• International Journal of Safety
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.43-46
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• 2005

The construction workers might be at the risk of many occupational injuries and illnesses. To protect workers from various hazards, industrial health and hygiene systems were specified for the construction workers by law. It is important to know the actual health and safety(H&S) conditions by tasks and the characteristics of injuries and illnesses of construction workers. This study was designed to investigate the actual conditions of construction workers exposed to various harmful substances and work elements including evaluation of health status of each worker and general H&S system. Questionnaire was sent to 600 construction workers nationwide and totally 367 people responded to it having 61.67% of response rate. The common construction hazards were dust(29.6%), noise(19.3%), repetitive motions(12.0%), handling excessive heavy materials(11.2%) in order. The repetitive motions and handling heavy materials related to muscle disorders accounted for 23.2%. The accident and injury types were in order of overexertion, falling, overturning, dropping or flying, electric shock, collision, etc.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.416-425
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the stress, dietary habits, dietary behaviors, and health-related behavior of nurses. Method: The subjects of this study were 161 nurses studying at a cyber university. The general characteristics, stress, dietary habits, dietary behaviors, and health-related behavior of the subjects were surveyed using a self-administered questionnaire in October, 2010. The subjects were divided into two groups according to the working pattern: shift workers (n = 110) and non-shift workers (n = 51). Results: In the general characteristics, there were significant differences in marriage, monthly income, employment type, and job satisfaction between the two groups. Total stress score did not differ significantly between the two groups. In dietary habits, significant differences in meal regularity, skipping meals, skipping reasons, having regular mealtimes, frequency of snack and the snack time between shift workers and non-shift workers (p<0.05). Total score of dietary behaviors in shift workers was significantly lower than that in non-shift workers (p<0.05). Score of shift workers in taking three meals per day regularly was significantly lower than that of non-shift workers. In health-related behavior, a significant difference in sleeping time was observed between shift workers and non-shift workers. Dietary behavior showed negative correlation with shift work (r = 0.176) and positive correlation with health consciousness (r = 0.210) and perceived health status (r = 0.198) in subjects after adjustment for age, marriage, monthly income, and employment type (p < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis revealed that shift work, health consciousness, and perceived health status affected dietary behavior in subjects. Conclusion: These results indicate that shift working nurses had poor dietary habits and dietary behaviors, and these dietary behaviors are affected by their shift work, health consciousness, and perceive health status.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.144-152
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was conducted to understand the effects of daily hassle stress on the psycho-social health of male workers in manufacturing industry. Methods: Daily hassle stress and psycho-social health in manufacturing industry workers were estimated by using the Daily Hassles Scale for Korea Workers (DHS-KW) and general health questionnaire (GHQ), respectively. Results: The subjects were 553 male workers who had never been occupationally exposed to hazardous chemicals, were mean age 39.6 years and mean work duration was 15.66 years. DHS-KW total mean score had significantly higher in young ages (twenties and thirties ages), office workers, managers and daytime workers than other groups. GHQ total mean scores were significantly higher in un-married, daytime and overtime workers than others. DHS-KW and GHQ score correlated that they were negative correlation with age and working years, but was positive correlation with working hours and overtime work. The significant correlation between DHS-KW and GHQ were observed almost variables of DHS-KW and GHQ except a domestic and daily problem in DHS-KW variables. Domestic and daily problems were only significantly correlated with anxiety and insomnia of GHQ variables. Conclusion: This study indicated that physical health was associated with work condition and psychsocial health was mainly associated with domestic and daily problems of DHS-KW variables. Thus, the study on Daily Hassles stress and related with work stress should be further investigated for the comprehensive health program including stress management and coping behavior.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.80-91
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• 2022

Objective : Hospital workers' mental health has deteriorated because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of hospital workers and its determinants. Methods : Two surveys were conducted among employees working in a hospital that received COVID-19 patients from the early phase of the pandemic in South Korea. Data on demographics, perceived threat, workplace evaluation, resilience, and mental health status were collected using the Korean General Health Questionnaire-20 in the initial phase (February 2020) and during the third wave of COVID-19 (December 2020) for 467 and 545 workers, respectively. The mental health of hospital workers in the two phases was compared, and the risk and protective factors during the third wave were investigated. Results : The proportion of patients in the psychiatric high-risk group increased from 2.8% in the initial phase to 11.4% during the third wave. The perceived threat, workplace evaluation, and resilience of respondents deteriorated. Risk factors for mental health during the third wave included the perceived threat items of job stress, loss of control, and considering resignation. Protective factors included presence of children, workplace satisfaction, and hardiness in resilience. Conclusion : Hospital workers' mental health deteriorated as the pandemic progressed. General stress and tension such as job stress, loss of control, considering resignation rather than COVID-19-specific stress had negative effects on mental health of hospital workers. Therefore, care for work stress itself can be helpful to maintain the mental health of hospital workers. Also, governance to improve workplace satisfaction or hardiness in resilience can be a potential protective factor for hospital workers' mental health during the prolonged pandemic.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.28 no.3 s.51
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• pp.663-677
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• 1995

