substances Ordinance), the UK(Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations), Japan(Ordinance on Prevention of Hazards due to Specified Chemical Substances) and Korea(Regulation of Occupational Safety and Health Standards, ROSHS) were investigated and compared in terms of 14 items. Results: Among the 14 items, we eventually found seven items which should be amended: 1) definition and scope, 2) general duties clause, 3) principles of management, 4) preventive measures, 5) control measures, 6) risk assessment, and 7) record keeping. The principal limitations of Korean regulations in comparison with those of other countries were that there were no preventive measures such as substitution, and no principles of good practices for the control of exposure to SMM. In terms of control measures, there were no regulations on suitable workplace design, reducing the number of exposed workers, reducing the level and duration of exposure, and reducing the quantity of hazardous substances in ROSHS. Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, ROSHS should be complemented with preventive measures and the principles of management related to SMM. According to the suggestions, an employer who deals with SMM should preferably consider the possibility of substitution and perform substitution so far as is reasonably practicable.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.23-31
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• 2020

In the construction sector, there were 99 fatalities from falls associated with steel tube and system scaffolds for three years from 2016 to 2018 and out of which 27.3 percent (27 workers) were found to have occurred during installing and dismantling procedure. To erect scaffolding which is installed for the work at height, the work platforms are generally installed first and the safety guardrails are installed and vice versa to dismantle. As a result, workers are exposed to the risk of falling because they erect and dismantle scaffolding without guardrails. To minimize the risk of falling, it is necessary to study a new construction method that can erect or dismantle scaffolding while guardrails are installed (called advanced guardrail system). This study analyzed advanced guardrail system in terms of safety regulation, workability and economic efficiency by investigating the domestic situation on the use of scaffolding, reviewing domestic and foreign standards for guardrails and conducting economic feasibility study. The results of this study is expected to greatly contribute to preventing falls in scaffolding installation and dismantlement procedure. As a follow-up study, empirical research is required including physical test of scaffolding with advanced guardrail system and effectiveness analysis after trial applications.