• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.213-225
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• 2020

Objectives: In order to prepare measures to enhance construction workers' satisfaction with their working environment, the effects of working conditions and the mediating effects of safety and health information on workers' satisfaction with their working environment in the construction industry have been studied. The results of this study can be used as basic data for further studies in this field. Method: Data on 1,361 male construction workers from the 5th Korea Working Condition Survey (KWCS) were used for this study. The effects of working conditions were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 and the mediating effects of health and safety information were analyzed with SPSS PROCESS macro using the bootstrap method. Results: The safety and health management system and the self-determination of break time had a statistically significant positive effect on satisfaction with the working environment. Chemical and ergonomic risk factors had a statistically significant negative effect on satisfaction with the working environment. The provision of safety and health information, the mediating variable, had a statistically significant positive effect on satisfaction with the working environment. Therefore, it had a mediating effect between working conditions and satisfaction with the working environment. Conclusion: In order to enhance construction workers' satisfaction with their working environment, the above results suggest that the safety and health management system should be well established; self-determination of break times should be guaranteed; and chemical and ergonomic risk factors should be controlled. In addition, workers should be provided with necessary health and safety information related to their work. This study will be useful if these findings are used as basic data in further studies in related fields.

• Journal of Wellbeing Management and Applied Psychology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.15-26
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• 2023

Purpose: It is necessary to prepare more groundbreaking measures to prevent recurrence in order to reduce the number of industrial accidents in Korea that occur steadily. In particular, since workers with disabilities are much more vulnerable to disaster safety than non-disabled workers, there is a great need to build a customized safety environment system suitable for the characteristics of the work in which workers with disabilities work and to promote management efficiency. Research design, data and methodology: Based on the analysis of the actual status of safety and health management of workplaces for the disabled, such as small, medium-sized and major businesses in Korea, an app was designed and developed to improve safety and health management efficiency of workplaces for the disabled. First, it was designed so that managers of workplaces with disabilities can understand at a glance key legal information that managers need to know and it was improved to suit the eye level of disabled workers so that they could self-evaluate the risk of their work by applying the risk assessment model for workplaces with disabilities. In addition, a mobile education environment was created in which safety and health education contents suitable for the characteristics of disabled workers can be learned by themselves. Results: When this app is applied to domestic workplaces, it is possible to check the exact contents of occupational safety and health education and easily search and check various legal information anytime, anywhere, allowing managers and disabled workers to quickly and efficiently manage various safety information. Conclusions: In addition, the establishment of a mobile safety and health management system that can quickly identify and clearly respond to various legal standards and risks of workplaces with disabilities can be expected to help prevent industrial accidents at workplaces with disabilities in Korea.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.16-26
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• 2013

Health information technology (HIT) is one of the most familiar tools to healthcare providers. It is used in routine practice to reduce cost, to improve clinical performance, and to improve patient safety. Patient safety is the driving force of recent expansion of HIT industry. But there are many evidences that it can be harmful to patient safety. Role of HIT and HIT-related error became big issues because more and more healthcare providers and healthcare organizations are willing to adopt it. Adoption rate of HIT in Korea is higher than that of United States. But researches of HIT regarding patient safety are rare. In this article, types of HIT, their mechanisms of improving patient safety and HIT-related errors were reviewed. Status of HIT in terms of patient safety in Korea was also reviewed. Knowledge of how HIT can improve patient safety, its' limitation, and how to make it safer is crucial to whom have to use it to improve patient safety. Impact of HIT on patient safety must be evaluated actively in Korea. HIT which was proven to improve patient safety must be widely adopted. Government must prepare a strategic plan to improve HIT quality, support hospitals financially and institutionally to introduce qualified HIT, and develop HIT infrastructures and standard designed for patient safety.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.82-90
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• 2012

Objectives: This study was performed to provide workplaces with political guidelines that apply international CMRs (Carcinogens, Mutagens, Reproductive toxins) information to Public Notice of TLVs (Threshold Limit Values). We analyzed information supply status about CMRs of international agencies and compared substances for which TLVs are set in KMoEL (Ministry of Employment and Labor in Korea). Methods: We referred to the reliable literature about classification criteria of CMRs corresponding to UN GHS (Globally Harmonized System of classification and Labeling of chemicals) and Public Notice No. 2009-68 'Standard for Classification, Labeling of Chemical Substance and Material Safety Data Sheet' in KMoEL. The classification system of CMRs in professional organizations (IARC, NTP, ACGIH, EU ECHA, KMoEL, etc.) was investigated through the internet and literature. Conclusions: 191 chemical substances among total 650 substances with TLVs are classified as carcinogens. Also, 43 substances classified as mutagens, and 44 as reproductive toxicants. These results suggest that the information of CMRs in Public Notice of TLV will be reorganized to 191 carcinogens, 43 mutagens, and 44 reproductive toxicants.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.20 no.1 s.69
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• pp.13-17
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• 2005

This paper presents an information system of noise and vibration caused by people as a major source of the environmental problem in residential areas with which people are dissatisfied. Therefore, it is important to monitor the influence of noise and vibration in residential areas. Generally, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) play an important role in noise and vibration mapping. The purpose of this paper is to investigate noise and vibration effects in an urban area and develop a new information network in GIS. Noise and vibration measurements were carried out at a road randomly chosen near INJE University. The obtained values are graphically represented with GIS. Therefore, it is possible to predict noise and vibration in GIS when establishing effective urban plans.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.88-93
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• 2003

