• Title/Summary/Keyword: Workplace chemicals

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Workplace Health and Safety Risk Factors and Management Plan for Female Workers (여성근로자의 작업장 건강안전위험요인 및 관리방안)

  • Kim, Soukyoung;Kim, Young Taek
    • Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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    • v.29 no.4
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    • pp.235-246
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    • 2020
  • Purpose: In Korea, the proportion of female workers among occupational injury is steadily increasing. The purpose of this study was to identify the workplace risk factors that threaten the safety and health of the female workers. Methods: Qualitative study was conducted, using focus group interview. Data were collected from five focus groups of eighteen female workers who were working in the manufacturing, health service, and educational service industries. Results: The seven themes of occupational safety and health risks of women workers are as follows: 1) Workplace with various risks; 2) Sliding, falling, burning, and cutting accidents; 3) Chronically lasting musculoskeletal symptoms; 4) Chemicals that may be harmful to workers; 5) Unprotected infectious disease; 6) Psychological safety accidents(Relationship conflict and emotional labor); 7) Loud, hot, stuffy, scary, and tired. Conclusion: The Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) Act should be rearranged gender sensitively and women's participation in the OSH decision-making process should be guaranteed. OSH education should be properly implemented in the field, and support should be provided for women workers in small businesses. A supportive organizational culture for marriage, pregnancy and childbirth should be established, and the working environment should be provided safely, taking into account gender differences.

A Study on Asphyxiation Accidents occurred in the confined space, and their Prevention (밀폐공간 질식재해 발생현황 고찰 및 예방에 관한 연구)

  • Kwon, Bu-Hyun
    • Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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    • v.18 no.3
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    • pp.47-54
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    • 2016
  • A confined space means places where the risk of damage to health caused by lack of oxygen or hazardous gases in inadequate ventilation conditions and the risk of fire and explosion caused by flammable substances. Asphyxiation accidents in a confined space occured every year and also occurred more than two people at the same time. In this study, we surveyed the domestic statistical data occurred the lack of oxygen in confined space for the last 10 years(2006-2015) and, analyzed the accident by industries sector, workplace size etc. 17 fatal work accidents that occurred in confined spaces in Korea between 2013 and 2015 were investigated and analyzed using the database of the KOSHA and suggested interventions to minimize asphyxiation accidents in confined spaces. This paper is expected to be used to establish interventions planning and training as a preventive measures in workplace having confined spaces.

Prioritization of Chemicals for Chronic/Carcinogenic Inhalation Testing (만성발암성 흡입독성시험 우선순위 물질 선정 연구)

  • Rim, Kyung-Taek;Lim, Cheol-Hong;Kim, Hyeon-Yeong;Cha, Shin-Woo;Heo, Yong;Yoon, Jin-Ha;Kim, Hyung-A
    • Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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    • v.43 no.1
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    • pp.23-41
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    • 2017
  • Objectives: In this study, we seek to perform a priority selection for test substances for chronic inhalation toxicity studies, including acute and subchronic inhalation toxicity studies, which are to be performed after the construction of a chronic/carcinogenicity inhalation toxicity study facility and enactment of pertinent legislation. Methods: Through this study, qualitative and quantitative priority evaluation of test substances according to acute, subchronic and chronic categories were respectively performed and priorities were suggested by expert group review, redundancy and other methods. Meanwhile, a draft on test substance selection criteria, procedures and methods referring to the National Toxicology Program (NTP) system was proposed. Results: This study selected priorities for candidate substances for chronic inhalation toxicity studies to be conducted from 2016. Conclusions: In the future, by assessing in advance the toxicological effects of chemicals to which workers can be potentially exposed in the workplace via long-term inhalation, expected health disturbances among workers will be reduced and it is anticipated that occupational disease induced by chemicals will be effectively prevented.

Task-Specific Hazardous Chemicals Used by Nail Shop Technicians (네일 샵 종사자들의 직무 형태별 취급 유해화학물질)

