• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.153-166
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• 2007

The job of dental hygienists is specialized, and they have to be capable of performing their primary duties including prevention of oral diseases, oral prophylaxis, and oral health education. To ensure their successful job performance, dentists should have an accurate understanding of their duties and need a change of mind-set about them. And there should be written legal and concrete regulations on the coverage of their work in order to let them boost their job performance with pride and a sense of responsibility. The purpose of this study was to examine the actual roles and job performance of dental hygienists in clinical field in an attempt to discuss the substantial job performance of dental hygienists and their job enlargement. It's basically meant to help enhance the efficiency and quality of medical services. The subjects in this study were 471 dental hygienists in dental clinics, dental hospitals, university hospitals and general hospitals across the nation, on whom a survey was conducted in person from March 2 to 25, 2005. The collected data were analyzed with SPSS Win 12.0 program, and the findings of the study were as follows: 1. The major jobs they currently performed included oral health education, hospital management, simple duties, extensive dental hygiene duties and joint treatment assistance. They hoped to continue to be responsible for oral health education, preventive treatment and extensive dental hygiene duties. 2. As for their current job by age, extensive dental hygiene duties, preventive treatment, joint treatment assistance, preserving treatment, prosthetic treatment and pediatric treatment were most conducted by the dental hygienists who were at the age of 26 to less than 31, and those who were at the age of 31 and up were most responsible for hospital management and simple duties. 3. As to job awareness by workplace, their workload was statistically significantly different according to their workplace. The hospital employees took care of more work than those in clinics. 4. Concerning job awareness by age, the younger dental hygienists suffered more role conflicts and were given a less free hand in work handling, the middle-aged group's job was uncertain. Legal regulations about the coverage of their work should be prepared in detail as a measure to stir up their responsible job performance and pride. In order to take advantage of experienced dental hygienists, their duties should be more differentiated and specialized, and their working conditions should be improved to boost their job satisfaction. That is, they should be given ample chances for promotion and serving as a middle manager and be given fair treatment according to their career. If their work is accurately darified and specialized based on career, it will boost the efficiency of dental treatment. Dental hygienists also should direct sustained efforts into self-development in order to become a skilled and professional oral health personnel.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.484-492
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• 2017

This study assessed female occupational therapist job stress and musculoskeletal pain, and examines the problems caused by sexual harassment, family, and marriage policy. The results provide information to improve work environments, reduce job stress, yield data needed for sexual harassment prevention education, examine women occupational therapists' economic activities, and broadly improve the quality of life through participation. The study subjects were currently employed female occupational therapists. Initially 200 subjects were recruited, of whom 185 returned the study questionnaire. Questions addressing job stress included, 'There are times when one feels that the salary is worth less than the job effort', 'Feel tired due to work.', 'That it is time to pay attention to other therapy.', answered positively in that order. Musculoskeletal pain in the wrist and hand (90%), shoulder (86%), neck (69.7%) and waist (68.6%) were the order of the wrist and hand (63%), shoulder (62.2%) and waist (51.9%) pain resulted in interference with daily life. Verbal harassment was reported by 71.4% and 48.6% reported physical and visual harassment. The most common topics in workplace relations were 'Must choose whether to focus on the individual or work (61.1%).', 'Need for understanding and someone who can share their feelings (54.6%).', and 'Colleagues are willing to listen to my story (73%)'.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.18-26
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• 2000

Since the regulation of MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) had started from July 1996, employers were required to furnish MSDS for the chemicals in use in their workplace. However, many MSDS did not contain upright information for the chemicals, and they were not updated regularly, and were not written in the standard format required by the Industrial Safety and Health Act (ISHA). The purposes of this study were 1) to examine the reliability of MSDS for mixed solvents, 2) to provide reliable MSDS to employers or employees, 3) to find out any difficulties in implementing MSDS after the initiation, and 4) to promote regular MSDS updating and to ensure the reliability of MSDS for chemical manufacturers. To check the reliability of MSDS of mixed chemicals, 21 samples of mostly degreasing solvents were collected along with their MSDS from the work place. The samples were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass selective detector(GC-MSD). Their components were classified as saturated hydrocarbon, cyclic hydrocarbon, aromatics, and halogen containing hydrocarbon, and the amount of each class were measured. Manufacture's MSDS were compared with the actual composition of the collected samples, and further examined the reliability by checking whether the chemicals analyzed were included in the MSDS correctly. Finally, each item of MSDS was evaluated whether the MSDS correspond to the regulation required by ISHA. The results were following: 1) most of the degreasing solvents in MSDS were incorrect in their composition and contents, 2) the information in the MSDS including hazard classification, exposure level, toxicity, regulatory information were incorrectly provided, and 3) some MSDS did not disclose carcinogens in their MSDS. Continuous monitoring of MSDS was required to ensure reliability of MSDS. The Chemicals containing hydrocarbons from C10-C15 need to be tested to provide toxicity data. In addition, governmental support for providing correct MSDS was recommended to ensure reliability of MSDS. The MSDS regulation relating to the confidential business information may need to be revised to ensure reliability of MSDS.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.76-87
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• 1998

