• Title/Summary/Keyword: Workplace Safety

Search Result 756, Processing Time 0.036 seconds

Research Trends of Ergonomics in Occupational Safety and Health through MEDLINE Search: Focus on Abstract Word Modeling using Word Embedding (MEDLINE 검색을 통한 산업안전보건 분야에서의 인간공학 연구동향 : 워드임베딩을 활용한 초록 단어 모델링을 중심으로)

  • Kim, Jun Hee;Hwang, Ui Jae;Ahn, Sun Hee;Gwak, Gyeong Tae;Jung, Sung Hoon
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
    • /
    • v.36 no.5
    • /
    • pp.61-70
    • /
    • 2021
  • This study aimed to analyze the research trends of the abstract data of ergonomic studies registered in MEDLINE, a medical bibliographic database, using word embedding. Medical-related ergonomic studies mainly focus on work-related musculoskeletal disorders, and there are no studies on the analysis of words as data using natural language processing techniques, such as word embedding. In this study, the abstract data of ergonomic studies were extracted with a program written with selenium and BeutifulSoup modules using python. The word embedding of the abstract data was performed using the word2vec model, after which the data found in the abstract were vectorized. The vectorized data were visualized in two dimensions using t-Distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (t-SNE). The word "ergonomics" and ten of the most frequently used words in the abstract were selected as keywords. The results revealed that the most frequently used words in the abstract of ergonomics studies include "use", "work", and "task". In addition, the t-SNE technique revealed that words, such as "workplace", "design", and "engineering," exhibited the highest relevance to ergonomics. The keywords observed in the abstract of ergonomic studies using t-SNE were classified into four groups. Ergonomics studies registered with MEDLINE have investigated the risk factors associated with workers performing an operation or task using tools, and in this study, ergonomics studies were identified by the relationship between keywords using word embedding. The results of this study will provide useful and diverse insights on future research direction on ergonomic studies.

Cardiovascular-metabolic Diseases Affecting Hearing loss in Workers Exposed to Noise (소음 노출 근로자의 청력손실에 미치는 심혈관-대사성 질환의 영향)

  • KyooSang Kim;Jungmin Sung;Eun-A Kim
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
    • /
    • v.33 no.3
    • /
    • pp.332-345
    • /
    • 2023
  • Objectives: We examined the association of hearing with cardio-metabolic diseases, dyslipidemia, hypertension and diabetes mellitus according to the personal and occupational characteristics of workers exposed to noise. Methods: The subjects of the study were 237,028 workers who underwent 2, 3, and 4 kHz airway pure tone audiometry in 2015 and who underwent clinical tests to diagnose cardiovascular-metabolic diseases. Cardiovascular-metabolic diseases were defined using reference values for respective items including blood pressure (systolic/diastolic), fasting blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides. The airway pure tone hearing threshold of 2, 3, and 4 kHz, the average threshold of 2-3-4 kHz, and the hearing loss by the average threshold of the primary examination were distinguished. Results: Workers with cardiovascular-metabolic disease had significantly higher average hearing thresholds and higher rates of hearing loss. Logistic regression analysis, which adjusted for demographic variables of gender and age and occupational variables such as workplace size, industry, and type of work, and cardiovascular-metabolic disease as independent variables, showed that the odds ratio of hypertension to hearing loss in the mid-frequency was 1.239 (95% confidence interval: 1.118-1.374). For hypertension was 1.159 (1.107-1.214) and for diabetes it was 1.166 (1.104-1.230) for hearing loss in the high-frequency. Hearing loss measured by mean hearing was 1.178 (1.105-1.256) for hypertension and 1.181 (1.097-1.271) for diabetes. Conclusions: Cardiovascular-metabolic diseases in noise-exposed workers are associated with an increased risk of hearing loss and should be accompanied by bio-monitoring of cardiovascular-metabolic diseases in addition to auditory surveillance.

