• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.12-18
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• 2023

Objectives: Personal protective equipment (PPE) is an essential means for protecting workers against hazardous agents or risks that threaten their safety and health. Governmental organizations related to safety and health in the workplace regulate the PPE rules to protect workers and to minimize damage from hazardous agents. This study discussed current PPE rules overseen by the Korea Ministry of Environment and explores future perspectives on the matter. Methods: This study was based on a review of PPE regulations with which every stakeholder should comply in the workplace. Both South Korean regulations enforced by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Ministry of Environment and cases from other countries were reviewed. Results: Regulations related to the PPE required for handling chemical substances in the workplace are enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Act, Enforcement Decree, Enforcement Rules, and Notification of Protective Equipment Certification under the Ministry of Employment and Labor. The Ministry of Environment also regulates the PPE standards for 97 substances requiring preparation for accidents and adjustment of work conditions, but a recent amendment (partially amended on September 30, 2022) loosened some unreasonable or excessive provisions. It requires workers simply to carry or otherwise keep PPE handy instead of wearing it for some tasks in which hazardous chemicals are not handled directly. Conclusions: It is important to regularly review provisions that need to be improved or supplemented to help all stakeholders. Considerations should be also made to build a reasonable regulatory system that can induce more mature safety management in each workplace.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.77-84
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• 2018

In Singapore, biosafety and biosecurity measures are controlled by the Biological Agents and Toxins Act (BATA) and other requirements by regulatory agencies. The law prohibits and otherwise regulates the possession, use, import, transhipment, transfer, and transportation of biological agents, inactivated biological agents, and toxins that are of public health concern. The law also defines the facility requirements for high risk biological agents and toxins. The containment facility (BSL 3) is a minimum requirement to handle biological agents that falls under Schedule 1 (Risk Group 3). The Nanyang Technological University School of Biological Sciences Biosafety Level 3 Facility (NTU-SBS BSL 3) was designed specifically for research involving potential hazardous biological materials. The facility requires yearly re-certification by an approved facility certifier to meet the local requirements and international biosafety standards for a containment facility in many instances. On the other hand, most NTU researchers conduct biological projects involving biological agents with low or moderate risk groups (Risk Groups 1 and 2 or biological agents described in schedule 3 and 4 of BATA) and GMOs, which need only a BSL 2 laboratory. BSL 2 laboratories are yet to be legally certified or registered in Singapore. Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) identifies the requirements; defines a minimum standard in the safe control of biological risks and registers all BSL 2 laboratories in the NTU. Therefore, under the guidance of the IBC, the University Biosafety and Biosecurity Programme includes the audit and certification program as a unique and an internal exercise to bring NTU biosafety to a higher level.

• Clean Technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.9-21
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• 2003

CFC-113 and 1,1,1-TCE which are ozone destruction substances are not used any more in the advanced countries because of Montreal protocol. MC and TCE are now used restrictively at small part of industrial fields in most of countries since they are known to be hazardous or carcinogenic materials. Thus, it is indispensible that the alternative cleaning agents which are environmental-friendly and safe, and show good cleaning ability should be developed or utilized for replacement of the halogenated cleaning agents. Aqueous cleaning agents are evaluated to be promising alternative ones among various alternatives in environmental and economical view point. This study has been carried out as a part of development program of aqueous cleaning agent. First of all, several types of surfactants which are the most important component in aqueous cleaning agents were chosen, and the physical properties, foaming ability, cleaning ability and oil-water separation efficiency of their aqueous solutions were measured and compared for selection of proper type of surfactant in aqueous cleaning agents.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.46-54
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• 1993

This study was carried out on the stabilized/solidified treatment for the reducing leachability of hazardous heavy metals copper, lead, chromium and cadmium in the hazardous sludge which treated to be unleached heavy metals by sodium diethyl dithiocarbamate. Cement matrix was analyzed for the leachability of 24 hrs and dynamic leaching test, structure and the optimum condition for the stabilization and solidification of the hazardous sludge. In 28 days of curing time the unconfined compressive strength was 21.5 kg/cm$^2$ at the ratio of portland cement (0.5)+fly ash (0.25) and 23.5 kg/cmz at the ratio of portland cement (0.5)+fly ash (0.25) + cake (0.25). High concentration of Pb, Cr and Cd in the sea water and Cu in the distilled water were leached at the dynamic leaching test. The concentration of leaching heavy metals for specimens which were tested 24 hrs were found low leachability with decreasing pH of leachant. According to dynamic leaching test, the low level of copper, lead, cadmium and chromium were leached in the cement matrix with sodium diethyl dithiocarbamate. But the effective diffusion coefficient of unleached cement matrix which was treated sodium diethyl dithiocarbamate was decreased above 2 times than that of cement matrix. The relation of leachant renewal period (Y) and cumulative fraction ion leached (X) was the following regression equations. Solidification with unleached agent. Y$_{Cu}$ = 1413752X + 247, Y$_{Pb}$ = 223501IX + 214, Y$_{Cr}$ = 8310601X - 472, Y$_{Cd}$ = 168787X + 1061 The structure of' solidified matrix with X-ray diffraction analysis was composed more Ca(OH)$_2$, Si, Mg(OH)$_2$ and Al in the unleached cement matrix than those in cement matrix.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.241-256
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• 2018

