• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.11 no.12
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• pp.649-656
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• 2013

This study was conducted to find out about the implementation status of dental treatment infection control standards of dental hygienists. The subjects of research were the dental hygienists working at dentist offices in Chungnam, Cheonan-si using self-input method from July 25th, 2012 to August 1st 2012. The collected data was analyzed after computerized statistical processing using SPSS 18.0. For hepatitis B vaccination, the results were high with 75.0% of answers being 'yes' or auto-active immunity, but for the latest hepatitis vaccination period showed highest results in '5 years or more ago' with 48.0%. Although 93.0% answered that vaccination was important, the percentage of replies that they had vaccination education was relatively low with 41.0%. For the use of personal protection tools the use of protective goggles was low compared to the use of masks and medical gloves. The percentage of subjects that answered that they always wash their hands before treatment was relatively low with 56.0% compared to 82.0% of subjects that answered that they always washed their hands after treatment. Dental treatment equipment washing before sterilization, use of packing and re-sterilization of tools with damaged packing showed high results for 'yes', but the ratio of subjects that answered 'no' to water line management was low with 39%.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.26 no.4 s.44
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• pp.587-598
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• 1993

Hydrofluoric acid is one of the strongest irritating, corrosive and poisonous inorganic chemicals. Hydrofluoric acid burns are occurring with ever-increasing frequency due to the wide use of this acid in industries. Hydrofluoric acid burns are characterized by severe progressive tissue destruction and excruciating pain due to the unique properties of the freely dissolvable fluoride ion. The authors reviewed medical records of 32 cases (36 spells) of hydrofluoric acid burns which occurred in a hydrofluoric acid manufacturing factory from Sep. 1, 1990 to June 30, 1993. The results are as follows; 1. Eleven measurements of air concentrations of hydrofluoric acid by detection tube method from 1990 to 1992 were all below TLV (Department of Labor, R.O. K). 2. There were 19 cases (22 spells) of hydrofluoric acid burns which occurred during the study period among regular employees. The overall incidence density of hydrofluoric acid was 17.8 cases (20.6 spells) per 100 person-year. Incidence density was 19.0 cases (22.0 spells) per 100 person-year among male workers and there were no female cases. Incidence density was 32.9 cases (38.3 spells) per 100 person-year among production workers and 1.9 cases (1.9 spells) per 100 person-years among management workers with the difference being statistically significant (P<0.01). 3. Of 32 cases (36 spells) of hydrofluoric acid burns among workers who were regularly employed or temporarily employed, 26 spells (81.2%) were between age 20 to 39. In 15 spells(41.7%) burns occurred between 12:00 and 17:59 with 16 spells(44.3%) having arrived at hospital within 2 hours after the accident. 4. Of 36 spells, the main cause of hydrofluoric acid burns were by splashes (8 spells, 22.2 %). The most frequent site of burns were fingers and pain was the most frequent symptom. Thirty spells (83.3%) of the hydrofluoric acid burns were treated with local injection of antidote (calcium gluconate). Complete recovery without scarring were observed in most of the cases (34 out of 36 cases, 94.4%). The study results suggest that to prevent hydrofluoric acid burns, environmental control and the wearing of hydrofluoric acid resistant protective clothes and gloves are important. It is also stressed that establishment of an emergency management and a transfer system for hydrofluoric acid burn victims is necessary.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.90-104
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• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate the current state of occupational health management and characteristics of employees working in small-scale-enterprises (SSE) employing less than 50 workers. Samples were chosen among the two thousands employees working in 838 factories where located in Youngdungpo-Ku, Seoul, Korea. The study results were as followed: 1. Most factories investigated in the study were manufactures (68.6%) which were established in 5 to 10 years ago (29.2%), employing less than 5 workers (72.9%) and registered in accident compensation insurance (23.0%). 2. Health screening was undertaken in 24.9% workplaces for periodic health examination and in 1.5% for special health examination. Environmental monitoring was done in 3.3% factories. Very few factories displayed Material Substance Data Sheet (MSDS) in 3.1% among the total factories. 3. Workplaces usually had their own toilets in 75.9% and washing basin in 58.6% as types of sociowelfare facilities. 4. Employees responded in the study were mostly in the range of age from 30 to 39 in 34.7%. male in 84.8%. the married in 70.3%. manual workers in 42.0%. mostly working regularly 51 hours per a week in 48.2% and earned 710.000 Won to 1.000.000 Won per month in 35.0%. Medical utilization for employees were covered by factories sponsored medical insurance in 12.7% and by provincial sponsored medical insurance in 83.4%. 5. Two point six percents of employees were suffered by diseases. The health complaints indicated were mainly digestive problems in 46.7% and hypertension in 24.4%. 6. Employees wore personal protective equipments for work such as gloves in 48.1%. safety shoes in 30.5%. ear plug in 5.5% and mask in 6.9%. Based on the results of study, we recommend that various types of occupational health management should be developed according to workplace working condition of each factory. In addition to the development of occupational health strategies. we think that it is more important to monitor and to allocate how effectively they operate each other on the basis of longitudinal continuity. Besides, we would like to insist that these all management effort should be focused on prevention of disease and occupational health education of employees.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.72-78
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• 2009