Special health examination institute has done periodic health examination for workers who have worked in the hazardous workplace. However, assessment on outcome in special health examination institute about detection ability of occupational disease has not been. In this circumstances, we studied on the differences of health examination outcome among special health examination institutes and identified related factors which affected outcome of special health examination in the special health examination institutes. The summary of the results were as follows. 1. 50 special health examination institutes were examined in this study. Among them, university institutes were 13 cases(26.0%), hospitals were 20 cases(40.0%), a corporation aggregates were 9 cases(18.0%) and an auxiliary organs of company were 8 cases(16.0%). There were 29(58.0%) institutes with a preventive medicine specialist, but 21 institutes(42.0%) were not. 2. Total workers examined in 50 institutes were 606,948 and workers diagnosed as occupational disease$(D_1)$ were 3,156. The rate of occupational disease was 6 workers per 1,000 examined workers. Workers needed for close observation(C) were 95,809 and the rate of workers needed for close observation was 141 per 1,000 examined workers. 3. The rate of occupational disease of university institutes was highest(11.3 per 1,000 examined workers), and followed by hospitals(6.0 per 1,000 examined workers), a corporation aggregates(4.2 per 1,000 examined workers), and an auxiliary organs of company(1.2 per 1,000 examined workers). The difference of the rate of occupational disease between university institutes and an auxiliary organs of company was statistically moderate significant(p<.1). The rate of occupational disease in special health examination institutes with establishment duration was more than 10 years was statistically higher than institutes with establishment duration was less than 10 years(p<.1). 4. The results of multiple regression, $R^2$ was 0.3394(adjusted $R^2$ was 0.2109), F-value was 2.6416(p<.05), and statistically significant variables were establishment duration(p<.01), number of examined workers per one doctor(p<.1), and auxiliary organs of company(p<.1), which dependent variable was the rate of occupational disease and independent variables were number of examined workers per one doctor, classification of institute, the rate of working environment exceeding TLV, duration of institute establishment, presence of a preventive medicine specialist.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.183-196
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors affecting the level of subjective health recovery among injured workers. The aim in this study was to find an efficient worker's compensation service for subjective health recovery among injured workers. Methods : From the 1st panel study of worker's compensation insurance, data for 2,000 injured workers was analyzed with SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 22.0. Results : There was a statistically significant difference in the level of self-perceived health recovery depending on socio-demographic characteristics, disability characteristics and medical care services. Factors such as gender, education level, socio-economic level, disability level, claim duration, and treatment duration appropriacy affected the level of self-perceived health recovery. Conclusions : Worker's compensation services should take into consideration the factors that affect the health recovery of injured workers.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.117-123
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• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine factors influencing health-related quality of life in women workers using the dataset of the Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey(KNHANES 2th). There were 955 subjects. Methods: A multiple regression model was used to study the factors influencing health-related quality of life of women workers. Results: A positive relationship was found between education(b=0.014, p=0.029) and health-related quality of life in women workers and non-osteoarthritis(b=0.037, p<0.001) and health-related quality of life in women workers. Conclusions: The results of this study show the importance of improving the working environment and preventing osteoarthritis in non-regular employment.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.114-125
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• 2010

Objectives : This study investigates the determinants of contingent workers' ratio in public health centers. Since the economic crisis in 1997, there have been many studies on contingent workers in Korea. But, previous studies have been not conducted focusing on public health center. Methods : This study used 253 public health centers, installed and operated since December 31, 2008. in Korea as units of analysis. To examine the determinants of contingent workers' ratio, this study uses Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis. Results : The following appeared as significant variable affecting contingent workers' ratio in public health centers; degree of the local government's financial independence(p<0.001), rate of increase/decrease in ages 65 and over(p<0.001), rate of increase/decrease in basic livelihood security recipients(p<0.01) and rate of increase/decrease in registered disabled persons(p<0.01). In contrast, internal organizational environment characteristics related variables were not statistically significant. Conclusions : Contingent workers' ratio in public health center is significantly affected by financial vulnerability of the local government and increase in demand of health care services.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.185-195
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to opportunity of oral examination and positively utilizing the oral-health educational method of being preferred on the basis of the contents promote workers' oral health. Methods : This study carried out questionnaire research by self-administrated method, which was selected by convenience sampling method, from February 9th to March 6th, 2009 targeting 237 workers where are located in Gunsan city of Jeollabuk-do Province. Results : 1. Workers' interest and recognition of importance in oral health were high, and were low in subjective oral-health knowledge level, on the other hand. 2. Workers were indicated to be high in the response rate of work-site oral examination and, on the other hand, to be high in the dissatisfied rate at work-site oral examination. 3. As for work-site oral examination, the workers were indicated to positively recognize participation in work-site oral-health education along with high necessity. 4. Workers were indicated to prefer the most a method of lecture such as dentist along with contents in prevention and curing method of periodontal disease. Conclusions : An efficient result is thought to be probably obtained given offering an opportunity of oral examination and positively utilizing the oral-health educational method of being preferred on the basis of the contents with the highest preference, in order to promote workers' oral health.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.278-288
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• 2019

Objectives: The objectives of this study are to summary controversy over health risks among semiconductor workers, to review major cancer risk results conducted in semiconductor operation and to evaluate occupational health activities in Korea for controlling hazardous agents generated in semiconductor operations Methods: Major occupational health issues that has been social controversies among semiconductor workers since 2007 were reviewed through an extensive literature, report and article review. Results: Since a female semiconductor worker aged 22 died from leukemia in 2007, job-association of a number of former semiconductor workers with various types of cancer and rare diseases have been denied by the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service (KWCWS), but some of them were later awarded compensation as an occupational disease by the administrative court. Two epidemiologic cancer risk studies conducted in Korea found increased risks in leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma among semiconductor workers. Various legal occupational health activities taken in semiconductor industry were found to fail to assess a complex characteristics of semiconductor operations, such as drastic changes in chemical use, processes, and technology, multiple exposure. National compensation regulation also showed the limitation to evaluate job-association of semiconductor workers who had worked in semiconductor operation. Conclusions: National legal measures should be taken to improve several occupational health activities and duties for protecting workers. In addition, the KWCWS program should be revised so that all workers who meet minimal job or environment associations can be compensated.