Objectives: This study aimed to review the characteristics of three-dimensional printing technology focusing on printing types, materials, and health hazards. We discussed the methodologies for exposure assessment on hazardous substances emitted from 3D printing through article reviews. Methods: Previous researches on 3D printing technology and exposure assessment were collected through a literature review of public reports and research articles reported up to July 2018. We mainly focused on introducing the technologies, printing materials, hazardous emissions during 3D printing, and the methodologies for evaluation. Results: 3D printing technologies can be categorized by laminating type. Fused deposition modeling(FDM) is the most widely used, and most studies have conducted exposure assessment using this type. The printing materials involved were diverse, including plastic polymer, metal, resin, and more. In the FDM types, the most commonly used material was polymers, such as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene(ABS) and polylactic acids(PLA). These materials are operated under high-temperature conditions, so high levels of ultrafine particles(mainly nanoparticle size) and chemical compounds such as organic compounds, aldehydes, and toxic gases were identified as being emitted during 3D printing. Conclusions: Personal desktop 3D printers are widely used and expected to be constantly distributed in the future. In particular, hazardous emissions, including nano sized particles and various thermal byproducts, can be released under operation at high temperatures, so it is important to identify the health effects by emissions from 3D printing. Furthermore, appropriate control strategies should be also considered for 3D printing technology.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.179-189
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• 2001

This study was performed to identify the current status of work environment management and to provide appropriate recommendations for small scale industry with less than 5 workers from September, 2000 to October, 2000 in Seoul city and Gyoung-gi province. The 211 companies were surveyed by checklist included the elements of management of work environment, hazardous chemicals, MSDS, personal protective equipment, and ventilation system. The proportion of metal products manufacturing and printing industries are 25.6 % and 22.3%, respectively. The daily working hours in printing industry is longer than others. The industries that produce potentially hazardous agents, such as noise, dust, metal, organic solvents, radiation and chemical material are pulp, plating, machinery, and printing, respectively. In above industries, only 2.8 % of those recognised and had MSDS. The proportion of companies providing fire extinguishers, safety showers are found to be 13.3 %, 7.1 %, respectively. Only 24.2 % of companies provided personal protective equipment to the workers. The ventilation system was operated in most of companies. But local exhaust ventilation system is provided to 22.3 % of those, also had not been annually inspected. This study showed that the current status of occupational safety and health was not appropriate for workers in small scale industries. It is suggested that annual physical examination have to be performed, MSDS usage must become widespread, and employer and emplyees in small scale industry should be educated for the treatment and storage of hazardous chemicals to improve the occupational safety and health of the working environment. also, regulatory standard has to be applied to local exhaust ventilation system in small scale industry to improve the working condition.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3379-3391
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• 2013

The usage and types of chemicals being developed, with diversified new exposure of workers, are of natural concern to occupational disease. In Korea, with industrialization, application of many chemicals has increased. A large proportion of mortality and disease is due to cancer, and the causal hazardous agents include chemical agents, like heavy metals and so on. Due to the long latency period with malignancies and the fact they are usually found after workers' retirement, it is suggested that management policies must be established to prevent occupational cancers occurring among workers in Korea. To give a general description about the efforts to prevent the occupational cancer with exposure to chemicals, articles on the trends of occupational cancers were reviewed and summarized with related research and efforts for prevention in Korea. It is important to improve the understanding of occupational cancer and help to maintain sustainable and appropriate measures to guarantee workers safety and health.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.23-35
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• 2007

Present time there are many risk analysis method in the world. A hazard is an exposure that has the potential to induce and adverse event. Risk is the probability of an adverse event given exposure to hazard. The evaluation of scientific information on the hazardous properties of environmental agents and the extent of exposure to these agents. But operation risk analysis method is not enough for manufacturing industry even if it is existence, it will be separated to improve Safety. In this paper, I will develop the AHP Weighted operation risk analysis method to improve Safety.

• Clean Technology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.57-73
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• 1997

Metal cleaning process is a technology which removes oil, dust and soil etc. on the surface of metal utilizing cleaning agents. These contaminants disturb the following processes such as plating and painting etc. if they are not removed. Thus, metal cleaning is typically an environmentally hazardous activity. Until recently, vapor degreasers as utilizing chlorinated solvents have been relatively cheap, extraordinarily versatile and waste disposal costs have been perceived as insignificant. Today, however, it is readily apparent that Industry's reliance upon chlorinated solvents as metal cleaners have resulted in a myriad of environmental, health and safety concerns. Therefore, this paper studies on a parameter and a sort of the alternative cleaning agents for the optimum cleaners. Also, a great deal of effort has been devoted to developing alternative metal cleaning technologies in advanced countries and some processes are being commercialized among them. We are going to consider alternative aqueous cleaning agents replacing organic chlorinated solvents and to pursue a domain application through a successful improvement case.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.169-176
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• 2013

Objectives: The aim of this study is to critically review the health effects of not only direct exposure to biocide, but also indirect exposure to by-product hazardous agents generated through the use of biocide in metalworking operations. Methods: An extensive literature review was conducted of studies reporting on respiratory disease cases, particularly hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), in environments using water-soluble metalworking fluids (MWFs). Keyword search terms included 'metalworking fluids', 'machining fluids', 'metalworking operation' 'machining operation' and 'biocide', which were also used in combination. Additional articles were identified in references cited in the articles reviewed. Results: Several of the field, epidemiological and experimental studies reviewed assumed that the symptoms and signs typical of HP developed in machinists who handled water-soluble MWF could be caused by inhalation exposure to nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Most NTM are known to be not only resistant to both biocide and disinfectant, but also to have acid-fast cell walls that are highly antigenic. The presence or persistence of the Mycobacterium species, referred to as NTM, in metalworking fluid-using operations may be caused by NTM contamination in either the natural water or tap water that is used to dilute the base oil and additives for water-soluble MWFs. This hypothesis that NTM contamination in water-soluble MWFs is a causative agent of HP has high biologic plausibility, such as antigenic property, hydrophobicity and small diameter (< 5 um). Conclusions: Aerosolized mycobacteria colonized from MWF are likely to be causing the HP. Inhalation exposure to mycobacteria should be considered as a possible cause for the development of HP.