The Process Safety Management (PSM) by the Law of Industry, Safety and Health has been performed for preventing major accidents of chemical plants since 1996. In terms of preventing chemical accidents more precisely, it is essential to develop a tool for quantitative risk assessment. For this, KOSHA (Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency) developed an Integrated Risk Management System (IRMS). The system is designed to assimilate data on chemical plant hazards from external database, to integrate these data with location information(topographic and demographic), and to make them user-friendly accessible. The system consists of several main functions: display of five major Korean petrochemical complex layout display of equipment layout with its information utilizing the external database, zonation of the hazard effected area with consequence analyses, the most probable accident scenario generation, accident/incident database and calculation of frequency of accident using equipment reliability database, etc. The highlight of IRMS is to provide the risk contours using GIS(Geographical Information System) technology. IRMS is intended to manage hazardous installation more systematically and effectively, to reduce the number of accident remarkably, further minimizing production loss in the plant. The system is now under application to about 500 PSM sites as well as and emergency authorities in Korea by KOSHA (Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency)

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.175-189
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• 2018

Objectives: In this study, we analyze statistics on industrial accidents caused by chemical skin contact and provide skin toxicity hazard information on the related domestic system and circulation volumes. Methods and Results: We analyzed occupational fatalities and skin diseases caused by chemical leaks and contact from 2007 to 2016(10 years) and surveyed data on occupational skin diseases using the 2014 work environment survey data. The NIOSH Skin Notation Profiles for 57 chemical substances, which are provided to prevent occupational skin diseases, were searched and hazard information on skin contact with chemical substances was classified. In order to identify skin toxicity information among domestically distributed and legally regulated substances and to investigate skin-toxic substances, MSDS basic data on 19,740 chemical substances provided on the homepage of Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency were searched. Acute toxicity(dermal) category 1-4 substances totaled 1,020, and the number of chemical substances classified as category 1 and 2 substances were 135 and 137, respectively. In the chemical substances prescribed by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, 173 substances were classified into acute toxicity(dermal) categories 1-4, 58 of which correspond to category 1 or 2. Conclusions: Within the present range of industrial accidents, the proportion of skin diseases due to contact with chemicals is not high. However, there is always a risk of occupational skin diseases due to increasing chemicals and due to the use of new chemicals. It is hoped that this information will be used by workplace safety and health officials and health and safety experts to prevent acute toxity(dermal) due to chemical skin contact.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.280-291
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• 2020

Objectives: Hazard classification is a controversial issue in the new MSDS system in which chemical companies have to prepare and submit MSDS for chemicals that they manufacture or import to the competent authorities according to the amended Occupational Safety and Health Act. The aim of this study is to suggest how to apply and manage harmonized hazard classification criteria and results by investigating current hazard classification systems and trends. Methods: The domestic issues about different hazard classification criteria and results were investigated by reviewing the literature and business outcomes regarding KOSHA. We also checked official and unofficial reports from the UN to understand international discussion about the topic. Chemical hazard classification results from agencies providing chemical information were analyzed to compare a harmonized rate between classifications. Furthermore, a field survey of a few chemical companies was conducted. Results: Under the related competent authorities, an integrated standard proposal was developed to harmonize the domestic hazard classification criteria. Although harmonized chemical information is strongly needed, we recognized the uncertainty and difficulty of harmonized hazard classification from the UN global list project review. In practice the harmonization rate of the classification was generally low between the classification in KOSHA, MoE, and EU CLP. Among hazard classes, health hazards largely led the disharmony. The field survey revealed a change of perception that the main body of chemical information production is manufacturers. Approaches and solutions about hazard classification issues differed depending on business size, types of chemical handling, and other factors. Conclusions: We proposed reasonable ways by time and step to apply hazard classification in the new MSDS system. Chemical manufacturers should make and offer chemical information including responsible hazard classifications. The government should primarily accept these classifications, evaluate them by priority, and support or supervise workplaces in order to communicate reliable chemical information.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.20-25
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• 2015

It is predicted the mass retirement of the post-war generation and the lack of young people according to reduces the recruitment. Therefore, industry fields are concerned by the low level of occupational safety and health from issued problem in a variety of industries; the charge of expanding business range/multi-functional, black box of technology, difficulty of systematic training, relative decrease in the skill of workers, loss of know-how in the field of information followed restricted site information. In response to these problems, it is necessary to establish the long-termly and actively based on for the adoption of a safety and health management techniques utilizing IT, which is digital assistant(tablet PC, PDA, etc.), RFID/USN/ICT, database systems, and etc. In this study, we developed and evaluated a worker's safety sensing apparatus using smart phone. The apparatus may be useful to prevent accidents in the construction industry as well as confined space work.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.27-35
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• 2010

In this study, we have developed the database of safety and health information for pesticide active ingredients used in Korea. There were 1,283 pesticide items among which 296 were found to be out of use in current. A total of 349 pesticide ingredients were being used in Korea. The database consists of 32 types of information including chemical characteristics, acute toxicity, chronic toxicity (carcinogenic and reproductive toxicity), specific symptoms by exposure route and first aid. When pesticide ingredients were assessed in terms of key properties such as color, odor, acute toxicity, carcinogenic and reproductive toxicity, they were white, colorless and odorless, in general. When ingredients were classified by category of acute toxicity, 'Non-hazardous' represented 29%, followed by 'Slightly hazardous' at 16%, 'Moderately hazardous' at 14%, 'Highly hazardous' at 5%, and 'Extremely hazardous' at 2%. 85 out of 349, or 24% of ingredients were found to be possibly carcinogenic to human. This database is expected to provide an easy access for farmers, agriculture supervisors, researchers and consumers, and it can ultimately be used as basic data on farmer's safety and health.