• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.35-41
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• 2016

Particulate filtering facepiece respirators (PFFR) is one of the most widely used items of personal protective equipments, and a tight fit of the respirators on the wearers is critical for the protection effectiveness. In order to effectively protect the workers through the respirators, it is important to find and evaluate the ways that can be readily applicable at the workplace to improve the fit of the respirators. This study was designed to evaluate effects of mask style (cup or foldable type) and donning training on fit factors (FF) of the respirators, since these are available at various workplace, especially at small business workplace. A total of 40 study subjects, comprised of 30~50s aged male and female workers in metalworking industries, were enrolled in this study. The FF were quantitatively measured before and after training related to the proper donning and use of cup or foldable-type respirators. The pass/fail criterion of FF was set at 100. After the donning training for the cup-type mask, subjects who passed the fit test were increased from 10 to 33. Moreover, the geometric mean (GM) of FF was increased by 340% in subjects who failed the test. In addition, the training effects for the cup-type mask were significant in female and 50s aged subjects. On the other hand, although the GM of FF for the foldable-type mask was also increased after the donning training, the GM of FF for the foldable-type mask and it's increase rate were smaller as compared to the cup-type mask. Furthermore, the differences of the increase rates of the GM of FF in sex and aged of the subjects were not significantly for the foldable-type mask. The multi-distribution of leak points for the foldable-type mask may be one of causes for the less effect of training on the fit of the foldable-type mask. These results imply that the raining on the donning and use of PFFR can enhance the protection effectiveness of cup or foldable-type mask, and that the training effects for the foldable-type mask is less significant than that for the cup-type mask. Therefore, It is recommended that the donning training and fit tests should be conducted before the use of the PFFR, and that efficient tranining programs for the foldable-type mask are required.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.28-36
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• 2018

There was a difference in recognition of respirators according to the educational performance environment. they were showed higher recognition of respirators of group by internal and external mix trainer, less than 6 months, over 1hour, more than 5 times, variety of education. To identify the relationship between types of job classification(typical and atypical)and the levels of recognition of respirators, a total of 153 workers in a business workplace. mainly, typical workers showed higher recognition of respirators than atypical workers. Training of correct wearing showed high demands both typical and atypical workers. Descriptive statistics(SAS ver 9.2)was performed. the results of recognition of respirators were analyzed the mean and standard deviation by t-test, and anova, fit factor is used geometric means(geometric standard deviation), paired t-test, Wilcoxon analysis(P=0.05). Particulate filtering facepiece respirators (PFFR) is one of the most widely used items of personal protective equipments, and a tight fit of the respirators on the wearers is critical for the protection effectiveness. In order to effectively protect the workers through the respirators, it is important to find and evaluate the ways that can be readily applicable at the workplace to improve the fit of the respirators. This study was designed to evaluate effects of mask style (cup or foldable type) and donning training on fit factors (FF) of the respirators, since these are available at various workplace, especially at small business workplace. A total of 40 study subjects, comprised of employment type workers in metalworking industries, were enrolled in this study. The FF were quantitatively measured before and after training related to the proper donning and use of cup or foldable-type respirators. The pass/fail criterion of FF was set at 100. After the donning training for the cup-type mask, fit test were increased by 769%. but foldable-type mask was also increased after the donning training, the GM of FF for the foldable-type mask and it's increase rate were smaller as compared to the cup-type mask. Furthermore, the differences of the increase rates of the GM of FF in employment type of the subjects were not significantly for the foldable-type mask. These results imply that the raining on the donning and use of PFFR can enhance the protection effectiveness of cup or foldable-type mask, and that the training effects for the foldable-type mask is less significant than that for the cup-type mask. Therefore, it is recommended that the donning training and fit tests should be conducted before the use of the PFFR, and listening to workers opinion regularly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.52-60
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• 2018

This study compares the differences of the fit factor by the order of wearing preference between Particulate filtering facepiece respirators(PFFR) and glasses when participants wore simultaneously and a survey of physical and visual complaint. Recognition level about fit of respirators was investigated and the educational (before- and after-) effect of the fit factor. When participants wore PFFR and glasses, physical complaints were nose pressure, slipping, nose and ear pressure, ear pressure and rim loosen, the most highly physical complaints were nose pressure. Visual complaints were demister, blurry vision, dizziness, visual field, and lens dirty, the most highly visual complaints were demister. But, there was significant difference in physical complaint such as nose pressure(10.3%), slipping (23.0%), nose and ear pressure(14.3%), and rim loosen(16.2%), visual complaint such as visual field(13.8%) and lens dirty(32.4%). For the recognition of fit of respirators, respirators fitness, leak site, an initial point and an object, faulty factor, recognition level was higher. Fit factor was increased after education of proper wearing of respirator. Change of the fit factor was smaller compared to the normal breathing and after 6 actions in case of after education. Questionnaire consisted of general characteristics and physical/visual complaint, recognition of fit. Complaints were measured after the QNFT with multiple choices. Quantitative fit factor was measured by device and compared the result of (before- and after-) educational effect. Also, we selected to 6 actions (Normal breathing, Deep breathing, Bending over, Turning head side to side, Moving head up and down, Normal breathing) among 8 actions OSHA QNFT (Quantitative Fit testing) protocol to measure the fit factors. The fit factor was higher after the training (p=0.000). Descriptive statistics, paired t-test, and Wilcoxon analysis were performed to describe the result of questionnaire and fit test. (P=0.05) Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the quantitative research such as training program and glasses fitting factor about the wearing of PFFR and glasses simultaneously.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2018

This study compares the interrelation of fit factor(FF) and visual acuity test by the order of wearing preference between Particulate filtering face piece respirators(PFFR) and glasses for 54 participants. Glasses fitting factors is Optical Center Height(OH), Vertex Distance(VD) and Pantoscopic Angle(PA) or Visual acuity. We measured those factors and expressed by the ratio of standard point and change point. Quantitative fit factor was measured by Portacount Pro+ 8038 and compared the result of preference of wearing order between respirators and glasses. Also, we selected to 6 exercises among 8 exercises OSHA QNFT (Quantitative Fit testing) protocol to measure the fit factors. The pass/ fail criterion of FF was set at 100. Visual acuity test chart is developed by Chunsuk Han was used, Descriptive statistics was performed. Descriptive statistics(SAS ver 9.2), it is used geometric means, Wilcoxon analysis, peason correlation(P=0.05) Fit factor was increased when the respirator was worn before wearing the glasses(p=0.000) and decreased for visual acuity(p=0.000) The negative correlation was showed between OH and Overall fit factor(r=-0.409, p=0.002). Among 54 participants, 11 participants(20.3%) were worn respirator before wearing glasses and 1 participant(1.9%) was worn glasses before wearing respirator. The overall fit test showed the higher level was investigated for the group of participants wearing respirator before wearing glasses in 6 exercises. Also, overall fit factor were increased when participants wore glasses prior to respirator(16.6) to respirator prior to glasses(36.6). Visual acuity were increased when participants wore respirator prior to glasses(93.8) to glasses prior to respirator(106.0). Finally, comparison result of overall fit factor and visual acuity were glasses first choice from mask first choice. The results showed that higher overall fit factor was investigate when the participants wore the respirator prior to glassess at all. The results implied that it is important to maintain the overall fit factor and visual acuity according to the consideration of OH for glasses fitting when worker wore respirator and glasses at the same time.