Exposure to HDI(hexamethylene di-isocyanate) commonly used in vehicle crash repair workshops remains a leading cause of occupational asthma. Although skin and eye contamination are considered as absorption routes, there are no occupational exposure standards for skin and ocular exposure. This is the reason why there are more empirical data should be provided. Therefore this study was to determine contamination levels of HDI on the skin, eyes, work surfaces, respirators and eye protectors. There was evidence of contamination on a variety of work surfaces, for example, door handles, bench top and spray gun, etc. A high proportion(47~80%) of skin wipe samples from neck, forehead, back hand, palm and wrist was positive for HDI contamination, even though spray time was relatively brief. The contamination levels from spraying inside spray booth were generally higher than outside booth due to poor work practices and inappropriate personal protective use like safety gloves. Apprentices had higher exposure levels than the qualified painters, likely due to lack of the recognition of safety and hygiene. The extent of contamination inside the PPE might provide an indication of the potential for respiratory & skin exposure and ocular exposure. Eye fluid samples from 4 out of 14 workers had the positive detection of HDI contamination, due to poor work practices like no or inappropriate eye protection. Considering the potential for dermal & ocular exposure to contribute to possible health symptoms including respiratory sensitization, the empirical data point to a need for improving work practices and appropriate PPE selection, use and maintenance.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Dental Administration
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2020

Dental settings have unique characteristics that warrant specific infection control considerations, including (1) prioritizing the most critical dental services and provide care in a way that minimizes harm to patients due to delayed care, or harm to personnel from potential exposure to persons infected with the COVID-19 disease, and (2) proactively communicate to both personnel and patients the need for them to stay at home if sick. For health care, an interim infection prevention and control recommendation (COVID-19) is recommended for patients suspected of having coronavirus or those whose status has been confirmed. SARS-CoV-2, which is the virus that causes COVID-19, is thought to be spread primarily between people who are in close contact with one another (within 6 feet) through respiratory droplets that are produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Airborne transmission from person-to-person over long distances is unlikely. However, COVID-19 is a new disease, and there remain uncertainties about its mode of spreads and the severity of illness it causes. The virus has been shown to persist in aerosols for several hours, and on some surfaces for days under laboratory conditions. COVID-19 may also be spread by people who are asymptomatic. The practice of dentistry involves the use of rotary dental and surgical instruments, such as handpieces or ultrasonic scalers, and air-water syringes. These instruments create a visible spray that can contain particle droplets of water, saliva, blood, microorganisms, and other debris. While KF 94 masks protect the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose from droplet spatter, they do not provide complete protection against the inhalation of airborne infectious agents. If the patient is afebrile (temperature <100.4°F)* and otherwise without symptoms consistent with COVID-19, then dental care may be provided using appropriate engineering and administrative controls, work practices, and infection control considerations. It is necessary to provide supplies for respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette, including alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) with 60%~95% alcohol, tissues, and no-touch receptacles for disposal, at healthcare facility entrances, waiting rooms, and patient check-ins. There is also the need to install physical barriers (e.g., glass or plastic windows) in reception areas to limit close contact between triage personnel and potentially infectious patients. Ideally, dental treatment should be provided in individual rooms whenever possible, with a spacing of at least 6 feet between the patient chairs. Further, the use of easy-to-clean floor-to-ceiling barriers will enhance the effectiveness of portable HEPA air filtration systems. Before and after all patient contact, contact with potentially infectious material, and before putting on and after removing personal protective equipment, including gloves, hand hygiene after removal is particularly important to remove any pathogens that may have been transferred to the bare hands during the removal process. ABHR with 60~95% alcohol is to be used, or hands should be washed with soap and water for at least 20 s.

• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.219-225
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• 2020

Importance of touch equipment and smart learning increases and public institutions and educational facilities are applying smart devices to their daily environments. However, users of public smart devices are at risk of being exposed to the direct and indirect spread of infectious diseases. This study develops an exo-finger that wraps the fingertips of smart device users and is intended to have a disease prevention effect when used on public equipment. An exoskeletal body was fabricated by inserting a secondary material which is a mixture of the activating material, carbon black (CB) and a macromolecular polymer (elastomer) into a mold. This device was confirmed to have a touch function when the CB content was 0.030 wt% or higher, and the content of the elastomer was varied so that it could have a friction force similar to that when a person touches a smart device (a friction coefficient of 2.5). Through experiments, it was concluded that the CB content had little effect on the friction coefficient. As a result of testing the completed prototype on a smart device, it was proven that the developed exoskeletal device can be useful in situations where it is impossible to touch due to wearing protective gears, or when equipment such as gloves is used to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.2 s.57
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• pp.381-391
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• 1997

In an epidemiological study of metal workers exposed to metalworking fluids (MWF), the prevalence time of Evolution, seasonal occurrence and clinical type of contact dermatitis were investigated. Compostional analysis of MWF with HPLC, dermatological examination and two consecutive questionnaire surveys were conducted. Study population was divided into two groups ; workers contact to cutting oil and workers contact to rust preventive oil. In the analysis of MWF, aliphatic hydrocarbons, having 12-20 carbons, was most common composition(49.04%) of cutting oil otherwise, major contents (90.99%) of the rust preventives oil were aliphatic hydrocarbons composed of 6-9 carbons. The frequency (point prevalence) of contact dermatitis(CD) was 7(12.7 per 100 subjects) in the dermatological examination of 55 workers. As the result of second survey for contact dermatitis, cumulative prevalence of oil working full-time and recent 1 year prevalence in two groups were 28.0, 16.7 and 15.1, 12.5 per 100 subjects. There were no difference in the prevalence of CD by oil, age, oil contact duration. Summer is the most common evolution season in workers exposed to cutting oil, but not in workers exposed to rust preventive oil. Major clinical type of CD was erythematous papules in both groups. It presents the importance of preventive measures that 51.1% suffer from contact dermatitis had medical care at their own expense, and 47.1% of them felt serious about their contact dermatitis. From the fact that 68.6% think cotton gloves protective apparatus, we emphasize the need for health education.