• 대한치과기공학회지
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.47-63
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• 1989

The study was made to clarify the degree of fatigue of dental technicians in service at the general &local hospital or the dental laboratories in the large cith of korea. The objectives of this study were 235 dental technicians who replied the questionaire which was sent by postal service out of 600 dental technicians selected by random sampling among the workers of the each dental laboratory. The instruments used in this study was the same one as developed by Industry Fatigue committee of Japan Industry Hygiene Association. This instrument was included total 30 items which is consisted of 10 perceived symptoms of fatigue in physical, mental and neuro-sensory dimension respectably. Reliability was tasted with the data of objectives, in which value of Cronbach's $\alpha$ was 9457. The following results were obtained. 1. It was revealed that the influencing demographic variables on the perceived symptoms of fatigue of dental technicians were sex, age, marital status, educational background, job carrier, working part, working hour and commuting hour. The shorted the age or job carrier, thge higher dearee of the perceived symptoms of fatigue. The longer working hours of commuting hours, the higher degree of the perceived symptoms of fatigue. The degree of the perceived symptoms of fatigue in females, unmarried person, the one with higher educational background, workers except orthodontic appliances and poorcelain contouring were higher than the other group. 2. The higher degree of the rest & leisure condition, the lower degree of the physical, mental and neuro-sensory perceived symptoms. 3. The higher degree of environmental condition of the working, the lower degree of the physical, mental and neurosensory perceived symptoms.

• 한국직업건강간호학회지
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.14-22
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• 1997

This study was designed to determine anxiety factors and levels of anxiety of foreign industrial workers. One hundred and seventy five workers were researched who were working in Guro Working Complex, Ansan City and Sungnam City Working Complex asking 60 questionnaires from Feb. 25, 1996 to April 12, 1996. The results were as follows ; 1. The 30.3% of foreign workers were from Nepal, 17.7% from Bangladesh, 10.9% from SriLanka, 14. 9% from Philippines, 1.1% from Ghana. 80% of foreign workers were male, 11.1% were single and most of them were in the age from 25 to 34. 37.1% of foreign workers had not lived in Korea less than 12 months, 58.8% graduated from college, 33.7% from high school, and more than half lived in a dormitory. 2. On the anxiety level related to subject workers' general characteristics, the anxiety level from Nepal recorded the highest point 2.70 statistically showing a significant difference(p=0.0003). On the physical anxiety level, the workers from Nepal recorded a significantly low point comparing with Jamaica, Burma, Vietnam and Nigeria(p=0.01). 3. Emotional anxiety level marked the highest on the workers living as a tenant comparing with the workers in dormitory. 4. On anxiety factors, the emotional anxiety recoded the highest, the social anxiety and the somatic anxiety. 5. On the relation between the anxiety factor, the somatic anxiety factor had a relation with emotional, environmental, and occupational factors and on the other relation between the anxiety factor and emotional factor had a relation with environmental, social, cultural factors. Moreover, the environmental factor had a relation with the cultural factor, social factor had a relation with the cultural factor, and cultural factor was related to the occupational factor.

• 보건교육건강증진학회지
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• 제30권5호
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• pp.125-138
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze factors associated with depression among workers in South Korea by socio-economic factors, health behaviors, and working conditions. Methods: Study subjects include 4,251 adults (19 and older) who are currently working using the data from 2009 National Health and Nutrition Survey. Data were analyzed using frequency test, $X^2$ test, and multiple logistic regression. Results: Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that gender (OR=1.91, p<.001), age (OR=1.53, p=.030), marital status (31-39: OR=1.88, p=.029) were significantly related to depressing among socio-economic factors. Next, among health behaviors factors, perceived health status (Poor: OR=1.76, p=.049; Very poor: OR=3.46, p=.002) was statistically significant. Among characteristics of work environment, trust and respect (OR=1.34, p=.049) and working with hidden emotion (OR=1.88, p<.001) were significantly related to depression. Conclusions: In order to manage and reduce depression among workers, it is important to develop appropriate mental health promotion programs both in work places and in regulations.

• 한국신뢰성학회지:신뢰성응용연구
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.181-191
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• 2015

Change in labor time is affecting occupational safety and health. Recently reduction in labor time brought innovational operation method, investment in plant and equipment, and flexible labor time in some companies, thereby affecting working conditions for labourers. However, working conditions for some vulnerable social groups have deteriorated. As a result, they are becoming more exposed to risk factors such as injury and emotional stress. In this study we use 2014 KWCS data in order to find the social and demographic characteristics in Korean working conditions. To this end, we use exploratory data analysis approach to find the relationship between some of the important variables in the KWCS data. We also use Press-State-Response model to find which group of people are vulnerable to Press and State. We find that women, people over age 50 and business owners are more vulnerable to Press and State than men, people below age 50 and wage workers.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.272-282
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• 2004

Stress is a primary health promotion issue in worksite research because psychological distress is closely related not only to workers　 health status but also to their job performance. This study identified the work environment and work condition factors affecting workers　 stress symptoms among the Korean manufacturing factory workers. A total of 7,818 factory workers employed in 1,562 manufacturing companies participated in the Korean nation-wide occupational health survey conducted by the Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency in 2003. Participants were selected by the stratified proportional sampling process by standardized industry classification, company size, and locations. Trained interviewers visited the target companies and interviewed the factory workers randomly selected in each company. Work environments included physical work environments (temperature, noise, hazardous organic compounds, and so on) and psychological work environments (job demands, job control, and social support at work), and work conditions included daily working hour, rest time, and so on. Men were 71.5% and the mean age was 34.0 years old. The average working period in the present company was 6.9 years. The average stress score was 26.2 under the perfect score, 50, which means the moderate level of stress. Perceived stress had significant correlations with young age, poor physical work environment, high fatigue, bad perceived health status, and high job demands in Pearson's simple correlation analysis. Perceived health status and perceived fatigue explained 21% variance of stress symptoms and the work environment factor explained 4.8% of that; however, work condition did not have the sufficient effect. In particular, psychosocial work environment variables (job demand, job control, and social support at work) had a clear effect on stress symptoms rather than the physical work environments. Poor perceived health status, severe perceived fatigue, poor physical work environment, high job demands, low social support, heavy alcohol consumption and little exercise were significantly related to high stress symptoms in the Korean manufacturing workers.