  • Choi, Sangjun;Park, Sung-Ae;Yoon, Chungsik;Kim, Sunju
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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    • v.25 no.4
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    • pp.446-464
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    • 2015
  • Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the task-specific hazards of chemicals used by nail technicians in Daegu Metropolitan City. Materials: A total of 30 nail shops located in Daegu City were surveyed to investigate the major tasks and practices performed by nail technicians and the ingredients listed in nail care products used in shops. We also collected instructions for use and material safety data sheets(MSDSs) of nail care products and compared CAS Nos. of ingredients with the lists of chemicals regulated by the Industrial Safety and Health Act(ISHA) and Chemical Substances Control Act(CSCA). Results: A total of 125 chemical ingredients were found in 468 nail care products used at the 30 nail shops. The most frequently found ingredients were ethyl acetate(72%), followed by n-butyl acetate(71.8%), isopropanol(56%), benzophenone(51.1%), nitrocellulose(46.4%) and ethanol(45.3%). Comparing six tasks, the task of manicuring used the most products at 222 products containing 91 ingredients. Among the 125 ingredients, there are 31 chemicals with occupational exposure limits(OEL) designated by the Ministry of Employment and Labor(MoEL), eight categorized as carcinogens, one mutagen and two reproductive toxic chemicals. In terms of carcinogens, formaldehyde was identified as the only confirmed human carcinogen(1A). We found that there was one chemical with a permissible limit, one special management substance, 18 workplace monitoring substances and ten special health diagnosis substances regulated by ISHA. For CSCA, nine poisonous substances, six substances requiring preparation for accidents and one restricted substance were identified. Conclusions: Based on these findings, formaldehyde was identified as one of the chemicals that should most strictly be controlled for the protection of the health of nail technicians and customers. At the same time, it is necessary to distribute materials with detailed hazardous information of nail care products for nail shop technicians.

A Development of Preliminary Respirator Selection Guide(PRSG) for Workers Exposed to Chemicals (화학물질 노출 근로자를 위한 호흡보호구 선정 지침 개발)

  • Han, Don-Hee;Yoo, Kye-Mook
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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    • v.24 no.3
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    • pp.393-403
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    • 2014
  • Objectives: Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency(KOSHA) intended to provide guidance to respirator program administrators on respirator selection. The purpose of this project is to suggest a preliminary respirator selection guide(PRSG) for the final guidance certified by KOSHA for the correct selection of respirators in the workplace. Materials: This PRSG was made on the based of current status of respirator usage including respirators available in Korea, foreign documents search and so on. PRSG was partially modified NIOSH pocket guide to chemical hazards, 3M Respirator Protection Resource Guide(RPRG) and OSHA Assigned Protection Factor(APF) rulemaking. Results: Respirators for chemicals having Korean Occupational Exposure Limits(KOELs) can be recommended in PRSG. For the others chemicals that have no KOELs, PRSG tells you what respirators you can select, using a simple step-by-step approach after health hazard assessment like HSE procedure. Conclusions: PRSG helps you to decide the right level of protection for a given hazardous substance and how to select the right respirators. PRSG is thus expected to reduce significant misuses of respirators for the work environment.

A Study on Transportation Route of Chemicals using Quantitative Risk Assessment (정량적 위험성평가를 이용한 화학물질 운송경로에 관한 연구)

  • Byun, Yoon Sup
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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    • v.21 no.3
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    • pp.46-52
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    • 2017
  • During the transportation of chemicals, quantitative risk assessment for chemical leakage accidents caused by traffic accidents was carried out and the appropriateness of chemical transportation route was evaluated. The quantitative risk assessment method applied to the chemical leakage accidents that may occur in the chemical handling equipments installed in the workplace was presented and applied to the chemical transportation. By analyzing the number of traffic accidents in transportation vehicles, the probability of chemical leakage accidents during chemical transportation was predicted and applied to the quantitative risk assessment of chlorine gas leakage accidents that may occur when transporting liquified chlorine bombe using vehicles. As a result, the most appropriate route of transporting the liquefied chlorine bombe was suggested on the basis of risk.

Development and Use of Data for Chemical Risk Assessment (화학물질 유해성 평가를 위한 정보의 작성 및 활용)

  • Rim, Kyung-Taek;Kim, Hyun-Ok;Kim, Young-Kyo;Cho, Hae-Won;Ma, Yong-Seok;Lee, Kwon-Seob;Lim, Cheol-Hong;Kim, Hyeon-Yeong;Yang, Jeong-Seon
    • Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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    • v.22 no.1 s.56
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    • pp.91-101
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    • 2007
  • The new chemicals are developed and circulated without the verified toxicity data. So, the accidents and occupational diseases, such as explosion, fire, suffocation about deadly poisons etc. are frequently to workers. Classifications of chemicals suited with guideline and an offer of correct chemical information data are the molt important thing for the establishment of suitable chemical management system. The GHS (Globally Harmonized System of classification and labeling of chemicals) is based with the chemical classifications and unification plan. The warning symbol and phrases are established for improvements of chemical information data system. According to these unified and improved systematic form of data, and the chemical information data, the workplaces will be presented many chemical safety and risk data correctly. In this paper, we will present constructions and accomplishment contents-based chemical management of workplace through development of chemical information data and the nice using for new chemical investigation and risk assessment of chemicals in workplaces.

