• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.356-371
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was conducted to assess the working conditions of home health nurses in hospital-based home health institutions nationwide. Methods: A secondary data analysis study was conducted based on the survey data on the working conditions of home health nurses, jointly conducted by the Korean Home Health Care Nurses Association and the Academic Society of Home Health Care Nurses in September 2020. Results: Of the home health nurses respondents, 82.4% worked in tertiary hospitals and general hospitals. Most of the working hours of home health nurses were 40 hours a week. Traffic accidents accounted for a significant proportion of accidents experienced by the home health nurse while performing their duties. Most of welfare and benefits systems applicable to home health institutions were in place. The time allocated to provision of home health nursing services was usually more than 30 minutes but less than 1 hour. The type of position of the individual in charge of home health care differed according to the type of medical institution. Conclusion: It is recommended that continuous investigation and analysis be conducted in order to establish a direction for improvement of home health nurses' working conditions, based on the related accumulated data.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.523-531
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• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate the relation between working conditions and occupational injuries among Korean employees. This study was based on the 4th Korean Working Conditions Survey(KWCS) and a total of 36,292 data were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate the relation of working conditions and occupational injuries after controlling for individual variables. After control of personal factors, perception of the threat to health or safety(OR=3.77, 95% CI=2.934-4.844), 49-59 working hours(OR=1.63, 95% CI=1.023-2.601), 60 hours or more per week(OR=2.66, 95% CI=1.683-4.197), and manual occupation type(OR=1.76, 95% CI=1.218-2.536) were associated with occupational injuries. Our results indicate that working conditions influence occupational injuries, and the focus should be on prevention and management strategies for occupational injuries to vulnerable workers.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2016

Background: Korean Working Conditions Surveys (KWCS), referencing European Working Conditions Surveys, have been conducted three times in order to survey working condition and develop work-related policies. However, we found three limitations for managing the collected KWCS data: (1) there was no computerized system for managing data; (2) statistical KWCS data were provided by limited one-way communication; and (3) the concept of a one-time provision of information was pursued. We suggest a web-based public service system that enables ordinary people to make greater use of the KWCS data, which can be managed constantly in the future. Methods: After considering data characteristics, we designed a database, which was able to have the result of all pairwise combinations with two extracted data to construct an analysis system. Using the data of the social network for each user, the tailored analysis system was developed. This system was developed with three methods: clustering and classification for building a social network, and an infographic method for improving readability through a friendly user interface. Results: We developed a database including one input entity consisting of the sociodemographic characteristics and one output entity consisting of working condition characteristics, such as working pattern and work satisfaction. A web-based public service system to provide tailored contents was completed. Conclusion: This study aimed to present a customized analysis system to use the KWCS data efficiently, provide a large amount of data in a form that can give users a better understanding, and lay the ground for helping researchers and policy makers understand the characteristics.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.372-379
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• 2023

Background: Laundry workers are known to be exposed to organic solvents in various works including dry cleaning. Long-term exposure to organic solvents may cause adverse health effects among laundry workers. Objectives: To investigate the association between exposure to organic solvents and symptom of headache or eyestrain among laundry workers. Methods: The subjects were total 267 laundry workers who participated in the 6th Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS). Responses to exposure to 'inhalation of vapor from organic solvent' was categorized into two (non-exposed: rarely or absolutely not exposed during working hours; exposed: ≥1/4 working hours) or three (non-exposed; low exposure: 1/4 of the working hours; high exposure: ≥1/2 working hours) groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between exposure to organic solvents and symptom of headache or eyestrain in the last 12 months among laundry workers. Odds ratios (ORs) and the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for experience of the symptom of headache or eyestrain with adjustment for age, sex, education, workplace size (by the number of workers), working hours per week, and current working period (year). Results: The proportions of exposure groups, i.e., non-exposed, low exposure, and high exposure, were 80.4%, 11.1%, and 8.5%, respectively. The proportion of those who had symptom of headache or eyestrain in the last 12 months was 18.7%. There was a significant association between exposure to organic solvents and experience of headache or eyestrain (OR=3.2, 95% CI=1.4~7.4). And, the proportion of those who experienced symptom of headache or eyestrain tended to increase significantly as the level of exposure to organic solvents increased (P_trend=0.002). Conclusions: Our results suggest that exposure to organic solvents are associated with symptom of headache or eystrain among laundry workers in Korea. However, further studies with more relevant design is needed to replicate the association.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.338-344
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• 2015

Background: The present study aims to investigate job stressors and stress relievers for Korean emotional laborers, specifically focusing on the effects of work conditions and emotional labor properties. Emotional laborers are asked to hide or distort their real emotions in their interaction with clients. They are exposed to high levels of stress in the emotional labor process, which leads to serious mental health risks including burnout, depression, and even suicide impulse. Exploring job stressors and relieving factors would be the first step in seeking alternatives to protect emotional laborers from those mental health risks. Methods: Using the third wave data of Korean Working Conditions Survey, logistic regression analysis was conducted for two purposes: to examine the relations of emotional labor and stress, and to find out job stressors and relievers for emotional laborers. Results: The chances of stress arousal are 3.5 times higher for emotional laborers; emotional laborers experience double risk-burden for stress arousal. In addition to general job stressors, emotional laborers need to bear burdens related to emotional labor properties. The effect of social support at the workplace is not significant for stress relief, unlike common assumptions, whereas subjective satisfaction (wage satisfaction and work-life balance) is proven to have relieving effects on emotional laborers' job stress. Conclusion: From the results, the importance of a balanced understanding of emotional labor for establishing effective policies for emotional laborer protection is stressed.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.361-375
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• 2018

