• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.119-127
• /
• 2021

Objectives: We aimed to find the relationships between employment status and hs-CRP level among Korean wage workers using the 2016 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination (KNHANE, revised). Methods: This study was conducted on 1,937 daytime wage workers over the age of 19 and within a normal weight range (18.5≤BMI≺25). Regular workers were defined as those granted an employment guarantee until reaching retirement age, and non-regular workers were defined as temporary, non-typical, dispatched, short-term workers and contractors. For hs-CRP, three divisions were classified as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American Heart Association (AHA) with less than 1.0 mg/L indicating low risk of cardiovascular disease, above 1.0 mg/L and below 3.0 mg/L considered moderate risk, and more than 3.0 mg/L indicating high risk. To find the relationship between work type and hs-CRP level in Korean wage workers, multinominal logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: For non-regular workers, the odds ratio of the cardiovascular moderate-risk group and cardiovascular high-risk group was statistically significant compared to regular workers. After adjusting for factors such as gender, age, subjective health status, income, education, smoking, and physical labor, the odds ratio of the cardiovascular high-risk group was statistically significant. Conclusions: In this study, the relationship between non-regular workers and high hs-CRP level was examined. Based on this, institutional strategies should be pursued to prevent and manage cardiovascular disease among non-regular workers.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
• /
• v.24 no.11
• /
• pp.171-178
• /
• 2019

In this paper, we proposed a plan for a indoor air quality management in elderly care hospital by measuring the indoor air quality level of elderly care hospital and conducting a survey the workers' awareness of indoor air quality. The measurement items were Temperature, Humidity, CO2, CO, PM10, VOC and were taken on April 26, 2019. The survey found that the lower the satisfaction level with indoor air quality, the better outdoor air quality and odor items were analyzed to be the lowest among the indoor environmental factors. When the satisfaction level of indoor air quality is high, the satisfaction level of indoor environment factor is high. The result of the multiple response analysis was "lack of ventilation" and the regression analysis was the lower the "relevance of indoor air quality" category. To provide the best indoor air quality environment for elderly care hospital workers the installation of additional ventilation equipment to remove odors, the increase in the number of natural ventilation and the designation of regular ventilation personnel will be necessary. By establishing such a plan, it is possible to provide indoor air quality environment to provide the best services for elderly care hospital workers.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.356-363
• /
• 2012

This study was carried out to identify how a self-stretching exercise program affects pain for each body area, pain relief and job satisfaction for care workers. 20 of 40 care workers with musculoskeletal symptom were randomly selected and participated a self-stretching exercise program consisting of 15 motions. The intervention was done five times or more per weeks for 8 weeks and 1 session lasted within 15 minutes. 'Musculoskeletal symptom survey table' of the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency(KOSHA) and JDI(Job Descriptive Index) was used for pain on the musculoskeletal symptom and job satisfaction. Survey were done twice before and after the program. The result of this study showed that self-stretching exercise program group(SSPG) relieved from pain significantly in the shoulders(p<.01) and lumbar(p<.05), comparing to the non self-stretching exercise program group(NSPG). Although no significant difference on variations in the JDI appeared in SSPG, the significant reduction appeared from the colleague relationship and organization in NSPG(p<.05). SSPG showed the significant increase on variations in JDI from the job and organization comparing to NSPG. Especially, the improvement on satisfaction for the organization was shown(p<.05). Accordingly, the self-stretching exercise program for care workers can be said to positively affect the overall pain relief and increase on the JDI.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
• /
• v.8 no.6
• /
• pp.45-54
• /
• 2017

This study aims to identify the requirement of death, hospice palliative care education targeting nursing assistant and general workers among hospice palliative care private hospital workers convergencely. The survey period is from September 22 to October 21 in 2016, and 158 workers of hospice palliative care private hospitals in Chungnam region have been surveyed. Detailed results of this study are as follows. In terms of importance of theoretical and practical education in hospice palliative care education content, all of the respondents answered that practical had higher importance than theoretical education. The above results of this study are hoped to be helpful in developing customized hospice palliative care education program that is meeting characteristics and requirements of hospice palliative care private hospital workers, especially for nursing assistants as basic data.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.97-103
• /
• 2006

Severities of musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) have been recognized at the regular work such as manufacturing but incidence of MSDs are increasing also at the atypical work. The examples of those are health medical workers, office workers and service workers etc. Nurses among health medical workers are accomplishing to manage and recover the patients' health in the first place. Therefore, they are exposed to very stressful work conditions during caring the patients. This study was performed to analyze the musculoskeletal burdened work among nurses at a university hospital, in order to grasp the realities of the MSDs, analyze and prevent MSDs. We surveyed risk factors for ward, intensive care unit, delivery room, newborn room, operation room, function test room and central supply room at a university hospital in Seoul. It was executed for 2 months as the field study that was composed of simulation, real measurement, work motion assessment and subjective assessment. And the results were analyzed into ergonomics techniques. Works according to the criteria of musculoskeletal burdened work by the Ministry of Labor were scrub in operation room and heart ultrasonic function test. And a lot of works that need attention and management were also detected. So it should be required the education and systematic managements of MSDs for nurses.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.17-23
• /
• 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 Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.55-66
• /
• 2009

