• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.246-257
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the factors related to physical and affective well-being of taxi drivers. The main factors of interests were workplace hazards and work environment. Method: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. A convenience sampling method was utilized. 181 taxi drivers in Seoul metropolitan area completed survey questionnaires. Result: In bivariate analysis, payment system, workplace hazards, and work environment were associated with physical health of taxi drivers. Multiple regression analysis revealed payment system and workplace hazards were significant predictors of physical health. On the other hand, age and workplace hazards, and work environment were significantly associated with affective health in the bivariate analysis. Moreover, workplace hazards and environment were significant predictors of affective health in the multiple regression analysis. Conclusion: To improve taxi drivers' health status, it is critical to reform payment system to monthly payment, establish prevention policies of workplace hazards, and encourage employers and taxi drivers to make efforts for better work environment.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.239-248
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• 2018

Background: Workers may be exposed to various types of occupational hazards at the same time, potentially increasing the risk of adverse health outcomes. The aim of this review was to analyze the effects of multiple occupational exposures and coexposures to chemical, biomechanical, and physical hazards on adverse health outcomes among agricultural workers. Methods: Articles published in English between 1990 and 2015 were identified using five popular databases and two complementary sources. The quality of the included publications was assessed using the methodology developed by the Effective Public Health Practice Project assessment tool for quantitative studies. Results: Fifteen articles were included in the review. Multiple chemical exposures were significantly associated with an increased risk of respiratory diseases, cancer, and DNA and cytogenetic damage. Multiple physical exposures seemed to increase the risk of hearing loss, whereas coexposures to physical and biomechanical hazards were associated with an increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders among agricultural workers. Conclusion: Few studies have explored the impact of multiple occupational exposures on the health of agricultural workers. A very limited number of studies have investigated the effect of coexposures among biomechanical, physical, and chemical hazards on occupational health, which indicates a need for further research in this area.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.259-265
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• 2012

The intent of this article was to analyze the potential hazards and risks involved in persons exposed to prosthodontic practice. These risks include exposure to physical and chemical hazards, dental materials, infectious environment, inappropriate working pattern and psychosocial stress. The potential harm of these hazards and its prevention is highlighted. Prosthodontists, students, dental technicians, and others working in the prosthodontic clinics and laboratory should be aware of the specific risk factors and take measures to prevent and overcome these hazards.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2007

In this study we experiment on sand deposits (tine aggregates) taken from the old river-bed of the Bonghwang-cheon of Geum River Basin, and evaluate physical properties of fine aggregates in comparison to the KS quality regulation. As a result of experimentation, particle size of fine aggregates is generally smaller in the downstream area than in the upstream area. In addition, physical properties of the fine aggregates tend to depend on the bedrock type. Physical properties of fine aggregates show a strong positive correlation with particle size of old river-bed sediments. Finally, the general physical properties of fine aggregates are conformable to the KS quality regulation, except density and proportion of materials finer than $75{\mu}m$.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.1008-1015
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• 2007

The primary purpose of the safety management is to prevent the loss of lives or physical damages arising from potential hazards in the railroad signaling system. Since such potential hazards may occur at any time during the system life cycle from design and development to maintenance, safety management activities have to be continuously taken in the course of the system life cycle. The identification of potential hazards is the early step of the safety management. However, such identification activities have to be continued during the system life cycle. Further, they have to be closely linked with system functions to prevent functional problems. This study provides a systematic approach to identification of potential hazards for their tracking and management during the system life cycle to assure the identification and definition of the most appropriate hazards.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.397-404
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• 2020

Background: Most job exposure matrices (JEMs) have been developed for chemical and physical hazards in the United States (US). In addition, the overall validity of most JEMs of work organization hazards using self-reported data in the literature remains to be further tested due to several methodological weaknesses. Methods: This paper aims to review important methodological issues with regard to a JEM of work organization hazards using self-report data and to present a research protocol for developing a four-axis (job titles, hazards, sex, and time) JEM of major work organization hazards using the US General Social Survey-Quality of Work-Life (GSS-QWL) data (2002-2018; N = 7,100 workers). Results: Five methodological weaknesses in existing JEMs of work organization hazards using self-report data were identified: having only two axes (hazard and occupation), using psychometrically weak items and scales, including scales having little interoccupational variability, unresolved optimal minimum numbers of subjects per occupation, and low accessibility. The methodological weaknesses were successfully addressed in the proposed research protocol. Conclusion: The work organization JEM to be developed will significantly facilitate and strengthen occupational epidemiological studies on work organization hazards and major health outcomes, improve national and occupational surveillance of work organization hazards, and promote interventions for a healthy work environment in the US.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.30 no.sup
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• pp.4.1-4.7
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• 2015

