• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.31-42
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• 2012

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the psychological fatigue and analyze muscle activity of production workers who are performing processes jobs while standing for prolonged time periods. Methods: The psychological fatigue experienced by the workers was obtained through questionnaire surveys. Meanwhile, muscle activity has been analyzed using surface electromyography (sEMG) measurement. Lower extremities muscles include: erector spinae, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius were concurrently measured for more than five hours of standing. Twenty male production workers in a metal stamping company participated as subjects in this study. The subjects were required to undergo questionnaire surveys and sEMG measurement. Results: Results of the questionnaire surveys found that all subjects experienced psychological fatigue due to prolonged standing jobs. Similarly, muscle fatigue has been identified through sEMG measurement. Based on the non-parametric statistical test using the Spearman's rank order correlation, the left erector spinae obtained a moderate positive correlation and statistically significant ($r_s$ = 0.552, p < 0.05) between the results of questionnaire surveys and sEMG measurement. Conclusion: Based on this study, the authors concluded that prolonged standing was contributed to psychological fatigue and to muscle fatigue among the production workers.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.18-20
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• 2013

Headspace solid phase micro-extraction gas chromatography/flame ionization detection (HS-SPME-GC/FID) method was compared with headspace gas chromatography/mass selective detection (HS-GC/MS). Organic solvent-spiked urine as well as urine samples from workspace was analyzed under optimal condition of each method. Detection limit of each compound by HS-SPME-GC/FID was $3.4-9.5{\mu}g/L$, which enabled trace analysis of organic solvents in urine. Linear range of each organic solvent was $10-400{\mu}g/L$, with fair correlation coefficient between 0.992 and 0.999. The detection sensitivity was 4 times better than HS-GC/MS in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. Accuracy and precision was confirmed using commercial reference material, with accuracy around 90% and precision less than 4.6% of coefficient of variance. Among 48 urine samples from workplace, toluene was detected from 45 samples in the range of $20-324{\mu}g/L$, but no other solvents were found. As a method for trace analysis, SPME HS GC/FID showed high sensitivity for biological monitoring of organic solvent in urine.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.249-261
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• 2020

Background: Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent worker health conditions worldwide. Although the effect of noise exposure on hearing is well researched, other workplace exposures may account for significant hearing loss. The aim of this review was to determine whether occupational hand-arm vibration exposure through use of power or pneumatic tools, independent of noise exposure, is associated with permanent hearing loss. Do workers suffer from hand-arm vibratione-induced hearing loss? Methods: Peer-reviewed articles published in English between 1981 and 2020 were identified through five online databases with five search keywords. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines, including online database search methodology, study selection, article exclusion, and assessment of potential study design confounders and biases, were followed. Results: Database searches retrieved 697 articles. Fifteen articles that reported 17 studies met the criteria for review. All but two studies revealed statistically significant associations between occupational exposure to hand-arm vibration and hearing loss. The majority of the study results revealed associations between hand-arm vibration and hearing loss, independent of potential age and noise confounders. Conclusion: Few studies have examined the association between occupational exposure to hand-arm vibration and hearing loss. Dose response data were limited as only one study measured vibration intensity and duration. Although the majority of studies identified statistically significant associations, causal relationships could not be determined. Further research using standardized and uniform measurement protocols is needed to confirm whether the association between occupational exposure to hand-arm vibration and permanent hearing loss is causal and the mechanism(s).

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.48-58
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand the present status of the work performance of the construction industry health managers and the developmental direction for the construction industry health management. Methods: The subjects of this study were 149 health managers working in the construction industry. Data of a total of 130 participants were analyzed by excluding the missing data among field workers. The contents of the survey were the characteristics of the workplace, the difficulties and requirements of health management, and the level of job performance. Results: The factors affecting measuring work environment task were age, number of workers, number of safety managers, and lack of support from the headquarters. The factors affecting managing work environment and physicochemical harmful factors were age, type of contract and conflicting business opinions. The factors affecting implementing health examination were age, type of contract, and number of safety managers. The factors affecting healthcare were age, type of contract, number of safety manager, presence of healthcare room, and conflicting business opinions. Conclusion: It is necessary to provide practical guidance and practical resources, and education for strengthening capacity. The support for business owners and managers support is needed.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.51-57
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• 2009

The goal of this study is to propose the effective method of investigating the injurious factors and make improvement plans that prevents the workers against musculoskeletal disorders at plastic product companies and the same business field with similar working conditions and process. A questionnaire are adopted to analyze the symptoms of workers' musculoskeletal disorders, and ergonomic assessment methods such as RULA, OWAS are performed to find out harmful factors of workplace and working posture. Based on the result of the evaluation, to enhance the working environment, improvement of worktable, working space, tools, and outfit was suggested, and induction of mechanical system was also suggested. It can be concluded that the method and process described in this paper could be helpful for diagnosing the musculoskeletal disorders risk factors and making improvement plans to the plastic product companies and the same business field with similar working conditions and process.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.59-67
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• 2009