Study on the Chemical Management - 2. Comparison of Classification and Health Index of Chemicals Regulated by the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of the Employment and Labor (화학물질 관리 연구-2. 환경부와 고용노동부의 관리 화학물질의 구분, 노출기준 및 독성 지표 등의 특성 비교)

  • Kim, Sunju;Yoon, Chungsik;Ham, Seunghon;Park, Jihoon;Kim, Songha;Kim, Yuna;Lee, Jieun;Lee, Sangah;Park, Donguk;Lee, Kwonseob;Ha, Kwonchul
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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    • v.25 no.1
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    • pp.58-71
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    • 2015
  • Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate the classification system of chemical substances in the Occupational Safety and Health Act(OSHA) and Chemical Substances Control Act(CSCA) and to compare several health indices (i.e., Time Weighted Average (TWA), Lethal Dose ($LD_{50}$), and Lethal Concentration ($LC_{50}$) of chemical substances by categories in each law. Methods: The chemicals regulated by each law were classified by the specific categories provided in the respective law; seven categories for OSHA (chemicals with OELs, chemicals prohibited from manufacturing, etc., chemicals requiring approval, chemicals kept below permissible limits, chemicals requiring workplace monitoring, chemicals requiring special management, and chemicals requiring special heath diagnosis) and five categories from the CSCA(poisonous substances, permitted substances, restricted substances, prohibited substances, and substances requiring preparation for accidents). Information on physicochemical properties, health indices including CMR characteristics, $LD_{50}$ and $LD_{50}$ were searched from the homepages of the Korean Occupational and Safety Agency and the National Institute of Environmental Research, etc. Statistical analysis was conducted for comparison between TWA and health index for each category. Results: The number of chemicals based on CAS numbers was different from the numbers of series of chemicals listed in each law because of repeat listings due to different names (e.g., glycol monoethylether vs. 2-ethoxy ethanol) and grouping of different chemicals under the same serial number(i.e., five different benzidine-related chemicals were categorized under one serial number(06-4-13) as prohibited substances under the CSCA). A total of 722 chemicals and 995 chemicals were listed at the OSHA and its sub-regulations and CSCA and its sub-regulations, respectively. Among these, 36.8% based on OSHA chemicals and 26.7% based on CSCA chemicals were regulated simultaneously through both laws. The correlation coefficients between TWA and $LC_{50}$ and between TWA and $LD_{50}$, were 0.641 and 0.506, respectively. The geometric mean values of TWA calculated by each category in both laws have no tendency according to category. The patterns of cumulative graph for TWA, $LD_{50}$, $LC_{50}$ were similar to the chemicals regulated by OHSA and CCSA, but their median values were lower for CCSA regulated chemicals than OSHA regulated chemicals. The GM of carcinogenic chemicals under the OSHA was significantly lower than non-CMR chemicals($2.21mg/m^3$ vs $5.69mg/m^3$, p=0.006), while there was no significant difference in CSCA chemicals($0.85mg/m^3$ vs $1.04mg/m^3$, p=0.448). $LC_{50}$ showed no significant difference between carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxic chemicals and non-CMR chemicals in both laws' regulated chemicals, while there was a difference between carcinogens and non-CMR chemicals in $LD_{50}$ of the CSCA. Conclusions: This study found that there was no specific tendency or significant difference in health indicessuch TWA, $LD_{50}$ and $LC_{50}$ in subcategories of chemicals as classified by the Ministry of Labor and Employment and the Ministry of Environment. Considering the background and the purpose of each law, collaboration for harmonization in chemical categorizing and regulation is necessary.

Investigation on the Main Exposure Sources of Nanomaterials for Nanohazards Assessment (나노위해성 관리를 위한 나노물질 주요 배출원 파악)

  • Kim, Young-Hun;Park, Jun-Su;Kim, He-Ro;Lee, Jeong-Jin;Bae, Eun-Joo;Lee, Su-Seung;Kwak, Byoung-Kyu;Choi, Kyung-Hee;Park, Kwang-Sik;Yi, Jong-Heop
    • Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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    • v.23 no.4
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    • pp.257-265
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    • 2008
  • Nanotechnology is emerging as one of the key technologies of the 21 st century and is expected to enable one to broaden the applicability across a wide range of sectors that can benefit public and improve industrial competitiveness. Already, consumer products containing nanomaterials are available in markets including coatings, computers, clothing, cosmetics, sports equipment and medical devices. Recently, Institute of Occupational Medicine in UK reported an occupational hygiene review for nanoparticles in the viewpoint of nanotoxicity. They reported that the exposure control is very important issues in workplace for exposure assessment, but no proper methods are available to measure the extent of exposures to nanoparticles in the workplace. Therefore, for the estimation of exposure of nanomaterials, we have to approach the material-balance methodology, which similarly carried out in TRI (toxic release inventory) for hazardous chemicals. In order to use this methodology, the exposure source of nanomaterials should be determined firstly. Therefore, herein we investigated the main sources and processes for the exposure to nanomaterals by conducting the survey. The results could be used to define and assess nanohazard sources.