• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.749-755
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• 2011

Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the reducing effect of workload on developed electro-motion scissors. Methods: To achieve this, we measured the pressure distribution, Joint angle of fingers and JSI(Job Strain Index) for electro-motion scissors and hand-operated scissor in objective assessment and surveyed the uncomfortable degree in subjective assessment. Results: As a result, The peak of pressure in the electro-motion scissors was generally lower than the hand-operated scissors. JSI and overall joint angle of fingers for the electro-motion scissors were remarkably lower than the hand-operated scissors. Also, the subjective uncomfortable degree showed that the uncomfortable point of electro-motion scissors were generally lower than the hand operated scissors. Conclusion: The impact of reducing the work load as well as distributing the pressure around the hand by using electro-motion scissors during grapes pinching was confirmed.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2009

A Study was conducted to investigate the type and level of occupational risk factors for the onset of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in non-manufacturing industries. Total of 38 worksites were investigated from 5 different business areas such as financial institution, transportation service, building maintenance, sanitary service and educational service. Major job and task category were classified and corresponding occupational risk factors such as awkward posture, force exertion, repetitiveness of job, and work/rest cycle were examined using various ergonomic risk analysis techniques. Sets of matrices were developed including types and levels of risk factors for the classified jobs and tasks from 5 different non-manufacturing industries. Also possible ergonomic remedies were suggested for the improvement working conditions. Results and risk factor matrices can be applied as a guideline for the investigation of WMSDs risk factors in similar industries for the prevention of WMSDs.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.81-90
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• 2014

Flexible production system has been expanded to all sectors of economy with the change of labor market and diversification of employment. The unstable employment with irregular work has replaced stable employment with regular work. This study has investigate the impact pathway of the type of employment on health status especially ill-health symptoms experiences. Among the first Korean Working Conditions Survey data, the employee's response data was used to analyze the path way with multiple regression analysis. The result has shown the direct effect of the type of employment on ill-health symptoms experience. Indirect effect of the type of employment was found the pathway via the exposure to noise, high temperature, low temperature, dust, skin contact to chemicals, painful posture, heavy material handling, standing position, repetitive movement of hands. However the exposure to the other hazardous factors such as organic solvent, wholebody vibration, radiation, lifting people, infectious materials were not influenced by the type of employment.

• International Journal of Quality Innovation
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.22-40
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• 2008

Unnatural working postures usually cause musculoskeletal problems for workers in work field, especially in traditional industry. Many analysis and survey methodologies have been developed to identify unnatural postures and disorder risks in workplaces. The Ovako Working Posture Analyzing System (OWAS) and Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) are the representative methods and applied widely. This study applied the both tools to investigate the work field of a manufacturing factory of the water heater's case. We divided the manufacturing process into nine workshops, took the pictures of working motions by DV camera and analyzed the postures on OWAS. From the OW AS results, we could identify the risks level of musculoskeletal symptoms as four Action Categories (AC). And from the comparison of OWAS and NMQ results, we could provide the suggestions to improve the working methods and environment. From the results of OWAS, we found that the operators' head/neck and back were above AC3 in some workshops. If the situation continued in long period, the operators might have the risk to get musculoskeletal symptoms. From the investigation of NMQ, we also found that the percentage of aches on neck, shoulders and lower back were higher than other parts of body. The correlation between aches and jobs was more than 75%. So we provided some suggestions to improve: work rotation and adjustment of work surface/height to fit in with Ergonomics. Then the risks of musculoskeletal symptoms would be reduced.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2004

There were two purposes of this study. The first was to research the effects of standard and fixed-split keyboards on wrist posture and movements during word processing. The second was to select optimal computer input devices in order to prevent cummulative trauma disorder in the wrist region. The group of subjects consisted of thirteen healthy men and women who all agreed to participate in this study. Kinematic data was measured from both wrist flexion and extension, and wrist radial and ulnar deviation during a 20 minute period of word processing work. The measuring tool was an electrical goniometer, and was produced by Biometrics Cooperation. The results were as follows: 1. The wrist flexion and extension at resting starting position were not significantly different (p>.05), however the angle of radial and ulnar deviation were significantly different in standard and split keyboard use during word processing (p<.05). 2. In the initial 10 minutes, the dynamic angle of wrist flexion and extension were not significantly different (p>.05), however the dynamic angle of radial and ulnar deviation was significantly different in standard and split keyboard use during word processing (p<.05). These results suggest that the split keyboard is more optimal than the standard keyboard, because it prevented excessive ulnar deviation during word processing.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.707-714
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• 2004

This study was carried out to research the actual condition of narrator models' wearing uniform, targeting on the narrator models who are being currently active and are from 19-year-old to 30-year-old. A poll was performed through visiting internet circles and spots, and the characteristic of objects, the form of uniform, attitude on uniform, dissatisfaction index on wearing uniform and preference index on wearing uniform were researched. It was carried out from August 18, 2003 to August 31, 2003. In order to perform this study, 161 questionnaires were used in all, and frequency analysis was implemented using SPSS 10.0. The objects of study were composed of female. Those who are from 21-year-old to 25-year-old accounted for 74.5%, and those who have career from 2 years to 3 years accounted for 75.5%. In respect to attitude on wearing uniform, affirmative answers, affirmative answers, such as a sense of belonging, a pride in activity and increase of efficiency, accounted for 68.8%. On the other hand, in respect to a harmonization between uniform and work, just the 39.8-percent showed affirmative reaction. Concerning the functionality of uniform, such as retaining warmth and ventilating, dissatisfaction index showed very high value; it is judged that it should be improved henceforth. Working postures were researched, following the order of standing posture and arm-using posture. In inconvenient actions, bending down and moving arms were orderly pointed out. With regard to the dissatisfaction of size, busts, the length of skirt and waist girth were orderly pointed out. Likewise, considering the parts of which room is required, bust, hip girth and waist girth were orderly pointed out. As to the points that should be bettered, design and functionality were orderly pointed out. In respect to materials of uniform, sweat-absorption material, light material and well-ventilated material were orderly suggested.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.45-59
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• 2007

