• 한국안전학회지
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.61-66
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• 2020

As asbestos-containing buildings are getting older, asbestos deconstruction works are increasing. As a result, accident risks such as falls, cuts, electric shocks, and suffocation are increasing. Existing studies are mostly about health management and institutional policy research and there is little research on work risk. So workplace risk assessments that are easily applicable in the field are required to be applied. Sealing is the first process of asbestos deconstruction and is the first step to ensure worker's safety. Job Safety Analysis(JSA) and Checklist were used to identify the risk factors and to calculate the level of the risk. By comparing the two risk assessment tools, it was figured out that the JSA is appropriate for the initial process and change of work procedure while Checklist is appropriate for repetitive work. Because the sealing process is sort and simple, it is unlikely to cause serious injury. But since the risk of falling and cuts are exist, safety education and supervision are necessary to maintain a safe working environment.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.205-212
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the needs and improvement measures of the risk assessment system through a survey of asbestos abatement companies. Methods: This study prepared a questionnaire that includes improvement measures for the risk assessment system(six questions) and the necessity of a risk assessment system for asbestos abatement(one question). The questionnaire was sent to 2,170 asbestos abatement companies and returned by 83 companies(return rate = 3.8%). We conducted frequency analysis, ANOVA, and Chi-squared testing at the 5% significance level. Results: This study analyzed the survey results and identified six main opinions on the risk assessment system and improvement measures. First, giving an advantage to companies with a high grade(S and A grades) in public bidding and/or qualification screening showed a similar preference(agree: 50.6%, disagree: 49.4%). Second, 57.6% of the respondents wanted to allow air showers along with water showers for low risk asbestos work. However, 23.2% of the respondents asserted that only a water shower should be allowed since there is no scientific evidence supporting the removal of asbestos by air shower. Third, in order to prevent missing the enrollment of workers, simply submitting a change report should be allowed when any worker is changed (40.0%). Fourth, 43% of the respondents answered that they did not know how to calculate the proper number of negative pressure units. The reasons given were a lack of guidelines or standards(38.9%), inconvenience (36.1%), and absence of education(25%). Fifth, the respondents who were favorable toward the necessity of a risk assessment system gave higher scores compared to unfavorable respondents on the necessity of the management of workers' work history(favorable respondent = 3.96 out of 5, unfavorable respondent = 2.68) and the necessity of professional training for workers(favorable respondent = 3.71, unfavorable respondent = 2.56). Finally, the respondents favorable toward a risk assessment system showed higher scores on the awareness of calculating the proper number of negative pressure units(4.79) compared to unfavorable respondents(3.3). Conclusions: The opinions of asbestos abatement companies identified through the survey in this study can be usefully utilized as fundamental information to improve the risk assessment system.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제22권12호
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• pp.1579-1587
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• 2013

This study was performed to evaluate the asbestos exposure levels and to calculate excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) for the risk assessment of the asbestos fibers released from asbestos-cement slate roofing (ASR) building. Total number of ASR buildings was into 21,267 in Busan, and 82.03 percent of the buildings was residential houses, and 43.61 percent of the buildings was constructed in 1970s. For this study, ten buildings were selected randomly among the ASR buildings. The range of airborne asbestos concentration in the selected ten ASR buildings was from 0.0016 to 0.0067 f/mL, and the concentration around no-admitted ASR buildings was higher than that around admitted buildings. The ELCR based on US EPA IRIS (integrated risk information system) model is within 3.5E-05 ~ 1.5E-04 levels, and the ELCR of no-admitted ASR buildings was higher than 1.0E-04 (one person per million) level that is considered a more aggressive approach to mitigate risk. These results indicate that the cancer risk from ASR buildings is higher than other buildings, and systematic public management is required for control of no-admitted ASR buildings within near future.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.28-38
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to identify the perceived problems of and suggest improvement measures for asbestos abatement companies in support of asbestos-related systems and policies. Methods: For this study a questionnaire was prepared consisting of current work (two questions), the contribution and necessity of a risk assessment system for asbestos abatement (two questions), and problems with and improvement measures for systems and policies (nine questions). The questionnaires were sent to 2,170 asbestos abatement companies and were returned by 83 companies (return rate = 3.8%). We conducted frequency analysis, ANOVA, and a Chi-squared test at the 5% significance level. Results: Asbestos abatement companies expressed difficulties with complying with wet work (43% of unenrolled managers), negative pressure enclosure (36% of all respondents), and installation and use of decontamination units (26% of all respondents) as stipulated in the relevant regulations. In addition, 43% of the respondents expressed concerns that the expertise of the company was not considered during bidding for asbestos abatement and hoped that an advantage (e.g., bid point) would be given to the upper grades for asbestos risk assessment (38%). Asbestos abatement companies generally rented and used negative pressure devices (including negative pressure recording devices) and suggested that periodic calibration (32%) is needed to ensure the performance of the rented equipment. Finally, the respondents asked for clear definitions for three situations specified in the Occupational Safety and Health Acts: (1) temporarily leaving the asbestos abatement workplace; (2) tasks with less airborne asbestos; and (3) physically breaking or cutting using a machine. Conclusions: The problems and improvement measures identified in this study of asbestos abatement companies can be utilized as fundamental information for the improvement of the systems and policies for safe asbestos abatement.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.66-72
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• 2012

