• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.436-444
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• 2016

Objectives: Despite recent efforts to prevent suffocation disasters, a number of confined space accidents still happen and each year deaths continue to occur. There have been insufficient studies on the dangers of various potential disaster sites, such as manholes, septic tanks, reactors, and other tanks according to type, characteristics, task-specific disasters, equipment specific disasters, etc. The purpose of this study was to analyze recent suffocation disasters based on place and properties. Methods: In this study, we analyzed confined space accident cases from 2005 to 2015 in Korea and grouped them by type, size, monthly occurrence, continuous service period, accident location, person-specific group, age, employment, structural work and subcontracting work. We studied examples of accidents developed in other countries. Results: (1) We reviewed confined-space accident statistics, compared legal standards and analyzed cases of suffocation accidents in the United States and Japan. (2) Using a case study report from the Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency, we specified confined-space accident statistics based on place, person-specific group, age, employment, structural work and subcontracting work. As a result we generated some precautions about confined-space accidents for the prevention of such accidents. Conclusions: Conclusions: Statistical analysis of recent suffocation disaster cases was performed to establish improvement measures, compare practices from developed countries, and develop precautionary measures accordingly. In this study, we presented the causes of disaster that occur in a confined space and proposed related preventive measures.

• 한국항해항만학회지
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.85-89
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• 2013

Sometimes, an evacuation should be executed from a ship for many reasons. This study considers on emergency evacuation on fire in a ship, one of the many reasons for evacuation. Due to the characteristic of fire, the most loss of life is known to be caused by suffocation resulted by smoke. To reduce the suffocation by smoke, the time available for evacuation should be improved for the higher survival rate of crews. In this study, crews' survival times and Evacuation time are analyzed quantitatively in during fire in the same sealed space in two different cases of the natural ventilation and the forced ventilation.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.6-11
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• 2023

Objective: This study was conducted to identify the cause of suffocation accident. Methods: We analyzed the components of zinc concentrates by ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy) and tested the oxygen consumption by zinc concentrates in a 13.2-liter closed chamber. Results: Zinc, sulfur and iron were the main components of the four types of zinc concentrates, and accounted for 76~89% by weight. Zinc concentrates (0.5 or 0.927 kg) depleted the oxygen concentration from 20.9% to 7.4~18.9% during seven days. The rate of oxygen consumption was in the range of 3.0~11.0 mM/day·kg-sample at 21~24℃ and around 95% of free air space within the closed chamber. Conclusion: Since zinc concentrate consumes oxygen in a confined space, measures should be taken to prevent suffocation accident (such as ventilation and monitoring of oxygen concentration).

• 한국화재소방학회논문지
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.118-129
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• 2018

본 연구는 산업재해예방기관인 안전보건공단(KOSHA)에서 실시한 소화약제 중독 질식 재해사례분석을 통해 소화 약제를 포함한 화학물질의 안전한 취급방안을 제안하기 위함이다. 산업재해통계에 따르면 2011~2016년 산업현장에서 발생한 화학물질 중독 질식재해는 해마다 증가 및 다 변화 양상을 보여주고 있다. 일반 사고성재해와 달리 화학물질 재해는 재해강도가 크고 화학물질 위험성 정보 확인이 어려운 특징이 있다. 화학물질 재해의 예방을 위해서는 화학물질 취급 전 위험성을 평가하는 것이 무엇보다 중요하다. 본 논문은 유해위험성인지와 위험성평가가 어려운 화학물질의 안전한 사용을 위해 안전보건공단에서 개발한 화학물질 필수정보 확인 프로세스(CHEM-i)와 화학물질위험성평가기법(CHARM)의 활용방안을 제시하고자 한다.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.88-92
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• 2000

