• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.147-168
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to research support systems of the community child care services for optimum work-family balance. For this purpose, the questionnaire to be completed combined four areas: the workplace, school, community and home. Then questions concerning demographic factors and community-related aspects were analysed for this article. After analyzing 197 questionnaires, supplementary questions were asked, by interview to 10 samples. Full-time working wives (eg. working from 9am to 6pm) who have 1 or more children under 10 years old, living in Seoul and Gyeonggi province were collected as samples. The results were as follows: First, child care from family and relatives, and community services was properly used during the week, but dual working parents took complete charge of child care on Saturdays. Second, emergency child care was usually provided by the family, while relatives and community child care services were used less. Third, parents spent 17% of their monthly income on total child care expenditure. Fourth, community child care services were not used often, but the level of satisfaction with them was very high. Finally, they used relatives' services for safety reasons and community services for location, and only based on informed decisions. Therefore, Saturday child care programmes need to be initiated to help physically and mentally tired parents, with more general provision of positive and diverse public support systems.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.296-308
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• 2009

According to Lee In-ja's research into the cooks of Korea, there are more than 1.2 million culinary professionals in Korea. However, it is hard to find studies on their work environment. From this point, this study aims to examine the shoes worn by culinarians in their workplace and facilitate the improved environment to protect culinary professionals against potential dangers such as slips, occupational and industrial injuries and fatigue, on the basis of the shoes they wear. The research was conducted on a representative cross section of safety shoes currently worn by culinary professionals. The four factors to be tested and measured for the study were weight, slip resistance, internal tearing strength and splitting resistance. Findings on inquiry showed that the shoes tested were quite heavy, slippery and readily liable to splitting under low stress - when compared to standardized base figures. In accordance with the results of this experiment, guidelines for four factors of manufacture were suggested. First, chef's shoes should weigh not more than 1% of a wearers weight. Second, they should exhibit more than 0.50 $\mu$ slip resistance. Third, they should withstand at least 50.0 N/mm tearing strength. And finally, they should have upwards of 3.0 kg/cm splitting resistance.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.245-257
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the present condition of drug abuse and its association with depression, self-rated health and health behaviors by job status in Korean adults. Methods: Data were derived from the study on four addiction problem and suicide in 2014. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze patterns of drug abuse according to depression, self-rated health and health behaviors. Results: The prevalence of drug abuse during the past year was 17.1% of the 4,018 subjects. About 3.3 times risk for drug abuse was found among individuals who had high depression scores. The risk of drug abuse was higher among those who were smoking (OR:1.46, 95% CI:1.17~1.83), drinking more frequently (OR:1.30, 95% CI:1.07~1.58), sleeping insufficiently (OR:1.31, 95% CI:1.03~1.67), eating irregularly (OR:1.45, 95% CI:1.19~1.76). Drug abuse problem was detected more seriously among employed than unemployed adults. Conclusion: Health-related behaviors, such as smoking, drinking, sleeping, eating should be considered simultaneously when designing strategies to deal with drug abuse problem, and it is important to understand the interaction between drug abuse and mental health. Furthermore, workplace based intervention can be effective in solving drug abuse problem.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.241-252
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• 2018

This study explored the life of social workers by applying the photo Voice research method. Participants selected three themes through group discussions and shared the daily life of a social worker through photos they prepared in relation to each topic. Through this process, they shared their own experiences on 'difficulties related to work activities,' 'factors that create positive aspects that motivate social workers,' and 'factors that create negative aspects that demotivate social workers.' Using these three themes and 11 sub-themes, the participants shared their own experiences as social workers in the workplace. In order to improve the quality of life of social workers, we proposed amendments to related laws such as the Labor Standards Act, and also proposed legislative and institutional measures such as the enactment of policies related to personal safety threats.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.397-407
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• 2010

For sustainable and responsible development of nanomaterials technology, the establishment of ethical system for sound social acceptance of the technology as well as the development of the technology itself is necessary. In this paper, global efforts to identify and resolve the ethical issues regarding nanotechnology is reviewed, in particular the environmental, health and safety issues in nanomaterials, and the tools such as communication and engagement of stakeholders, regulations, certifications and workplace guidelines are scrutinized. Finally the policy recommendations for the establishment of ethical systems for safe usage of nanomaterials.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.88-95
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• 2009

There are many assessment techniques used for occupational risk factors of MSDs in the workplaces. However, because all ergonomic assesment techniques or tools are based on theoretical background derived from workphysiology, biomechanics, psychophysics, industrial hygiene, work system, and etc, it is impossible to compare the assessment techniques. This study was conducted to compare the excess rates of risk factors among ergonomic assessment techniques and to make alternative methods. Site-visits to 6 automobile products and parts company provided data for process repeated work where the produced data was examined for evaluating the relationship between workplace lay-out and work posture by using ergonomic assessment techniques. We evaluated 157 jobs for simple repeated work and 37 jobs for manual materials handling (MMH). In simple repeated work, the exceeded rates of AC were 36.3% in OWAS method and 93.0% in RULA method. The exceeded rate for RULA method was significantly higher than those for OWAS method (p<0.05). In MMH, the exceeded rates of AC were 80.0% in NLE method and 76.5% in WAC method. Statistically significant differences were not identified in the exceeded rates for NLE and MAC methods (p<0.05). The analyzed results among ergonomic assessment techniques (OWAS, RULA, NLE/WAC) were applied to the same work places performing simple repeated work and manual materials handling simultaneously. The applied results showed statistically significant differences (p<0.05) among ergonomic assessment techniques (OWAS, RULA, NLE/WAC). Exceeded rates of four ergonomic assessment techniques in decreasing order was "RULA>NLE>WAC>OWAS". The RULA method was the strongest assessment technique for automobile products and parts company. We discovered that the results could easily be overestimated or underestimated when the ergonomic assessment techniques were not applied correctly during the evaluation process. Therefore, we recommend using at least 2 methods when evaluating and analysing the results.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.336-342
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• 2019

