• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.349-359
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• 2017

The objective of this study is to review the safety and health information displayed on containers of humidifier disinfectants (HD). We summarized not only general characteristics related to the marketing and manufacturing of HD, such as the duration sold and the name of the company, but also the safety and health information, such as identification of disinfectants, recommended use volume, and precautions. All of this information was reviewed by HD brand. We collected safety and health information from 31 HD brands. We found that companies that sold and manufactured HD brands differ. Two companies were found to sell their HD without permission after 2011 when the health effects caused by HD were widely known. The name of the disinfectants were not identified on the container of HD. The recommended volumes were found not to be based on toxicological evidence and set without consideration of the level of susceptibility of users. Most companies displayed phrases such "this HD is safe for humans, even children" on the front of the container. No inhalation and skin toxicity precautions were provided. In conclusion, most HD did not properly display information related to safety and health to protect the health of HD users. There has been no official investigation to evaluate the risks posed by HD, such as the sales volume by HD, identification of chemical disinfectants, or their concentration, nor have there been actions to control the chemical quality of HD. In addition, government actions to punish the malicious practices of companies that manufactured and sold HD were found to inappropriate.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.237-246
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to identify the overall occupational safety and health status and the characteristics of the workers engaged in the field of the film and television artists, and to take appropriate measures to prevent industrial accidents, profession and working environment, safety recognition and education, safety activities, accident experience, and job stress survey. Survey using a structured questionnaire is to be used for 302 worker directly interview research. Safety awareness level of himself or herself was "middle level" of 3.1 points. Those of colleagues and the general public were evaluated to be low as 2.8 points and 2.5 points, respectively. During the last 12 months, 4.6% of total workers have received an industrial safety health education for work-related accident or disease. Regarding cases of having experienced work-related accident or having been exposed to work-related disease over the past 1 year, 20.2% of total respondents have experienced accident. 16.2% of total respondents have experienced work-related disease. And the workers are approximately one's own subjective feeling of physical symptoms that have appeared. In addition, the film sector workers in particular occupations men than women have higher job stress. Preventive education for industrial safety is required to be expanded and strengthened. Safety education is urgently required in order to prevent, and to reduce accident. Safety and health guideline is required to be developed and disseminated in order to prevent accident in advance. Finally, the actor and their staff members to reduce the stress, mental health care and education carefully needs to be in parallel. Also, when taking measures to reinforce safe work environment, it needs to be protected.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.372-382
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• 2023

Purpose: Suggests measures to improve the construction company's safety management system according to the enforcement of the Severe Accident Punishment Act. Method: The effectiveness of practice-oriented disaster prevention activities was analyzed through safety and health diagnosis of the level of safety and health management system for the countermeasures against the Severe Accident Punishment Act implemented at the construction site and headquarters. Result: The effect of reducing the accident rate and the advancement of the safety and health management system were analyzed by linking the Severe Accident Punishment Act with the safety and health management system, and a plan to improve the safety and health management system was presented through the analysis of the comprehensive results of safety activities before and after the implementation of the Severe Accident Punishment Act. Conclusion: The effect of practical performance measurement was manifested through the improvement of business owners' awareness, the expansion of investment for disaster prevention, and the quantification of disaster prevention activities according to the enforcement of the Severe Accident Punishment Act.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.363-371
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of information regarding health and safety risks on the subjective health status of workers using data from the Fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey. Methods: Among the survey respondents, 30,094 people classified as salaried workers, of which 8,513 (28.3%) used protective equipment. Results: Although the majority of workers using protective equipment reported being well-informed about safety and health risks, 15% of them were still insufficiently informed. Multivariate analyses have shown that the subjective health status of workers using protective equipment was significantly better if they received sufficient information. When the workers using protective equipment were classified by the kinds of hazards they were exposed to, the satisfaction of information was also significantly beneficial for the subjective health status of all groups. However, in workers who did not use protective equipment, information satisfaction did not appear to be a significant factor. Conclusion: These results suggest that when providing information on safety and health risks, it is necessary to focus on workers using protective equipment, for whom the effects of the policy are clearly expected.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.83-90
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• 2021

In this paper, effects on industrial accident prevention based on better safety and health environment by utilizing ergonomics expert were studied. This study was mainly based on the data from 'the survey for occupational safety and health trend' conducted by Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute. The number of industries participated in the survey was 2,084. Main results of the study were as follows; 1) Only 22.9% of the industries participated in the survey utilized ergonomics expert. The rest of the industries have never had an ergonomics expert due to the reasons such as lack of knowledge for the field of ergonomics, etc. 2) Specific activities done by the industries with ergonomics expert in order to have better safety & health were 'providing work orders'(94.8%), 'providing monitoring guidelines'(85.5%), 'providing information for dangerous work'(95.8%), 'providing safety education'(96.6%), and 'other safety management'(94.1%). 3) When the odds ratio for the levels of communication and the levels of environmental stability regarding safety & health for the different groups(with experts and without experts), it was found that the group with ergonomics experts had a significant higher ORs(2.391, 95% confidence interval(1.949-2.932) and 2.128, 95% confidence interval(1.786-2.537)) respectively than those of the industries without ergonomics expert. The results suggested that ergonomics expert has been unique in most of time in terms of his/her contributions in the field of industrial safety and health.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.226-236
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• 2021

