• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.43-73
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• 2016

Purpose: The aims of this study were to assess the presence of core patient safety practices in Korean hospitals and assess the differences in reporting and learning systems of patient safety, infrastructure, and safe practices by hospital characteristics. Methods: The authors developed a questionnaire including 39 items of patient safety staffing, health information system, reporting system, and event-specific prevention practices. The survey was conducted online or e-mail with 407 tertiary, general and specialty hospitals. Results: About 90% of hospitals answered the self-reporting system of patient safety related events is established. More than 90% of hospitals applied incidence monitoring or root cause analysis on healthcare-associated infection, in-facility pressure ulcers and falls, but only 60% did on surgery/procedure related events. More than 50% of the hospitals did not adopted present on admission (POA) indicators. One hundred (80.0%) hospitals had a department of patient safety and/or quality and only 52.8% of hospitals had a patient safety officer (PSO). While 82.4% of hospitals used electronic medical records (EMRs), only 53% of these hospitals adopted clinical decision support function. Infrastructure for patient safety except EMRs was well established in training, high-level and large hospitals. Most hospitals implemented prevention practices of adverse drug events, in-facility pressure ulcers and falls (94.4-100.0%). But prevention practices of surgery/procedure related events had relatively low adoption rate (59.2-92.8%). Majority of prevention practices for patient safety events were also implemented with a relatively modest increase in resources allocated. Conclusion: The hospital-based reporting and learning system, EMRs, and core evidence-based prevention practices were implemented well in high-level and large hospitals. But POA indicator and PSO were not adopted in more than half of surveyed hospitals and implementation of prevention practices for specific event had low. To support and monitor progress in hospital's patient safety effort, national-level safety practices set is needed.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 2020

The main purpose of the study is to reduce the accident death rate in the construction industry. To achieve this goal, the safety planning tasks were analyzed and assessed in terms of the importance and preventive effects of the tasks. Through the extensive literature reviews, the safety planning tasks were identified and reviewed by safety managers. based on the safety planning tasks developed in the previous stage, a survey was conducted in order to receive responses by experts with knowledge on the effects and importance of preventive measures for safety. Then, the Importance Performance Analysis(IPA) method was employed to identify the safety manager's tasks that have an effect on performance indicators. Advice and guidance on making the employment rules, etc. (#18) and details about participation and consultation at the Occupational Safety and Health Committee (#16) were found to require revision and improvement of details and guidelines. The effective safety tasks identified are expected to have a critical role in reducing the accident death rate in the construction industry.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.287-294
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• 2024

Radiation oncology departments are at high risk for potential radiation safety incidents. This study aimed to identify risk factors for these incidents using the P-mSHEL (Patient, Management, Software, Hardware, Environment, and Liveware) model and to evaluate potential accident types through Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA). FMEA identified seven accident types with high Risk Priority Number (RPN). A total of 56 detailed risk factors were classified using the P-mSHEL model, and measures to prevent radiation safety incidents were implemented. The effect of these preventive measures on workers' safety perception was confirmed through two indicators (FMEA and safety perception). After implementing the preventive measures, the FMEA analysis showed that the highest reduction in RPN was for A-6 (radiation exposure while other patients/guardians are present) with a reduction rate of 33.3%, followed by B-3 (radiation exposure while staff are present) with a reduction rate of 33.3%. Overall safety perception significantly improved after the preventive measures (4.17±0.35) compared to before (2.76±0.33) (p<0.05), with notable increases in both employee safety culture (3.93±0.51) and patient safety culture (3.73±0.62) (p<0.05). This study identified risk factors in radiation oncology departments. Continuous management, maintenance, and fostering a strong safety culture are crucial for preventing incidents. Regular problem identification and collaboration with relevant departments are essential for maintaining safety standards.