The goal of this study is to propose the effective method of investigating the injurious factors and making improved plans that prevents the workers against musculoskeletal disorders at an diesel engine manufacturing company and the same business field with similar working conditions and process. A questionnaire were adopted to analyze the symptoms of workers' musculoskeletal disorders, and an ergonomic assessment method such as RULA, OWAS were performed to find out harmful factors of workplace and working posture. Based on the result of the evaluation, to enhance the working environment, improvement of worktable, working space, tools, and outfit was suggested, and induction of mechanical system was also suggested. It can be concluded that the method and process described in this paper could be helpful for diagnosing the musculoskeletal disorders and making improvement plans to the diesel engine fuel injection system manufacturing company and the same business field with similar working conditions and process.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.9-22
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• 2014

Constructions sites are affected by Diversity workplace, complexity of construction, Change of place, Mobility of workers and so on. In a single establishment, Prime contractors and subcontractors have to conduct their work at the same time. There are a lot of unpredictable risks when the construction is running, coordination between contractors is very important to do a risk assessment under the condition. Large Construction companies were investigated by previous studies. Survey research is applied to the risk assessment. In the writing, Risk assessment of the entire lower level. Because of the low level of risk factors to find. Also, There was a limit to investigate accidents. Confirmed that Effort to derive a risk factors were desperately of the risk assessment. Results were obtained through previous studies. The PCM is several experts should be joined. Experts Site Manager, Supervisor, Safety Manager, Director Contractor, Work team leader is required to participate. Construction plans, Process Planning to the risk find beforehand. And Determines how the operations and the control. Also, Made it into the database. and PCRA can be used in the risk assessment was developed.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.476-481
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• 2019

Background: Mystery shopping is a method in which a company monitors quality of service and employee conduct and compliance with regulations using an evaluator posing as a customer. It is a typical tool of customer-centered bureaucratic control insofar as it provides overall and standardized evaluation of intangible elements of customer service as well as physical elements of service environments. The purpose of this study is to examine how mystery shopping is related to the health status of service workers in South Korea. Methods: Data from semistructured interviews with 15 workers were collected from January to April 2019 to obtain information on service worker experiences with mystery shopping. Data were analyzed using the constant comparison method. Results: Mystery shopping limits worker autonomy and stiffens the workplace environment by standardizing and monitoring labor processes for service workers. In addition, mystery shopping heightens work stress through increased labor intensity. Five mechanisms by which mystery shopping affects service worker health are identified and comprise (1) multifaceted and multilayered surveillance, (2) evaluator subjectivity and irrational requirements, (3) standardized rules combined with high pressure to achieve sales, (4) self-esteem degradation because of evaluator results, and (5) musculoskeletal disorders because of strict adherence to labor processes based on evaluator results. Conclusion: Mystery shopping as an evaluation method should be reconsidered not only in terms of health problems but also in terms of organizational efficiency and issues of human rights.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.187-192
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• 2020

Background: This study investigated the relationship between verbal aggression against school teachers and upper extremity (neck, shoulder, upper limb, and/or upper back) musculoskeletal pain. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 525 elementary school teachers from Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Northeast Brazil. Results: The prevalence of upper extremity musculoskeletal pain among teachers who reported verbal aggression in the past six months (67.7%) was higher than that among those who did not report verbal aggression (51.7%): (prevalence ratio = 1.21; 95% confidence interval = 1.04-1.40). The prevalence of upper extremity musculoskeletal pain was associated with verbal aggression, sex, and common mental disorders, controlled by skin color, age, monthly income, teachers' education, years working as a teacher, workload, and obesity. Furthermore, the measure of the association between verbal aggression and upper extremity musculoskeletal pain was modified by sex and common mental disorders, considered altogether. Teachers who suffered verbal aggression, of the feminine sex, and also having common mental disorders reported high prevalence (85.4%) of upper extremity musculoskeletal pain. Conclusion: The association between verbal violence in the school and complaints of upper extremity musculoskeletal pain was strong and modified by teachers' sex and common mental disorders.

• Proceedings of the Safety Management and Science Conference
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• 2012.04a
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• pp.35-41
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• 2012

The unsafe act and unsafe condition is induced by the fundamental cause factors of industrial accidents. In this paper, stress is classified into job, life and workplace stress. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to develop a Korean stress model focused on the unmarried workers in order to prevent fundamental industrial accidents. The results of this paper are followed. First, the oriental culture and idea in Korea is directly connected to the central axis of all life. Accordingly, concrete and systematic safety management methods should be proposed from the point of Korean culture. Finally, the industrial accident questionnaire needs an item that reports the mental and physical condition of workers in order to prevent occupational diseases.