• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제3권4호
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• pp.268-277
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• 2012

Objectives: 1) To determine mercury levels in urine samples from garbage workers in Southern Thailand, and 2) to describe the association between work characteristics, work positions, behavioral factors, and acute symptoms; and levels of mercury in urine samples. Methods: A case-control study was conducted by interviewing 60 workers in 5 hazardous-waste-management factories, and 60 matched non-exposed persons living in the same area of Southern Thailand. Urine samples were collected to determine mercury levels by cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrometer mercury analyzer. Results: The hazardous-waste workers' urinary mercury levels (10.07 ${\mu}g/g$ creatinine) were significantly higher than the control group (1.33 ${\mu}g/g$ creatinine) (p < 0.001). Work position, duration of work, personal protective equipment (PPE), and personal hygiene, were significantly associated with urinary mercury level (p < 0.001). The workers developed acute symptoms - of head-aches, nausea, chest tightness, fatigue, and loss of consciousness at least once a week - and those who developed symptoms had significantly higher urinary mercury levels than those who did not, at p < 0.05. A multiple regression model was constructed. Significant predictors of urinary mercury levels included hours worked per day, days worked per week, duration of work (years), work position, use of PPE (mask, trousers, and gloves), and personal hygiene behavior (ate snacks or drank water at work, washed hands before lunch, and washed hands after work). Conclusion: Changing garbage workers' hygiene habits can reduce urinary mercury levels. Personal hygiene is important, and should be stressed in education programs. Employers should institute engineering controls to reduce urinary mercury levels among garbage workers.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.100-104
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• 2013

Background: The aim of this study was to assess public and private medical diagnostic laboratories in Nigeria for the presence of biosafety equipment, devices, and measures. Methods: A total of 80 diagnostic laboratories in biosafety level 3 were assessed for the presence of biosafety equipment, devices, and compliance rate with biosafety practices. A detailed questionnaire and checklist was used to obtain the relevant information from enlisted laboratories. Results: The results showed the presence of an isolated unit for microbiological work, leak-proof working benches, self-closing doors, emergency exits, fire extinguisher(s), autoclaves, and hand washing sinks in 21.3%, 71.3%, 15.0%, 1.3%, 11.3%, 82.5%, and 67.5%, respectively, of all laboratories surveyed. It was observed that public diagnostic laboratories were significantly more likely to have an isolated unit for microbiological work (p = 0.001), hand washing sink (p = 0.003), and an autoclave ($p{\leq}0.001$) than private ones. Routine use of hand gloves, biosafety cabinet, and a first aid box was observed in 35.0%, 20.0%, and 2.5%, respectively, of all laboratories examined. Written standard operating procedures, biosafety manuals, and biohazard signs on door entrances were observed in 6.3%, 1.3%, and 3.8%, respectively, of all audited laboratories. No biosafety officer(s) or records of previous spills, or injuries and accidents, were observed in all diagnostic laboratories studied. Conclusion: In all laboratories (public and private) surveyed, marked deficiencies were observed in the area of administrative control responsible for implementing biosafety. Increased emphasis on provision of biosafety devices and compliance with standard codes of practices issued by relevant authorities is strongly advocated.

• 급식외식위생학회지
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.97-102
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of developing and continuously providing on-line hygiene education programs on the improvement of hygiene conditions in children's cafeterias. As a result of the 2020 sanitation and safety checklist analysis, 6 items (personal hygiene, separate use, clean ventilation, temperature control of refrigerators, country of origin, food distribution) were derived and on-line hygiene education programs for each of 6 items were produced. ① Customized educational materials and self-inspection checklists were provided to 208 children's cafeterias. After that, educational videos were provided through Kakao Talk twice a week for 6 months, and they were made available for viewing at any time through YouTube upload, ③ Kakao Talk Through this, a quiz related to the educational video was conducted to give feedback for interaction with the cook. As a result of analyzing the total hygiene and safety checklist score of all registered facility catering centers by visit order, in 2020 it was 82.8 points/100 points, but in 2021, it was 84.2 points (1st round), 89.3 points (2nd round), 91.4 points (3 points) The score improved significantly (p<0.001) as the on-line hygiene education program continued. As a result, significant (p<0.001) changes were observed in the items of 'Knife, chopping board' and 'Sanitation clothes, sanitary hat, sanitary shoes, apron, and sanitary gloves', confirming a clear improvement effect. Therefore, it is considered that the on-line hygiene education program will play a positive role in showing a lasting effect on improving hygiene management in children's cafeterias.