• 한국직업건강간호학회지
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.131-140
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• 2023

Purpose: We reviewed the cases of occupational diseases that occurred in healthcare workers from 2010 to 2019 and the cases of epidemiological investigations conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute for them. Methods: In this study, gender, age, working period, occupational characteristics, and disease characteristics by occupation, which are general characteristics of healthcare workers approved for occupational diseases. In addition, 32 cases of epidemiological investigation of healthcare workers conducted by the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health for the past 10 years (2010~2019) were analyzed. Results: The gender, age, working period, occupational characteristics, and disease characteristics by occupation of medical workers recognized as occupational diseases were all statistically significant (p<.001). In the epidemiological investigation, ionizing radiation( 50.0%) and stress (33.3%) were recognized as disease-related factors, and even in cases of disapproval, ionizing radiation (60.0%) and shift work (25.5%) were designated as related factors. And it was statistically significant (p=.008). Conclusion: The current study identified the types of diseases, various causes, and general characteristics and occupational characteristics that occur frequently in healthcare workers. Therefore, if this study is used as basic information to set the priority and direction of disease prevention project for healthcare workers, it is judged that it will be helpful in preventing industrial accidents.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• 제35권
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• pp.46.1-46.12
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• 2023

Background: As unpredictable work schedule (UWS) has increased worldwide, various studies have been conducted on the resulting health effects on workers. However, research on the effect of UWS on workers' well-being in Korea is still insufficient. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between UWS and work-family conflict (WFC) using 6th Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS). Methods: Both UWS and WFC were measured using self-reported questionnaires, using data from the 6th KWCS conducted between 2020 and 2021, including 31,859 participants. UWS was measured by questions regarding the frequency of changes in work schedules and limited advanced notice. WFC was measured by questions regarding work to family and family to work conflicts. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate the association between UWS and WFC. Results: The prevalence of UWS was higher among men, those under 40 years old, service and sales workers and blue-collar workers, and those with higher salaries. Workplace size also influenced UWS prevalence, with smaller workplaces (less than 50 employees) showing a higher prevalence. The odds ratio (OR) for WFC was significantly higher in workers with UWS compared to workers without UWS after adjusting for gender, age, marital status, occupation, salary, education, weekly working hours, shift work, company size, and having a child under the age of 18 years, employment status (OR: 3.71; 95% confidence interval: 3.23-4.25). Conclusions: The analysis of nationwide data revealed that UWS interferes with workers' performance of family roles, which can lead to WFC. Our findings suggest that it is crucial to implement policies to address unfair work schedule management, promoting a healthier work-life balance and fostering a conducive environment for family responsibilities.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제15권1호
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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 Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.181-188
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• 1989

In this study an attempt was made to determine the factors affecting anemia in female industrial workers. The population was identified through the records of screening examinations given by Kosin Medical Center to the industrial workers in Sasang Industrial Complex during the period from March 1987 to October 1988. One hundred twenty eight cases were selected from the records screening examination of 155 anemic patients. A case-control study was carried out using matched 128 anemic cases and 128 non-anemic workers who were selected by simple random sampling. Age was matched, and their occupational history, general characteristics, physical characteristics and health status were analyzed. The results were; 1. In the anemic group, educational level was lower, and the frequencies of irregular menstruation and poor appetite were higher than in the control group but these differences were statistically not significant. 2. The percentage of workers working with organic solvents, working hours and years of service (total years exposed to organic solvents) were significantly higher in the anemic group than those in the control group. 3. A career exposed to organic solvents was more influential factor affecting anemia in the female industrial workers rather than menstruation amount of other factors, and it was statistically significant.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.188-195
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• 2019

Background: Mine workers in South Africa face challenges relating to poor health and safety, including fatigue risks, and poor socioeconomic and living conditions. Fatigue results in impaired mental and physical performance. The aim of this study was to assess contributors to fatigue of mine workers in South Africa. Methods: Data collection took place at four gold mines and one platinum mine in South Africa. A total of 21 focus groups were held with individuals in management, union representatives, and mine workers, and 564 questionnaires were completed by mine workers to gather information about fatigue and potential contributors to fatigue at these mines. Results: Qualitatively (through focus groups), fatigue was attributed to extended working hours, harsh working conditions, high workloads, production pressure, and resource constraints, along with aspects relating to demographic and socioeconomic factors, living conditions, lifestyle, health, and wellness. Greater fatigue was significantly associated with younger age, indebtedness, a lack of exercise, poor nutrition, less sleep, increased alcohol use, poor self-reported health, more sick leave, higher stress, and lower job satisfaction. Conclusion: The aim of the study was achieved; numerous work-, sociodemographic-, lifestyle-, and wellness-related factors were linked to fatigue in the participating mine workers. Contributors to fatigue should be addressed to improve health, safety, and sustainability in the industry.