• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.277-289
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the cross-sectional association of company size and self-rated health using representative data on Korean workers. Methods: We used the data from 2,884 wage workers collected by Korean Labor and Income Panel Study (17th). The association between company size and self-rated health was analyzed using logistic regression with covariates including demographic characteristics, work environment, job satisfaction, and health-related behaviors. Resulst: Odds ratio (OR) for better health status among workers in large-sized company was 1.351 (CI. 1.054~1.731), compared to workers in small-sized company. We performed three separate models stratified by firm size (small, medium, and large companies). Occupation variables showed different effect on health depending on firm sizes. OR for better health of white-color job (referred to blue-color job) was 1.693 in medium-sized company model but it was 0.615 in large company model. OR for better health of the workers working shift work showed 0.606 in large company model but it was not significant in small and medium company models. Conclusion: We found that small-sized company workers have significantly poor self-rated health compared to large-sized firm workers. This study revealed that there exist differences among health related factors depending on firm sizes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3329-3334
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• 2012

Background: Several potential risk factors have been identified for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL); however, epidemiological studies investigating the association between these risk factors and DLBCL have yielded inconsistent results. Objectives: To investigate potential medical, lifestyle, and environmental risk factors of DLBCL in Shanghai, China through a hospital-based case-control study. Method: One-hundred-and-forty-seven newly diagnosed DLBCL patients and 294 sex- and age-matched controls were recruited from 11 hospitals in Shanghai between 2003 and 2007. A standardized structured questionnaire was used to obtain patient data on demographics, medical history, family history, lifestyle, and environmental exposures. Conditional logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), for risk associated with each data category. Results: History of tuberculosis (TB) infection and "living on a farm" were positively associated with DLBCL (TB: OR=3.05, 95% CI: 1.19-7.80; farm: OR=1.82, 95% CI: 1.21-2.73). In contrast, taking traditional Chinese medicine was negatively associated with DLBCL (OR=0.36, 95% CI: 0.14-0.89). No significant correlation with DLBCL risk was found for any of the other potential risk factors (p>0.05), including but not limited to hair dyes, alcohol drinking, smoking, and home/workplace renovation within one year. Conclusions: Consistent with results from previous studies in other DLBCL case populations, traditional Chinese medicine appeared to have a direct or indirect protective effect against DLBCL. However, this study also identified a possible predisposition for DLBCL in TB sufferers and farmers.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.143-152
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• 2005

To investigate the exposure effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), we analyzed the relationship between urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) concentration and PAHs exposure. The study population contained 44 workers in steel-pipe coating and paint manufacture industries. We measured airborne total PAHs as an external dose, urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) as an internal dose of PAHs exposure, and urinary 8-OHdG as an effective dose of oxidative DNA damage. There was significant correlation between the urinary concentration of l-OHP and the environmental concentration of PAHs, pyrene, urinary cotinine, AST, and GGT. The mean of urinary 8-OHdG was $17.07\pm1.706{\mu}g/g$ creatinine in workers exposed to airborne PAHs. There was significant correlation between the urinary concentration of 8-0HdG and the airborne concentration of PAHs. From the results of stepwise multiple regression analysis about 8-OHdG, significant independents was total PAHs. In this study, there were significant correlation between the urinary concentration of 8-OHdG and the airborne concentration of PAHs. The urinary 1-OHP was effective index as a biomarker of airborne PAHs in workplace. But it was influenced by non-occupational PAHs source, smoking and biomarkers of liver function test.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.101-110
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• 2007

