• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.96-101
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• 2024

Background: Silicosis among workers who fabricate engineered stone products in micro or small-sized enterprises (MSEs) was reported from several countries. Workplace exposure data of these workers at high risk of exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust are limited. Methods: We surveyed workers performing cutting, shaping and polishing tasks at 6 engineered stone fabricating MSEs in Sydney, Australia prior to regulatory intervention. Personal exposure to airborne RCS dust in 34 workers was measured, work practices were observed using a checklist and worker demography recorded. Results: Personal respirable dust measurements showed exposures above the Australian workplace exposure standard (WES) of 0.1 mg/m³ TWA-8 hours for RCS in 85% of workers who performed dry tasks and amongst 71% using water-fed tools. Dust exposure controls were inadequate with ineffective ventilation and inappropriate respiratory protection. All 34 workers sampled were identified as overseas-born migrants, mostly from three linguistic groups. Conclusions: Workplace exposure data from this survey showed that workers in engineered stone fabricating MSEs were exposed to RCS dust levels which may be associated with a high risk of developing silicosis. The survey findings were useful to inform a comprehensive regulatory intervention program involving diverse hazard communication tools and enforcing improved exposure controls. We conclude that modest occupational hygiene surveys in MSEs, with attention to workers' demographic factors can influence the effectiveness of intervention programs. Occupational health practitioners should address these potential determinants of hazardous exposures in their workplace surveys to prevent illness such as silicosis in vulnerable workers.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.199-206
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• 2020

Background: In a wide range of industries, noise-induced hearing loss remains one of the most prevalent occupational problems. This study aimed to assess the noise exposure level and associated factors of hearing loss among textile workers in Yangon Region, Myanmar. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a Textile mill (Thamine), Yangon Region, from April to December 2018. In total, 226 workers who were randomly selected from 3 weaving sections participated in face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. A digital sound level meter and pure-tone audiometer were used for the assessment of noise exposure level and hearing loss, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the associated factors of hearing loss. Results: In total workers, 66.4% were exposed to ≥85 dB(A) of noise exposure, and the prevalence of hearing loss was 25.7%. Age ≥35 years, below high school education, hearing difficulty, tinnitus, hypertension, > 9 years of service duration in a textile mill were positively associated with hearing loss. After adjusting confounding factors, age ≥35 years (adjusted odds ratio = 6.90, 95% confidence interval = 3.45-13.82) and tinnitus (adjusted odds ratio = 2.88, 95% confidence interval = 1.13-7.37) were persistently associated with hearing loss. Conclusion: Providing occupational hazard education and enforcement of occupational safety regulations should be taken to decrease the noise exposure level. The regular audiometry test should be conducted for assessment of hearing threshold shift. The employer needs to implement a hearing conservation program in workplace when noise exposure reaches or exceeds 85 dB(A) for 8 hours.

• 대한안전경영과학회지
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.45-54
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• 2014

The average injury rate in sawmilling industry for the last 5 years is 4.99%, which means that more than 200 injuries have occurred in that industry every year. Because the first step in risk assessment is the hazard identification, it is very important to know how to define the hazard and nature of harm. We analyzed 643 accident records of three years(2010-2012) and carried out site survey for the same cases. As a result, the most common types of work at the time of injury in sawmilling industry were removing jammed wood 81(12.8%), wood carrying task 52(8.1%), wood cutting 49(7.6%), travelling table log band saw 41(6.4%), maintenance 37(5.8%) etc. In addition, there were statistically significant differences in some analysis factors such as injured body parts, employment size, and handling material among different working places. Therefore, it is concluded that differentiated prevention efforts are necessary in each workplace.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.192-199
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• 2024