Investigation of Working Conditions and Health Status in Platform Workers in the Republic of Korea

  • Hyoungseob Yoo;Munyoung Yang;Ji-Hun Song;Jin-Ha Yoon;Wanhyung Lee;Jinhee Jang;Minjoo Yoon;Mo-Yeol Kang
    • Safety and Health at Work
    • /
    • v.15 no.1
    • /
    • pp.17-23
    • /
    • 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.

Factors Influencing the Use of Control Measures to Reduce Occupational Exposure to Welding Fume in Australia: A Qualitative Study

  • Renee N. Carey;Lin Fritschi;Ha Nguyen;Kamil Abdallah;Timothy R. Driscoll
    • Safety and Health at Work
    • /
    • v.14 no.4
    • /
    • pp.384-389
    • /
    • 2023
  • Background: Exposure to welding fume is associated with adverse effects on worker health. The use of various control measures can reduce levels of exposure and the resulting health effects. However, little is known about the factors that may influence workers' use of control measures in the workplace and their perceived intervention needs. This study aimed to investigate workers' and other stakeholders' views on ways to improve the use of welding fume control measures in Australian workplaces. Methods: We conducted a series of online focus group discussions and individual interviews with participants who have some occupational involvement in welding, whether as workers, employers or industry representatives, union representatives, or regulators. A semi-structured question guide was used, and all discussions and interviews were recorded and transcribed for analysis. Results: Five focus group discussions and five individual interviews were conducted with a total of 21 participants. Three major themes emerged. The first addressed the current awareness of welding fume harms and concern about exposure; the second focussed on the current use of control measures, and barriers and facilitators to their use; and the last centred around intervention needs and the contents of a potential effective intervention. Conclusion: Improving the use of control measures to prevent exposure to welding fume requires knowledge around the barriers and facilitators of control, use, and the intervention needs of stakeholders. This study has provided such knowledge, which will facilitate the design and implementation of an intervention to reduce welding fume exposure and ultimately protect the health of workers.

A Basic Survey on the Occupational Health and Safety Activities of Seafarers (선박승무원 선내작업 안전보건활동 기초 실태조사)

  • Kim, Jae-Ho
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
    • /
    • v.25 no.4
    • /
    • pp.448-456
    • /
    • 2019
  • The purpose of this study is to develop basic data for the prevention of shipboard disasters and measures to improve the safety and health of seafarers by using a survey on the safety and health activities of seafarers. The questionnaire was administered to 437 people who have worked on a ship in the last six months. According to the results from the analyses (t-test, crosstab, and ANOVA), the level of safety and health activities of seafarers averaged at 68.82 points. The workplace clearance was the highest at 76.08 points, and the safety and health management system were the lowest at 62.78 points. As a result of the differences in the level of safety and health activities, the number of marine workers was higher than workers on land, and higher education was higher than lower education (p<0.01). It was higher for workers in coastal zones than for those in pelagic areas, and special cargo ships were higher than other ship types (p<0.01). Larger ships had a higher number of activities than small ships, and ships that were less than five years old had more activities (p<0.01). Therefore, in order to raise the level of safety and health activities of seafarers, it is necessary to develop safety and health education programs that take individual, job, and ship characteristics into consideration, and promote active safety and health activities on ships.

A Study on Subjective Evaluation of Neck Workload in Static Work (정적인 자세에서 목의 주관적 작업부하 평가)

  • Kim, Yu-Chang;Jeong, Hyun-Wook
    • IE interfaces
    • /
    • v.16 no.2
    • /
    • pp.222-228
    • /
    • 2003
  • Computer-dominated jobs and industrial automation have rapidly created work-related musculoskeletal disorders(WMSDs) and WMSDs are also founded in employees of other general industries. WMSDs has been growing problems for Korean industries with higher incidence rate every year. The objective of this paper is to analyze the effects of the neck muscle workload according to postures(joint angle) and load weights. Seven male students participated in this study. Neck workload was rated on each person using a Borg's CR-10 scale. ANOVA showed that the CR-10 ratings were statistically significant according to postures and load weights. To reduce the large number and severity of WMSDs, which employees have been experiencing, we need to redesign the job in workplace so that we can control hazards that are reasonably likely to be causing or contributing to the WMSDs. The results of this study can be used to establish the safety criteria of joint angle and weight of neck workload.

