This study was carried out from 1993 to 1994 in the small industries in Incheon. The objectives of this study was in order to estimate the quitting rate, to identify its relating factors and to propose effective quitting management policy in the small industries. The results were as follows; 1. The quitting rate of 266 study workers was 42.1%(l12 workers). 2. Age, working duration, position, marital status were significant difference between the quitting group and the non-quitting group. 10 the quitting group, mean age was young, working duration was short, general employees and unmarried workers were many compared with the non-quitting group. 3. In the industry characteristics, total assets, total sales, sales per person, establishment duration and occupational health and safety status were significant difference between the quitting group and the non-quitting group. In the quitting group, total assets, total sales and sales per person were little, establishment duration of company was short and occupational health and safety status were poor compared with the non-quitting group. 4. In the quitting group, worker's response to employer's disposal about health and safety was more passive and the relation to employer with employee was significantly poor compared with the non-quitting group. 5. Multiple logistic regression analysis of quitting against family income per person, working duration, relation to employer with employee, occupational health and safety status in industry, worker`s response to employer's disposal about health and safety and sales per person was done. Working duration, occupational health and safety status, worker`s response to empolyer's disposal about health and safety were significant eiplainatory variables for quitting. Above results showed that the quitting rate was high and it was significant difference between the quitting group and non -quitting group according to characteristics of workers and of industries. Especially, it suggested that working duration, occupational health and safety status and worker's response to employers disposal about health and safety were significant quitting factor. Therefore, it should be reflected in the quitting management and the policy of steady employment.
Commerce ; Employment ; Humans ; Incheon* ; Logistic Models ; Marital Status ; Occupational Health ; Single Person

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the characteristics of occupational diseases among agricultural, forestry and fishery workers compensated under the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance that is operated by the Korea Labor Welfare Corporation (KLWC). METHODS: Using the KLWC database, we collected 667 cases of occupational disease compensated during the 8 years between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 2005. We analyzed the characteristics of occupational diseases using the KLWC electronic data and the data investigated by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency. RESULTS: KLWC approved 667 cases, including 69 deaths (10.3%). Men accounted for 76.0%of the approved cases. The most common age group was 50~59 years of age (37.3%). The most common size of enterprise was 5 to 49 workers (47.5%). The proportion of occupational diseases was 54.1%, of which 45.9% was work-related. Among occupational diseases, the most common was skin diseases (147 cases, 40.7%), followed by infectious diseases (131 cases, 36.3%), including scrub typhus (123 cases) and intoxication (40 cases, 11.1%). The causal hazardous agents were biological (320 cases, 88.6%), chemical (29 cases, 8.0%), and physical (11 cases, 3.0%). The major type of industry and occupation were forestry (445 cases, 66.7%) and elementary (151 among 235 cases, 89.3%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Major compensated occupational diseases were infectious diseases, including scrubtyphus, skin diseases and toxic disease, which occurred among workers who were older, and had short tenure and elementary occupation, and these workers were out of the occupational health policy. A management policy must be established to prevent occupational diseases occurring in such vulnerable workers.
Accidents, Occupational ; Agriculture ; Communicable Diseases ; Compensation and Redress ; Fisheries* ; Forestry* ; Humans ; Insurance ; Korea* ; Male ; Occupational Diseases* ; Occupational Health ; Occupations ; Scrub Typhus ; Skin Diseases ; Workers' Compensation