In Everland Zoological Gardens, the mortality by extrinsic cause in non-human primates during 1976∼1999 were retrospectively analyzed based on the clinical charts and/or autopsy reports. The number of deaths from extrinsic factor was 61 among a total of 161 monkeys which were died during that period. Among 61 monkeys of death from extrinsic factor, the number at a detailed cause were as follows: strangulation, 17(27.87%); accident fall, 15(24.59%); suffocation, 13(21.31%); drowning, 7(11.48%); death from pressure, 2(3.28%); collision, 2(3.28%); sunstroke, 1(64%); starvation, 1(1.64%); freezing to death, 1(1.64%); contusion, 1(1.64%). The number of deaths from extrinsic factor was 39 among a total of 81 squirrel monkeys which were died during that period. Among 39 squirrel monkeys of death from extrinsic factor, the number at a detailed cause were as follows; suffocation, 11(28.21%); accident fall, 8(20.51%); strangulation, 7(17.95%); drowning, 7(17.95%); death from pressure, 2(5.13%); starvation, 1(2.56%); collision, 1(2.56%). The number of deaths from extrinsic factor was 14 among a total of 50 Japanese macaque died during that period. Among 14 Japanese macaque from extrinsic factor, the number at a detailed cause were as follows; strangulation, 7(50.55%); accident fall, 6(42.85%); suffocation, 1(7.14%). It was considered that far facilities, adequate space and suitable indoor temperature are needed for the prevention of deaths of extrinsic cause at the monkey raising in zoological gardens or research center.

• 보건행정학회지
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.260-265
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• 2013

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the seasonal variation of death from intentional self-harm by hanging, strangulation and suffocation (HSS: Korean Standard Classification of Diseases-6 code: X70) using the 2011 death registry data. Methods: The analysis was based on data of 8,359 HSS deaths from 2011 national vital statistics in Korea. Daily, weekly, and monthly death pattern on HSS were used to examine the relationship seasonal variation and HSS deaths. Results: A total of 8,359 HSS deaths occurred in 2011, with a mean age of 50.6 years. The HSS death rate (per 100,000) was 25.5 in male and 10.8 in female. In one day 17.6 males and 8.0 females occurred HSS death on average. The number of HSS death per day was the highest on 8th June (45 deaths), and lowest on 1st February (7 deaths) during the period. The variations of daily HSS death showed wide fluctuation from a peak of 34 to 45 deaths (29th May to 9th June) to a trough of 17-26 deaths (10th-13th September: the Korean thank-giving consecutive holidays), 13-20 deaths (2nd-5th February: the new year's day by the lunar calendar) and 8-9 deaths (24th-25th December: Christmas holidays). There were no significant difference between gender and seasonal variation (month, season, and week). Conclusion: The mean number of HSS death per day was highest in June (30.6 deaths), and months with the lowest number of deaths was January and December (range, 19.4 to 19.6 deaths). HSS death were more prevalent during summer and spring and were less likely to occur during winter. On Saturdays (21.0 deaths), the number of HSS death per day was the lowest, and Monday (27.9 deaths) was the highest. HSS death was less likely to occur on holidays (21.4 deaths). There was significant seasonal variation in HSS death by weekly and monthly (p<0.01).

• 한국화재조사학회지
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.59-75
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• 2007

산업화 이전의 화재사망자의 사망원인은 대부분 화염접촉에 의한 열화상이었다. 그러나 1990년대 이후 획기적으로 경제가 발전함에 따라 주거주공간이 대형화, 복잡화되고 내장재가 고급화되고 있다. 그러므로 최근의 화재에서는 열화상에 의한 사망보다 유독가스 흡입에 따른 질식 사망자가 대부분을 차지하고 있다. 또한 보험범죄가 증가하면서 보험금 등 경제적 이익을 사취하기 위한 방화로 인한 사망자가 크게 증가하고 있다. 소방방재청 발표에 의하면 2006년 전국적으로 31,778건의 화재가 발생하여 총 2,180명의 사상자가 발생하였고 이중 446명의 귀중한 인명이 사망하였다. 특히, 화재사망자가 발생한 화재는 민 형사상의 분쟁요인으로 작용할 수 있으므로 정확한 화재원인 및 사망원인 조사의 중요성이 강조되고 있다. 그러므로 본 연구에서는 최근 전국화재 통계를 중심으로 화재원인별, 발생장소별, 연령별 사망자를 분석하고 화재사의 감식 방법 및 화재 시 인간행동 특성, 화상사, 질식사 및 화재사 등의 원인을 중점으로 고찰하고 한다.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.83-93
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• 2021