• 한국재난정보학회 논문집
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• 제12권4호
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• pp.381-388
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• 2016

본 연구에서는 현재 화재진압 업무에 종사하고 있는 화재진압대원들의 개인보호장구 보급실태와 성능 품질에 관한 인식을 설문조사를 통해 조사하였다. 그 결과 대부분의 응답자들이 보유기준에 적합하게 지급받았다고 응답하였으나 12%의 응답자는 부족한 장비가 있다고 응답하였다. 또한 장비의 성능 만족도 조사에서도 대부분 만족하고 있으나, 안전장갑의 경우 불만족 의견이 50%가 넘게 나타났다. 전체 설문조사 결과를 종합하면 내용연수에 의해 결정되는 현재의 지급기준을 사용시간 또는 빈도에 따른 교체주기로 개선이 시급히 필요하며, 이에 대한 후속 연구를 통해 새로운 기준을 마련해야 할 것이다.

• 대한영양사협회학술지
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.250-264
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to compare dietitians' with cooks' actual sterilization performance for improving points of sanitation practices of cooking instruments and facilities in Kyonggi Province school foodservices. A total of 400 questionnaires were mailed to the dietitians and the cooks at elementary and middle schools in Kyonggi Province. Finally, 140 dietitians and 140 cooks replied by making a total of 280 replies(70%). The results of this study found that the cooks' attitudes toward the sterilization of the vegetable cutter body, multiple shelf, and distributing cart showed higher frequencies than the dietitians'. Cooks disinfected the vegetable cutter blade, multiple shelf, distributing cart, cook's aprons, and 'L' transporting cart better than dietitians' guides expected. In the sterilization method, cooks performed better than indicated when cooking with rubber gloves. The most difficult thing in dietitians' managing sterilization was the lack of cooking facilities and instruments. They strongly demanded the detailed explanatory notes according to their own Cities and Provinces and the circumstantial manual of disinfection parts in School Foodservice Sanitary Management Guide. There were possibilities of food-poisoning, infection and safety incidents due to the budgetary shortage of cooking facilities and instruments.

• 한국의류산업학회지
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.174-179
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to research the actual condition of working environment, working clothes and personal protective equipments on workers at a construction site in winter. The one to one interview by questionnaire was performed with 33 males and 2 females workers of a construction site in Daegu at $1.3^{\circ}C$ air temperature, 28% R.H., 4.7m/sec air velocity. The questionnaire consisted of 21 questions including 4 personal characteristics questions, 12 working environment/performance questions and 5 working clothes/personal protective equipments questions. It was modified from the original questionnaire developed by Finnish Institute Occupational Health. We found that physical stress of workers increased and the ability of performance decreased. The workers felt the coldest at hands/fingers, feet/toes and the face part of cheek, nose and ears. They rarely wore thermal clothing for winter and answered that the thermal gloves for winter did not provided enough warmth. Even if the workers recognized the necessity of personal protective equipments for their safety, they did not wear them for efficiency of working performance. These results will be useful elementary materials for development of working clothes and personal protective equipments from the viewpoint of improving both working performance and comfort.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.20-25
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• 2019

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness of occupational hazards and personal protective equipment use among dental hygienists (DHs). Methods: A total of 271 self-administered questionnaires were obtained from 280 DHs working at dental hospitals or clinics in Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea. Results: The occupational hazards included work involving dust (94.1%), volatile substances (86.0%), noise (97.0%), and light-curing units (96.7%). The proportion of dental hygiene tasks that participants perceived as harmful were 42.4%, 51.7%, 9.2%, and 31.4% in the same order as above. The proportion of participants who used dust-proof masks during work involving dust was 1.1%. Those who wore gas-proof masks and gloves for work using volatile substances were 0.7% and 31.2%, respectively. Participants who used goggles for work involving light-curing units were 31.0%. None of the participants used ear plugs for work involving noise. A total of 22.9% of the participants recognized the Material Safety Data Sheet, while 79.7% had never been educated about harmful work environments. Conclusion: When compared to exposure status and perception of occupational hazards, the level of protective equipment use was very low. Extra measures to increase DHs' use of personal protective equipment are necessary.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.174-180
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• 2013