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the total cholesterol levels and related factors in a rural adult population. METHODS: 3,207 adults( 1,272 men and 1,935 women) were examined in 1997. Their heights, weights, and fasting serum total cholesterol levels were measured, and their body mass indices were calculated. A questionnaire interviewing method was used to collect risk factor data. RESULTS: The mean value of total cholesterol were 190.5 mg/dl, and 198.8 mg/dl, and the age-adjusted prevalence rates for hypercholesterolemia (above 240 mg/dl) were 13.7% and 10.2%, in men and women, respectively. From simple analyses, age, educational level, coffee intake, amount of meat and food intake, waist circumference, waist-hip circumference ratio(WHR), and body mass index(BMI) were significant risk factors in men (p<0.05) relating to serum total cholesterol levels. In women, age, educational level, hypertension history, diabetes history, herbal drug history, amount of food intake, alcohol consumption, waist circumference, WHR, BMI, and menopausal status were significant risk factors (p<0.05). In multiple linear regression analyses, waist circumference (p<0.01), BMI (p<0.01), and coffee intake (p<0.05) proved to be significant risk factors in men. Whereas, menopausal status (p<0.01), BMI (p<0.01), herbal drug history (p<0.01), amount of food intake (p<0.05), waist circumference (p<0.05), and alcohol consumption (p<0.05) were significant risk factors in women. Conclusions : The significant risk factors, for both men and women, relating to the serum total cholesterol were waist circumference and BMI. Thus, for the reduction of serum total cholesterol level, it is recommended that health education for the control of obesity should be implemented.
Adult* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Cholesterol* ; Coffee ; Eating ; Fasting ; Female ; Health Education ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hypertension ; Life Style ; Linear Models ; Male ; Meat ; Obesity ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Waist Circumference ; Weights and Measures

To evaluate the change of perception, attitude and practice toward Group Health Care Systerl for small and medium industries, a survey using self-administered questionnaire was conducted to a part of industries in Inchon area, in year 1992 and 1993. major dependent variables were perception, attitude, and practical behavioral change related with Croup Health Care System ; these variables were measured by 3-point Likert like scale. 47 industries were used in analysis. Psrception of year 1993 was higher (1.25) than that (1 34) of 1992. Attitude of yeal. 1993 was also slightly higher (1.46) than that (1.43) of 1992. Both data indicated positive attitude. Practice of year 1993 was slightly lewer (0.86) tHan that (0.90) of 1992, but its change didn't have any statistical significance. In year 1992, major determinants of perception, attitude and behaviral change were sex and age of industrial health care manager ; they had positive efffct upon perception and practice. In yeal. 1993, it was sex of health care manager; it had influenced upon practice. Both year 1992 and 1993, perception was higher and attitude was more positive. In the case of higher perception or positive attitude, practice was active accordingly. To accelerate the behavioral change of health care manager, it is necessary to eaucate them continuously.
Croup ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Incheon ; Occupational Health* ; Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to analyze the characteristics of occupational diseases among health care workers in Korea. METHODS: Using the database of the Korea Labor Welfare Corporation (KLWC), 5, 460 approved occupational disease cases, between Jan 1, 1999 and Dec 31, 2000, and approved by the Jun 30, 2001, were collected. Of these, the 142 health care worker cases were investigated. RESULTS: The proportion of health care workers among the total cases reported in 1999 and 2000 was 2.6%, respectively. The diseases were infectious in 61 (43.0%), cerebro-cardiovascular in 60 (42.3%) and musculoskeletal in 18 cases (12.6%). The distributions of the occupational diseases by sex were 59 (41.5%) and 83 cases (58.5%), in males and females, respectively. The distributions of the occupational diseases by age were 64 (45.1%), 30 (21.1%), 25 (17.6%) and 17 cases (12.0%), in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s, respectively. For the cases of infectious diseases by age there were 48 (78.7%) in their 20s and 12 (19.7%) in their 30s, for the cases of cerebro-cardiovascular diseases by age there were 17 (28.3%) in their 40s, 16 (26.7%) in their 50s and 12 (20.0%) in their 20s, and for the cases of musculoskeletal diseases there were 7 (38.9%) in their 30s and 4 (22.2%) in their 20s. The distributions of the cases of occupational diseases by department were 64 (45.1%), 19 (13.4%), 18 (12.7%), and 10 (7.0%) in the nursing, doctors, officers, and food services departments, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The major occupational diseases of health care workers, as approved by the KLWC, were the infectious, cerebro-cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases. A special management policy must be considered to prevent occupational diseases of health care workers in Korea.
Communicable Diseases ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Female ; Food Services ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; Nursing ; Occupational Diseases* ; Social Welfare

