• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.9 no.spc
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• pp.107-122
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• 2003

The object of this study is to evaluate the prevailing physical and psychosocial conditions regarding occupational low back injury. This study consists of two parts. In the first part of the study, analytic biomechanical model and NIOSH guidelines are applied to evaluate risk levels of low back injury for automobile assembly jobs. Total of 246 workers are analysed. There are 20 jobs having greater back compressive forces than 300kg at L5/S1. Also, there are 44 jobs over Action Limit with respect to 1981 NIOSH guidelines. The relationship between psychosocial factors and low back injury was examined in the second part of the study. A battery of questionnaires concerning the psychosocial stress based on PWI (Psychosocial Well-being Index) and musculoskeletal pain symptoms at low back was completed by 246 workers at the same plant. Results showed that 207 out 246 workers experienced the symptoms and 27 workers were diagnosed as patients. Two groups(low stressed, high stressed) based on PWI score had no significant relationships with both symptoms and results of diagnosis. The relationships between physical work load and psychosocial stress were also analysed. Specifically, some postural factors(vertical deviation angle of forearm, horizontal deviation angle of upperarm, vertical deviation angle of thigh, etc) were highly correlated with psychosocial stress. The results illustrated that PWI scores were associated with some physical workloads. However, psychosocial stress levels couldn't be well related with the pain symptom as well as the actual incidence of low back injury since pain or discomfort regarding low back injury were more complex than that of other musculoskeletal disorders.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.143-154
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• 1998

The purpose of this research is to suggest basic materials for the practical infection precaution program to protect health care workers from hospital infection by grasping their compliance level of Universal Precautions and examining the factors affecting them. The number of the health care workers we studied were 486, including the doctors, the nurses, and the lab technicians who were working in a university hospital. The period of this research was from Aug. 18th, 1997 to Aug. 30th, 1997. The method of the study was to measure the compliance level of Universal Precautions with the item of "Universal Precautions" established by CDC in 1987, and examine the questionnaire of 52 questions dividing related factors into socio-populational, individual, socio-psychological and organizational management ones. The data was analyzed by t-test. ANOVA, and chi-square test. The results were as follows : 1. An the compliance level of Universal Precautions, hand washing had the highest score(85.4%), and doctors(18.9%), nurses(44.0%), and lab technicians(7.6%), had a low compliance level in the safe handling of an injection syringe, and item not to handle patients and their samples when the subject suffered from dermatitis or injury had the lowest score of 17.1%. 23.3% of them said that they wear protection gown, goggles and mask. 2. Female's Compliance level of Universal Precautions Was higher than male. 3. The health care workers who had high recognition on Universal Precautions got significantly higher compliance level of Universal Precautions than those have low recognition on Universal Precautions(P<0.001). 4. The health care workers experienced a needle stick injury had a significantly higher compliance level of Universal Precautions than those who had not(P<0.000). 5. The health care workers who had infection protection education got a significantly higher compliance level of Universal Precautions than those who didn't(P<0.000). 6. The health care workers who had a firm belief in the effect of Universal Precautions got a higher compliance level of Universal Precautions than those who didn't. 7. The health care workers who had less conflicts between treating patient arid protecting them-selves got a higher compliance level of Universal Precautions than others with many conflicts. 8. The health care workers who had a high score in organizational management factors got a significantly higher compliance level of Universal Precautions than those with a low score(P<0.000). 9. Only 16.9 percent of the all respondents(82 in number) answered that they knew well or a little about the Universal Precautions, which is very low rate of recognition. 10. The variables which affected the score in organizational management factors were age, sex, education period, work experience, the kind of work, recognition on Universal Precautions, the experience of needle stick injury, revealing dangerous circumstance related to infection, and training on precaution again infection. According to the result above, compliance level of Universal Precautions showed high correlation with sex, the recognition on Universal Precautions, the experience of needle stick injury, training on precaution against infection, the belief in the effect of Universal Precautions, the recognition degree of conflicts and organizatinal management factors. These results could be used as the basic materials for the developing infection protection programs. Also, There should have a systematic training course to elevate a effective compliance level of Universal Precautions as well as the manageeent of infection protection programs.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.179-214
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• 2012