본 연구에서는 토마토의 생산 및 유통단계에서의 위해 미생물 오염도 정도를 파악하고 유통과정 중 외부 손상으로 인해 과즙 유출시 미생물의 증식능력을 측정하기 위해 E. coli O157:H7와 L. monocytogenes의 성장을 토마토 추출물 함량(0.1, 1.0, 10%) 및 다양한 배양온도(5, 15, 25, $35^{\circ}C$)에서 측정하였다. 수확단계에서는 APC 작업 종사자의 장갑에서 총 호기성 세균이 7.77 log로 가장 높게 나타났고, 배양 양액에서 대장균군과 B. cereus가 각각 0.33 log 검출되었다. 수확 후 처리과정으로 APC 과정을 거친 토마토에서 총 호기성 세균이 유의적으로 높게 나타났다. 그 외에 S. aureus, Salmonella spp. 는 검출되지 않았다. 재배방법에 따른 일반, 유기농, 무기농 토마토에서의 미생물 분포도의 유의적인 차이는 나타나지 않았다. 포장 방법 중 봉지 포장제품이 박스 포장제품에 비해 대장균군이 유의적으로 높게 나타났으며 세척에 의한 미생물 저감화 효과는 나타나지 않았다. 토마토 추출물 함량이 높을수록 E. coli O157:H7와 L. monocytogenes의 성장이 높게 나타났으며, 토마토 추출물 10%인 경우 $5^{\circ}C$ 조건에서 가장 낮았고, 15, 25, $35^{\circ}C$에서 72시간 배양시 각각 7.33~8.51, 7.73~8.60 log CFU/g으로 증식하였다.

• 농촌의학ㆍ지역보건
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.13-24
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• 1981

This study was conducted with 478 farm households located in Pyongtaek Gun of Gyonggi Do, Chongju City and Chongwon Gun of Chung Buk Do, and Hongchon Gun of Gangwon Do for the period of 10, September through 20, October 1980. It dealt with general features of the farmhouseholds, their practices of handling and using pescides, and relationship between safe use of pesticides and poisoning experiences. The results of the study are summarized as follows: 1. Of the total, 63.2% purchased pesticides mainly through the Agricultural Coops, and 95.4% transported them home separately from other goods. 2 Pesticides were sold contained mainly in glass bottles and paper bags. 3. Mixing of the respodents (87.5%) stored pesticides in sheds, warehouses and boxes. 4. Mixing containers and measuring tools were not used by the majority of the group studied. This indicates that there exist serious problems of safety and accuracy with regard to use of pesticides. 5. As to pesticide protective devices, gloves, respirators, goggles and boots were not used in general. Even in case of using them, their quality was not satisfactory. 6. Among the interviewees, 4.2% did not read pesticide label, 33.9% did not wash immediately when pesticide was spilled on the skin, 48.4% did not care the wind direction during pesticide application, and 17.0% did not wash hands when smoking a cigarette while pesticide is being handled. 7. Of the total, 40.4% were found to harvest vegetables within 10 days from the date of pesticide application, which indicates their unawareness of possible hazards by pesticide residues. 8. Empty pesticide containers or bags were not properly disposed of by majority of the respondents. Furthermore, impacts on the environment by the misuse or abuse of pesticides were not understood by 67.6% 9. Of the interviewees, 48.7% were found to have not received instructions on safe use of pesticides. 10. The rate of pesticidal poisoning experience was about 28.0% if minor symptoms excluded, and it rose to about 44.0% if included. Meanwhile, the rate of pesticidal poisoning tends to increase with the size of farm. 11. The study failed to show a statistically significant relationship between the rate of pesticidal poisoning and use of mixing container and/or measuring tools. However, use of gloves showed a statistical significance on the rate of pesticidal poisoning. 12. Among the poisoned cases, 19.0% were cared for in either hospitals or clinics.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제39권6호
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• pp.522-531
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• 2013

Objectives: A field survey was conducted in a hog-raising industry in order to help develop personal protective equipment for workers which would secure the safety and the health of these workers. The attempt by this study will help enhance safety in the livestock industry and contribute to the advancement of the industry. Method: The study first selected a total of 111 workers from the hog-raising industry as research participants and designed a survey with questions on general characteristics, indoor and outdoor working environments, how the workers would in practice wear or purchase the working clothes, what needs to be improved in these new working clothes, how much the workers would be likely to accept the working clothes and protective equipment, and lastly, conditions of the communicable disease control overgarment. The collected data underwent frequency analysis and cross analysis with SPSS 21.0. Result: The research targets' average age was 50 years. Work efficiency by environmental factor was normal, but all age groups had experience of accidents (79.3%). Major wounded parts were under elbow and under knee. Protective equipment most commonly worn was helmet (83.4%), gloves (98.2%) and boots (99.1%), and satisfaction with them was normal at 3.41. Working clothing most commonly worn was old clothing (31.8%) and everyday wear (17.6%) and satisfaction with it was low. Considering the improvement of working clothing, they required attached pouches, elasticity and deodorization. The acceptability of improved working clothing was high at 69.2%. Conclusion: After problems have been addressed in relevant future research, what has been learned from the concerned study will be referred to as a useful basic reference when the relevant field works to develop high-quality working clothing and protective equipment for workers in the hog-raising industry.