This study recognizes the changes of the father's role and the importance of family mealtimes as well as examines the individual, family and social contexts surrounding the father's family mealtime. This study analyzed the trend of the father's family mealtime frequency and factors affecting them in order to explore the current conditions of their father's work and family balance through family mealtimes. Data from 492 fathers who have school aged children were collected through an online survey. The overall trend of the frequency of father's family meals showed an average of 2.4 breakfasts and an average of 3.2 dinners per week. The frequency of the father's family meals showed statistically significant differences according to the father's age, children's school age, dual income, weekly working hours, working flexibility, leaving on-time and the priority of work and family. The analysis of hierarchical linear regressions was conducted to determine factors affecting the frequency of father's family mealtime to show that the frequency of father's family mealtime was best explained by father's working conditions and perception variables. Working conditions such as working hours, leaving work on time, working flexibility were significant variables in regards to the father's family mealtime frequency. The father's perception towards parental efficacy, wife's support, and work-family priority were significant factors in regards to the father's family mealtime frequency. This study is meaningful in that it provides basic data on policy making for the compatibility of the father's work and family.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2024

Background: The present study aimed to analyze several aspects of the working conditions and health status of platform workers in the Republic of Korea, such as ergonomic and emotional hazards. We also compared the health status of the platform workers with that of the general population. Methods: A total of 1,000 platform workers participated in this survey from August 7 to August 17, 2022. The participants included 400 designated drivers, 400 food-delivery drivers, and 200 housekeeping managers. A face-to-face survey with a structured questionnaire was conducted by researchers who had received specific instructions. The focus of the survey extended to the work environment, encompassing factors such as workplace violence, as well as physical, chemical, and ergonomic hazards. Health-related data for the previous year were also collected, covering a range of issues such as hearing problems, skin problems, musculoskeletal symptoms, headaches, injuries, mental health issues, and digestive problems. Subsequently, we compared the health symptom data of the responders with those of the general population in the Republic of Korea. Results: Platform workers, including designated drivers, food-delivery drivers, and housekeeping managers, existed in the blind spot of social insurance, facing frequent exposure to physical and chemical hazards, ergonomic risk factors, and direct or indirect violence. The prevalence of health problems, including musculoskeletal symptoms, general fatigue, and depressive symptoms, in each occupational group was statistically higher than that in the general population after standardization for age and gender. Conclusion: The results revealed unfavorable working environment and inferior occupational health of platform workers compared with those of the general population.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.553-562
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• 2010

This survey investigates the conditions of summer working uniforms for contracted foodservice workers. The data were obtained from 67 workers through in-depth interviews (July 2005~October 2005). The results of study are as follows: The working environment changed to menu and cooking method (air temperature $28\sim37^{\circ}C$, humidity 72~86 %RH, radiant temperature $27\sim37^{\circ}C$, air velocity 0.14~0.37m/sec). They answered that the working environment has high temperatures, humidity, excessive noise, and liability to slide. The typical accidents were burns, cuts, slide, and ligament injuries in the workplace. Work duties consisted of cooking, serving food, washing, and cleaning up leftover food. All the employees carried out multi tasks. The primary working postures and motions were standing, crouching, and lifting. The female workers usually wore underwear (panty and brassiere), upper and lower work wear, aprons, waterproof-aprons, cotton-gloves, rubber-gloves, socks, and rubber-boots. The satisfaction of the uniform was relatively low for trousers and waterproof-aprons. The answer about the fit was generally "comfortable." They answered "back," "chest," and "head" were wet with perspiration during work. The uncomfortable parts were the crotch and neck. Questions concerning their satisfaction with the material of uniforms indicated a high rate of dissatisfaction, particularly for ventilation and absorbency. In case of the colors of the working uniform, workers preferred white color for the upper part, and black color for the lower part.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.131-142
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• 2016

Objectives : Using several waves of the Panel Study of Worker's Compensation Insurance(PSWCI), this study analyzed the effect of work hours on health and lifestyle of Korean workers in a sample from the 2013~2014 year (The first survey was completed in August-October 2013; the second survey was completed in August-October 2014). Methods : The research subjects were 1,312 men from among employees who responded to a 2013 PSWCI panel report. Statistical analyses were done with SAS version 9.3 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Results : According to the results of the analysis, the male subjects had differences in economic activity and health conditions based on the length of working hours. There was a significant relationship among working hours and life satisfaction, and the correlation coefficients were statistically significant. The results show that workplace conditions has a direct positive effect on life satisfaction as we anticipated in the hypothesis. Conclusions : Management should focus on the factors identified in this study when developing employment interventions programs to improve the the promotion of healthy lifestyles for adults over the age of 40.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.125-132
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• 2015

The primary purpose of present study, to take appropriate measures to prevent occupational accidents in the food service industry, was to evaluate characteristics of working condition and occupational safety and health. In order to fulfill our objective, profession and working environment, safety recognition and education, safety activities, physical conditions and accident experience were surveyed. To collect information and opinion in the field, face-to-face interviews were, using a structured questionnaire, carried out. Also, food service industry's accidents reported by Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency at 2014 were statistically analyzed. In the resulting of analyzing data from a questionnaire survey of food service industry employees, safety/health train and management were increased.