• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.509-515
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• 2011

Objective: The study was performed to suggest factors to consider when making or selecting protective clothing to enhance farmers' health. The purpose of this study was to review and summarize the agricultural safety technology on clothing including hat, gloves, and shoes. Background: The farmers' work clothing has to meet a multitude of requirement. Risk factors in farm-work were identified by previous researches. Agricultural safety clothing needs to be introduced. Method: We reviewed previous papers regarding the agricultural workers' health, safety clothing to protect body from excessive heat and humid environment, ultraviolet(UV) protection, and hazardous body working postures. Also the UV cut effect, pesticideproof clothing, and preventable farm work related musculoskeletal disorders were discussed. Results: The agricultural safety clothing needs to be developed to provide comfort and to be resistant against heat. The UV protection function on skin and eyes has not been fully researched in safety clothing studies yet. Conclusions and Application: The farmers' work-related body posture needs to be studied in order to make and design agricultural safety clothing. The safety issues on agricultural work shoes are also needed to be included in future studies.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.149-157
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• 2010

Objectives: To quantify disability level in salespeople with concurrent low back pain (LBP) and to determine the relative associations between demographic, occupational, psychosocial and clinical factors and back disability. LBP is the most common cause of work-related disability in people under 45 years of age and the most expensive cause of work-related disability, in terms of workers' compensation and medical expenses. Evidence suggests high prevalence of LBP in salespeople. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in which 184 saleswomen with a current episode of self-reported LBP working in a large up-scale department store filled out a battery of 6 self-administered questionnaires and received a standardised physical examination. Results: Saleswomen with concurrent LBP had low disability levels. Factors significantly associated with disability were pain intensity, measured by a visual analogue scale, in the past week (p < 0.001), physical and mental health status (p < 0.001, p = 0.003, respectively), fear avoidance scores for both work and physical activities (p = 0.031, p = 0.014, respectively), past history of LBP (p = 0.019), and self-reported frequency of pushing or pulling objects placed in high positions during work (p = 0.047). A significant level (45%) of the variance in disability status was explained by these variables. Conclusion: In clinical management of LBP workers who required prolonged standing, such as salespeople, clinicians should look for modifiable risk factors associated with disability. Specific measures need to be taken to prevent disability due to LBP among salespeople.

• 대한안전경영과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한안전경영과학회 2011년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.319-328
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• 2011

작업관련성 근골격계질환을 효율적으로 예방하기 위한 제일 중요한 요소는 관련위험 요인들에 대한 정확한 평가이다. 그러나 대부분의 근골격계질환 관련 위험도 평가도구들은 주관적평가의 가능성에 대한 지적을 많이 받아왔다. 본 연구에서는 이와 같은 지적에 대한 좀 더 체계적인 분석을 위하여 주요 평가도구들(OWAS, RULA, REBA)에 대한 일종의 민감도 분석을 수행하였다. 분석은 다음과 같이 크게 두 가지 관점에서 진행되었다; 1) 숙련자와 비숙련자에 의한 평가결과에 대한 비교, 2) 평가 시점에 따른 평가 결과의 일관성에 대한 비교. 본 연구의 주요 결과는 다음과 같다; 1) RULA와 REBA의 경우, 숙련자와 비숙련자 간에 평가결과의 차이는 통계적으로 유의 하였다. 반면에 OWAS의 경우에는 숙련자와 비숙련자간에 평가결과에 있어서 통계적으로 유의한 차이를 보이지 않는 것으로 나타났다, 2) 적용된 모든 평가도구들은 그 결과에 있어서 평가 시점에 따라 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구에서는 연구 목적에 따른 1차 결과를 제시하였다. 이 결과를 토대로 하여 향 후 형식이나 내용면에 있어서 좀 더 확장된 개념의 연구의 수행을 통하여 평가도구를 사용하는데 있어서 체계적이고 실용적인 지침을 도출해 내리라고 판단된다.

• 핵의학기술
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.61-66
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• 2010

