• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.92-100
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• 2018

According to 'The Analysis of Industrial Accidents in 2016' by Ministry of Employment and Labor, the number of deaths caused by accidents in the construction field is 391, accounting for 47% of 826 industrial fatalities in all industries. The breakdown of the 391 fatalities of the construction industry shows that 'struck by an object' accident had 30 fatalities, the 3rd in frequency following falling (235) and crashing (32) accidents. This study aims to explore ways to reduce the 'struck by an object' accident with emphasis on safety education and certificate system for rigging and slinging works. This study reviews literature on rigging and slinging works and analyzes 'struck by an object' accidents. The rules and regulation on the rigging and slinging works are also reviewed both for Korea and other countries with best practices in construction safety such as Singapore, Japan, U.K., and U.S. The rigging and slinging certificate systems of those countries are also reviewed to find any advantage in the construction safety management. In addition, a pilot rigging and slinging certificate system was executed in one of domestic construction site followed by two surveys: one on the riggers who participated in the pilot operation and the other on general managers in domestic construction sites. Based on the analysis of the 'struck by an object' accidents and pilot operation, this study proposes a rigging and slinging certificate system to reduce accidents, enhancing safety condition of construction sites. The certificate system was proposed in a way to accommodate working practice of construction sites. Depending on rigging careers and a crane load capacity, riggers are eligible to apply either basic or master certificate which makes difference in the level of rigging works. The safety condition of rigging and slinging work could be substantially enhanced if workers, managers, supervisors, administrators, and policy makers work together consistently.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.85-98
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• 2023

This study analyzes the importance and implementation of countermeasures to reduce safety accidents that may occur during fishing in coastal gillnet fishing. Safety accidents that may occur in coastal gillnet fishing were classified into 56 measurement items in six areas: slips and trips, contact with machinery, falls, struck by object, musculoskeletal symptoms, and electrical shock. 35 fishermen belonging to coastal gillnet associations in Tongyeong and Namhae were selected as samples, and the importance and implementation of the proposed measurement items were investigated in the field. In addition, the results were evaluated visually by IPA analysis. As a result of the analysis, the importance of struck by object was the highest, and the implementation of slips and trips was the highest. On the other hand, prevention of musculoskeletal damage was found to be the lowest in both importance and implementation. The area with the most significant difference in importance and implementation by the classified area for measurement items was struck by object, and the area with the minor difference was slips and trips. Among the measurement items, the importance is highly recognized, but there are items with low implementation. To improve their level of implementation, countermeasures such as continuous education, economic support, and structural change of fishing boats should be prepared; moreover, policy support activities for implementation should be carried out.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.79-82
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• 2024

The potential for traumatic brain injury resulting from falling coconuts is frequently overlooked. These incidents can cause focal lesions in the form of brain hemorrhage. Corpus callosum hemorrhage due to blunt trauma from a falling object is rare and typically associated with poor prognosis. The purpose of this report is to detail a case of corpus callosum hemorrhage caused by a coconut fall and to discuss the conservative management approach employed. We report the case of a 54-year-old woman who was admitted to the hospital with symptoms of unconsciousness, headache, and expressive aphasia after being struck by a falling coconut. Notably, hemorrhage was detected within the body of the corpus callosum, as revealed by imaging findings. The patient received intensive monitoring and treatment in the intensive care unit, including oxygen therapy, saline infusion, an osmotic diuretic, analgesics, and medication to prevent stress ulcers. The patient demonstrated marked clinical improvement while undergoing conservative treatment. Despite the typically unfavorable prognosis of these rare injuries, our patient exhibited meaningful clinical improvement with conservative treatment. Timely diagnosis and appropriate interventions were crucial in managing the patient's condition. This report emphasizes the importance of considering traumatic brain injury caused by falling coconuts and highlights the need for further research and awareness in this area.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.158-163
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• 2024