Objectives: The AHERA method by the US EPA, ASTM E2356-04, and HSG264 by the UK HSE, all of which are hazard/risk assessment methods for asbestos-containing building materials, were reviewed and compared based on 231 homogeneous areas. In addition, the current Act on Asbestos Safety Management (enforcement: April 29, 2012) was reviewed and analyzed. This trial provided fundamental data for improving the current asbestos hazard/risk assessment method. Methods: For the hazard/risk assessment of 77 asbestos-containing public buildings including schools, 231 homogeneous areas were selected, each of which was assessed using AHERA, ASTM E2356-04, and HSG264. Results: The matching rate of the hazard/risk assessment stood at 20.4 percent between AHERA and ASTM, at 71.4 percent between AHERA and HSG264 and at 17.8 percent between ASTM and HSG264. The AHERA method includes a seven-category rating scale. There were three categories, two of which have three subcategories. ASTM provides two decision-making charts consisting of ten rating scales for current condition estimation and for potential for disturbance estimation. In addition, the HSG264 method has a total of 20 scores with four items, and then provides four grades. This HSG264 method cannot clearly separate current condition and potential for disturbance. Conclusions: In the Korean Act on Asbestos Safety Management, the hazard/risk assessment method for asbestos-containing building materials should consider balance between current condition estimation and the potential for disturbance estimation.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.35-42
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• 2018

Objectives:본 연구의 목적은 석면함유물질의 사용 특성을 조사하고, "환경부고시 제2016-230호 석면건축물의 위해성 평가 방법"을 적용하여 위해성평가를 실시하였다. Methods:서울 및 경인지역에 위치한 건축물 100개소를 선정하였으며, 지역의 구분은 서울 29개, 인천 20개, 경기 51개이다. 건축연도는 1970년대 3개, 1980년대 11개, 1990년대 42개, 2000년대 44개로 구분하여 조사하였다. 고형시료의 분석은 고효율 필터가 부착된 후드 내에서 입체현미경을 이용하여 전처리 과정을 거쳐 편광현미경으로 분석하였으며, 분석결과가 함유율 1% 초과인 경우에 석면함유물질(Asbestos-Containing Materials, ACMs)을 석면으로 규정하였다. 석면건축자재의 위해성 평가 방법 및 기준은 "환경부고시 제2016-230호 석면건축물의 위해성 평가 방법"을 참고하여 석면함유물질에 노출된 위해성 등급은 세 가지 단계(높음, 중간, 낮음)로 평가하였다. Results: 건축물 100개소 중 30개소, 고형시료 416개 중 36개(8.6%)에서 석면함유물질이 있는 것으로 나타났다. 1990년대에 지어진 건축물 42개 중 18개에서 석면이 높은 비율로 검출되었으며, 2000년대에 지어진 건물 44개 중 7개에서 가장 낮은 비율로 검출되었다. "환경부고시 제2016-230호 석면건축물의 위해성 평가 방법"에 따라 평가를 실시한 결과, 2개 건축자재의 위해성평가 등급은 "중간"으로 나타났으며, 28개의 건축자재는 "낮음" 으로 나타났다. Conclusion: 석면은 정부에 의해 규제되고 있어 적극적으로 관리를 하여야 하고, 다양한 상황에서 얻은 데이터가 뒷받침하는 석면 노출 위해성 평가방법을 도입하여 시행이 필요할 것이다. 개인이 소유하고 있는 건물의 경우 건축주가 석면 노출의 위해성을 인지하고 있어야 할 것이다.