The concentration of welding fume was measured by 221 welders themselves in chassis frame workplace of the manufactory from February, 1, 1996 to May, 31, 1997. Welding parameters were the welding current and the distance between helmet and arc. Those two optimum conditions were proposed by excess probability analysis using logistic regression, so the best position in the workplace was proposed considering two factors to control the welding fume. The results are as followings; 1) The excess proability of welding fume TLV was over 99% in above 260 Amperes of welding current and also in below 30cm of distanced between helmet and arc. 2) The equation from logistic regression analysis using SPSS/PC+5.02 had the welding current as a independent variable and the excess of welding fume TLV as a dependent variable (p<0.05). Logit(welding fume TLV) = 0.1296 ${\times}$ wlding currnet - 28.8750 3) The equation from logistic regression analysis using SPSS/PC+5.02 had the distance between helmet and arc as a independent variable and the excess of welding fume threshold limit value a, a dependent variable (p<0.05). Logit (welding fume TLV) = -0.6809 ${\times}$ distance between helmet and arc +25.1665 4) Considering both cases or 2) and 3). the result equation is following. (p<0.05). Logit (welding fume TLV) = 0.1346 ${\times}$ welding current -0.3859 ${\times}$ distance between helmet and arc -15.7382 5) The excess probability of welding fume threshold limit value was 100% in above 240 Ampere of welding current. Thus, below 220 Ampere can be suggested to reduce the 40% number of welders who have a excess welding fume threshold limit value. 6) The excess probability of welding fume TLV was 100% in below 34cm of distance between helmet and arc. Thus, over 38cm can be suggested to reduce the 33% number of welders who have a excess welding fume TLV. 7) Considering both 5) and 6) cases, first of all, the best welding current can be 200 Ampere to have a below 15% of welding fume excess probability for the welders who works in distance of 34-37cm. Secondly, to have a below 30% excess probability of welding fume TLV, the working distance must be over 38cm in 220 Ampere and 32cm in 200 Ampere. 8) To reduce the average exposure concentration of welding fume ($8.21{\pm}5.83mg/m^3$), the movable local exhaust system equipped with flexible hoods can be used.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.469-481
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to describe working stress, child-rearing stress and parenting attitude of nurses who have preschool children. Methods: Data were collected by questionnaires from 136 nurses in three university hospital in 2011, and analyzed by the SPSS 12.0 program. Results: Nurses scored 3.48 points on average in working stress, 2.47 points in child-rearing stress, 3.61 points in parenting attitude. According to analysis on working stress depending on general demographic characteristics showed significant differences in workplace, monthly weekend duty frequency and in child-rearing stress depending on husband's age, wife's age, total income, marital period, satisfaction at relationship with husband, working career, number of children, and a person who cares for their children. According to parenting attitude depending on general demographic characteristics showed significant differences in working condition, marital period, position, working conditions, marital period, workplace, monthly weekend duty frequency. Correlations among nurses' working stress, child-rearing stress and parenting attitude, nurses' working stress had significantly correlations with parenting stress. Conclusion: Results of the study provides data on nursing interventions to relieve nurses from their working stress and child-rearing stress and to promote favorable child parenting attitude.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.15-29
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship among knowledge, attitude, and behavior of dental personnel about the defense against dental radiation according to general features, and help them recognize the importance of defense against dental radiation. A questionnaire survey of 187 dental personnel who were working in 121 medical institutions such as university hospitals, general hospitals, hospitals, clinics, and public health centers in Seoul area was conducted from December 2002 to January 2003. Study findings are as follows: 1. The average knowledge score for the defense of radiation was 9.51(full score=14): By the demographic features, the know level for the defense of radiation was appeared to be different with the occupational category, age, academic background, workplace, year of working, and whether having the education of radiation or not. By questionnaire items, the knowledge for the defense of radiation was high in general, but for the item. 'the average amount of being bombed with radiation according occupations cannot be over 20mSv in a year for prescribed 5 years'. it was 18.7%: and for the item. 'the longer the length between focus and film. the less the amount of skin exposure', it was 40.6%. showing less knowledge for these two items. 2. The average attitude score for the defense of radiation was 64.24 (full score=75): By the demographic features, the attitude score was higher with respondents who were 31-35 years old. 11-15 years of working. and having radiation education. The attitude score by questionnaire items was generally high for all the items. 3. The average behavior score for the defense of radiation was 45.43: (a) By the demographic features, the behavior score for the defense of radiation was appeared to be higher with respondents who were dentists for occupational category, the aged for age, holding higher diploma for academic background, working in the university hospitals for workplace, and having longer occupational career for the year of working. (b) The behavior score for the defense of radiation by questionnaire items was lower than that of the attitude score for all the items. For the item, 'the amount of X-ray radiation is adjusted according to such conditions as patients' age, radiating areas, and kind of films', the score was 4.03; and for the item, 'Must receive the education of safety management of radiation periodically', the score was 1.73 and it was the lowest one. 4. As for the correlation among the knowledge, attitude, and behavior for the defense of radiation, the higher the level of knowledge and attitude, the higher the level of behavior.

