• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.455-463
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• 2023

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop an air sampling and analytical method for estimating worker exposure to linear carbonate solvents and to evaluate the method. Methods: The target substances were three linear carbonates: DMC, DEC, EMC. GC/FID was used for sample analysis. Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine desorption solvents and sample capacity, and to evaluate storage stability, accuracy, and precision. Results: Coconut Shell Charcoal (CSC, 100/50 mg) was used as the air sampling media, and a desorption solvent of 5% methanol/95% dichloromethane was selected. Recommended sampling capacities were 1~11 ℓ for DMC, 1~18 ℓ for DEC, and 1~24 ℓ for EMC. The stability of three linear carbonates was demonstrated over 30 days in a refrigerator (4℃). Detection limits were determined as follows: DMC 0.26 ㎍/sample, DEC 0.24 ㎍/sample, and EMC 0.25 ㎍/sample. The total coefficient of variation was calculated as DMC 0.064, DEC 0.079, and EMC 0.07. Conclusions: This sampling and analysis method is suitable for estimating personal exposure to linear carbonates in the workplace.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2024.07a
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• pp.1088-1095
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• 2024

To enhance the investigation, analysis, and design of safe human-robot interactions (HRI), this study develops a comprehensive taxonomy of safety-related errors in HRI and examines the relationships between errors and the types and levels of HRI. Analyzing 262 HRI accident case reports, the research identifies and categorizes human and robot errors through qualitative analysis. The resulting taxonomy divides human errors into procedure, intrusion, operation, and situation awareness errors, and robot errors into system and safeguarding failures, operational errors, and design flaws. A network of human and robot errors was developed by applying Gephi to represent the human-robot error interactions. The results indicated that "misjudgment of the robot's operational status," "inadvertent activation of the robot," "working within an energized robotic cell without adequate safety measures," and "failure to deenergize/stop the robot" are among those most frequently linked to robot errors. "Inadequate lockout/tagout" and "absence of human detection and protective stop functions" stand out as the most frequent human-robot error interaction.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.134-145
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• 2015

Objectives: An objective of this study was to perform a risk assessment and social cost-benefit analysis for revising permissible exposure limits for seven substances: Nickel(Insoluble inorganic compounds), benzene, carbon disulfide, formaldehyde, cadmium(as compounds), trichloroethylene, touluene-2,4-diisocyanate. Materials and Methods: The research methods were divided into risk and hazard assessment and cost-benefit analysis. The risk and hazard assessment for the seven substances consists of four steps: An overview of GHS MSDS(1st), review of document of ACGIH's TLVs (2nd), comparison between international occupational exposure limits and domestic permissible exposure limits(3rd), and analysis of excess workplace and excess rate for occupational exposure limits based on previous work environment measurement data(4th). Total cost was estimated using cost of local exhaust ventilation, number of excess workplace and penalties for exceeding a permissible exposure limit. On the other hand, total benefit was calculated using the reduction rate of occupational disease, number of workplaces treating each substance and industrial accident compensation. Finally, the net benefit was calculated by subtracting total cost from total benefit. Results: All the substances investigated in this study were classified by CMR(Carcinogens, Mutagens or Reproductive toxicants) and their international occupational exposure limits were stricter than the domestic permissible exposure limits. As a result of excess rate analysis, trichloroethylene was the highest at 11%, whereas nickel was the lowest at 0.5%. The excess rates of all substances except for trichloroethylene were observed at less than 10%. Among the seven substances, the total cost was highest for trichloroethylene and lowest for carbon disulfide. The benefits for the seven substances were higher than costs estimated based on strengthening current permissible exposure limits. Thus, revising the permissible exposure limits of the seven substances was determined to be acceptable from a social perspective. Conclusions: The final revised permissible exposure limits suggested for the seven substances are as follows: $0.2mg/m^3$ for nickel, 0.5 ppm(TWA) and 2.5 ppm(STEL) for benzene, 1 ppm(TWA) for carbon disulfide, $0.01mg/m^3$(TWA) for cadmium, 10 ppm(TWA) and 25 ppm(STEL) for trichloroethylene, 0.3 ppm(TWA) for formaldehyde, and 0.005 ppm(TWA) and 0.02 ppm(STEL) for toluene diisocynate(isomers).