This study was performed to find out hazardous factors in the loaded works of muscular skeletal disorders(MSDs) for four company attached to dining workers from October 2005 to June 2006. The results are summarized as follows. 1. 42.5% of workers in study group were 40-50 years old, and females were higher than males, and the average of body weight was 70kg, 57kg in males and females, respectively. Working time per day was mostly 7-9hours, and the rate of worker who had never education and training was 46%. 2. The upper part and right part of body were higher than lower part and left part in symptoms of muscular skeletal disorders. Body parts which complained of symptoms were the order of right shoulder(55%), right arm(54%), right hand,(40%) waist(35%), leg(25%), and neck(24%). 3. The results of evaluation in the loaded works of muscular skeletal disorders to cooking, dish supply, preparing side dish, and washing the dishes and cleaning the floor of cooking room using RULA and OWAS checklists was action level 4(potential hazards, needs of change workplace), and the result of evaluation using back compressive force needed control measures as 779.27 lbs~1,274.04 lbs. In a view point of the result of this study, large dining rooms should be designed by ergonomic technology for the work surface height, width, and depth. The height of carrying car should be lower to 70cm, and repetitiveness and handling weight should be reduced by mechanical means, and education and training also should be performed for all of workers positively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.109-118
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• 2016

Objectives: To review reference levels by the international and domestic management and provide the basis for setting occupational exposure limits(OELs) of radon in Korea Methods: Government's organizations with laws and systems for monitoring radon exposure were investigated and compared. There are five laws governing Indoor Air Quality(IAQ) control such as Occupational Safety and Health Act, Indoor Air Quality Control in Public Use Facilities, Etc. Act, School Health Act, Public Health Control Act and Parking Lot Act in Korea. It was surveyed that a total of 32 countries including 24 countries in the European Union(EU), six countries in Asian and two countries in North America setting the reference levels for radon in the world. Results: In Korea, there are set guidelines for radon in the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Education. Reference levels of radon for existing dwellings were $150{\sim}400Bq/m^3$ for Western European countries, and $200{\sim}1,500Bq/m^3$ in Eastern European countries. Approximately 67% of those EU countries were set up $400Bq/m^3$ to the standards for existing dwellings. EU countries such as Luxembourg, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Russia had adopted mandatory level for radon. Radon guidelines for new dwellings were set more strictly reference level($200Bq/m^3$) than existing dwellings. Conclusions: International organizations such as ICRP, UNSCEAR and NCRP, etc. had recommended the guidelines for radon. It was calculated the relation of the dose conversion factors with the annual effective doses. the OELs of radon suggest to need to establish $150Bq/m^3$ for office room and $400{\sim}1,000Bq/m^3$ for the workplace.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.90-98
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• 2014

Lately accidents of harmful chemical substance in korea were repeatedly replaying. We studied problems and preparation plan in 2008 years~2014 years through analysis cases of harmful chemical substance. Leakage of chemical substance's accident situation shows that leakage in the workplace is the most 10 cases, accounting for 58.6% is the largest proportion in 2009. Leakage according to explosion accounting for 50% (5 cases) in 2004, 25% (4 cases) in 2007 and 33.3% (4 cases) in 2011 has very irregular change. Therefore, A major cause of accidents is lack of safety management. Harmful chemical substance showed various aspects, high residual substance and non-visible characteristic so response and recovery was easy. And the second damage to move a distance causes environment pollution. So a mutual-assistance system and integrated system of related organization have to build and expert of chemical incident response and therapist of chemical substance response have to establish to do efficient and rapid response.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.211-221
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify work-related risk factors associated with upper extremity symptoms among construction workers using the fourth Korean Working Condition Survey(KWCS). Methods: Subjects were 2,724 construction workers selected from 50,007 respondents in the 2014 KWCS. The presence or absence of upper extremity symptoms and work-related risk factors, including individual, physical, and psychosocial factors, were used as variables. A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed in order to evaluate the relationship of the upper extremity symptoms with work-related risk factors. Results: Upper extremity symptoms were significantly associated with: employment type(OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.18~2.09); job satisfaction(OR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.33~3.18); verbal abuse(OR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.33~3.18); tiring or painful posture(OR: 2.33, 95% CI: 1.73~3.15); carrying or moving heavy loads(OR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.23~2.24); repetitive hand or arm movement(OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.06~1.91) Conclusions: In order to prevent the upper extremity musculoskeletal disease in the construction industry, it is necessary to stabilize employment, enhance job satisfaction, and eliminate violence in the workplace and improve physical work environment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.175-189
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• 2018

