• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.21 no.2 s.53
• /
• pp.197-208
• /
• 2006

The hazards of chemicals can be classified using classification criteria that are based on physical, chemical and ecotoxicological endpoints. These criteria may be developed be iteratively, based on scientific or regulatory processes. A number of national and international schemes have been developed over the past 50 years, and some, such as the UN Dangerous Goods system or the EC system for hazardous substances, are in widespread use. However, the unnecessarily complicated multiplicity of existing hazard classifications created much unnecessary confusion at the user level, and a recommendation was made at the 1992 Rio Earth summit to develop a globally harmonized chemical hazard classification and compatible labelling system, including material safety data sheets and easily understandable symbols, that could be used for manufacture, transport, use and disposal of chemical substances. This became the globally harmonized system for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). The developmental phase of the GHS is largely complete. Consistent criteria for categorizing chemicals according to their toxic, physical, chemical and ecological hazards are now available. Consistent hazard communication tools such as labelling and material safety data sheets are also close to finalizations. The next phase is implementation of the GHS. The Intergovernmental Forum for Chemical Safety recommends that all countries implement the GHS as soon as possible with a view to have the system fully operational by 2008. When the GHS is in place, the world will finally have one system for classification of chemical hazards.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.51 no.2
• /
• pp.121-126
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study was to assess bacteriological hazards in the following 7 kinds of minimally processed shellfish products purchased from Korean seafood retail outlets: raw oysters stored with seawater in polyethylene bags, frozen oysters, raw mussels, frozen mussels, boiled mussels, raw short-necked clam, and frozen short-necked clams, obtained from Korean seafood retail outlets. The total coliform and Escherichia coli counts determined in all samples were detected below regulation limit of the Korean government guidelines (Food Code). In addition, the high-risk bacterial pathogens, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., and E. coli O157:H7 were not detected in any samples. Low-risk pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus were detected at levels above $1.0{\times}10^2$ colony forming unit (CFU)/g in some minimally processed shellfish products. Notably, S. aureus was detected in all samples. Raw oysters stored with seawater in polyethylene bags, frozen oysters, and boiled blue mussels are commonly ingested without heating, and therefore these minimally processed shellfish products pose bacteriological hazards. The detection of S. aureus in all shellfish products, an organism indicative of poor personal hygiene, which can grow and multiply during distribution, indicates the necessity of improving the food safety of minimally processed shellfish products.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.19-26
• /
• 2019

The objective of this study was to analyze bacteriological and chemical hazards in minimally processed commercial fish products, including Hwangtae (freeze-dried pollock), dried anchovy, fermented anchovy sauce, and salted and dried yellow croaker. Escherichia coli counts from all samples were below the regulation limits of the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Standards on Quality of Seafood and Seafood Products (Food Code). However, the food poisoning bacterium Staphylococcus aureus was detected at levels above $1.0{\times}10^2$ colony forming units (CFU)/g in Hwangtae, dried anchovy, and salted and dried yellow croaker, which are commonly ingested without heating and pose bacteriological hazards. The detection of S. aureus, an organism indicative of poor personal hygiene, which can be introduced by employees and multiply during distribution, indicates the necessity of improving the sanitary control of minimally processed commercial fish products. Histamine was not detected from dried anchovy or salted and dried yellow croaker, but was detected at some of the highest levels in fermented anchovy sauces. This result suggests that efforts to reduce the amount of histamine in fermented anchovy sauces are required.

• Journal of Urban Science
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.29-37
• /
• 2021