• Korean Journal of Labor Studies
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.37-70
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• 2011

The 40-hour work week system has brought positive impact on shortening working hours, eliminating long-time work, increasing leisure-time with family, etc. And this has brought about an increase in leisure-life satisfaction and happiness level. The type of leisure activities has changed from passive activities such as rest to active activities such as sports, tourism. And the 40-hour work week system has positive impact on social activities such as participation in volunteer work and, club activities. Thus all efforts need to be made to establish 40-hour work week system as soon as possible in all workplace. Firstly, 40-hour work week system needs to be introduced to every workplace with less than 5 persons, enlarge 5-day school week system into every primary and secondary school, and create conditions for positive leisure activities. Secondly, labor standards supervision and administration needs to be strengthened to eliminate long-time work over 52 hours per week, below-minimum wage work.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.93-102
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• 2011

Purpose: The study aimed to evaluate working environment for dental technician by measuring dust level, ventilation conditions and the use of personal protective equipment and to provide basic information required to improve working environment and develop health education programs for dental technician. Methods: A total of 240 dental technician who are registered with the Daegu Association of Dental technician and working at 34 dental laboratories participated in the study. And the dust level was measured at 21 different spots in 16 dental laboratories out of 34. Results: Of 34 dental laboratories, 31 (91.2%) were equipped with a ventilator, but the remaining 3 (8.8%) did not have a ventilator. By the number of ventilator, 1 to 3 ventilators were found in 22 dental laboratories (71.0%), 4 to 6 ventilators were in 7 laboratories (22.5%) and more than 7 ventilators in 2 laboratories(6.5%). According to the frequence of changing filters in dust collector, 20 dental laboratories (58.9%) changed filters every four weeks, 10 laboratories (29.4%) changed them every six weeks and 4 laboratories (11.7%) changed them every eight weeks. Of total respondents, 114 (61.3%) said they wore a mask all the time while working, 56 (29.6%) said they frequently wore a mask, 19 (10.1%) said they did not wear a mask. As for the type of masks, 159 (84.1%) used a disposable mask, 25 (13.2%) used a cotton mask and 5 (2.7%) used an anti-dust mask. For dust sat on their outfits while working, 102 (54.0%) shook their uniforms inside workplace to keep dust off the uniforms, 64 (33.9%) did not anything until they wash their uniforms and 23 (12.1%) shook their uniforms outside workplace to keep dust off the uniforms. Of total respondents, 182 (96.3%) had a particle in their eyes while carrying out grinding work. Based on the measurement of floating dust at workplace, 3 dental laboratories showed dust concentration exceeding the minimum level of 10 mg/$m^3$ allowed under the permit for environment. Of those, 1 laboratory had the dust concentration that was more than 1.5 times higher than the minimum level. Dust concentration was higher in laboratories that used a dust collector with 0.5 horse power and changed filters more than 3 weeks ago. Dust comprised of nickel (more than 70%), chrome (9%) and others. The mean chrome concentration was more than twice higher than the minimum permissible level of 0.5 mg/$m^3$. There were two laboratories that showed chrome concentration exceeding the level of 0.4 mg/$m^3$. Like dust concentration, chrome level was higher in laboratories that used a dust collector with 0.5 horse power and changed filters more than 3 weeks ago. There were six laboratories that had nickel concentration exceeding the minimum permissible level of 1 mg/$m^3$. Of those, one laboratory had nickel concentration that was more than three times higher than the minimum permissible level. Nickel concentration was also higher in laboratories that used a dust collector with 0.5 horse power and changed filters more than 3 weeks ago. Conclusion: It is not likely that heavy metal concentrations found in the study constitute respiratory dust. It is however necessary for health of dental technician to apply the Industrial Safety and Healthy Law to dental laboratories and make recommendations for the use of personal protective equipment, installation of a proper number of ventilators, more frequent change of filters in dust collector and improved ventilation for polishing work. At the same time, dental technician need education on how to use personal protective equipment and how to efficiently remove dust from their uniforms.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.550-561
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to provide basic data for the improvement of the working environment for health prevention and related countermeasures for shift workers. This study was conducted based on the Fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS), which analyzed the health effects of shift work forces and compared them with preceding studies. Methods: By analyzing secondary rates using raw data from the 5th KWCS, 4,870 (9.7%) of the 50,184 total study subjects were divided into shift work and 45,314 (90.3%) non-shift work groups based on the response to shift status. Variables that could affect work health issues were identified and corrected. A cross-analysis was conducted to examine demographic characteristics (gender, age, and education level) of the workers and occupation characteristics (monthly net earnings, employment type, occupation, working period up to now, workplace scale, type of work system, and weekly working hours). In order to find the work health issue ratio between the shift and non-shift work groups, logistic regression was analyzed and the association with health problems according to shift type by gender was looked at through cross-analysis. Results: According to the surveys conducted from the 1st KWCS (2006) to the 5th KWCS (2017), the proportion of shift workers continued to increase. Also, muscular pains in the lower limbs (hips, legs, knees, feet, etc.) (OR=1.135, 95%CI 1.031-1.251), headaches, eyestrain (OR=1.580, 95% CI 1.428-1.748), anxiety (OR=1.715, 95% CI 1.402-2.099), difficulty falling asleep (OR=1.391), and other problems (OR=7.392) were reported. In addition, back pain, muscular pains in shoulders, neck and/or upper limbs, muscular pains in lower limbs (hips, legs, knees, feet, etc.), headaches, eyestrain, depression, anxiety, overall fatigue resulted in significant results for both male and female shift workers. Depression and anxiety were higher in female shift/circulation compared to males. Conclusions: The social nets for the health and safety of shift workers should be explored in a variety of ways, including management and supervision of shift sites, attempts to reorganize and improve the shift system, development of workers' health recovery programs, promotion, systematic treatment, and compensation systems.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2021