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.78-88
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• 2022

Objectives: To develop the smart sensor to protect worker's health from chemical exposure by adopting ICT (Information and Communications Technology) technologies. Methods: To develope real-time chemical exposure monitoring system, IoT (Internet of Things) sensor technology and regulations were reviewed. We developed and produced smart sensor. A smart sensor is a system consisting of a sensor unit, a communication unit, and a platform. To verify the performance of smart sensors, each sensor has been certified by the Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (KOLAS). Results: Chemicals (TVOC; Total Volatile Organic Compounds, Cl₂: Chlorine, HF: Hydrogen fluoride and HCN: Hydrogen cyanide) were selected according to a priority logic (KOSHA Alert, acute poisoning statistics, literature review). Notifications were set according to OEL (occupational exposure limit). Sensors were selected based on OEL and the capabilities of the sensors. Communication is designed to use LTE (Long Term Evolution) and Wi-Fi at the same time for convenience. Electronic platform were applied to build this monitoring system. Conclusions: Real-time monitoring system for OEL of hazardous chemicals in workplace was developed. Smart sensor can detect chemicals to complement monitoring of traditional workplace environmental monitoring such as short term and peak exposure. Further research is needed to expand the scope of application, improve reliability, and systematically application.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2020

Construction industry has a relatively higher industrial accident rate than other domestic industries. Thus, to reduce the accident rate, researches on the methodology of worker's safety education combined with new technologies like IT technology have increased. In the light of workers' safety information provision, this study develops a VR(Virtual Reality)-based construction site using the BIM(Building Information Modeling) data. The target structures and geographical features are included in the VR-based construction site where the construction machinery model and worker model are also created using a game engine. For highly effective provision of safety information, video clips with suitable captions corresponding to working processes were made with proper screen directing. They should be appropriately connected to correct worker's operations to improve the work commitment level, sense of reality and inducement of interest. From this scenario, the 3D VR-based construction site, which can be experienced through a VR equipment, was created and in the same platform, the safety information was provided by the video clip combined with the suitable captions. Although the real construction site involves various requirements depending on field situation and the expertness and experience of workers are not consistent, the developed safety information provision based on the VR construction site is expected to effectively reduce the incomplete factors leading to construction accidents by improving the worker's perception of workplace safety.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.19-26
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• 2009

This study was designed to analyse the performance and the mechanisms of workers' participation and communications in industrial accident prevention activities leading to the reduction of industrial accidents. This study also aimed to find out the causal relationship influencing the promotion of prevention activities of industrial accidents. Of the manufacturing businesses with more than 5 workers as the population of the survey, a questionnaire was conducted with 2,500 workspaces chosen by stratified sampling. Out of 2500 workspaces, 971 workspaces equipped with industrial safety and health committee were analysed in this study. According to the results of this study, the primary influential factors on safety activities were the management of industrial accidents and the cooperations between supervisors and workers on site. The secondary influential factor was the establishment of industrial safety and health committee. Regarding the effectiveness of industrial accident reduction, -0.01 was shown by workplace safety activities by themselves and -0.09 was shown by participation and communications through indirect safety activities. This indicated workers' participation and communications play an important role in the reduction of industrial accidents. By discovering the clue to the mechanism of the workers' participation and communications, this study is expected to stimulate the reduction of industrial accidents by emphasizing the importance of workers' participation and communications in resolving the safety and health problem in the workplaces.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.360-369
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• 2017