VDT는 Video Display Terminals의 약어로 시각 표시 단말기를 뜻한다. 최근 핵의학과에 VDT가 대량 보급되면서 점차적으로 사용자들이 늘어남과 동시에 사용 기간이 급증함에 따라 VDT 증후군에 관심이 높아지고 있다. 본 연구는 서울대학교병원 핵의학과를 대상으로 VDT 유해 요인 평가 도구를 적용하여 그 실태를 조사하고 문제점을 발견하여 향후 개선에 관한 방안을 도출함으로써 VDT 증후군에 관한 의식을 정립하고 궁극적으로 예방하는 데 목적이 있다. 서울대학교병원 핵의학과를 본원 핵의학과, 소아 핵의학과, PET 센터의 3개 파트로 분류하고, 2009년 4월 한 달 동안 현재 근무 중인 방사선사 23명을 대상으로 근무 부서를 직접 방문하여 유해 요인을 평가하였다. 평가에 사용한 도구는 원진 노동환경건강연구소의 "VDT작업에 관한 체크리스트"를 적용하였고 VDT 작업 조건, 업무 책상의 조건, 의자의 조건, 키보드의 조건, 모니터의 조건, 작업 자세, 보건 관리 특성, 기타 작업 환경의 8개 부문, 총 55개 항목을 통하여 현장 조사 및 평가하였으며 이에 대한 분석 결과는 한림대학교 성심병원 산업의학과에서 검증하였다. 서울대학교병원 핵의학과의 VDT 작업 조건은 비교적 양호한 수준이었다. 책상의 경우 최근 도입한 경우에는 인체공학적 설계로 사용자에게 적합하였으나 기존 책상의 15%는 기준치에 미달하였다. 의자의 경우는 기준에 적합하였지만 노후화로 인하여 적정 기능을 상실한 것이 5%였다. 키보드는 98%가 기준에 적합하였고 모니터는 화면의 각도 조절은 모두 가능하였지만 위치 조절이 불가능한 것이 38%로 조사되었다. 작업 자세의 경우 부적절한 자세로 장시간 노출되는 경우가 10%였으며 일부 항목에서 기준에 적합하지 않은 것으로 조사되었다. 보건 관리 측면에서도 개선의 여지가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 조명과 온도, 소음, 환기 등 기타 작업 환경은 일부 항목에서 문제점이 발견되었지만 권고치를 충족하였다. 핵의학과 업무는 과거에 비하여 육체적인 업무는 줄었으나, 장시간 정적인 자세로 고도의 정밀도와 집중력을 요구하게 되었으며 이는 필연적으로 VDT 증후군을 유발하는 계기가 되었다. VDT 증후군은 앞으로도 지속적으로 발생할 가능성이 높으며 개선에 대한 경제적 비용이 상당하다는 점과 다양한 발병 요인을 내재하며 본인도 모르는 사이에 발생한다는 점에서 보다 구체적이며 효율적인 관리 체계가 필요할 것으로 판단된다. 핵의학과의 VDT 증후군은 인체공학적 사무 환경의 개선, 업무 절차(procedure)의 개선과 업무의 효율화, 직원간의 협동작업(teamwork) 그리고 규칙적인 운동, 꾸준한 스트레칭 체조와 같은 사용자 스스로의 노력, 지속적인 관심과 작은 노력으로 충분히 개선될 수 있으며 적극적으로 예방할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다. 이것은 쾌적한 업무 환경속에서 사용자의 육체적, 정신적 상태를 최상으로 이끌고 업무 효율성의 증대와 함께 내부 고객 만족도 상승으로 이어질수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

• 한국화재소방학회논문지
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.85-93
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• 2013

본 연구에서는 소방대원이 수행하는 업무 중 중량물을 다루어야 하는 작업에 대한 분류 및 정량적 분석(NLE, 3DSSPP)을 수행하여 향후 소방대원의 중량물 관련 작업에 대한 위험도를 예측하고, 관련 위험도를 감소시키기 위한 기초 자료를 도출하고자 하였다. 도출된 위험도 등급은 위험도 점수가 3점부터 9점까지 총 7단계로 구성되었다. 가장 위험도가 높은 1등급은 나타나지 않았으며 인명구조 작업이 두 번째로 높은 2등급에 속하는 것으로 나타났다. 3등급은 파괴기구 활용, 환자 들어올리기작업 등으로 나타났다. 본 연구 결과들은 소방대원의 허리 부상을 포함하는 근골격계 질환 예방을 위한 작업방법 및 장비의 개선, 교육 프로그램의 개발에 기본 토대가 될 수 있다고 판단되며, 소방대원들의 근골격계 질환에 대한 지속적인 예방을 위해서는 본 연구의 골격을 토대로 한 추후 심층적인 조사와 연구가 시급하다고 사료된다.

• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.281-289
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• 2012

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential risk of shoulder muscle at particular working postures in sitting. Background: The cause of shoulder pain needs to be specifically studied in relation with particular shoulder postures to prevent shoulder MSDs in workplace. Method: In this study MVC, fatigue and subjective workload were investigated depending on the change of shoulder posture. An experiment was designed to evaluate the six shoulder muscles at nine shoulder postures including the combination of 30(adduction), 0, 30(abduction) degrees and 60, 90, and 120 degrees of shoulder flexion. Surface electrodes were attached to the middle trapezius, inferior middle trapezius, anterior deltoid, posterior deltoid, serratus anterior and teres major. Thirteen subjects participated in the experiment. Dependent variables were RPE (rating of perceived exertion), MVC(maximum voluntary contraction) and MPF(mean power frequency) shift by EMG (electromyography). Results: The middle trapezius and inferior middle trapezius were not significantly fatigued at all postures. The decline of MPF slope was less than 10% at all postures. The anterior deltoid was significantly fatigued all postures. The decline of MPF slope was more than 10% at all postures. The posterior deltoid was significantly fatigued 30 degrees of adduction and 90 degrees of flexion. And, neutral and 30 degrees of abduction postures were fatigued more than 90 degrees of flexion. The serratus anterior was significantly fatigued except for 30 degrees of adduction and 60 degrees of flexion posture. The teres major was significantly fatigued except for neutral and 60 degrees of flexion, 30 degrees of abduction and 60 degrees of flexion posture. Conclusion: It was found that a certain muscle was fatigued fast at particular posture compared to other muscles, which would mean that a certain shoulder muscle at particular posture could be easily exposed to the risk of musculoskeletal disorders than other muscles. Application: It is expected that the result can be applied to design workplace using shoulder muscles.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제50권6호
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• pp.347-360
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• 2017

Objectives: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate congenital malformations in infants conceived by assisted reproductive techniques (ART), compared with infants conceived spontaneously. Methods: In this study, available resources searched to find relevant articles included PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Google Scholar, Cochrane, ProQuest, Iranmedex, Magiran, and Scientific Information Database. After extracting the necessary information from evaluated articles, meta-analysis on the articles' data was performed using Stata version 11.2. Results: In this study, from a total of 339 articles, extracted from the initial investigation, ultimately 30 articles were selected for meta-analysis that assessed the use of ART on the risk of congenital abnormalities and some birth complications on 5 470 181 infants (315 402 cases and 5 154 779 controls). The odds ratio (95% confidence interval [CI]) for low birth weight was 1.89 (95% CI, 1.36 to 2.62), preterm labor 1.79 (95% CI, 1.21 to 2.63), cardiac abnormalities 1.43 (95% CI, 1.27 to 1.62), central nervous system abnormalities 1.36 (95% CI, 1.10 to 1.70), urogenital system abnormalities 1.58 (95% CI, 1.28 to 1.94), musculoskeletal disorders 1.35 (95% CI, 1.12 to 1.64), and chromosomal abnormalities in infants conceived by ART was 1.14 (95% CI, 0.90 to 1.44), which were all statistically significant, except chromosomal abnormalities. Conclusions: The risk of congenital abnormalities and some birth complications were significantly higher in ART than normal conception, while chromosomal abnormalities were not; therefore, the application of ART should be selected individually for patients by detailed assessment to reduce such risks in the population.

• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.183-196
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this research was to assess the agreement between job physical risk factor analysis by ergonomists using ergonomic methods and physical examinations made by occupational physicians on the presence of musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremities. Background: Ergonomics is the systematic application of principles concerned with the design of devices and working conditions for enhancing human capabilities and optimizing working and living conditions. Proper ergonomic design is necessary to prevent injuries and physical and emotional stress. The major types of ergonomic injuries and incidents are cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs), acute strains, sprains, and system failures. Minimization of use of excessive force and awkward postures can help to prevent such injuries Method: Initial data were collected as part of a larger study by the University of Utah Ergonomics and Safety program field data collection teams and medical data collection teams from the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (RMCOEH). Subjects included 173 male and female workers, 83 at Beehive Clothing (a clothing plant), 74 at Autoliv (a plant making air bags for vehicles), and 16 at Deseret Meat (a meat-processing plant). Posture and effort levels were analyzed using a software program developed at the University of Utah (Utah Ergonomic Analysis Tool). The Ergonomic Epicondylitis Model (EEM) was developed to assess the risk of epicondylitis from observable job physical factors. The model considers five job risk factors: (1) intensity of exertion, (2) forearm rotation, (3) wrist posture, (4) elbow compression, and (5) speed of work. Qualitative ratings of these physical factors were determined during video analysis. Personal variables were also investigated to study their relationship with epicondylitis. Logistic regression models were used to determine the association between risk factors and symptoms of epicondyle pain. Results: Results of this study indicate that gender, smoking status, and BMI do have an effect on the risk of epicondylitis but there is not a statistically significant relationship between EEM and epicondylitis. Conclusion: This research studied the relationship between an Ergonomic Epicondylitis Model (EEM) and the occurrence of epicondylitis. The model was not predictive for epicondylitis. However, it is clear that epicondylitis was associated with some individual risk factors such as smoking status, gender, and BMI. Based on the results, future research may discover risk factors that seem to increase the risk of epicondylitis. Application: Although this research used a combination of questionnaire, ergonomic job analysis, and medical job analysis to specifically verify risk factors related to epicondylitis, there are limitations. This research did not have a very large sample size because only 173 subjects were available for this study. Also, it was conducted in only 3 facilities, a plant making air bags for vehicles, a meat-processing plant, and a clothing plant in Utah. If working conditions in other kinds of facilities are considered, results may improve. Therefore, future research should perform analysis with additional subjects in different kinds of facilities. Repetition and duration of a task were not considered as risk factors in this research. These two factors could be associated with epicondylitis so it could be important to include these factors in future research. Psychosocial data and workplace conditions (e.g., low temperature) were also noted during data collection, and could be used to further study the prevalence of epicondylitis. Univariate analysis methods could be used for each variable of EEM. This research was performed using multivariate analysis. Therefore, it was difficult to recognize the different effect of each variable. Basically, the difference between univariate and multivariate analysis is that univariate analysis deals with one predictor variable at a time, whereas multivariate analysis deals with multiple predictor variables combined in a predetermined manner. The univariate analysis could show how each variable is associated with epicondyle pain. This may allow more appropriate weighting factors to be determined and therefore improve the performance of the EEM.

• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.395-401
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• 2011

Objective: This study examined the effects of working chair that was developed for farmers who work in grapevine's cluster thinning. Background: Agricultural work involves some of the nation's highest occupational risk exposures. Fruit cultivation has been recognized as one of the most hazardous crops in which to work. Grapevine cluster thinning task involve activities related to the main risk factors associated with upper limb work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Method: An experiment was designed to test the working chair. Six healthy male($25.8{\pm}4.9years$) were selected as the subjects for this study. Electromyography(EMG) was used to monitor the muscles activity, and Electro-goniometer was used to measure the ranges of motions of the elbow, trunk and knee. Subjective test was also carried out to examine discomfort body parts and their pain intensity. A grapevine's working space was built for the experiment and working chair was installed on it. In order to examine the muscle activity and range of motion, subjects used to the working chair for 30 minutes for each experimental condition. Another test without working chair was also performed for comparison. %MVC was used to quantify the level of muscle activity. Results: Decreases of muscle activity was found in all leg muscles and significant decrease of muscle activity was found in left Gastrocnemius. The range of motion of the trunk and knee also decreased when working chair used. Discomfort in lower back, thigh and shank region were reduced significantly. However, in upper limbs muscle activity tended to increase in working chair compared with conventional task. Conclusion: Improvement for cushion in seat back and pan required to reduce discomfort in buttocks. Application: Overall findings verified that the working chair might help to prevent upper limb and lower back MSDs based on the current study. These results can be practically used for work improvement for the grapevine growers to prevent MSDs.

• 한국치위생학회지
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.225-236
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• 2004

It has been suggested in research results thai dental hygienists have high risk of carpal tunnel syndrome, mainly caused by the repeated motion of extensor and flexor or the use of vibration tools, compared to other occupations. To find out the situation of the carpal tunnel syndrome of dental hygienists, who are exposed to work-related musculoskeletal disorders, this study used 132 questionnaires given on May 22, 2004, the period of continuing education of the first half year in the Gwangju Jeonnam area, and obtained the following results. 1. Subjects worked at a dental ciinic(32.6%), a hospital(31.8%), and a public health center(35.6%). Age by work was under 24 in a clinic(17.4%) and a hospital(15.9%), and over 30 in a public health center(35.6%). 2. In practice conducted over one time a day, a scaling accounted for 90.7% in a doctor's office; 595% in a hospital; and 3.0% in a public health center, suggesting significant difference(p<0.01). Pit and fissure sealant accounted for 53.5% in a clinic; 53.2% in a hospital; and 95% in a public health center, also suggesting significant difference(p0.01). 3. Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome appeared in a wrist(12.1%), a right hand(14.4%), and a left hand(5.3%). 4. In case of temporary crown practice, symptoms appeared in a wrist(22.0%), a right hand(14.0%), and a left hand(4.0%), suggesting significant difference(p<0.01). The above results showed that 12.1% of dental hygienists was exposed to carpal tunnel syndrome. Thus, it is considered very important that dental hygienists should be given education of the danger of continuous work in certain motions and prevention education of improving repeated position, and make efforts to reinforce self-control ability.