• Proceedings of KOSOMES biannual meeting
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• 2017.11a
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• pp.90-90
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• 2017

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.158-165
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• 2014

The statistics of occupational injuries and illnesses is one of the most important indicators of worker's safety and health in the field of occupational safety and health. The conventional statistics was produced without consideration of gender difference. This study was planned to investigate the difference of occupational injuries and illnesses by gender because that recently female workers was increased through the change of industrial structure such as from manufacturing dominated to service dominated structure. Statistics of occupational injuries and illnesses collected by workmen's compensation insurance system that have no information about gender composition of population. Economically active population survey was used to calculated the rate of occupational injuries and illnesses by gender. The distribution of estimated rate of occupational injuries and illnesses by industry, occupation and the type of accident were different between male and female employees, but those by the size of enterprise, age of the injured, the duration of the first recuperation, and job tenure were similar between male and female employees. This study has shown that gender sensitive approach may be applied to policy of occupational safety and health because that gender neutral perspective may not discover the fact of gender specific problems.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.227-232
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• 2015

Background: In comparison with other industries, the construction industry still has a higher rate of fatal injuries, and thus, there is a need to apply new and innovative approaches for preventing accidents and promoting safe conditions at construction sites. Methods: In this study, the effectiveness of a new incentive system-the surprising incentive system-was assessed. One year after the implementation of this new incentive system, behavioral changes of employees with respect to seven types of activities were observed. Results: The results of this study showed that there is a significant relationship between the new incentive system and the safety performance of frontline employees. The new incentive system had a greater positive impact in the first 6 months since its implementation. In the long term, however, safety performance experienced a gradual reduction. Based on previous studies, all activities selected in this study are important indicators of the safety conditions at workplaces. However, there is a need for a comprehensive and simple-to-apply tool for assessing frontline employees' safety performance. Shortening the intervals between incentives is more effective in promoting safety performance. Conclusion: The results of this study proved that the surprising incentive would improve the employees' safety performance just in the short term because the surprising value of the incentives dwindle over time. For this reason and to maintain the surprising value of the incentive system, the amount and types of incentives need to be evaluated and modified annually or biannually.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.128-133
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• 2015

Background: To investigate the relationship between musculoskeletal disorders and comorbid health problems, including depression/anxiety disorder, insomnia/sleep disorder, fatigue, and injury by accident, and to determine whether certain physical and psychological factors reduce comorbid health problems. Methods: In total, 29,711 employees were selected from respondents of the Third Korean Working Conditions Survey and categorized into two groups: Musculoskeletal Complaints or Musculoskeletal Sickness Absence. Four self-reported health indicators (overall fatigue, depression/anxiety, insomnia/sleep disorder, and injury by accident) were selected as outcomes, based on their high prevalence in Korea. We used multiple logistic regression analysis to determine the relationship between comorbid health problems, musculoskeletal complaints, and sickness absence. Results: The prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints and musculoskeletal sickness absence due to muscular pain was 32.26% and 0.59%, respectively. Compared to the reference group, depression/anxiety disorder and overall fatigue were 5.2-6.1 times more prevalent in the Musculoskeletal Complaints Group and insomnia/sleep disorder and injury by accident were 7.6-11.0 times more prevalent in the Sickness Absence Group. When adjusted for individual and work-related physical factors, prevalence of all four comorbid health problems were slightly decreased in both groups. Conclusion: Increases in overall fatigue and depression/anxiety disorder were observed in the Musculoskeletal Complaints Group, while increases in insomnia/sleep disorder and injury by accident were observed in the Sickness Absence Group. For management of musculoskeletal complaints and sickness absence in the workplace, differences in health problems between employees with musculoskeletal complaints and those with sickness absence as well as the physical and psychological risk factors should be considered.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.454-461
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• 2018