There are two opinions on the legal characteristics of damages for non-pecuniary loss, a private sanctions theory and complementary function of damages for non-pecuniary loss, briefly. There is a close connection between the legal characteristics and the function of damages for non-pecuniary loss. The functions of damages for non-pecuniary loss are consist of satisfaction, prevention( sanctions) and complementation. Several cases of medical injury relief reported to Korea Comsumer Agency are categorized as follows, 1) cases of death after having an operation, 2) diagnosed with disability after a medical accident, 3) extended damages happening related to delayed diagnosis, 4) et cetera(a plastic surgery, a treatment with oriental medicine), and the damages for non-pecuniary loss in respect to each cases are examined. In the case of occurring death or disability, Korea Comsumer Agency has set up guidelines for assessment of damages for non-pecuniary loss by classifying into major and collateral violation for a duty of care. Furthermore, the damages for non-pecuniary loss in the case of all sorts of cancers, are assessed in accordance with the degree of responsibility subsequent to dividing cancer into good and poor prognosis. When it comes to a complementary function of damages for non-pecuniary loss in the actual work, it is hard to assess the damages as it is difficult to objectify non-pecuniary loss, such as emotional distress. Though compensation for damages is major legal characteristics of consolation money, preventing a damage(private sanctions) through consolation for a victim or sanctions against an assailant also has great significance. Therefore, it is necessary to approach flexibly for mutual agreement by considering specialty( concrete facts) of individual issue thoroughly. If considering this aging society that limits the possible age for work to 60 years old, it is needed to have a complementary function of consolation money in mind not to make it less meaningful for victims due to small sum of consolation money.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.162-167
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• 1991

In an attempt to explore the mechanistic aspects of chilling injury in plants and their defensive measures against the low temperature stress, the time sequential measurements of pyruvate, superoxide radicals$(O_{\overline{2}})$ and antioxygenic enzymes during whole period of injury-inducing treatment were performed using mostly rice seedlings. Pyruvate was substantialy accumulated in leaf tissues during the exposure period to $5^{\circ}C$ of the seedlings ; the relative extent of the accumulation was increased with increasing time of the cold treatment. When the cold-treated plants were translocated to ambient temperature$({\sim}25^{\circ}C)$, the accumulation started to dissipate, concomitantly accompaning a remarkable increase in the $O_{\overline{2}}$ level of tissues. Superoxide dismutase(SOD) and catalase were also activated during post-chilling period, although they showed a considerable lag time for activation. In contrast, glutathione peroxidase, another antioxygenic enzyme in cells, was not activated at all by preceding cold treatment of plants. The uptake of exogenous $O_{\overline{2}}$ by the roots of rice seedlings resulted in increase in the activities of SOD and catalase in root tissues. The supply of $H_2O_2$ to plan st brought about the activation of catalase in situ, while failing to exert any effect on the activation state of glutathione peroxidase. The results obtained in this work suggest that pyruvate accumulation in cells is the direct cause of the overproduction of $O_{\overline{2}}$ and thereby other toxic activated oxygen species, and that SOD and catalase may play a crucial role in the protection of plant cells against active oxygen-mediated chilling injury.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.78-82
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• 2005

