• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.7093-7100
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• 2014

This study analyzed the factors related to labor market transition of job injured workers. The Workers' Compensation Insurance Panel data ver.1, which that was surveyed by the Korean Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service in 2013, was used. Four key findings were made: first, the economically inactive populations are 7.2% and unemployed is 22.3% of occupational accident workers who finished the treatment period; second, 31.5% of laborers who returned to a new workplace went into another type of occupation; third, the results showed that socio-demographic factors, such as gender, age and education years, injury-related factors, such as the treatment period and work limitation, and workplace factors, such as company size and employment status, were associated with the return to work; and fourth, a relatively higher proportion of people who has received occupational training could not return to work and the disability grade was not associated with the return to work. These results suggest that policy makers need to understand the characteristics of labor market transition of job injured workers and develop efficient intervention programs based on the transitional labor market.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to describe the results of treatment for motor vehiclerelated crushing injuries among children and adolescents under sixteen years in Korea. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of data from children who were under sixteen year and injured foot by motor vehicles. Cases were documented 1) age at the time of injury, 2) injured site, 3) the area of accident, 4) the kind of vehicle, 5) associated injuries, 6) methods of treatment for soft tissue reconstruction and 7) complications. The relationships between the area of accident and associated injuries, and the kind of vehicle and associated injuries were analyzed using Chi-square test and Fisher exact test. Results: There were 97 children who were 15 year and younger. The mean age was 7.4 years, and 65% were boys. The left foot was more dominant side of injury (57%). Seasonal variation was seen with the number of injuries peaking during the summer (43%, p<0.05). Among the vehicles, 78.3% were the large vehicles (bus, truck or van). The where of accident was more frequent at an alley or less than two lanes of traffic. But, the relationships between the place of accident and associated injury or the kind of vehicles and associated injury were not statistically significant. The associated injury were fracture or dislocation (23 cases, 35.9%), injury of tendon (21 cases, 32.8%). There were amputation or disarticulation of foot in 8 cases (8.2%) and post-traumatic deformities such as flatfoot, hindfoot varus or valus deformities by tendon injury in 7 cases (7.2%). Conclusion: More than 50% of crushing or degloving injuries of child's foot by traffic accidents happened in boys between 5 to 9 years old. The associated injury was unrelated with size of vehicles or accident place at the time of accident. But, even though foot injury happened in an alley or one lane by small vehicles, child who hurt feet by car need thorough investigation about associated injury. If a surgeon keep in mind and treat child to associated injury necessarily, can minimize complication. Microsurgical reconstruction for soft tissue defect was prior to other methods.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.81-97
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the awareness and direction of paramedics work and image in hospitals. Methods: From April 16 to May 5, 2015, data were collected through structured questionnaires from 45 paramedics and 81 nurses working in emergency medical institutions. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 18.0. Results: The work of paramedics is evaluated to be highly worthy at the in-hospital level rather than at the injury first-aid treatment level. It appears that paramedics are often forced to do what their hospitals tell them to do concerning matters related to conflicts with them and nurses. Paramedics stated that they experienced greater mental stress than those engaging in other professions, a finding similar to those of other studies. There was no statistically significant difference in opinions between the two groups about a desirable direction for the development of first-aid services at hospitals. More than two thirds of the respondents said that paramedics should be given the right to enter acting check for patients. Conclusion: Paramedics work is shown to differ in the opinions of paramedics themselves and nurses. Paramedics need for reform is associated with expanding the work of the law.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.261-262
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• 2022

Globally, it is estimated that the number of people living outside of their country of origin reached 281 million in 2020. The primary drive of those migrants when migrating voluntarily is work to increase their income and provide for their families left behind in their home countries. Those who migrate immediately seek means of income to sustain themselves through a perilous process as currently evidenced in the war in Ukraine and not too long ago in Syria and Venezuela. Unfortunately, migrant workers are globally known to predominantly be working in "4-D jobs"- dirty, dangerous, and difficult and discriminatory; the fourth D was recently added to acknowledge the discriminatory aspect and other social determinants of health migrant workers face in their host country while exposed to precarious work. Consequently, migrant workers are at considerable risk of work-related illnesses and injury but their health needs are critically overlooked in research and policy. Recognizing the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights "Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment", we cannot consider any human life - thus, the life of migrant workers - as dispensable through a structural discriminatory process that undervalues their occupational safety and health, livelihood and the contribution these workers bring to their host countries. This was seen during the preparation for the upcoming world cup in Qatar where migrant workers were exposed to a multiplicity of serious hazards including deadly heat hazards.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.66-72
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• 2014

Background: The purpose of this study was to enumerate the annual morbidity and mortality incidence and estimate the direct and indirect costs associated with occupational injuries and illnesses in Bangkok in 2008. In this study, data on workmen compensation claims and costs from the Thai Workmen Compensation Fund, Social Security Office of Ministry of Labor, were aggregated and analyzed. Methods: To assess costs, this study focuses on direct costs associated with the payment of workmen compensation claims for medical care and health services. Results: A total of 52,074 nonfatal cases of occupational injury were reported, with an overall incidence rate of 16.9 per 1,000. The incidence rate for male workers was four times higher than that for female workers. Out of a total direct cost of $13.87 million, $9.88 million were for medical services and related expenses and $3.98 million for compensable reimbursement. The estimated amount of noncompensated lost earnings was an additional $2.66 million. Conclusion: Occupational injuries and illnesses contributed to the total cost; it has been estimated that workers' compensation covers less than one-half to one-tenth of this cost.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.157-168
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• 2017