Background: Working conditions and psychosocial work factors have acquired an important role explaining the well-being and performance of professional drivers, including those working in the field of public transport. This study aimed to examine the association between job strain and the operational performance of public transport drivers and to compare the expositions with psychosocial risk at work of three different types of transport workers: taxi drivers, city bus drivers, and interurban bus drivers. Method: A sample of 780 professional drivers was drawn from three transport companies in Bogota (Colombia). The participants answered the Job Content Questionnaire and a set of sociodemographic and driving performance questions, including age, professional driving experience, work schedules, and accidents and penalties suffered in the last 2 years. Results: Analyses showed significant associations between measures of socio-labor variables and key performance indicators such road traffic accidents and penalties. Furthermore, multiple linear regression analysis contributed to explain significantly suffered accidents from key variables of the Job Demand-Control model, essentially from job strain. In addition, throughout post-hoc analyses, significant differences were found in terms of perceived social support, job strain, and job insecurity. Conclusion: Work stress is an issue that compromises the safety of professional drivers. This research provides evidence supporting a significant effect of job strain on the professional driver's performance. Moreover, the statistically significant differences between taxi drivers, city bus drivers, and interurban bus drivers in their expositions to work-related stress suggest the need for tailored occupational safety interventions on each occupational group.

• Journal of Venture Innovation
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.95-115
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• 2019

In the context of today's business environment, not only is the nation or company's credit rating considered very important in our recent society, but it is also becoming important in international transactions. Likewise, at this point of time when the importance and reliability of credit evaluation are becoming important at home and abroad, this study analyzes financial ratios related to corporate profitability, safety, activity, financial growth, and profit growth to study the impact of financial indicators on enterprise value and corporate taxes on credit evaluation. To proceed with this, the financial ratio of 465 companies of KOSPI securities listed in 2017 was calculated and the impact of enterprise value and corporate taxes on credit evaluation was analyzed. Especially, this further study tried to derive a reliable and consistent conclusion by analyzing the financial data of KOSPI securities listed companies for eight years from 2011, which is the first year of K-IFRS introduction, to 2018. Research has shown that the significance levels among variables that show the profitability, safety, activity, financial growth, and profit growth of each financial ratio were significant at the 99% level, except for the profit growth. Validation of the research hypothesis found that while the profitability of KOSPI-listed companies significantly affects corporate value and income tax, indicators such as safety ratio and growth ratio do not significantly affect corporate value and income tax. Activity ratio resulted in significant effects on the value of enterprise value but not significant impacts on income taxes. In addition, it was found that the enterprise value has a significant effect on the company's credit and corporate income taxes, and that corporate income taxes also have a significant effect on the corporate credit evaluation, and this also shows that there is a mediating function of corporate tax. And as a result of further study, when looking at the financial ratio for eight years from 2011 to 2018, it was found that two variables, KARA and LTAX, are significant at a 1% significant level to KISC, whereas LEVE variables is not significant to KISC. The limitation of this study is that credit rating score and financial score cannot be said to be reliable indicators that investors in the capital market can normally obtain, compared to ranking criteria for corporate bonds or corporate bills directly related to capital procurement costs of enterprise. Above all, it is necessary to develop credit rating score and financial score reflecting financial indicators such as business cash flow or net assets market value and non-financial indicators such as industry growth potential or production efficiency.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.73-86
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• 2015

The use of complimentary indicators, other than radiation dose and risk, to assess the safety of radioactive waste disposal has been discussed in a number of publications for providing the reasonable assurance of disposal safety and convincing the public audience. In this study, the radionuclide flux was selected as performance indicator to appraise the performance of engineered barriers and natural barrier in the Wolsong low- and intermediate-level waste disposal facility. Radionuclide flux showing the retention capability by each compartment of the disposal system is independent of assumptions in biosphere model and exposure pathways. The scenario considered as the normal scenario of disposal facility has been divided into intact or degraded silo concrete conditions. In the intact silo concrete, the radionuclide flux has been assessed with respect to the radionuclide retardation performance of each engineered barrier. In the degraded silo concrete, the radionuclide flux has been explored based on the performance degradation of engineered barriers and the relative significance of natural barrier quantitatively. The results can be used to optimally design the near-surface disposal facility being planned as the second project phase. In the future, additional complimentary indicators will be employed for strengthening the safety case for improving the public acceptance of low- and intermediate-level waste disposal facility.