Objectives Approximately 2000 phase-in substances are subject to registration according to the Act on the Registration and Evaluation, etc. of Chemical Substances (K-REACH), and the expected testing cost is 2.06 trillion Korean won assuming all the test data required for registration are acquired. The extent to which these enormous test costs can be reduced depends on the availability of existing data that can be used to meet the requirements of the K-REACH we examined the current availability of test data that can be used for chemical substance registration. Methods We analyzed the possibility of utilizing the existing test data obtained from 16 reference databases for 369 of 518 kinds of phase-in substances subject to registration that were reported in last October 2014. Results The physical and chemical properties were available for 57.1% of substances, whereas data regarding human hazards and environmental hazards were available at considerably lower rates, 8.5% and 11.8%, respectively. Conclusions Physical and chemical properties were available for a fairly high proportion, whereas human hazards and environmental hazards were reported for considerably fewer substances.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.58-68
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• 2020

Purpose: Workers with chronic health problems find it difficult to maintain their work because of socioeconomic difficulties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships between physical, ergonomic, and mental health hazards in the workplace and chronic health problems of Korean workers. Methods: A total of 28,807 wage workers participated in the study and were selected using the Fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey (2017). Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the associations between physical, ergonomic, and mental health hazards and chronic health problems. Results: Of the participants, 1,220 (4.23%) had chronic health problems. Even after adjusting the general characteristics, vibration, noise, high temperature, low temperature, dust, chemical and cigarette smoke, fatigue and painful posture, dragging or pushing or moving of heavy objects, repetitive hand or arm movements, working with a computer or smartphone, use of internet or e-mail, and anxiety situations increased the risk of chronic health problems. Conclusion: The study reaffirms that exposure of physical, ergonomic, and mental health hazards in the workplace significantly increases the risk of chronic health problems.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.260-272
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• 2011

Objectives: The promotion of health and safety (H&S) awareness among hospital staff can be applied through various methods. The aim of this study was to assess the risk level of physical hazards in the hospital sector by combining workers' perception, experts' evaluation and objective measurements. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed using multiple triangulation. Hospital staff (n = 447) filled in an H&S questionnaire in a general hospital in Athens and an oncology one in Thessaloniki. Experts observed and filled in a checklist on H&S in the various departments of the two hospitals. Lighting, noise and microclimate measurements were performed. Results: The staff's perception of risk was higher than that of the experts in many cases. The measured risk levels were low to medium. In cases of high-risk noise and lighting, staff and experts agreed. Staff's perception of risk was influenced by hospital's department, hospital's service, years of working experience and level of education. Therefore, these factors should be taken into account in future studies aimed at increasing the participation of hospital workers. Conclusion: This study confirmed the usefulness of staff participation in the risk assessment process, despite the tendency for staff to overestimate the risk level of physical hazards. The combination of combining staff perception, experts' evaluation and objective measures in the risk assessment process increases the efficiency of risk management in the hospital environment and the enforcement of relevant legislation.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2012

In order to evaluate the physical and psychological health effects from automobile air pollution, 99 employees who worked near a main street were given a general health questionnaire, and the prevalence of their subjective complaints was measured. The collected data were classified according to gender, sleep time, degree of regular exercise, self-consciousness of symptoms, length of employment, work time, rest time, and smoking status. The results obtained were summarized as follows: The scores related to health complaints regarding physical and psychological items were higher in females than in males. THI scores were higher for the < 4 hour sleep time group. The health complaint scores for physical items were higher in the regular exercise group, whereas most scores for mental items were higher in the irregular exercise groups. The health complaints scores for physical and psychological items were higher in the unhealthy symptom group than in other groups. Those employees who had worked for > 4 years showed significantly higher rates of complaints regarding the eyes and skin. THI scores were higher for the < 6 hour working time group. The smoking group showed higher scores regarding health complaints related to physical items. The THI scores of the respiratory organs, mouth, anus, and digestive organs were significantly higher for the smoking group than for the non-smoking group. In summary, this study shows that the health complaint scores regarding physical and psychological symptoms tended to be higher among the unhealthy group, the less sleep time group, the less work time group, smokers, and females. These results can be used to improve the psychosomatic health status and working environments of employees who work near a main street.