• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.440-447
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• 2022

Background: Agricultural handle equipment is present on all production areas' farms. They are handy and portable; however, excessive use can lead to acute traumas or accidental injuries. Repetitive movements, awkward postures, and hand-arm vibrations predispose them to pain and work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The purpose of this study was to observe the interaction of handle equipment in terms of electromyographic activity and analyze the postural work-related alterations. Materials and methods: Twenty male agricultural operators, mean age 24±1.54 years, underwent the electromyographic analysis testing their muscular activities with a brushcutter, electric saw, and hedge trimmer in four different test conditions. Results: The brushcutter proved to be the agricultural handle equipment with the higher mean frequency (3.37±0.38 Hz) and root mean square (5.25±1.24 ms^-2). Furthermore, the digital postural analysis showed a general asymmetry of the main arm and the respective side of the trunk. The head resulted right inclined in the anterior frontal plane by 5.7°±1.2°; the right scapula lower than the left in the posterior frontal plane (8.5°±1.8°), and a working trunk inclination of 34.15°±5.7°. Conclusions: Vibrations of handle equipment and awkward working postures represent a risk for agricultural operators. Preventive measures are required to avoid young operators from experiencing musculoskeletal disorders all lifelong.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.637-644
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• 2011

Objective & Background: When applying various evaluation tools that analyze work posture risk through observation, accurate measurement of body flexion angle is very important. Method: This study investigated differences and appropriateness of 5 different existing reference points commonly used in the analysis of the work posture. Twenty five ergonomist and trained professionals were participated in this study. A Same flexion angle was utilized for the evaluation of risk assessment of musculoskeletal disorders using five different reference points to investigate the degree of difference between them. To investigate how different the observers' preferred flexion angle measuring methods were compared to the ISO 11226 Reference Posture, a virtual body model was constructed using the Poser 6.0 program. Six types of body flexion postures were constructed, and since neck flexion differs according to body angle, five types of neck flexion postures were constructed with the trunk bending $20^{\circ}$ forward, making up a total of 30 virtual flexion postures. Results: Results showed that the observers used personally preferred reference points instead of reference points recommend in the evaluation tools. Also the results revealed the their seems to be 6 types of flexion angle for the trunk and 11 types of measurement methods for the neck flexion angle in the form of personally preferred reference points. The results showed that a mean difference of $14^{\circ}$($4{\sim}23^{\circ}$) occurred in the trunk, and a mean difference of $20^{\circ}$($-8{\sim}51^{\circ}$) occurred in the neck. To increase accuracy when using the 5 evaluation tools in combination, the ISO 11226 standards, observers' preferred flexion posture standards, and common flexion posture standards of the evaluation tools were compared with the reference points of the 5 evaluation tools. Results showed considerable variance in angle difference for each evaluation tool. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, considering the angle difference between the flexion angle reference points of the evaluation tool and the reference points selected by the observers, it is concluded that instead of personally preferred reference points, the standardized reference points to enhance the accuracy and the objectivity. Application: The result of this study can be used as reference guide to develop the standardized reference point in the future.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.97-102
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• 2011

This study was performed to design and develop an ergonomic equipment for strawberry sorting and packing in agricultural working environments. Potential risk of work related musculo-skeletal disorders associated with farm workers performing strawberry sorting and packing was analyzed through interviews, field surveys, work measurement, and working posture evaluation. For the evaluation of working posture, we used REBA, OWAS, and RULA assessment methods to identify multi-factorial risk factors. Based on the result of comprehensive assessment, a new concept of multi-level rotating table for strawberry sorting and packing was proposed to modify awkward working postures and improve the effectiveness of the farm work. Finally, the characteristics and effectiveness of new equipment was discussed in terms of improvements in productivity, safety, and subjective ratings of farm workers. The results of analysis showed that working conditions improved significantly.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.53-64
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• 2004

Repetition Strain Injury (RSI) is usually caused or aggravated by poor work processes and unsuitable working conditions - that involve repetitive or forceful movements or the maintenance of constrained or awkward postures. The condition is characterized by discomfort and persistent pain. There are three essential steps to eliminate or control hazards In workplace. Case and Demographic Characteristics for Work-related Injuries and illnesses Involving Days Away From Work, 2002. U.S' was examined. Causes of press operators' RSI were carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS), tendonitis, low back pain, and occupational stress. Recommendations for improvement of productivity are redesign of working conditions, exercise, prevent of RSI and avoiding stress.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.99-106
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• 2003