This article reviews newly available knowledge regarding occupational cancer based on an assessment of International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monograph program from 2006 to 2010. The IARC reviewed the agents to evaluate the carcinogenicity in humans according to their priority. During the last five years, the IARC has reviewed many kinds of agents, including all of the Group 1 carcinogenic agents. Agents belonging to groups other than Group 1 were also reviewed. A few agents, such as shiftwork and firefighting, were reviewed for the first time after introducing the IARC Monograph Program. Most of the reassessed Group 1 agents were reaffirmed, showing that there was sufficient evidence to prove their carcinogenicity to human beings. However, some carcinogens were correlated to the new cancer site, since it was deemed that sufficient evidence was present. For example, larynx and ovary cancer deemed to have sufficient evidence of carciongenicity relating to asbestos exposure, joining lung cancer and mesothelioma. Some agents, such as benzo(a)pyrene, ortho-toluidine, 1,3-butadiene, and others belonging to Group 2A were upgraded to Group 1 based on newly identified epidemiologic findings, along with sufficient animal and mechanistic evidence. Benzo(a)pyrene and benzidine-based dyes were classified as human carcinogens based on sufficient animal and pervasive mechanistic evidence. This new data shows that not only chemical agents but also working conditions, such as stress and shiftwork were found to apply to human carcinogenicity. The IARC listed these agents in order to prioritize their review regarding their carcinogenicity to humans. There is a great need to study these newly emerging agents suspected to relate human carcinogenicity, and deem they are worthy of notice.
Animals ; Asbestos ; Benzo(a)pyrene ; Butadienes ; Carcinogens ; Coloring Agents ; Firefighters ; Humans ; International Agencies ; Larynx ; Lung Neoplasms ; Mesothelioma ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Polymethacrylic Acids ; Toluidines

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral in the Earth's crust, and it is not confined to the historic and current asbestos mining areas, but rather quite commonly encountered in certain geological environments across the world. The middle-west side of the Korean Peninsula (Chungnam province) has been composed of numerous talc and asbestos ore deposits derived from serpentine and dolomite. These areas have experienced epidemics of malignant mesothelioma and pleural plaques as a result of non-occupational "neighborhood" exposure and naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) exposure. However, asbestosis epidemics from environmental exposure were rare because asbestosis needs relatively high concentration of asbestos exposure. This review summarizes asbestosis epidemics which occurred in the residents who have lived past or current asbestos mining areas and natural in-place asbestos deposits (or asbestos-like mineral deposits) in the world, including Korean asbestosis endemics that occurred in Chungnam province, which has many historic asbestos mining. Also, this manuscript will describe effective public policies for managing NOA, minimizing potential hazards, and protecting public health from asbestos exposure.
Asbestos ; Asbestosis ; Calcium Carbonate ; Environmental Exposure ; Magnesium ; Mesothelioma ; Mining ; Public Health ; Public Policy ; Residence Characteristics ; Talc