Fishermen have higher risk of occupational injuries and disease due to frequent machine usage and direct contact to live biological materials. Moreover, growing elderly workers makes the susceptibility to occupational injuries and disease higher. This study was performed to investigate the occupational safety and health status among fishermen. The interview was carried out at Jumunjin and Geojin ports which were representative port at North East side of Korea. The structured questionnaire were used to interview the fishermen from AM 6:00 to PM 11:00 and total respondent were 97 workers. The results were followed; 7 fishermen of all respondents experienced occupational injuries during their work, 5 fishermen were needed to admission longer than 4 days. The injury types were contusion(4 persons), fracture(1 persons) and amputation(2 persons). The cause of injury might be the lack of caution and the unstability of working condition. These results suggested the ergonomical evaluation of working condition and proper management. But there was limited concern and studies on the policy on occupational safety and health on fishermen. So, further study was required to establish the sound policy of fishermen's occupational safety and health.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.115-121
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• 2019

Background: Due to the diversification and advancement of research, researchers have become to deal with a variety of chemical and biological harmful materials in the laboratories of universities and research institutes and the risk has increased as well. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the social safety net for laboratory accidents by strengthening the compensation to the level comparable to that of Korean Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service, when the researchers become physically disabled by laboratory accidents. The purpose of this study is to secure researchers' health rights and to create a research environment where researchers can work with confidence by strengthening the compensation to the level comparable to that of Korean Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service. Method: We analyzed the laboratory accidents by year, injury type, severity of accident and disability grade with the 6 year data from 2011 to 2016, provided by Laboratory Safety Insurance. Based on the analysis result, we predicted the financial impact on Laboratory Safety Insurance if we introduce a compensation annuity by disability grade which is similar to Injury-Disease Compensation Annuity of Korean Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service. Result :As of 2011, the insured number of Laboratory Safety Insurance was approximately 700,000. The Average premium per insured was KRW 3,339 and there were 158 claims. Total claim amount was KRW 130 million, whereas the premium was about KRW 2.3 billion. The loss ratio was very low at 5.75%. If we introduce a compensation annuity by disability grade similar to Injury-Disease Compensation Annuity of Korean Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service, the expected benefit amount for 1 case of disability grade 1 would be KRW 1.6 billion, assuming 2% of interest rate. Given current premium, the loss ratio, the ratio of premium income to claim payment, is expected 41.4% in 2017 and 151.6% in 2026. The increased loss ratio due to the introduce of the compensation annuity by disability grade is estimated to be 11.0% in 2017 and 40.4% in 2026. Conclusion: Currently, laboratories can purchase insurance companies' laboratory safety insurance that meets the standards prescribed by Act on the Establishment of Safe Laboratory Environment. However, if a compensation annuity is introduced, it would be difficult for insurance companies to operate the laboratory safety insurance due to financial losses from a large-scale accident. Therefore, it is desirable that one or designated entities operate laboratory safety insurance. We think that it is more desirable for laboratory safety insurance to be operated by a public entity rather than private entities.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.406-414
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• 2023

Background: This study examined age-group differences in the rate, severity, and cost of injuries among construction workers to support evidence-based worker safety and health interventions in the construction industry. Methods: Ohio workers' compensation claims for construction workers were used to estimate claim rates and costs by age group. We analyzed claims data auto-coded into five event/exposure categories: transportation incidents; slips, trips, and falls (STFs); exposure to harmful substances and environments; contact with objects and equipment (COB); overexertion and bodily reaction. American Community Survey data were used to determine the percentage of workers in each age group. Results: From 2007-2017, among 72,416 accepted injury claims for ~166,000 construction full-time equivalent (FTE) per year, nearly half were caused by COB, followed by STFs (20%) and overexertion (20%). Claim rates related to COB and exposure to harmful substances and environments were highest among those 18-24 years old, with claim rates of 313.5 and 25.9 per 10,000 FTE, respectively. STFs increased with age, with the highest claim rates for those 55-64 years old (94.2 claims per 10,000 FTE). Overexertion claim rates increased and then declined with age, with the highest claim rate for those 35-44 years old (87.3 per 10,000 FTE). While younger workers had higher injury rates, older workers had higher proportions of lost-time claims and higher costs per claim. The total cost per FTE was highest for those 45-54 years old ($1,122 per FTE). Conclusion: The variation in rates of injury types by age suggests that age-specific prevention strategies may be useful.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.149-157
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• 2016