Objectives: The organizational culture of small-scale enterprises is influenced by a lack of awareness of industrial accidents and a business-oriented culture. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to establish a correlation between chemical awareness and worker safety, which is the reason why a company's safety environment is responsible for human factor accidents. Methods: The research model established the organizational culture, human relationships, organizational relationships, workplace culture, safety climate, and safety parameters, all of which affect the perception of chemical substances, then established safety rankings, communication, safety regulations, and safety support. Results: In order to derive the results of this study, the satisfaction level was mostly derived from the degree of engagement (+) depending on the number of years worked, in the hierarchical regression analysis. During work with chemicals, the number of years spent on the level of the service was determined by the influence of the chemical (-). Based on this company, the occurrence of chemical accidents caused by chemical materials was felt to be felt at the risk of causing the hazard to be felt, the absence of physical damage was excluded from the variables. The other variables detected in the variables were $62.8{\pm}24.4$. Conclusion: As a result, it is necessary to develop a statistical model for the verification of the hierarchical regression analysis, and the relationship between safety and awareness of the dangers of chemicals and biological agents requires periodic safety training. Job satisfaction was found to be higher if the level of awareness was sufficient.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.15-21
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• 2015

Looking at the large and small fire, explosion, or release accidents that occurred recently, we can see that the accident of subcontractor workers has been increased in the contractor workplace while a harmful or dangerous maintenance works. In this study, the actual status of subcontractor's safety management was examined by using the questionnaire to the contractor who submitted the process safety report. In order to improve the safety management of subcontractors, the responsibility and rational role-sharing between the contractors and subcontractors were reviewed. Also, Providing safety and health information and worker protection measures during maintenance were investigated. The results of this study can be used to help strengthen and improvement safety management of the subcontractor at the time of a hazardous or dangerous works. In addition, it will be utilized to reduce industrial accidents and to build mutual cooperation relationship between contractor and subcontractor.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.116-122
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• 2016

With the changes of industrial structure, contents and types in hazardous and dangerous works have been changed considerably. However, the hazardous and dangerous works by defined "Regulation for the hazardous and dangerous work employment restriction" and "Special education for safety and health"have not been amended over twenty years. This study aimed to identify the recent trends of the works by analyzing the death accidents cases from 2004 to 2013 and to present the management methods about future hazardous and dangerous works. The results showed that amount of 1,972 cases among 11,513 death accidents were equivalent to the works presented by "Regulation for the hazardous and dangerous work employment restriction". The amount of death accidents in 'Work of using construction equipment following construction machinery management act' was biggest among the death accidents cases and that of 'Work of handling pressure vessels following high-pressure gas safety control act' didn't show up. For the works in "Special education for safety and health"amount of 1,650 death accidents cases were equivalent. The amount of death accidents in 'Work involving a crane with a capacity of 1 ton or more or work which is carried out with a crane or hoist with a capacity of less than 1 ton in a workplace having at least 5 such machines' presented by "Special education for safety and health"was biggest. Also, death accidents case didn't occurred in three works presented by "Special education for safety and health". It was analyzed that works with low death accidents cases should be needed to study thoroughly the whole disaster research involving nonfatal accidents. Through this study, it was expected that regulation can be operated practically in the industrial field. Also, it is considered to increase

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.155-162
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• 2022

Background: Workers are exposed to several risks in academic laboratories due to the presence of potentially hazardous substances. The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of accident occurrence and associated risk factors among laboratory workers at the scientific laboratories of the public university in Lebanon and the impact of safety measures training and availability. Methods: In this observational study, a survey was conducted for one year in scientific laboratories at faculties of the public university. Results: Among the participants (N = 220), 45.0% have had accidents; the main cause was exposure to chemicals (73.7%) and more specifically by inhalation (45.4%). Females (85.9%) were more exposed to accidents than males. Laboratory workers with a master's degree, a full-time schedule, and more than ten years of experience were significantly more exposed to accidents (p < 0.05). A significant association was found between accident occurrence and training on management of hazardous products (p = 0.044), risks related to workplace (p = 0.030), eyewash and emergency shower (p < 0.001), first aid (p = 0.012), and facial protection availability (p = 0.019). In spite of the lack of safety culture and efficient training on laboratory safety, participants have shown a very good perception regarding safety measures to be applied in case of work accidents. Conclusion: Based on our findings, the prevalence of accident occurrence is elevated among lab workers at the public university. The impact of regular training on laboratory safety preventive measures is of great importance to ensure the efficiency of occupational health and safety in scientific laboratories.