• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.9-15
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• 2022

The analysis of the causes of accidents in workplaces where machines and tools are used is essential to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of safety prevention policies in places of employment in Korea. The causes of workplace accidents are not fully understood mainly due to difficulties in analyzing available descriptive information. This study focuses on the automated accident cause analysis in workplaces based on the accident abstracts found in industrial accident reports written in an unstructured descriptive format. The method proposed in this paper is based on text data mining and uses the keyword search function of Excel software to automate the analysis. The analysis results indicate that the primary reason for the frequency of accidents is related to technical aspects at a stage in which dangerous situations occur in the workplace. Accidents due to managerial causes are typically observed when danger exists in the workplace; however, managerial actions play a more important role in reducing accident severity. A small company tends to use unsafe machines and devices, leading to further accidents due to technical causes, whereas managerial causes are more conspicuous as the company grows. To preclude the occurrence of accidents due to inadequate knowledge, the implementation of safety management and the provision of safety education to elderly workers at the early stage of their employment are particularly important for small companies with less than 100 workers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.62-64
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• 2010

Since 1990 in South Korea, the considerable concern for the safety of construction sights has been increased due to serious accidents. There have been numerous big improvements in preventing the accidents by strengthening legal enforcement and by continuing to emphasize the safety management. Further, the safety standards and criteria for temporary constructional work have been enacted and established in order to maintain safe work environments in temporary construction and structure settings. However, the death rate from fall accidents is still high in the temporary constructional and structural settings in comparison to other work places in construction. According to the analysis of accidents in the field of construction between 2000 and 2007, the death rate from fall accidents in the temporary constructional settings was highest. In addition, there have been more fall accidents in the work setting by small or medium construction enterprises rather than large enterprises due to the relative lack of the safety management. Thus, in this study, the analysis of the causes of fall accidents in the temporary constructional and structural settings between 2000 and 2007 was conducted. Moreover, a survey study was carried out in order to investigate further causes based on the analysis. Finally, this study was also conducted in order to provide basic information and knowledge about the prevention of future accidents.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2010

The Finnish risk assessment practice is based on the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act aiming to improve working conditions in order maintain the employees' work ability, and to prevent occupational accidents and diseases. In practice there are hundreds of risk assessment methods in use. A simple method is used in small and medium sized enterprises and more complex risk evaluation methods in larger work places. Does the risk management function in the work places in Finland? According to our experience something more is needed. That is, understanding of common and company related benefits of risk management. The wider conclusion is that commitment for risk assessment in Finland is high enough. However, in those enterprises where OSH management was at an acceptable level or above it, there were also more varied and more successfully accomplished actions to remove or reduce the risks than in enterprises, where OSH management was in lower level. In risk assessment it is important to process active technical prevention and exact communication, increase work place attraction and increase job satisfaction and motivation. Investments in OSH are also good business. Low absenteeism due to illness or accidents increases directly the production results by improved quality and quantity of the product. In general Finnish studies have consistently shown that the return of an invested euro is three to seven-old. In national level, according to our calculations the savings could be even 20% of our gross national product.

• 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.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.229-233
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• 2011

Recently, the scale of buildings has been increasing because of the high-rise trend and complexity of underground spaces. A significant number of steel structures have therefore been adopted for building construction. Since workers need to work in high places to install steel beams, many industrial accidents easily occur during steel-frame work. Furthermore, considering the increasing trend of building steel structures, the safety of the workers during the steel beam erection work is of concern. To improve the safety, a new type of joint, located between the steel column and beam, which can eliminate the need for working at the elevated height during steel beam erection has been developed in Korea. Using the newly developed technology in the construction field, the safety performance needs to be evaluated. This study presented the safety evaluation approach for the newly developed technology from the literature review, and applied the method to a self-supported steel joint. The result showed that applying the self-supported steel joint improved the safety of the steel erection work in terms of working posture, working environment, and risk exposure time.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.151-174
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• 1991