Objectives: Concerns have been raised about the possible health effects of radon on both workers and consumers with the spread of social attention to the impact of radon exposure. Thus, an entire raw material handling workshop was investigated, and standards for radon levels in the workplace were newly established at 600 Bq/m³. However, regulations on the management of workers exposed to radon are still insufficiently developed. Therefore, by comparative analysis of overseas and domestic radon-related regulations for workplaces, this study aims to suggest improvement plans of protection regulations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) for the prevention of health disorders of radon-exposed workers. Methods: For overseas case studies, we consulted radon-related laws and reports officially published on the websites of the European Union (EU), the United States (U.S.) and the United Kingdom (UK) government agencies. Domestic law studies were conducted mainly on the Act on Protective Action Guidelines against Radiation in the Natural Environment and the OSH Act. Results: In Europe, the basic safety standards for protection against risks arising from radon (Council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM of 5 December 2013) was established by the EU. They recommend that the Member States manage radon level in workplaces based on this criterion. In the U.S., the standards for workplaces are controlled by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Action on radon in the UK is specified in "Radon in the workplace" published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Conclusions: The Act on Protective Action Guidelines against Radiation in the Natural Environment mainly refers to the management of workplaces that use or handle raw materials but does not have any provisions in terms of protecting naturally exposed workers. In the OSH Act, it is necessary to define whether radon is included in radiation for that reason that its current regulations have limitations in ensuring the safety workers who may be exposed to naturally occurring radon. The management standards are needed for workplaces that do not directly deal with radon but are likely to be exposed to radon. We propose that this could be specified in the regulations for the prevention of health damage caused by radiation, not in Article 125 of the OSH Act.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.188-195
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• 2019

Background: Mine workers in South Africa face challenges relating to poor health and safety, including fatigue risks, and poor socioeconomic and living conditions. Fatigue results in impaired mental and physical performance. The aim of this study was to assess contributors to fatigue of mine workers in South Africa. Methods: Data collection took place at four gold mines and one platinum mine in South Africa. A total of 21 focus groups were held with individuals in management, union representatives, and mine workers, and 564 questionnaires were completed by mine workers to gather information about fatigue and potential contributors to fatigue at these mines. Results: Qualitatively (through focus groups), fatigue was attributed to extended working hours, harsh working conditions, high workloads, production pressure, and resource constraints, along with aspects relating to demographic and socioeconomic factors, living conditions, lifestyle, health, and wellness. Greater fatigue was significantly associated with younger age, indebtedness, a lack of exercise, poor nutrition, less sleep, increased alcohol use, poor self-reported health, more sick leave, higher stress, and lower job satisfaction. Conclusion: The aim of the study was achieved; numerous work-, sociodemographic-, lifestyle-, and wellness-related factors were linked to fatigue in the participating mine workers. Contributors to fatigue should be addressed to improve health, safety, and sustainability in the industry.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.115-120
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• 2017

The aim of this study is to develop construction safety and health management cost prediction model using support vector machine (SVM). To this end, theoretical concept of SVM is investigated to formulate the cost prediction model. Input and output variables have been selected by analyzing the balancing accounts for the completed construction project. In order to train and validate the proposed prediction model, 150 data sets have been gathered from field. Effects of SVM parameters on prediction accuracy are analyzed and from which the optimal parameter values have been determined. The prediction performance tests are conducted to confirm the applicability of the proposed model. Based on the results, it is concluded that the proposed SVM model can effectively be used to predict the construction safety and health management cost.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.1-18
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• 2007

Background: The study investigated the causes of safety accidents by facility, focused on safety accidents caused directly or indirectly by school facilities at elementary schools in S City. Purpose: The objective of this study is to provide materials for planning the construction of school buildings and the installation of school facilities and for improving existing facilities and ultimately to minimize mental and Physical losses from safety accidents caused by school facilities and to create pleasant education environment. Method: We selected 10 elementary schools in S City, analyzed the factors of safety accidents caused by facilities inside and outside the schools, and presented the results of the analysis including the factors of safety accidents caused by elementary school facilities. Result: It was found that safety accidents caused by elementary school facilities can be prevented to some degree by considering safety accidents in facility planning. As the safety accident rate is higher at elementary schools than at middle and high schools, it is essential to consider safety accidents in planning the construction of an elementary school and to execute safety accident prevention education in order to reduce safety accidents at elementary schools. In addition, as the curriculums are revised and new facilities are introduced for the new curriculums, elementary students' physical, psychological and environmental factors should be analyzed and studied closely and the results should be reflected in establishing the standards for the installation of elementary school facilities.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.109-117
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• 2020

Background: Ammonia and hydrogen sulfide are harmful gases generated during aerobic/anaerobic bacterial decomposition of livestock manure. We evaluated ammonia and hydrogen sulfide concentrations generated from workplaces at livestock farms and determined environmental factors influencing the gas concentrations. Methods: Five commercial swine farms and five poultry farms were selected for monitoring. Real-time monitors were used to measure the ammonia and hydrogen sulfide concentrations and environmental conditions during the manure-handling processes. Monitoring was conducted in the manure storage facility and composting facility. Information on the farm conditions was also collected through interview and walk-through survey. Results: The ammonia concentrations were significantly higher at the swine composting facilities (9.5-43.2 ppm) than at other manure-handling facilities at the swine and poultry farms, and high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide were identified during the manure agitation and mixing process at the swine manure storage facilities (6.9-19.5 ppm). At the poultry manure-handling facilities, the ammonia concentration was higher during the manure-handling processes (2.6-57.9 ppm), and very low hydrogen sulfide concentrations (0-3.4 ppm) were detected. The air temperature and relative humidity, volume of the facility, duration of manure storage, and the number of animals influenced the gas concentrations. Conclusion: A high level of hazardous gases was generated during manure handling, and some levels increased up to risk levels that can threaten workers' health and safety. Some of the farm operational factors were also found to influence the gas levels. By controlling and improving these factors, it would be possible to protect workers' safety and health from occupational risks.