Objectives: 'Confined space' was only defined in the Safety and Health Regulations as a place where oxygen deficiency and hydrogen sulfide must be dealt with at the time of the initial enactment (1982). The danger of fire and explosion were added in 2003. We will compare and review the regulations related to confined space work under the current safety and health rules alongside regulations in other countries and prepare a plan to improve the system through enhanced clarity and execution. Methods: In a comparison of systems for the prevention of suffocation in confined spaces in major countries (Germany, United States, Japan) different concepts of the definition of confined spaces in different countries apparently due to differences in each country's legal implementation system, accident analysis methods, the status of safety and health implementation in workplaces, the precautions against actual confined space work, and the definition of confined spaces were found to be not much different between Korea and the other foreign countries. Results: In the case of Germany and the United States, a confined space is defined as a contextual concept rather than a place, so more careful attention is needed from operators or enclosed space managers as it is often necessary to judge the actual workplace. In the case of Korea and Japan, the interior of the place is mainly defined as a place, especially in the case of Japan, which concentrates on oxygen deficiency and hydrogen sulfide poisoning. Conclusions: For measures to improve regulations on the prevention of suffocation accidents in Korea, I would like to propose three major measures to improve the system in the rules on domestic industrial safety and health standards. It is necessary to prepare and provide a guide to ensure that the 18 types of confined spaces currently defined as confined spaces are clearly understood by field management supervisors or workers.

• 한국안전학회지
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• 제33권5호
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• pp.28-34
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• 2018

Recently, various engineering approaches have been widely used in the accident investigation field to identify the cause of the accident and to predict damage by accident. Computational analysis is the most commonly used method of accident investigation technique. This technique is mainly used to identify the mechanism of the accident generation and to determine the cause when it is difficult to reproduce the situation at the time of the accident or when it is impossible to perform a reproduction experiment. In this study, The computational fluid dynamics analysis for nitrogen asphyxiation accident generated by defect of building structural between diffusion outlet and cooling tower was performed to determine the inflow path of the suffocation gas, death possibility by concentration of suffocation gas and predicted the time of death due to the accident using 3D modeling and FLACS program. We can quantify diffusion concentration of asphyxiation gas and predict mechanism of death occurrence by accident and evaluate the consequence Analysis through this study. In the future, This method can be widely used in the field of gas safety by improving the reliability and validity of the analysis.

• 대한조선학회논문집
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• 제54권4호
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• pp.294-300
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• 2017

The offshore installations and ships are the structures most likely to be exposed to hazards such as hydrocarbon fire and/or explosion. Developing proactive measures to prevent the escalation of such events thus requires detailed knowledge of the related phenomena and their consequences. $CO_2$ extinguishing systems are extensively used for fire accidents of on-and offshore installations because of outstanding performance and low cost. There is, however, the risk of carbon dioxide system which enumerates many of the fatalities by suffocation associated with industrial fire protection requirements. Therefore, the aim of this study is to perform the prediction of fire suppression characteristics of the carbon dioxide system in realistic enclosed compartment area of ships and propose $CO_2$ extinguish fire fighting system for preventing suffocation accidents during fire fighting. According to CFD calculations, it can be observed and assessed that various fire profiles with $CO_2$ and $O_2$ mole fraction in the target enclosed compartment area are applicable within the proposed system. Additionally, the design of fire safety system of ships and offshore installations can utilize ventilation system and/or layout arrangement through the proposed system.