• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.277-281
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• 2021

Singapore's construction sector employs more than 450,000 workers. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore from April to June 2020, migrant workers were disproportionately affected, including many working in the construction sector. Shared accommodation and construction worksites emerged as nexuses for COVID-19 transmission. Official government resources, including COVID-19 epidemiological data, 43 advisories and 19 circulars by Singapore's Ministries of Health and Manpower, were reviewed over 8 month period from March to October 2020. From a peak COVID-19 incidence of 1,424.6/100,000 workers in May 2020, the incidence declined to 3.7/100,000 workers by October 2020. Multilevel safe management measures were implemented to enable the phased reopening of construction worksites from July 2020. Using the Swiss cheese risk management model, the authors described the various governmental, industry, supervisory and worker-specific interventions to prevent, detect and contain COVID-19 for safe resumption of work for the construction sector.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.428-432
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to research 'Daeri' drivers who work for drunken customers as a substitute driver. This was the first study in Korea to investigate assault and verbal abuse experienced while employed as a 'Daeri' driver. Methods: In this study, we conducted a survey to investigate people who work as 'Daeri' drivers. The survey was performed from September 1 to 7, 2014. The participants were 166 adult men and women who work as full-time 'Daeri' drivers. Results: Participants who experienced physical violence and assault from the customers to the point of disturbing safe driving in a year were 36.1% of total respondents. People who experienced verbal abuse to the point of disturbing safe driving in a year totaled 80.4% of respondents. In addition, there were also qualitative research results. Conclusions: Acts that impede safe driving are a danger to both passengers and drivers. By protecting the safety of 'Daeri' drivers, we will be able to protect the safety of citizens. Therefore, it is necessary to make an effort to protect 'Daeri' drivers from customer violence. Furthermore, it is also necessary to research policy to emplace a legal system that can protect 'Daeri' drivers.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.1845-1852
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• 2015

From bar code systems and radio frequency identification (RFID) to beacons utilizing low power bluetooth technology, the fusion of information technology and health and medical treatment is spreading through advances such as automated treatment and examination stages and the use of treatment information connected to smart devices. In this paper, designed and implemented a mobile health care system for the safe management of blood transfusions to prevent accidental problems that can occur during patient blood transfusions. It makes safe and effective blood transfusion possible by using smart devices to read information saved on patient bracelets, blood-collecting containers, blood transfusion bags, and medical personnel identification cards so that they match patient information. By applying the blood transfusion management mobile health care system presented and implemented in this paper to blood transfusion processes in hospitals, it was verified that it allows for safe and effective blood transfusion, preventing accidents which may occur in blood transfusion processes.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.156-159
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• 2013

Background: Cardiac pacemakers are known to be susceptible to strong electromagnetic fields (EMFs). This in vivo study investigated occurrence of electromagnetic interference with pacemakers caused by common environmental sources of EMFs. Methods: Eleven volunteers with a pacemaker were exposed to EMFs produced by two mobile phone base stations, an electrically powered commuter train, and an overhead high voltage transmission lines. All the pacemakers were programmed in normal clinically selected settings with bipolar sensing and pacing configurations. Results: None of the pacemakers experienced interference in any of these exposure situations. However, often it is not clear whether or not strong EMFs exist in various work environments, and hence an individual risk assessment is needed. Conclusions: Modern pacemakers are well shielded against external EMFs, and workers with a pacemaker can most often return to their previous work after having a pacemaker implanted. However, an appropriate risk assessment is still necessary after the implantation of a pacemaker, a change of its generator, or major modification of its programming settings.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.490-510
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• 2023

Feed safety is needed to produce and provide safe animal feeds for consumers, animals, and the environment. Although feed safety regulations have been set for each country, there is a lack of clear feed safety regulations for each livestock. Feed safety regulations are mainly focused on heavy metals, mycotoxins, and pesticides. Each country has different safe levels of hazardous materials in diets. Safe levels of hazardous materials in diets are mostly set for mixed diets of general livestock. Although there is a difference in the metabolism of toxic materials among animals, the safe level of feed is not specific for individual animals. Therefore, standardized animal testing methods and toxicity studies for each animal are needed to determine the correct safe and toxic levels of hazardous materials in diets. If this goal is achieved, it will be possible to improve livestock productivity, health, and product safety by establishing appropriate feed safety regulations. It will also provide an opportunity to secure consumer confidence in feed and livestock products. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a scientific feed safety evaluation system suitable for each country's environment. The chance of outbreaks of new hazardous materials is increasing. Thus, to set up appropriate toxic levels or safe levels in feed, various toxicity methods have been used to determine toxic levels of hazardous materials for humans and animals. Appropriate toxic testing methods should be developed and used to accurately set up and identify toxicity and safe levels in food and feed.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.155-161
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• 2023