Background: The selection of an occupation is typically based on individuals' personalities and the characteristics of occupations, which significantly affect occupational consciousness. The present study aimed to enhance the occupational achievement level of and provide fundamental data for student counseling in order to develop competitive professional workers by understanding the occupational consciousness of freshmen and motivating them as dental hygienists with career development plans, as freshmen majoring in dental hygiene eventually play a significant role in the field of dentistry as dental hygienists. Methods: The surveys were distributed to 160 freshmen in the dental hygiene department and were subsequently collected. The data from 142 surveys were used for analysis, as 18 surveys were excluded due to insincere responses. The survey contents included questions related to major selection and satisfaction, including motives for selecting a dental hygiene major, prior knowledge on a dental hygiene major and a career as a dental hygienist, satisfaction level of the major, and reasons for dissatisfaction in cases if applicable, as well as questions related to occupational consciousness, including career prospects for dental hygienists, opinions on the occupation, and conditions of job selection. Results: High employment rate with good salary level ranked highest (43.7%) among motives to apply the dental hygiene major, followed by the desire to be a professional worker (21.1%) and recommendation by acquaintances. Of those who responded, 50.7% indicated a normal level of satisfaction with the major, and 69.9% responded that they had prior knowledge regarding the dental hygiene major and/or field of dental hygiene. These results may be due to youth unemployment and the occurrence of job preparation immediately after students enter university, which is a result of the difficulty in job seeking. In terms of career prospects, 48.6% of students responded with "growing a little bit," followed by "growing a lot" (28.9%), "no difference from now" (21.1%), and "other" (1.4%). Regarding opinions on the occupation, 65.5% responded that occupation was an tool with which to make and income or a living, 23.2% responded that occupation was for dreams and self-realization, and 11.3% responded that occupation was for success in life and maintaining social status. Regarding the conditions of job selection, the responses included that the workplace had good working conditions (39.4%), good interpersonal relationships (21.8%), and a higher salary (18.3%). This may reflect the change in work ethics among university students, according to the trend of the times. Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, we found that educational guidance to enhance the level of satisfaction with the major, and career guidance to understand and apply the clear vision and long-term job security are necessary.