For workers, industrial accidents exert a bad effect on the productivity, quality of life, and depress the morale. This study aimed to examine the overall influence on job performance of employees who returned to work after industrial accidents. This was a cross-sectional study using the data of 2013 and 2014 Panel Study of Worker's Compensation Insurance (PSWCI), and we performed logistic-regression analysis to analyze an affinity between general characteristics and job performance as independent variable and outcome variable, respectively. As a result, the major factor depressed the job performance were the 1 - 7 degree of disabilities and injuries with convalescence period for 6 to 9month or more than 12 months. In other words, this study shown that job performance was decreased as higher degree of disability and longer convalescence period. Job performance is the factor to identify indirectly worker's successful return to work, and it is important in follow-up of workers who returned to work after industrial accidents. Stable job performance of an industrial disaster victim is the key factor to maintain worker's comfortable and qualitative life as well as increase of productive capacity.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.405-417
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• 2015

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between physical factors, working conditions and occupational injuries among Korean workers. Methods: We used data from the 2nd Korean Working Conditions Survey, conducted in 2010. A total of 7,114 workers over 15 years of age were selected from among 10,019 Korean workers. The participants were interviewed using questionnaires. A multiple logistic regression model was used to analyze the associations among physical factors, working conditions and occupational injuries. Results: After the adjustment of socio-demographic factors, the odds ratio of injuries through physical factors such as vibration (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] 4.037, 95% CI 2.30-7.09), noise (aOR 4.562, 95% CI 2.64-7.89), high temperature (aOR 3.262, 95% CI 1.86-5.73), and low temperature (aOR 3.358, 95% CI 1.76-6.41) were greater in the exposed group than in the non-exposed group. The odds ratios of occupational injury(aOR 5.272, 95% CI 3.19-8.7 for very high speed work, aOR 3.303, 95% CI 1.95-5.60 for tight deadlines, and aOR 3.641, 95% CI 1.72-7.70 for not enough time to work) increased with increased work demands. Conclusions: In this study, physical factors such as vibration, noise, and high and low temperatures were significantly correlated with occupational injuries according to the increase in exposure intensity(p for trend <0.001). Also, working conditions such as high-speed work, tight deadlines and insufficient time to work showed significant associations with occupational injuries(p for trend<0.001).

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.121-130
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• 2020

Background: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), manual acupuncture (MA), and spinal cord stimulation (SCS) are used to treat a variety of pain conditions. These non-pharmacological treatments are often thought to work through similar mechanisms, and thus should have similar effects for different types of pain. However, it is unclear if each of these treatments work equally well on each type of pain condition. The purpose of this study was to compared the effects of TENS, MA, and SCS on neuropathic, inflammatory, and non-inflammatory pain models. Methods: TENS 60 Hz, 200 ㎲, 90% motor threshold (MT), SCS was applied at 60 Hz, an intensity of 90% MT, and a 0.25 ms pulse width. MA was performed by inserting a stainless-steel needle to a depth of about 4-5 mm at the Sanyinjiao (SP6) and Zusanli (ST36) acupoints on a spared nerve injury (SNI), knee joint inflammation (3% carrageenan), and non-inflammatory muscle pain (intramuscular pH 4.0 injections) in rats. Mechanical withdrawal thresholds of the paw, muscle, and/or joint were assessed before and after induction of the pain model, and daily before and after treatment. Results: The reduced withdrawal thresholds were significantly reversed by application of either TENS or SCS (P < 0.05). MA, on the other hand, increased the withdrawal threshold in animals with SNI and joint inflammation, but not chronic muscle pain. Conclusions: TENS and SCS produce similar effects in neuropathic, inflammatory and non-inflammatory muscle pain models while MA is only effective in inflammatory and neuropathic pain models.