In the process of remarkable progress in the medical and technical field and activating the role of technology in health care services and applications, and since the safety of medical data and its protection from security violations plays a major role in assessing the security of health facilities and the safety of medical servers Thus, it is necessary to know the cyber vulnerabilities in health information systems and other related services to prevent and address them in addition to obtaining the best solutions and practices to reach a high level of cybersecurity against attackers, especially due to the digital transformation of health care systems and the rest of the dealings. This research is about what cyberattacks are and the purpose of them, in addition to the methods of penetration. Then challenges, solutions and some of the security issues will be discussed in general, and a special highlight will be given to obtaining a safe infrastructure to enjoy safe systems in return.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.96-101
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• 2024

Background: Silicosis among workers who fabricate engineered stone products in micro or small-sized enterprises (MSEs) was reported from several countries. Workplace exposure data of these workers at high risk of exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust are limited. Methods: We surveyed workers performing cutting, shaping and polishing tasks at 6 engineered stone fabricating MSEs in Sydney, Australia prior to regulatory intervention. Personal exposure to airborne RCS dust in 34 workers was measured, work practices were observed using a checklist and worker demography recorded. Results: Personal respirable dust measurements showed exposures above the Australian workplace exposure standard (WES) of 0.1 mg/m³ TWA-8 hours for RCS in 85% of workers who performed dry tasks and amongst 71% using water-fed tools. Dust exposure controls were inadequate with ineffective ventilation and inappropriate respiratory protection. All 34 workers sampled were identified as overseas-born migrants, mostly from three linguistic groups. Conclusions: Workplace exposure data from this survey showed that workers in engineered stone fabricating MSEs were exposed to RCS dust levels which may be associated with a high risk of developing silicosis. The survey findings were useful to inform a comprehensive regulatory intervention program involving diverse hazard communication tools and enforcing improved exposure controls. We conclude that modest occupational hygiene surveys in MSEs, with attention to workers' demographic factors can influence the effectiveness of intervention programs. Occupational health practitioners should address these potential determinants of hazardous exposures in their workplace surveys to prevent illness such as silicosis in vulnerable workers.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.323-328
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• 2016

Objectives: A clean India is the responsibility of all Indians. One of the objectives of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Initiative) is to bring about behavioural changes regarding healthy sanitation practices. While large-scale programs in India have increased latrine coverage, they have to some extent failed to bring behavioural changes ensuring optimal latrine use, including the safe disposal of child faeces, which is a significant source of exposure to faecal pathogens. Hence, this study was done to explore child faeces disposal practices in rural West Bengal and to elicit the determinants of unhygienic faeces disposal. Methods: Data collection was done using an interview method among the mothers of 502 under-5 children, following a pre-designed, semi-structured schedule during house-to-house visits in a set of villages in the Hooghly district of West Bengal. Results: The prevalence of unsafe disposal of child faeces was 72.4%, and maternal education, per capita income, and water source were found to be significantly associated with unsafe child faeces disposal. Conclusions: This study draws attention to the unsafe disposal of child faeces in this area of India and raises questions about the efficiency of sanitation campaigns in rural India that focus on expanding coverage rather than emphasizing behavioural changes, which are crucial to ensure the safe disposal of child faeces. Thus, it is urgently necessary to strengthen efforts focusing on behavioural changes regarding the safe disposal of child faeces in order to minimise adverse health outcomes.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.93-99
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• 2010

As more than 90% of global trade is carried by sea there is little doubt that the safety of the ports at which the world's trading fleet call is of critical concern. The concept of 'safe port' continues to be an area of critical concern for charterers and ship-owners. In light of increased global security and health risks the recognised principles are under security. This paper examines the nature of safe port, and analyses the precedent trend of safe port and its Implication

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.368-374
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• 2023

Background: Recognizing that access to safe and healthy working conditions is a human right, the World Health Organization (WHO) calls for specific occupational safety and health (OSH) programs for health workers (HWs). The WHO health systems' building blocks, and the International Labour Organization (ILO), highlight the importance of information as part of effective systems. This study examined how OSH stakeholders access, use, and value an occupational health information system (OHIS). Methods: A cross-sectional survey of OSH stakeholders was conducted as part of a larger quasi experimental study in four teaching hospitals. The study hospitals and participants were purposefully selected and data collected using a modified questionnaire with both closed and open-ended questions. Quantitative analysis was conducted and themes identified for qualitative analysis. Ethics approval was provided by the University of Pretoria and University of British Columbia. Results: There were 71 participants comprised of hospital managers, health and safety representatives, trade unions representatives and OSH professionals. At least 42% reported poor accessibility and poor timeliness of OHIS for decision-making. Only 50% had access to computers and 27% reported poor computer skills. When existing, OHIS was poorly organized and needed upgrades, with 85% reporting the need for significant reforms. Only 45% reported use of OHIS for decision-making in their OSH role. Conclusion: Given the gap in access and utilization of information needed to protect worker's rights to a safe and healthy workplace, more attention is warranted to OHIS development and use as well as education and training in South Africa and beyond.