The purpose of this study is to research the actual conditions of industrial accident patients and to produce worker satisfaction and a rational and effective counter measure plan. Direct interviews with 179 cases (in and out patients) were carried out during a three month period from April to July 1990, at six hospitals : two general hospitals Sun Lin and Sung Mo in Po Hang, and four general hospitals in Taegu : Kyung pooh University Hospital, Dong San Medical Center, Young Nam Medical Center and Catholic Hospital. The results of this study are summarized as fellows : 1. Among the 179 cases, $51.6\%$ were male and $48.4\%$ were female. The two largest age groups were 30-39, $31.8\%$ and 20-29, $27.4\%$. Among the 179 cases, $51.6\%$ were married, the largest family number was 2 to 3, $41.1\%$ and 4 to 5, $25.6\%$. Educationally, graduation from high school was the largest group, $46.4\%$ among ,the patients, followed by middle school and primary school. The largest group income level was from 40-69 만원, $45.2\%$. The largest group of patients who worked over 50 hrs. a week was $52.0\%$. The largest group of patients who worked less than 1 year was $44.7\%$, of the patients in work places of less than 100 people, $60.3\%$ were injured and in work places of 100-299 people, $20.1\%$ were injured. In manufacturing, the largest group injured was $55.3\%$, the next group was transport, storage, communication. The largest group of production workers injured was $40.2\%$. 2. The cause of injury in the largest group was facility problems, $33.5\%$. The next group was unsafe habits, $30.2\%$ ; a lack of safety knowledge, $17.9\%$ ; and insufficient supervision, $12.3\%$. The 30-39 year age group head the highest number of injuries, $40.4\%$ ; work places with more than 10 years of work, $44.4\%$ ; work places with more than 1000 people, $56.3\%$ and mining accidents, $80.0\%$. Among. these groups the highest cause of injury was due to facility problems. 3. The accident pattern showed machinery injuries $28.5\%$ as the largest group, followed by falls & falling objects $17.3\%$, fire & electric $15.1\%$, strucke by an object $14.5\%$, followed by overaction and vehicular accidents. The accident pattern showed $46.4\%$ among workers over the 50 year age group, workers in the 5-10 year group, $50.0\%$ ; places employing more than 1000 workers, $35.3\%$ ; construction $73.7\%$, and construction workers $57.1\%$, among these fall & falling objects caused the greatest number of injuries. 4. The largest group of injuries was fractures $54.8\%$, trauma $14.5\%$, amputation $11.7\%$, open wound, and burns. The largest number of fractures occurred in people in the 30-39 year age group, $63.2\%$ : over 10 years of work, $55.0\%$ ; in work places of 300-490 people, $63.6\%$ ; construction $63.2\%$ and general workers $57.2\%$. 5. The largest group of injuries was upper extremity $45.3\%$, lower extremity $24.0\%$, trunk $18.5\%$ and head or neck $12.2\%$. Of these groups, upper extremity injuries were the highest in those less than 20 years old $75.0\%$, less than 1 year or work $59.5\%$, in work places of 500-999 people $60.0\%$, manufacturing $56.6\%$ and production workers $55.6\%$. 6. Periods of injury showed 34 people injured in September, to be the largest followed by October, 32 ; August, 22 people : July, 19 people and the lowest December, 2 people. During the week, Friday had the largest group injured, 35 people ; followed by Saturday, 26 people and the lowest was Wednesday, 17 people, During the day 1400 hours had the largest group injured, 38 people ; followed by 800 hours, 31 people. 7. On a basis of 5 as the highest mark, the average, according to worker satisfaction showed facility safety 3.55, work environment 3.47, income 3.44, job 3.21 and treatment 2.98. 8. The correlation between general characteristics and injury showed that age was directly correlated to the duration of work (r=2591) p<0.01, age was directly correlated to industry (r=2311) p<0.01, and the duration was directly correlated to occupation (r=4372) p<0.001.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• 2004.08a
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• pp.64-73
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• 2004

During the period of every summer to early autumn seasons, ships have been wrecked or grounded from effect of a typhoon in the waters around Korean Peninsular. Typhoon Rusa killed more than 100 people in September 2002. Super Typhoon Maemi passed southeast of South Korea in September 12-13, 2003, with gale winds blowing at a record 60 m/s and caused much ship groundings, collisions and sinkings over 3000 in dockyards, harbors and places of refuge. These are things that could have been prevented had there merely been prior warning. The aim of this study is to examine what effect these typhoons had on occurrence characteristics of the maritime accidents in South Korea. In this work, records of marine accidents caused by a typhoon are investigated for the period from 1962 to 2002. The distribution is also compared with the trajectories of typhoons, passed during the 1990-2003. It is shown that attack frequency of typhoon and number of marine accidents is the highest in August. We use the track data of Maemi such as central pressure, maximum sustained wind speed and area of each 15m/s and 25m/s winds as a case study to draw a map as a risk index.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.736-742
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• 2014

If an accident occurs at work places that handle 'the accident preparedness substances', it causes more property damage and casualties than accidents of normal chemical substances. Even though various systems and regulations have been operated in order to prevent accidents, techniques for reducing and removing human error, which is one of the main reasons of accidents, are still inadequate. In this paper, hazardous work digitization, potential hazard verification, and work evaluation based on domestic technical guidelines have been performed through a case study of the accident of hydrofluoric acid leakage in Gumi in September 2012, and development of a new risk mapping method has been studied to supplement existing systems.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.78-94
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• 1991