Background: Safety data sheets (SDSs) are hazard communication materials that accompany chemicals/hazardous products in the workplace. Many SDSs contain dense, technical text, which places considerable comprehension demands on workers, especially those with lower literacy skills. The goal of this study was to assess SDSs for readability, comprehensibility, and suitability (i.e., fit to the target audience). Methods: The Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM) tool assessed SDSs for suitability and readability. We then amended the SAM tool to further assess SDSs for comprehensibility factors. Both the original and amended SAM tool were used to score 45 randomly selected SDSs for content, literacy demand, graphics, and layout/typography. Results: SDSs performed poorly in terms of readability, suitability, and comprehensibility. The mean readability scores were Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (9.6), Gunning Fog index (11.0), Coleman-Liau index (13.7), and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook index (10.7), all above the recommended reading level. The original SAM graded SDSs as "not suitable" for suitability and readability. When the amended SAM was used, the mean total SAM score increased, but the SDSs were still considered "not suitable" when adding comprehensibility considerations. The amended SAM tool better identified content-related issues specific to SDSs that make it difficult for a reader to understand the material. Conclusions: In terms of readability, comprehensibility, and suitability, SDSs perform poorly in their primary role as a hazard communication tool, therefore, putting workers at risk. The amended SAM tool could be used when writing SDSs to ensure that the information is more easily understandable for all audiences.

• 대한영양사협회학술지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.95-111
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• 2024

The Smart Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) management system, which integrates information technology (IT) to automate and analyze big data, has been introduced into school food services. This study investigated the job performance, job satisfaction, and job stress of employees in school food services using Smart HACCP. Data were collected via questionnaires from 350 employees in school food services who utilized Smart HACCP and worked in Gyeonggi-do or Incheon. The questionnaire included general information, workplace characteristics, HACCP education status, job performance, and job satisfaction according to the use of Smart HACCP, and general job stress. The responses showed that 92.3% of the participants had received HACCP education in the workplace, and 66.6% understood the content of the education. Among the HACCP process stages, CCP2 (Food Handling and Cooking) and CCP3 (Cooking Completion and Distribution) were the stages at which all participants were using Smart HACCP. CCP3 had the highest percentage (61.4%) of participants who experienced feeling the maximum reduction in their tasks by using Smart HACCP. The Smart HACCP job performance at CCP1 (Inspection) and Smart HACCP job satisfaction were higher in workplaces with 6~10 employees, compared to those with 10≤ employees (both P<0.05). The Smart HACCP job performances at of CP1 (Refrigeration and Freezer Temperature Management) and CP2 (Cleaning and Disinfection of Food Contact Surfaces) were significantly affected by the work area. General job stress was significantly higher in cooks than in cook practitioners, higher in employees with cook certification than in those without it, and higher in employees with work experience (<1 year), compared to those with 5~10 years or 10~15 years' experience. In conclusion, employees' job performance and satisfaction with Smart HACCP need to be enhanced to improve hygiene in school food service. This requires the effective management of their job stress.

• 사물인터넷융복합논문지
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.73-79
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• 2019

현재 질식 가스 및 폭발위험이 있는 물질에 대하여 실시간으로 경고를 제공하는 서비스 및 시스템에 관한 연구가 진행되고 있지만, 현재 스마트 형 밴드 형태의 서비스는 미비한 실정이다. 본 연구에서는 작업장 내의 정전기로 인한 폭발위험요소의 실시간 확인 및 사고 발생 요인의 즉각적인 제거를 지원하고 작업자 상태 및 작업장의 위험요소(산소, 유해 화학 물질 농도)등의 실시간 모니터링 및 위험 발생시 즉시 경고 및 데이터 분석을 통한 사전 사고 예방시스템 구축방법을 제안한다. 이로써, 산업현장에서 발생할 수 있는 각종 재해를 IoT 기반의 지능형 센서노드, 무선 네트워크기술 그리고 데이터 가공 미들웨어 및 통합 관제시스템을 이용해 모니터링하고 실시간 산업현장에서의 위험정보를 전달함과 동시에 사고를 예방해 작업자의 안전한 작업환경 지원으로 사후 수습 비용 대비 획기적 비용절감을 할 수 있다.