Background: The purpose of this research was to investigate the factors affecting the low back pain of workers in hospital. 214 subjects waking at two general hospitals in Yosu city participated in this survey. Subjects consisted of doctors, nurses, medical engineers, officers and general laborers. The survey data were collected by a written questionnaire which made out by themselves for 25 days, from fourth August to 29th August, 2008. Methods: The questionnaire consisted of four categories, general, occupational, working habitual and the daily living characteristics. The collected data were analyzed by Chi-square test based on the present or absent of low back pain. Results: 1. In the general characteristics, low back pain had no significant relationship to all factors, sex, ago, body mass index, weight and height. 2. In the occupational characteristics, the phase of distribution of low back pain had statistical significant differences in the working hours a week, satisfaction of pay, satisfaction of occupation(p<0.05). However low back pain did not significantly related to the kind of occupation, period of work and degree of stress. 3. In the habitual characteristics, low back pain was significantly influenced by working posture, frequency of using lumbar and heavy material lifting, monotonous repetition of working operation and noise(p<0.05). No significant difference was shown in the factor of convenience of chair. 4. In the daily living characteristics, low back pain shown the significant differences in walking time a day, status of health and smoking pattern(p<0.05). there were, however, no significant differences in the aspect of the kind of house and bed, sleeping attitude, driving, riding time on the vehicle, exercising, frequency of cultural life and drinking alcohol. Conclusion: when I see above resultants totally, it appears a higher incidence caused by working environment rather than living habit and then consequently compared to hospital workers, they also have high incidence like others. In order to reduce incidence of low back pain and enjoy the our life we need to educate ourselves preventing program for low back pain and try to effort for preventing of low back pain on each department and individual.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.55-61
• /
• 2020

The various types of radiation-generator devices have been used in animal hospitals, and the safety for radiation workers is becoming important in Korea. This study investigated and analyzed the radiation safety management for diagnostic radiation-generator devices and radiation workers of animal hospital. The number of radiation-generator devices and radiation workers of animal hospital increased from 2,138 to 2,972 and from 2,644 and 5,733 for six years. The number of general X-ray, CT, C-arm, portable and dental X-ray in 2019 were 2,204, 58, 67, 770, and 14. The number of veterinarian, veterinary nurse, veterinary assistant, and others in 2019 were 4,236, 1,080, 404, and 13. The average exposure dose of radiation workers in 2018 were 0.21mSv in surface dose, 0.18mSv in depth doses. This study is expected to be the basic data for the safety management of radiation-generating devices and radiation workers in animal hospital.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.370-376
• /
• 2019

Background: Respirator fit testing is a method to assess if the respirator provides an adequate face seal for the worker. Methods: Workers from four Norwegian smelters were invited to participate in the study, and 701 respirator fit tests were performed on 127 workers. Fourteen respirator models were included: one FFABE1P3 and 11 FFP3 respirator models produced in one size and two silicone half masks with P3 filters available in three sizes. The workers performed a quantitative fit test according to Health and Safety Executive 282/28 with 5-6 different respirator models, and they rated the respirators based on comfort. Predictors of overall fit factors were explored. Results: The pass rate for all fit tests was 62%, 56% for women, and 63% for men. The silicone respirators had the highest percentage of passed tests (92-100%). The pass rate for the FFP3 models varied from 19-89%, whereas the FFABE1P3 respirator had a pass rate of 36%. Five workers did not pass with any respirators, and 14 passed with all the respirators tested. Only 63% passed the test with the respirator they normally used. The mean comfort score on the scale from 1 to 5 was 3.2. The respirator model was the strongest predictor of the overall fit factor. The other predictors (age, sex, and comfort score) did not improve the fit of the model. Conclusion: There were large differences in how well the different respirator models fitted the Norwegian smelter workers. The results can be useful when choosing which respirators to include in respirator fit testing programs in similar populations.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.32 no.7
• /
• pp.821-826
• /
• 1999

The purpose of this study was to identify the attitudes of non-commercial foodservice dietitians toward hiring older workers who are over fifty-five years of age. Questionnaires were sent to 600 members of Korea Dietitians Association who are working in Seoul, Korea, Data from 233 usable responses were analyzed using the SAS package program. The study showed that dietitians do not have a favorable perception of hiring older workers. Dictitians responded older workers have more serious accidents than younger workers(under age 30). In addition, they think than older workers are harder to train, find it more difficult to adapt to adapt to new ways of working, and are slower in their work. On the positive side, the response did show that dietitians realize that older workers are not absent from work as frequently than younger workers and that they are more cooperate than younger workers. The data also showed that those dietitians who had more positive experience with older workers also perceive the workers in more positive way than those dietitians that have had a negative experience with older workers(p<0.001). Finally, dietitians who are working in industrial foodservice showed more positive attitudes toward older workers than the dietitians who are working in hospital and school foodservice(p<0.01).