Objective: This study aims to understand the motorcycle accident characteristics of food delivery workers and to present basic guidelines on accident prevention through accident. Background: It is known that food delivery workers have a high ratio of self-employed and youth workers, and occupations with frequent disasters. Therefore the occupation is known to really be in need of accident prevention policy. Method: This study analyzed the data of motorcycle crashes of 1,310 food delivery workers that have been approved as on-duty industrial crashes since 2015. The accident characteristics were examined by dividing them into driver related factors and accident related factors. Results: Among the motorcycle crashes of food delivery workers, 99.2% of the victims were males, 82.6% had less than six months of work experience. 76.2% of the victims were employed by the companies with less than five workers. In addition, there was a difference in accident characteristics according to age, type of cuisine, accident time of the day, injured organs and injured body part. Conclusion: The results of this study can be used as baseline data to devise systematic measures to prevent motorcycle crashes of food delivery workers. Application: Preventative measures for novice young part time workers including safety education/training need to be established.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.165-172
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• 2020

Background: To gain a better understanding of nonfatal injuries in Alaska, underutilized data sources such as workers' compensation claims must be analyzed. The purpose of the current study was to utilize workers' compensation claims data to estimate the risk of nonfatal, work-related injuries among occupations in Alaska, characterize injury patterns, and prioritize future research. Methods: A dataset with information on all submitted claims during 2014-2015 was provided for analysis. Claims were manually reviewed and coded. For inclusion in this study, claims had to represent incidents that resulted in a nonfatal acute traumatic injury, occurred in Alaska during 2014-2015, and were approved for compensation. Results: Construction workers had the highest number of injuries (2,220), but a rate lower than the overall rate (34 per 1,000 construction workers, compared to 40 per 1,000 workers overall). Fire fighters had the highest rate of injuries on the job, with 162 injuries per 1,000 workers, followed by law enforcement officers with 121 injuries per 1,000 workers. The most common types of injuries across all occupations were sprains/strains/tears, contusions, and lacerations. Conclusion: The successful use of Alaska workers' compensation data demonstrates that the information provided in the claims dataset is meaningful for epidemiologic research. The predominance of sprains, strains, and tears among all occupations in Alaska indicates that ergonomic interventions to prevent overexertion are needed. These findings will be used to promote and guide future injury prevention research and interventions.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.158-168
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• 2011

Objectives: The present study aims to determine the causal relationship between self-rated depression and experiences of injury and accidents in municipal firefighters. Methods: A panel survey of 186 municipal firefighters measured with depressive symptoms according to the Beck's depression index (BDI) was conducted. The effects of job-related injuries and accidents were evaluated using self-administered questionnaires that were taken once in a 12-month period from 2005 to 2006. Firefighters were classified into the Depression Group or Control Group based on follow-up BDI results with a cutoff level that was set to having "over mild depression." Results: The depression Group was comprised of 17 (9.1%) workers, including 9 firefighters who met had sufficient BDI scores twice in the 2-year test period and newly sufficient BDI scores in the follow-up test. A significantly higher number of subjects in the Depression Group experienced injuries and accidents in the 2-year test period as compared to the Control Group (15.4% vs. 1.5%, p=0.04). Firefighters who experienced injuries and accidents in the 2-year test period had a 7.4 times higher risk of being in the Depression Group than those who had not. As compared to accidents, near-miss accidents revealed stronger risks related to being classified as in the Depression group (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 4.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.15-18.18 vs. Adjusted OR = 4.22, 95% CI = 1.08-16.58). Conclusion: The above results suggest that we should establish an effective program to promote mental health for groups at high risk for self-rated depression, including persons who have experienced consecutive injuries and accidents as well as near-miss injuries.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.293-302
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• 2015

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in auto workers of a mission assembly plants. Background: Most studies of musculoskeletal disorders have used car assembly line workers as their participants. However, little research has been done on musculoskeletal disorders afflictions of mission assembly line workers. Method: Through a focus group interview with an ergonomist and a manager at a mission assembly plant site, a questionnaire was developed for musculoskeletal disorders. The questionnaire consisted of five parts, demographic factors, musculoskeletal disorder symptoms, and musculoskeletal disorder experiences; 137 workers participated in this survey. The surveys were analyzed by correlation and Chi-squared analysis. Results: Musculoskeletal disorder symptoms and serious pain were reported in the neck, shoulder, back, and fingers. These problems were statistically related to various demographic factors, such as age, stature, stretching, and work satisfaction. Conclusion: Treatment of musculoskeletal disorders should consider the workers' traits. If there is no specific cause of the pain, developing stretches and exercises before and after work should be applied to prevent musculoskeletal disorders. Application: The results of this study can be used to develop guidelines to prevent injury in auto workers at mission assembly plants.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.4 s.59
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• pp.805-814
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• 1997

Injuries to the menisci occur in a variety of ways, most commonly with a twist, pivot, squat, or valgus stress to the knee. Tear patterns are classified to longitudinal, horizontal, or transverse features according to the mechanism of injury. Work-related meniscal tear usually occurs with a repetitive usage of the foot, hence it can be classified as a cumulative traumatic disorder. We found a 47 year-old female worker who had been taking charge of repetitive foot-switch stepping for 8 years. She suffered from pain in the right knee since 5 months ago. Tenderness along the medial joint line of the right knee was observed and pain was aggravated with full flexion of the right knee. On magnetic resonance imaging, high signal intensity was observed at the posterior horn of the medial meniscus of the right knee. Degenerative longitudinal and transverse complex tear in the medial meniscus was observed on arthroscopy. Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy was performed. We surveyed the work process and the health status of co-workers. It turned out that the work process was compatible to injure the meniscus and nine out of fourteen co-worker(64.3%) complained pain of the knee. No other factors related to her meniscal tear could be found except for the situation at her work. Therefore, we conclude that meniscal tear is related to the repetitive stepping of foot switch.