• 한국건축시공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국건축시공학회 2023년도 봄 학술논문 발표대회
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• pp.71-72
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• 2023

Asbestos is a durable and heat-resistant building material used in various building materials such as slate, ceiling tex, and spray paint. It has been banned since 2009 after found to be a first-class carcinogen that causes various cancers and asbestos lung disease. Since workers are likely to be exposed to asbestos in the process of dismantling and removal of asbestos-made building materials and facilities, laws and work standards are proposed by the Ministry of Employment and Labor to ensure the safety of asbestos dismantling work. In addition, prior studies on exposure levels and analysis methods have been conducted in this regard mainly for residents. However, the relation between the results of the risk assessment of the process conducted during the asbestos investigation and the work is still ambiguous for the safety of workers. Therefore, this study proposes a process model development methodology that considers work risk based on the results of a survey from asbestos dismantling companies.

• 한국건축시공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국건축시공학회 2023년도 가을학술발표대회논문집
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• pp.49-50
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• 2023

Asbestos is a building material that has been actively used because of its excellent durability and heat resistance until 2009, when it was found to be a first-class carcinogen and prohibited in Korea. Currently, asbestos dismantling is an essential process in demolition of old buildings. Workers are likely to be exposed to asbestos in the process of dismantling and removing them, which causes various occupational diseases, suggesting related laws and work standards to ensure the safety of asbestos dismantling process. Accordingly, prior studies have been conducted to analyze the level of asbestos exposure and influencing factors occurring during work, but most of them are mainly concerning health issue while research on process risks considering field characteristics and safety aspects of the work processes is still insufficient. Therefore, this study aims to derive the process risks affecting the safety of workers based on the survey results of asbestos dismantling companies, and further proposed a cost calculation model taking those risks into account.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.139-145
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• 2011

Objectives: This investigation is purposed to evaluate the airborne asbestos concentrations in the public buildings having asbestos containing materials(ACMs) in Seoul. Methods: The Seoul Metropolitan Government carried out an asbestos survey to the city-owned public buildings to identify the level of risk exposure, classified into low, moderate and high risk. To evaluate the airborne concentration of asbestos, 11 sampling sites in ten buildings based on the survey were selected. The air samples from the eleven sites were analyzed by Phase Contrast Microscopy(PCM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and compared the analytical results from the both. Results: 1. The airborne fiber concentrations by PCM were less than the detection limit($7f/mm^2$) in 9(82%) out of 11 sampling sites. The highest concentration was 0.0043 f/cc, but it was below the guideline value for indoor air quality(0.01 f/cc), proposed by the Ministry of Environment, Korea. 2. In two sampling sites, having moderate risk level, the chrysotile was identified and showed it's concentrations of 0.0102 s/cc and 0.0058 s/cc, less than $5{\mu}m$ lengths. 3. The ACMs identified in the two sampling sites were a packing material(65% of chrysotile) in mechanical area and a thermal system insulation(5% of chrysotile) in a boiler room. Having more possibility of asbestos emission in the mechanical area, it would be required to set up and carry out the asbestos management plan. Conclusions: Based on the result of this study, the airborne asbestos concentrations in the public buildings with ACMs were generally lower than the guideline value for indoor air quality. There are widespread concerns about the possible health risk resulting from the presence of airborne asbestos fibers in the public buildings. Most of the previous studies about airborne asbestos analysis in Korea were performed based on PCM method that asbestos and non-asbestos fibers are counted together. In the public and commercial buildings, having ACMs, it is suggested that the asbestos be analyzed by TEM method to identify asbestos due to concerns about asbestos exposure to workers and unspecified people.

• 실내환경 및 냄새 학회지
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.330-336
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• 2018

The objective of this study was to determine whether crops and fruits absorb the naturally occurring asbestos (NOA). The concentration of asbestos in various crops and fruits grown in NOA areas was analyzed and background levels of asbestos in ambient air and soil samples were assessed. Actinolite/Tremolite asbestos were detected in all soil samples. Among 21 ambient air samples, 2 samples were recorded to contain 0.0005 f/cc (fiber per cubic centimeter) but no asbestos was detected in the other samples using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). However, no evidence suggesting that the crops and fruits could be contaminated by NOA was found in this study. The excess lifetime cancer risks (ELCRs) of ABS scenarios (agricultural activities) used in this study were calculated by using the Arithmetic (AM) and Geometric mean (GM) of ELCRs. The AM and GM of ELCRs estimated from digging soil and weeding activities did not exceed $1{\times}10^{-4}$, which was defined as the general acceptable risk range for exposure. The results of this study would be informative to NOA managers and related policy makers to make plans to prevent unexpected exposure to asbestos to residents living in an NOA area.