This study concerns with an ergonomic approach for improving the workplace of an air-conditioner factory. If work tasks and equipments do not include ergonomic principles in their design, workers may have exposure to undue physical stress, strain, and overexertion, including awkward postures, forceful exertions, repetitive motion, and heavy lifting. The purpose of this study is to improve the safety, comfort, and efficiency of the workplace. Adapting tasks, work stations, tools, and equipments to fit the worker can help reduce physical stress on a worker's body and enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of workplace.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.75-85
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• 2003

Recently, WRMSD(Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders) that can be frequently found among simple and repetitious works has been a big occupational safety issue, and has begun to being studied actively by many Korean researchers. However, those researches have been largely relied on foreign ones, due to the lack of basic data in Korea. In this study, we have tried to search the actual conditions and factors on WRMSD of press workers in a local company. In addition, we examined how the contents of works and postures of the workers affect the disease. It is expected that the data collected in this study will be able to used for planning the preventive measures on WRMSD effectively and for implementing its corresponding programs.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.3-15
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• 2006

Musculoskeletal Disorders are usually caused or aggravated by poor work processes and unsuitable working conditions - that involve or repetitive or forceful movements or the maintenance of constrained or awkward postures. The condition is characterized by discomfort and persistent pain. Case and Demographic Characteristics for Work-related Injuries and Illnesses Involving Days Away From Work, 2004. U.S" was examined. Causes of musculoskeletal disorders for assembly line workers were carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS), tendonitis, low back pain, and occupational stress. Recommendations of improvement for productivity are redesign of working conditions, exercise, prevent of musculoskeletal disorders and avoiding stress.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.138-142
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• 2016

Background: Household waste collectors (HWCs) are exposed to hazardous conditions. This study investigates the patterns of workplace injuries and work-related illnesses of HWCs. Methods: This study uses cases of workplace injuries and work-related illnesses of HWCs that occurred between 2010 and 2011. We analyzed 325 cases of injuries and 36 cases of illnesses according to the workers' age, length of employment, size of workplace, injured part of body, day and month of injury, type of accident, agency of accident, and collection process. Results: There were significant differences in the effect of workers' length of employment, injured part of body, type of accident, agency of accident, and collection process. Results show that most injuries occur in workers in their 50s and older. This study also shows that 51.4% of injuries occur at businesses with 49 employees or fewer. Injuries to waste collectors happen most often when workers are electrocuted after slipping on the ground. The second most prevalent form of injury is falling, which usually happens when workers hang from the rear of the truck during transportation or otherwise slip and fall from the truck. Work-related illnesses amongst waste collectors are mostly musculoskeletal conditions due to damaging postures. Conclusion: These findings will be instructive in devising policies and guidelines for preventing workplace injuries and work-related illnesses of HWCs.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.3-16
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• 2008

Musculoskeletal Disorders are usually caused or aggravated by poor work processes and unsuitable working conditions - that involve repetitive or forceful movements or the maintenance of constrained or awkward postures. The condition is characterized by discomfort and persistent pain. An investigation on the risk factors of musculoskeletal should have done one time per three years. Cause of musculoskeletal disorders for assembly line worker was a low back pain(LBP). Recommendations of improvement for productivity are redesign of working conditions, exercise, prevent of musculoskeletal disorders and avoiding stress.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.685-693
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• 2012

Objectives : This research was conducted to find the subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal system for main jobs and job posture. Methods : A survey was conducted from September 15, 2011 to October 7, 2011 and 357 dental hygienists were responded. The survey was consisted of the working environment and medical equipments, psycho-social characteristics, health habits and education, job posture, subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal system pain, and so on. Results : In the survey on the frequency of job posture of dental hygienists by jobs, said they cast down or tilt their head by 15 degrees or more or twist or bend their back. The result of the analysis on the subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal system by main job showed that they experienced a pain in neck, shoulder, and back, although the order differed. The order of subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal system for casting down or turning head by 15 degrees or more, twisting or bending back, having shoulders not parallel to the ground, sitting at the end of a chair, and supporting the whole body with one leg or pressing on a pedal for treatment was from the shoulders to the neck to the back. The order of subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal system for having arms too far from the body or hunching for treatment and bending wrists inward or outward for treatment was from the shoulders to the back to the neck. Conclusions : Due to the characteristics of the job which requires one to have a proper view of a patient's oral cavity, most of the postures included casting down of head or bending of back. Therefore a development of new postures is needed to replace the existing job postures which pressure the musculoskeletal system. And shift rotation can be used as a preventive measure.