The number of old buildings older than 30 years in Korea continues to increase from 29.9% in 2005 to 38.8% in 2020. Considering the growing urban regeneration projects, urban maintenance projects, the suppression of urban expansion, and the lack of idle land in the city, the dismantling of old buildings is expected to increase further in the future. As major accidents at building dismantling sites continue to occur, related agencies are also strengthening safety management of building dismantling works. While physical safety management such as collapse and fall is strengthened, there is a relative lack of interest in the health of workers at dismantling sites due to environmental hazards. Since relevant laws stipulate that construction waste should be separated and discharged, old buildings need to be considered for environmental hazards such as fine dust, floating bacteria, and floating molds when dismantling. In this study, we intend to find important safety management elements in the management of building dismantling sites, measure environmental factors harmful to dismantling workers, and present basic data for the management of dismantling sites in the future. "Safety management" was the highest priority, followed by "dust," "vibration," "noise," "bacteria," and "smell." The perception of the importance of "physical damage prevention" with workers working on dismantling and managers managing the site came out similar, but the perception of "work efficiency" and "health disorder prevention" through environmental hazard management showed different priorities. In the process of dismantling, floating bacteria and floating mold were collected, cultured, and measured the concentration in the indoor air. The measurement was measured by dividing it into pre-dismantling and during dismantling.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.81-93
• /
• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop a model for comprehensively evaluating the risk of sarcopenia in Korean adults and to generate the sarcopenia risk scorecard model based on the results. Methods: The participants of the study were 7,118 adults without sarcopenia in the first basic survey, and a longitudinal analysis was conducted using data from the 1st to 8th survey (2006-2020) of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA). The data were analyzed using Rao-Scott chi-square test and weighted Cox proportional hazards regression of complex sampling design. The sarcopenia risk scorecard model was developed by Cox proportional hazards regression using points to double the odds (PDO) method. Results: The findings show that the risk factors for sarcopenia in Korean adults were gender, age, marital status, socioeconomic status, body mass index (BMI), regular exercise, diabetes and arthritis diagnosis. In the scorecard results, the case of exposure to the highest risk level was 100 points. The highest score range were given in the order of age over 65, low BMI, and low socioeconomic status. Conclusions: The significance of this study is that the causal relationship between various factors and the occurrence of sarcopenia in Korean adults was identified. Also, the model developed in this study is expected to be useful in detecting participants with risk of sarcopenia in the community early and preventing and managing sarcopenia through appropriate health education.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.185-192
• /
• 2023

Background: The turnover rate of nurse aides in Taiwan is high. However, the predictors of turnover behavior in the newly employed are still unclear. Objective: To examine the predictors of turnover behavior in newly employed licensed nurse aides. Methods: A longitudinal study design was used and subjects were newly employed certified nurse aides from a nurse aid training association in Taiwan. A total of five questionnaire surveys were conducted. The questionnaire was mainly used to collect information on turnover behavior, personal socioeconomic background, workplace psychosocial hazards, worker health hazards, and musculoskeletal disorders. Results: A total of 300 participants were recruited in the study. Cox regression analysis results showed that short working experience (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.21, p < 0.01), work as non-home nurse aides (HR = 0.58, p = 0.01), low monthly salary (HR = 0.68, p < 0.01), high work mental load (HR = 1.01, p = 0.01), low workplace justice (HR = 0.97, p < 0.01), high workplace violence (HR = 1.60, p < 0.01), high burnout (HR = 1.01, p = 0.04), poor mental health (HR = 1.06, p = 0.04), and high total number of musculoskeletal disorder sites (HR = 1.08, p = 0.01) contribute to a higher risk of turnover. Conclusion: The results indicated that employment period, work as a home nurse aide, monthly salary, work mental load, workplace justice, workplace violence, work-related burnout, mental health, and total number of musculoskeletal disorder sites are predictors of turnover behavior in newly employed certified nurse aides.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.303-308
• /
• 2023

Background: Occupational workers at altitudes are more prone to falls, leading to catastrophic outcomes. Acrophobia, height-related anxiety, and affected executive functions lead to postural instabilities, causing falls. This study investigated the effects of repeated virtual height exposure and training on cognitive processing and height-related anxiety. Methods: Twenty-eight healthy volunteers (age 20.48 ± 1.26 years; mass 69.52 ± 13.78 kg) were recruited and tested in seven virtual environments (VE) [ground (G), 2-story altitude (A1), 2-story edge (E1), 4-story altitude (A2), 4-story edge (E2), 6-story altitude (A3), and 6-story edge (E3)] over three days. At each VE, participants identified occupational hazards present in the VE and completed an Attitude Towards Heights Questionnaire (ATHQ) and a modified State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Questionnaire (mSTAIQ). The number of hazards identified and the ATHQ and mSTAIQ scores were analyzed using a 7 (VE; G, A1, A2, A3, E1, E2, E3) x 3 (DAY; DAY 1, DAY 2, DAY 3) factorial repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: The participants identified the lowest number of hazards at A3 and E3 VEs and on DAY 1 compared to other VEs and DAYs. ATHQ scores were lowest at G, A1, and E1 VEs. Conclusion: Cognitive processing is negatively affected by virtual altitudes, while it improves with short-term training. The features of virtual reality, such as higher involvement, engagement, and reliability, make it a better training tool to be considered in ergonomic settings. The findings of this study will provide insights into cognitive dual-tasking at altitude and its challenges, which will aid in minimizing occupational falls.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.279-286
• /
• 2023