The Development of Cloud Computing-Based Integrated EHS Management System for the Construction Companies (클라우드 컴퓨팅 기반 건설사용 EHS 통합관리시스템 개발)

  • Seo, Kwang-Kyu
    • Proceedings of the KAIS Fall Conference
    • /
    • 2010.11b
    • /
    • pp.859-861
    • /
    • 2010
  • The construction companies are facing potential EHS(Environment, Health & Safety) of major accidents to cause casualties or a financial loss and increasing social responsibility. So, they have to voluntarily accomplish the EHS management system rather than passively with regard to EHS regulation. In this study, the integrated EHS management system is developed based on cloud computing, and construction companies are to materialize self-regulation EHS process of construction workplace and to standardize the total EHS business process using the developed system. The proposed system also provides risk analysis, education/control and continuous improvement for EHS tasks and users can easily access the system on the web at a low price through cloud computing service. Eventually, the integrated system contributes to the managerial improvement by minimizing economic and physical loss caused by construction accidents.

  • PDF

Biomechanical Measuring Techniques for Evaluation of Workload (작업부하 평가를 위한 생체역학적 측정방법)

  • Kim, Jung-Yong;Park, Ji-Soo;Cho, Young-Jin
    • Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
    • /
    • v.29 no.4
    • /
    • pp.445-453
    • /
    • 2010
  • It is necessary to quantitatively evaluate the workload of workers in order to improve the level of safety and efficiency as well as to prevent workers from musculoskeletal disorders. The purpose of this study is to introduce biomechanical methods that are largely used to quantitatively evaluate workload. The biomechanical methods use kinematics and kinetics to analyze the movement and force of biomechanical body. Motion analysis, joint angle measurement, ground reaction force, mathematical model, and electromyography (EMG) were introduced as a tool or device for biomechanical evaluation. In this study, the special feature of each method was emphasized and important tips for field measurement were summarized. The information and technique disclosed in this summary can be used to evaluate and design the workplace better by effectively control the workload of field workers.

Sampling and Analysis of Parathion in the Air and Urinary p-Nitrophenol for Parathion Manufacturing Workers (작업장 공기 중 파라티온과 작업자 소변 중 p-니트로페놀의 시료채취 및 분석)

  • Han, Don-Hee
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
    • /
    • v.17 no.4
    • /
    • pp.300-309
    • /
    • 2007
  • Although parathion is an organophosphate pesticide being legally applied for the purpose of agriculture and is being manufactured, parathion in the air and urinary p-nitrophenol, a metabolite of parathion, were not analysed in Korea. Air of the parathion manufacturing workplace was sampled by OVS-2 tubes using NIOSH 5600 and spot urine of workers was sampled at the end of shift. Parathion and urinary p-nitrophenol were analysed by GC/MS (5973 MSD connected with Agilent 6890 GC) and the protocol was included in this study. It was found that this protocol should be so sensitive that determining parathion in the air and urinary p-nitrophenol below level of ACGIH TLV and BEI be adequate. Another finding was that total sampling volume of air of NIOSH 5600 of 240 L should be adjusted to be less than 120 L due to breakthrough.

A study on the effect of welding fume during the welding work (용접시 발생되는 용접흄에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, Gyeong-Man;Lee, Cheol-Gu
    • Proceedings of the KWS Conference
    • /
    • 2007.11a
    • /
    • pp.306-309
    • /
    • 2007
  • It shows not only positive effect with fan as a way of improving condition in workplace but also shows air supply, ventilation condition in welding site with CFD analyzation. Also when the wind blew to the front side by a fan, the welding Hume significantly reduced, As this was examined as CFD and was gone through enough exhaustion to become streamline flow laminar, the toxic materials will be reduced. The improvement of welding work and education are investigated to be more significant factors than wearing protective equipments and setting safety tools to prevent welding works from welding fume exposure.

  • PDF