• 한국가스학회지
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.27-31
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• 2018

폭발위험장소의 구분은 인화성 물질을 취급하는 사업장에서 비용 및 안전 측면에서 매우 중요하다. 위험장소의 반경에 따라 전기기계 기구의 방폭기기 설치 여부가 결정되기 때문이다. 2017년 11월 6일부터 KS C IEC-60079-10-1:2015가 발행되어 새로운 기준으로 적용된다. 기존의 기준과 새로운 기준에 대한 차이를 이해하여 적용하는 것이 중요한 시점이다. 누출량 계산식에 누출계수 및 압축인자가 추가되었고 증발 풀 누출량 계산식, 누출공 크기 적용, 폭발위험장소의 모양이 추가 적용되었다. 안전계수 K값의 범위도 변경되었다. 또한 위험장소의 반경에는 기존기준은 가상체적에 환기횟수를 적용하였지만 개정기준은 누출 특성 값을 이용하여 산정된다. 본 연구에서는 환기 및 희석의 관점에서 기존 기준과의 차이점을 살펴보고 위험장소의 반경에 미치는 영향을 검토하였다. 기존 폭발위험장소를 선정한 기준과 개정기준을 기준으로 적용하여 비교 및 분석을 실시하였다. 연구결과 환기 및 희석이 잘 된다하더라도 실질적으로 위험반경에 영향이 없을 경우가 발생함을 알 수 있었다.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.75-86
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• 2020

Objectives: In this study, we assessed respiratory hazards in the working environment as the work-relatedness of occupational diseases were examined. Methods: The subjects of the study were three Korean meat roasting restaurants, one Chinese restaurant, and two cafeterias. Measurement items were total dust, respirable dust, fine dust (PM_2.5), PAHs, TVOCs, temperature, humidity, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Results: The concentration of total dust and respiratory dust in the restaurant was low. Most PAHs were undetectable, but some Napthalene and Acenaphthylene was detected. Thirteen kinds of PAHs were detected in one sample of roasted meat, and Benzo(a)pyrene was 1.496 ㎍/㎥. PM_2.5, TVOCs, CO, and CO₂ were instantaneously high, but the average concentration was low. NO₂ was not detected. Conclusions: The results show that harmful substances such as PM_2.5, PAHs, CO, and TVOCs were generated in the air in the catering industry. When roasting meat, Benzo(a)pyrene, a carcinogen related to lung cancer, was generated among PAHs. Lung cancer can occur when working for a long time in such a working environment. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the working environment for the health of restaurant workers, and it is necessary to evaluate the concentration of harmful substances by cooking method through further research.

• 대한안전경영과학회지
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.219-229
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• 2014

Employees used computer significantly(IT employee) is increased by technological development in workplace. This study tried to find the magnitude of IT employees and the profile of their working conditions and ill health experiences in South Korea. Korean Working Conditions Survey was used with descriptive and mean difference test in order to find the difference working conditions and ill health status among the groups classified by the degree of using computer during work. Some of working conditions was positively correlated with the density of computer use such as work autonomy, the exposure of repetitive movement of hand and arms. The pain of upper extreme was also more frequently found in the highest user group of computer than lower user groups. Based on the result of hierarchical regression analysis, the effect of computer using on the experience of work-related symptoms after controlling other factors was shown as U shape. This study as heuristic one suggest that some of depth analysis with hypothesis will be done to identify the causes and pathway of impact of computer use.

• 한국직업건강간호학회지
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.180-188
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the health status between foreign workers and native workers and to examine the influencing factors of health status of foreign and native workers. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of the data collected from the 3rd (2011) Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS). The sample included 101 foreign workers and 101 native workers matched by age and gender. Results: The difference in health status between foreign workers and native workers was not statistically significant. The most commonly complained health problem of foreign workers was muscle pain of the upper limbs. Among foreign workers, hazard exposure, coworker support and supervisor support were significant predictors of health status. Among native workers, income level and obesity were significant predictors of health status. Conclusion: For health management and health promotion of foreign workers, employers and health providers need to establish coworker supporting systems in workplace and improvement strategies of work environment. Particularly, they must pay closer attention to management of foreign workers' musculoskeletal disorder.