Introduction: An unexpected death was reported in a beginner immediately after starting the work at a plating factory. After the incident, air sampling was performed using a simulation of the situation as it had been at the time. Methods: To evaluate the airborne concentration of hydrogen cyanide, a total of six samples were collected: one personal sample, three area samples, and two background samples (office and outdoors). Hydrogen cyanide measurement was performed according to the standard sampling protocol recommended by the U.S. NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health). Results: The highest concentration of hydrogen cyanide was 0.938 ppm measured in a sample collected from the plating bath area with local exhaust ventilation. This value was approximately 20% of the ceiling occupational exposure limit. The personal sample showed a concentration of 0.135 ppm. Samples collected near the bath in which the incident occurred and a dehydrator showed hydrogen cyanide concentrations of 0.236 ppm and 0.101 ppm, respectively. Hydrogen cyanide was not detected in the background samples (office and outdoors). Conclusions: It is necessary to use proper ventilation systems and respirators in plating factories to prevent acute poisoning. Furthermore, it is important to educate and train new workers dealing with toxic substances.

• Journal of Korean Society of Disaster and Security
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.39-49
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• 2021

According to the recent "Status of Industrial Accidents at the End of December 2020" released by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, each industry is subject to industrial accidents. The number of accident deaths by construction industry, accident deaths by accident type fell, and accident deaths by workplace size were 5 to 49, indicating that most accident deaths occurred due to falling accidents at small construction sites. Therefore, urban living houses are small construction sites, and the probability of falling accidents is very high. Fall simulation training for disaster occurrence is conducted mainly by large construction ordering organizations in the public sector, and it is the first case in Korea that a housing construction company has conducted at a small construction site. This study analyzed and presented the definition, construction characteristics, and safety management status of urban living houses, and developed and spread an emergency relief procedure manual in the event of a fall accident to minimize deaths.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.1-12
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• 2022

Purpose : This study aimed to identify the status of intrahospital transport (IHT) of critically ill patients and provide baseline data to form recommendations for safer transport. Methods : Data were collected from 141 intensive care unit (ICU) nurses who attended national conferences between February and August, 2018. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA, and post-hoc analysis was conducted with the Scheffé and Games-Howell tests. Results : Of the nurses surveyed, 61.7% answered that their workplace had a transport guideline. In terms of the experience of ICU nurses, 31.2% of respondents answered that they had received training on IHT. This result indicated that the degree of implementation of the guidelines for IHT was generally high, but some, including guidelines on personnel, equipment, and monitoring, were not. Guidelines of IHT were well observed when the institutes had specific guidelines for IHT of critically ill patients with specified transport grades, a scoring system to assess stability of a patient, a checklist and a protocol for action in case of problems, and when healthcare providers were provided with training. Conclusion : These results suggest that organized infrastructure, such as a transport guideline with transport grades, a checklist to improve the implementation of guidelines, and a protocol for coping with a problem, should be provided for safe transport. Additionally, effective education and evaluation to improve the competency of staff participating in the transport of patients will help reduce the occurrence of adverse events in intensive care transport in hospitals and promote patient safety.

• Health Policy and Management
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.304-316
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• 2022

Background: As prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission in healthcare settings has become a critical component in its effective management, COVID-19 specific infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines were developed and implemented by numerous countries. Although largely based on the current evidence-base, guidelines show much heterogeneity, as they are influenced by respective health system capacities, epidemiological risk, and socioeconomic status. This study aims to analyze the variations and concurrences of these guidelines to draw policy implications for COVID-19 response and future guidelines development. Methods: The contents of the COVID-19 IPC guidelines were analyzed using the categories and codes developed based on "World Health Organization guidelines on core components." Data analysis involved reviewing, appraising and synthesizing data from guidelines, which were then arranged into categories and codes. Selection of countries was based on the country income level, availability of COVID-19 specific IPC guideline developed at a national or district level. Results: The guidelines particularly agreed on IPC measures regarding application of standard precautions and providing information to patients and visitors, monitoring and audit of IPC activities and staff illnesses, and management of built environment/equipments. The guidelines showed considerable differences in certain components, such as workplace safety measures and criteria for discontinuation of precautions. Several guidelines also contained unique features which enabled a more systematic response to COVID-19. Conclusion: The guidelines generally complied with the current evidence-based COVID-19 management but also revealed variances stemming from differences in local health system capacity. Several unique features should be considered for benchmark in future guidelines development.