Objectives: In this study, we analyze statistics on industrial accidents caused by chemical skin contact and provide skin toxicity hazard information on the related domestic system and circulation volumes. Methods and Results: We analyzed occupational fatalities and skin diseases caused by chemical leaks and contact from 2007 to 2016(10 years) and surveyed data on occupational skin diseases using the 2014 work environment survey data. The NIOSH Skin Notation Profiles for 57 chemical substances, which are provided to prevent occupational skin diseases, were searched and hazard information on skin contact with chemical substances was classified. In order to identify skin toxicity information among domestically distributed and legally regulated substances and to investigate skin-toxic substances, MSDS basic data on 19,740 chemical substances provided on the homepage of Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency were searched. Acute toxicity(dermal) category 1-4 substances totaled 1,020, and the number of chemical substances classified as category 1 and 2 substances were 135 and 137, respectively. In the chemical substances prescribed by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, 173 substances were classified into acute toxicity(dermal) categories 1-4, 58 of which correspond to category 1 or 2. Conclusions: Within the present range of industrial accidents, the proportion of skin diseases due to contact with chemicals is not high. However, there is always a risk of occupational skin diseases due to increasing chemicals and due to the use of new chemicals. It is hoped that this information will be used by workplace safety and health officials and health and safety experts to prevent acute toxity(dermal) due to chemical skin contact.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.488-499
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• 2019

Objectives: This study was conducted to identify the characterization of organics solvent exposure among painting workers in the shipbuilding painting process, especially for their daily variations(within worker variance). Methods: Charcoal passive dosimeters were worn throughout each work shift for 20 days for five painting workers from October 19 to November 26, 2015. A total of 100 samples were collected, analyzed and compared with statutory workplace environmental measurements. Results: The geometric mean(GM) and geometric standard deviation(GSD) of mixed organic solvent(six substances) exposure index(EI) for the 100 samples were 0.42 and 4.42 respectively. The median and range of GSD for within worker EI representing five workers' daily EI variation is 3.72 and 2.63 ~ 5.20, respectively, which is classified as a very large variation(GSD>3). We were able to divide the painting process into two similar exposure groups(SEGs), Touch-up and Spray. Spray painting workers were much more exposed to organic solvent than Touch-up painting workers(GM=0.71 vs. 0.19), but less variably (GSD=3.64 vs. 4.10). xylene is the substance to which the workers were most exposed(GM=16.19 ppm, GSD=4.36), and the exposure characteristics of six substances including xylene is similar to those of EI. Conclusions: The daily variation of organic solvent exposure in the shipbuilding painting process is so high that statutory Assessment of Reliability of Work Environment Monitoring needs to be conducted with statistically sufficient number of samples and evidence.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to investigate the relationship between noise awareness, hearing ability, and dental hygiene performance in dental hygienists. Methods: The subjects were 234 dental hygienists in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, and Incheon. The questionnaire consisted of 3 questions of general characteristics of the subjects, 1 question of noise awareness, 3 questions of hearing ability, 5 questions of dental hygiene performance, 1 question of noise reduction necessity, and 2 questions of noise control. Noise awareness, dental hygiene performance, and noise reduction necessity were measured by Likert 5 scale. Cronbach's alpha was 0.825 in dental hygiene performance reliability. Results: There was a significant difference in noise recognition by age(p<0.01) and working career(p<0.05). Those who pumped up the higher TV volume accounted for 31.6% and 3.0% had hearing impairment in the regular health checkup. 3.4% of the respondents complained of hearing loss, ear fluid, and equilibrium problem diagnosed by the doctors. The relationship between the type of workplace environment and task performance showed a significant difference. Those who work in the dental hospitals had high score of 3.43, while those who work in dental clinics had 3.20(p<0.05). The increased level of noise recognition affected the task performance and it is necessary to reduce the noise level. More try must be focused on the noise exposure prevention. Conclusions: In order to reduce the problems due to noise and improve their quality of life, it is necessary to change the noise recognition in the work place.