• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2016

Objective: This study aimed to find good design for summer functional farm shoes under the agricultural environment and working characteristics, which can help safe farm work and further promote the efficiency of working. Background: Most accidents at farms were overturn accidents caused by slipping or falling, and it was found that the main factors which caused the overturn accidents were inappropriate work shoes for the working conditions. These inappropriate work shoes often cause overturn accidents in the rural areas with steep paths. Method: A survey on work shoes was conducted with 174 farmers, and the outcome of this survey was used to find problems of work shoes and improvement ideas for the design of work shoes which can be used at farms. Results: Regarding the form of farm shoes, the ankle height was set at 6 inches to prevent the bending of the ankle and the inflow of foreign substances. The size and groove of the pattern of the outsole were extended to prevent catching of foreign substances. In the upper part, polyurethane and cordura were used in combination to secure air permeability, which was pointed out as the reason for the discomfort during the work wearing existing work shoes. Conclusion: Since farmers felt discomfort with the shoes which they were currently wearing, this study suggested a design of farm shoes by analyzing the important matters of the work shoes in development in order to improve such discomfort. Application: This study can help develop farm shoes that would practically ease farmers' burden of working at farm worksites and keep them safe.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.4
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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.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.76-89
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• 2012

This study was performed to offer the basic data for the design of farm shoes. 265 Korean female farmers aging between the 40s to the 80s volunteered for this study and we measured 40 items on each foot with the 3D foot scanner. First, the differences between farmers' feet and non-farmers' feet were analyzed. Farmers' feet were thicker in the instep areas, but had lower arch height than non-farmers' feet. In addition, farmer's feet were tilted to the inside. Next, eight factors were extracted among the 40 measuring items, and the classification criteria of the foot shape was analyzed. The important factors were: size of foot length and volume of ankle, malleolus height and size, volume of the front part of ankle, medial & lateral ball width, and vertical size of foot. Third, three clusters according to the foot shapes were categorized by cluster analysis of eight factor scores. Foot type 1 was medium in foot length, big in thickness, large in lateral ball width, small in toe 1 angle, and tilted to the inside. Foot type 2 was long and slim, and big in toe 5 angle. Foot type 3 was short in foot length, medium in volume of the front part of ankle, large in medial ball width, and big in toe 1 angle. Despite its shortness, foot type 3 was thick and showed severe deformation in toe 1. Lastly, the frequency distributions of the foot types in each age group were analyzed. Female farmers of the forties showed high frequency in type 1 and other age groups showed high frequency in type 2. The older female farmers showed higher frequency of type 3.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.773-783
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• 2012

Objective: The aim of this study is to identify foot shapes of Korean male farmers by classifying their foot types using 3D scan data and analyzing the characteristics of each type. Background: The increasing demands for anthropometric information for the design of machinery and personal protective equipment to prevent occupational injuries has necessitated an understanding of the anthropometric differences to be found among occupations. Static stooped posture and squatting posture are so common in Korean farmers that anthropometric deformation in foot especially seems to occur easily. Method: 366 Korean male farmers volunteered for this study from 16 different farming villages nationwide from 2009 to 2011. Subjects were categorized into 4 age groups from 40s to 70s. Their right feet were measured by using 3D foot scanner, the anthropometric dimensions were composed of 40 items. Results: The 8 major factors affecting the foot shapes were extracted. From these factors the foot shape of Korean male farmers was classified into 3 Foot types. Foot type 1 showed severe deformation in toe 1, type 2 had a narrow shape and type 3 had a wider width for its length. Conclusion: There were some differences in foot shape and types between farmers and the public. The most characteristic foot type in Korean male farmers was type 3. Application: The results of identifying foot shapes of Korean male farmers might provide the useful information for designing ergonomic farm work shoes.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.122-126
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• 2007

Expenditure on meat and meat products has been increased in Korea due to the increase of income and the change of diet. From raising farm animals to eating the meat, various hazardous elements can make their ways into the meat and meat products. Recently the issues on food safety and hygiene are drawing a lot of attention, and the current system for managing the safety of foods is still needed to be improved. This survey was aimed to monitor the current situation of country-of-origin labels and hygiene for the meat markets at 4 regions Korea. The survey was performed by collecting samples from whole- sale and retail stores in the nation, which were selling beef. The markets were divided into groups as to territory and the size of the market (Large size, Medium size, and Small size). In terms of size distribution, small butcher shops occupied the highest percentage. On the itemized suitability test of unpacked and packed beef, all the market of 4 regions showed good agreements. However, such labels indicating the methods of cooking and storage were not properly posted on the products. Especially for Ho-nam region, corrections are needed. The results of monitoring sanitation conditions for the butcher shops at 4 regions in Korea showed relatively low suitability. Especially, there were serious lack of knowledge about wearing the sanitation clothing, caps, and shoes. The problem with food safety is so complicated that producer, consumer, food manufacturer, the press, the government, and scholar should solve altogether. It is necessary to educate farmers, food handlers, consumers, etc. and provide them with an accurate information and knowledge.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.195-205
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• 2016

Sugar beet cyst nematode, Heterodera schachtii, causes serious economic losses worldwide in Brassicaceae crops. In 2011, this nematode was first found in highland vegetable cultivation areas in Korea, and thereafter spread to the surrounding healthy Chinese cabbage fields. However, little has been documented on the biological and ecological characteristics of the sugar beet nematode in highland vegetable cultivation areas. In this study the dispersal of the sugar beet cyst nematode was examined, focusing on spreading through soil and/or water infested with the nematode. When farmers with work boots trampled on Chinese cabbage fields for 10 minutes, the number of cysts recovered from the soil attached to the working differed depending on the research sites. Under irrigation conditions of 2, 4, and 8 liters of water per $m^2$, the amounts of soils attached on the bottom of the work boots and the number of healthy cysts in the soils increased significantly with the increase in soil moisture, although the total number of cysts, eggs, and juveniles did not increase significantly. After driving on the farm road adjacent to cabbage fields infested with the sugar beet cyst nematode, cysts were also recovered from the soil attached to the vehicle's tires, suggesting that the sugar beet cyst nematode can spread to new fields through soil carried by vehicles and by farmers. An excavator and a motor truck could deliver 41 kg and 224 g, respectively, of soil on the shovel shoes and the wheels to other locations during the Chinese cabbage harvest, suggesting that farming equipment and transportation vehicles may be vital means by which the cyst nematode spreads to non-infested fields in the highland area of Korea. Runoff water also contained cysts, whose amounts increased after water irrigation onto the ridges to simulate rainy conditions, with no significant difference in the number of cysts with increasing amounts of irrigation water. All of these results confirmed that the sugar beet cyst nematode spreads through soil attached to work boots, harvesting tools, and transportation vehicles, especially during the harvest time, and through runoff water on rainy days. These observations suggest that personal sanitization and cleaning of working tools and vehicles are one of the most important means to prevent the dispersal of the sugar beet cyst nematode in fields.