The operating tasks of overhead crane have caused undue stress to the operators from physical, mental, and environmental workload. Existing workload assessment models for musculoskeletal disorders such as OWAS, RULA, and QEC have limited applicability to the crane operating tasks because they focus mainly on physical factors and do not consider the relative importance of each factor. The present study was to develop a workload assessment model customized to overhead crane operation, following a systematic process: (1) analyzing task characteristics, (2) selecting workload factors, (3) developing assessment methods, (4) establishing action levels, and (5) computerizing the assessment model. Based on literature review, worksite survey, and focus group interview, 4 physical factors (awkward posture, static posture, repetitive motion, and excessive force), 6 mental factors (visual demand, auditory demand, task complexity and difficulty, time urgency, work schedule related stress, and safety related stress), and 4 environmental factors (noise, vibration, dust, and temperature) were selected and their rating scales and relative weights were determined. Then, based on the workload assessment results of 8 overhead cranes operated at different workplaces, the action levels of each factor category were established. Finally, the crane operation assessment model was computerized for effective analysis and report preparation. The present approach is applicable to develop a customized workload assessment model for an operating task under consideration.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.117-123
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• 2020

Purpose : VDT (visual display terminal syndrome) can affect individuals who monitor or who work or play using video screens, including those of smartphones. In general, headache symptoms from overuse of these screens can appear due to eye fatigue, muscle pain in the joints of wrists or fingers, and muscle pain in the neck or shoulders. Many studies in the literature have supported standards that seek to prevent these symptoms. The incidence of musculoskeletal diseases caused by the use of smartphones is expected to increase rapidly, particularly among children and young adults, and these diseases are expected to develop into a societal problem. Therefore, in this study we investigate whether tension headaches that develop from smartphone usage can affect forward neck posture, neck pain, and quality of life. Methods : A total of 93 students from University participated in this study. We divided participants into two groups, those with tension headaches (n = 25) and those without (n = 68) and took forward neck measurements. Headaches were classified according to criteria from the International Headache Society and involved bilateral headache position, quality of pressing or tightening pain, mild or moderate pain intensity, and none due to daily physical activity. We surveyed participants using the smartphone addiction diagnosis questionnaire, the Neck Disability Index (NDI), the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6), and the Quality of Life Questionnaire. Results : Although we found no significant differences in tension headaches due to smartphone addiction diagnosis (p = 0.25), SF-36 life quality assessment (p = 0.06), and cranio-vertebral angle (p = 0.07), we found significant differences from the HIT-6 and the NDI (p <.05). Conclusion : Tension headaches are not correlated with smartphone addiction, quality of life, and forward neck angle but do have a correlation with the degree of cervical dysfunction and the effects of the headaches.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.317-331
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• 2023

Objectives: Construction workers are exposed to various hazardous substances simultaneously. However, little is known about the exposure hazards in construction industry. This study was aimed at identifying the risk of exposure hazards among construction workers. Methods: The expert survey (n=29) was conducted, including construction industry health managers (n=11) and work environment monitoring experts (n=18), on exposure probability, intensity and risk of hazardous substances by construction occupations Results: The exposure hazards of 30 construction occupations were identified and summarized through a literature review and expert survey. The most prevalent hazards were in order of noise, awkward posture, heat/cold, crystalline silica, cement/concrete dust, metal fumes, and volatile organic compounds. The hazards with highest risk score(over seven points) at construction occupations were noise(formwork carpenter, concrete finisher, rebar worker, demolition worker, driller/rock blaster), hazardous rays(welder), heat/cold (earthworks, formwork carpenter, rebar worker, concrete placer, scaffolder), awkward posture(bricklayer, caulker/tile setter, rebar worker) and heavy lifting(bricklayer, rebar worker). Among construction workers, the job types with the highest risk of exposure to carcinogens, and in which occupational cancer has been reported, were in order of stonemason, concrete finisher, rock blaster, welder, insulation installer, painter, scaffolder, plant worker and earthworks in order Conclusions: Systematic research and discussion on occupational disease among construction workers and its various hazardous factors are needed to establish job exposure matrix for facilitating standard for promptly processing the workers' compensation.

• 한국HCI학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.02a
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• pp.56-61
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• 2009

According to the target object for designer to sketch, an effective style or shape of input device can be defined differently. The general spatial sketching system that support various types of wand assist sketching effectively as changing suitable wand shape to the part of a target object. We suggest the idea of changing wand style by altering the posture of a 3D wand. This allows a designer to work in an intuitive way without being interrupted by complicated menus. We implement the various wand styles to the spatial sketching system with cubic-based drawing technique.