The purpose of this study is to research the actual conditions of industrial accident patients and to produce worker satisfaction and a rational and effective counter measure pain. Direct interviews with 179 cases (in and out patients) were carried out during a three month period from April to July 1990, at six hospitals two general hospitals Sun Lin and Sung Mo in Po Hang, and four general hospitals in Taegu Kyung Pook University Hospital, Dong San Medical Center, Young Nam Medical Center and Catholic Hospital. The results of this study are summarized as follows: 1. Among the 179 cases, 51.6 % were male and 48.4 % were female. The two largest age groups were 30~39, 31.8 % and 20~29, 27.4 %. Among the 179 cases, 51.6% were married, the largest family number was 2 to 3, 41.1% and 4 to 5, 25.6%. Educationally, graduation from high school was the largest group, 46.4% among the patients, followed by middle school and primary school. The largest group income level was from 40~69만원, 45.2%. The largest group of patients who worked over 50 hrs. a week was 52.0%. The largest group of patients who worked less than 1 year was 44.7%, of the patients in work places of less than 100 people, 60.3% were injured and in work places of 100~299 people, 20.1% were injured. In manufacturing, the lagest group injured was 55.3%, the next group was transport, stroage, communication. The largest group of production workers injured was 40.2%. 2. The cause of injury in the largest group was facility problems, 33.5%. The next group was unsafe habits, 30.2% a lack of safety knowledge, 17.9% and insufficient supervision, 12.3%. The 30~39 year age group was head the highest number of injuries, 40.4% work places with more than 10 yeras of work, 44.4% work palces with more than 1000 people, 56.3% and mining accidents, 80.0%. Among these groups the highest cause of injury was due to facility problems. 3. The accident pattern showed machinery injuries 28.5% as the largest group, followed by falls & falling objects 17.3%, fire & electric 15.1%, struke by an object 14.5%, followed by overaction and vehicular accidents. The accident pattern showed 46.4 % among workers over the 50 year age group, workers in the 5~10 year group, 50.0 % places employing more than 1000 workers, 35.3 % : construction 73.7%, and construction workers 57.1%, among these fall & falling objects caused the greatest number of injuries. 4. The largest group of injuries was fractures 54.8%, trauma 14.5%, amputation 11.7%, open wound, and burns. The largest number of fractures occurred in people in the 30~39 year age group, 63.2 % over 10 years of work, 55.6% in work places of 300~400 people, 63.6% construction 63.2% and general workers 57.2 %. 5. The largest group of injuries was upper extremity 45.3%, lower extremity 24.0%, trunk 18.5 % and head or neck 12.2%. Of these groups, upper extremity injuries were the highest in those less 20 years old 75.0%, less than 1 years of work 59.5%, in work places of 500~999 people 60.0%, manufacturing 56.6 % and production workers 55.6%. 6. Periods of injury showed 34 people injured in September, to be the largest followed by October, 32 August, 22 people July, 19 people and the lowest December, 2 people. During the week, Friday had the largest group injured, 35 people followed by Saturday, 26 people and the lowest was Wednesday, 17 people, During the day 1400 hours had the largest group injured, 38 people followed by 800 hours, 31 people. 7. On a basis of 5 as the highest mark, the average, according to worker satisfaction showed facility safety 3.55, work environment 3.47, income 3.44, job 3.21 and treatment 2.98. 8. The correlation between general characteristics and injury showed that age was directly correlated to the duration of work(r=.2591) p<0.01, age was directly correlated to industry (r=2311) p<0.01, and the duration was directly correlated to occupation(r =.4372) p<0.001.

• International Journal of Safety
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.33-36
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• 2006

In laboratories, researchers frequently work using new methods with new tools and materials. So the workers in laboratories are exposed to risk from dangerous articles all the time. In the case of university laboratories, testing is done by the individual at night. Because of that, the risks in university laboratories are higher than in other places. In addition, students and managers in universities generally have little concern for laboratory safety. So students are sometimes injured or killed in laboratory accidents. In this study, 1,000 university students answered questions about university laboratory safety. Their answers have been analyzed to determine the state of actual conditions and to formulate countermeasures. The results indicate that we need to change the safety awareness of the universities and the students. Adequate safety training and safe practice must be implemented by each university to decrease accidents. Development of systematic safety training program suited to the specific conditions of the individual laboratory and formulation of specific counter plans should accidents occur are required.