Objectives: The present paper aimed to examine whether an aging workforce is associated with an increase in work-related fatal injuries and to explore the underlying reasons for this potential increase. Material and methods: Aged workers were defined as those who were at least 55 years old. Work-related fatalities were assessed in aged and young workers who were registered with the workers' compensation system in 2021 in the Republic of Korea. Total waged workers, based on raw data from the Local Area Labor Force Survey in 2021, were used as the denominator to estimate the work-related fatality rates. Results: Most work-related fatalities in the aged workers occurred among individuals working in the "construction sector" (58.9%), those with "elementary occupations (unskilled workers)" (46.1%), and those with the employment status of "daily worker" (60.8%). The estimated incidence (0.973/10,000) of work-related fatalities among aged workers was about four times higher than that (0.239/10,000) among younger workers. "Falling," "collision," "struck by an object," and "trip and slip" were more frequent types of work-related fatalities among aged workers relative to young workers. The category of "buildings, structures, and surfaces" was a more frequent cause of work-related fatalities among aged workers than among young workers. Conclusions: Aged workers had a higher incidence of work-related fatalities than young workers. Frequent engagement in precarious employment and jobs, coupled with the greater physical vulnerability of aged workers, were likely causes of their higher level of work-related fatal injuries.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.274-281
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• 2004

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the injury rates and risk factors for preschool children in Daegu city and Kyungpook province. Method : A questionnaire survey about medically attended injuries during the preschool period was performed in nine primary schools located in Daegu city, Pohang city and Goryung County. The overall injury rate was estimated using person-year. The causes and patterns of the injuries, and their risk factors were examined. Result : A total of 469 medically attended injuries were reported in 330 of the 959 study subjects during the preschool period. The overall annual injury rate was 7.5 per 100 children. The injury rate increased sharply during the period from infant (2.4) to 1 year of age (7.5), and the peak injury rate (9.2) was reported for 5 year olds. The most common causes of injuries were falling (36.0%), followed by being struck by an object (23.7%), and traffic accidents (14.1%). Among the traffic accidents, 72.8% occurred while playing on the road, riding a bicycle or roller-skating. A proportional hazard model showed that males (hazard ratio=1.49, p<0.001 compared with female) and the mother's higher education level (hazard ratio of college or higher= 1.51, p=0.013; high school=1.32, p=0.085 compared with those of middle school or lower) were significant risk factors of childhood injury. Conclusion : The results of this study suggested that efforts for children's safety should be made, especially from the toddler stage, and in male children. To develop a more specific childhood injury prevention program, a surveillance system for injuries should be established. Further study of the relationship between mother's occupation and injury rates is also needed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.241-247
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• 2016

The trawl fishery is an important fishery accounting for around 30.0% of adjacent water fishery production in Korea, and the commercial fishing is associated with high rate of fatal and non-fatal occupational injury. The hazard analysis for the fishermen's safety of offshore trawler was conducted to serve as basic data for improving the healthy and safe working environment of fishermen using fishermen's occupational accidents of the national federation of fisheries cooperatives (NFFC) from 2012 to 2014 (n=464). As a result, the occupational accident occurrence rate of large powered trawl fishery was 241.4‰ in east sea trawl fishery, 6.9 times the rate of that. In addition, death and missing rate was found to have very serious level management to 97.7‱ in east sea trawl fishery of death at 6.2 times. The accident occurred in 91.7 to 100.0% was happened at sea. The slipping, others and struck by object and son on occurred more frequently in order in the frequency of accident occurrence pattern. However, the occurrence rate of death and missing did not match the frequency of accident pattern. In other words, slipping occurred more frequently while death and missing risk was not high. The fall in the waters was low while death and missing risk was high. The results are expected to help identify and assess safety hazard occurred in offshore trawlers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.188-194
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• 2015

The powered purse seine fishery is an important fishery accounting for 19.4% of adjacent water fishery production in Korea, and the commercial fishing is associated with high rate of fatal and non-fatal occupational injury. The hazard analysis for the fishermen's safety of offshore large powered purse seiner was conducted to serve as a basic data for improving the healthy and safe working environment of fishermen using fishermen's occupational accidents of the national federation of fisheries cooperatives (NFFC) in 2013 (n=583). As a result, the occupational accident occurrence rate of this fishery was 182.6‰ in all industries 30.9 times the rate of that. In addition, death and missing rate was found to have a very serious level management to 25.1‰ in all industries of death of 17.5 times. The accident occurred in 72.3 to 85.8% was happened at sea. The others, slipping and struck by object etc occurred more frequently in order in the frequency of accident occurrence pattern. However, the occurrence rate of death and missing did not match the frequency of accident pattern. In other words, slipping occurred frequently higher while death and missing risk was not high. And the contact with fishing gear and fall in the waters was low while death and missing risk was high. The results are expected to contribute for identification and assessment of safety hazard occurred in offshore large powered purse seiners.