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the association between exposure to occupational hazards and the metabolic syndrome. A secondary objective was to analyze the additive and multiplicative effects of exposure to risk factors. Methods: This retrospective cohort was based on 31,615 health examinees at the Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital in Republic of Korea from 2012-2021. Demographic and behavior-related risk factors were treated as confounding factors, whereas three physical factors, 19 organic solvents and aerosols, and 13 metals and dust were considered occupational risk factors. Time-dependent Cox regression analysis was used to calculate hazard ratios. Results: The risk of metabolic syndrome was significantly higher in night shift workers (hazard ratio = 1.45: 95% confidence interval = 1.36-1.54) and workers who were exposed to noise (1.15:1.07-1.24). Exposure to some other risk factors was also significantly associated with a higher risk of metabolic syndrome. They were dimethylformamide, acetonitrile, trichloroethylene, xylene, styrene, toluene, dichloromethane, copper, antimony, lead, copper, iron, welding fume, and manganese. Among the 28 significant pairs, 19 exhibited both positive additive and multiplicative effects. Conclusions: Exposure to single or combined occupational risk factors may increase the risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Working conditions should be monitored and improved to reduce exposure to occupational hazards and prevent the development of the metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.156-165
• /
• 2024

Objectives: This study aims to identify and analyze the exposure status of welding students in specialized high school welding labratories, compare it with the exposure to welding hazards of industrial workers, and seek to improve the educational environment for youth through domestic and international exposure standards. Methods: This study compares the level of exposure to hazardous factors in a welding laboratory of a vocational high school in Jeollanam-do and a welding process in a general industrial site by measuring the work environment. A 10-question survey was conducted to review the effects of welding hazards on the human body, carcinogenicity information, international (US, UK, France) exposure standards, general characteristics between the two groups, and awareness of occupational health. Results: Exposure to hazardous factors in both groups was below the standards set by MOEL. Specialized high school students were exposed to higher levels than workers, and some hazardous factors exceeded the standards when compared to international exposure standards. During the survey, students were less aware of the hazards of welding, safety and health education, and the need for work environment measurement than workers. Conclusions: For the respiratory protection of students in vocational high school welding labs, it is necessary to create a comfortable training environment. Exposure standards for harmful factors should be strictly applied, such as overseas standards, or exposure should be limited by setting a limit on the number of hours of welding practice per week. In addition, it is necessary to conduct safety and health education for welding students to raise their awareness of the importance of measuring the working environment and wearing appropriate protective equipment.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.27-41
• /
• 2017

In this study, geomorphological and geological research has been carried out to estimate the possibility of ancient port location near Hwaseong Dangseong. Geomorphological characteristics around Eunsupo were analyzed through comparison of past and present topographic maps and field survey. Grain size, age dating, and geochemical analysis on surface sediments and borehole sediments were performed. Through the geomorphological characteristics analysis, it was interpreted that Eunsupo area was submerged in seawater especially at high tide in the past, and that ships could approach to the inside of the area through the tidal channel which were developed in the area. It is also assumed that ships were anchored at a low elevation point in the area. The paleo-environmental change in the area was analyzed based on the classification of sedimentary environment using grain size distribution of surface and borehole sediments and geochemical analysis. It was confirmed that the geomorphological interpretation for the possibility of ancient port location coincided well with the paleo-environmental change interpreted through sediment analysis. This study is a basic study for estimating ancient port location, and it is expected that more accurate paleo-environmental changes will be restored through detailed geomorphological survey and additional borehole analysis in the future research.