The healthcare industry employs over one million workers in Korea and encompasses a usually broad spectrum of occupations and related exposures. There are so many biological exposures in healthcare settings, including blood-borne pathogens, HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, air-borne pathogens such as tuberculosis, and a wide variety of respiratory viruses. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the global burden of disease (GBD) from occupational exposure to be 40% of Hepatitis B and C infections and 2.5% of the human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections among Healthcare workers (HCWs). Some countries have used surveillance systems to monitor national trends and incidence rates of occupational infections among HCWs; identify newly emerging hazards for HCWs; assess the risk of occupational exposures and infections; and evaluate preventive measures including engineering controls, work practices, protective equipment, and post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent occupational infections. Infection control programs such as engineering control in medical facilities, immunization, post exposure prophylaxis, and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) have been widely introduced to reduce occupational infectious disease among HCWs. Thus some developed countries which have actively introduced infection control program have decreased incidences of occupational infectious diseases among HCWs. This study describes the epidemiologic characteristics of occupational infectious diseases among HCWs, the kinds of surveillance system to monitor infectious diseases among HCWs, and infection control measures that apply to healthcare settings.
Blood-Borne Pathogens ; Communicable Diseases ; Delivery of Health Care ; Developed Countries ; Health Care Sector ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis C ; HIV ; Humans ; Immunization ; Incidence ; Infection Control ; Korea ; Occupational Exposure ; Occupations ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Post-Exposure Prophylaxis ; Tuberculosis ; World Health Organization

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the characteristics of malignant occupational lymphohematopoietic diseases compensated under the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance that is operated by the Korea Labor Welfare Corporation (KLWC). METHODS: Using the KLWC database, we surveyed 50 cases of malignant occupational lymphohematopoietic diseases that received compensation during the 10 years between 1996 and 2005, inclusive. We analyzed the characteristics of occupational diseases using the KLWC electronic data and the epidemiologic data investigated by the Industrial Safety and Health Institute of the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency. RESULTS: KLWC approved 50 cases, including 12 deaths (24.0%). Men accounted for 94.0% of the approved cases. The most common age group was 40~49 years of age (36.0%). The most common size of enterprise was larger than 1,000 workers (20.0%). The most common lymphohematopoietic disease was myeloid leukemia (21 cases, 40.0%), followed by lymphoid leukemia and aplastic anemia (7 cases, 14%) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (6 cases, 12.0%). The mean working duration was 15.1 years and the most common decade was 10~19 years (48.0%). The mean latency was 15.5 years and the most common decade was 10~19 years (44.0%). The causal hazardous agents were benzene (43 cases, 86.0%), ionizing radiation (4 cases, 8.0%), and chemotherapeutics (1 case, 2.0%). CONCLUSIONS: We were able to elucidate the kinds of occupational malignant lymphohematopoietic diseases and the characteristics of workers through this study. Benzene exposure sources emitted from cokeoven and foundry were very important findings that had not been identified in previous studies. The KLWC compensation received by several cases of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the results for which were not consistently related to benzene exposure, was relevant data to decide the work-relatedness of lymphohematopoietic diseases of workers exposed to benzene.
Accidents, Occupational* ; Anemia, Aplastic ; Benzene ; Compensation and Redress* ; Humans ; Insurance* ; Korea ; Leukemia, Lymphoid ; Leukemia, Myeloid ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Male ; Occupational Diseases ; Occupational Health ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Workers' Compensation

Most of pneumoconiosis found in Korea can be categorized in coal worker's pneumoconiosis. However, in recent years, pneumoconiosis has been frequently found in the workers of manufacturing factories. Accordingly, this study was carried out to investigate relationship of dust exposure history and development and progress of pneumoconiosis. Chest radiographs, history of dust exposure, and other data of 144 workers, who were diagnosed as suspecter pneumoconiosis (0/l) or pneumoconiosis in special health examination center in Incheon from 1986 to 1996, were reviewed. The results were as follows ; 1. According to the type of main exposure, most common type of exposure was foundry dust(93workers, 64.6%), followed by welding fume(16workers, 11.1%), talc dust, lime dust and etc. 2. Among 144 workers, the history of dust exposure was investigated in 86 workers. Mean ages of 86 workers at the present study, initial exposure to the dusts, and at the time of initial diagnosis as having pneumoconiosis were 52.1, 29.1 and 46.5 years, respectively. The mean duration of exposure was 17.3 years. 3. Comparing the type of main exposure with dust exposure history, initially exposed age of welders, foundry workers, workers exposed to coal dust and other dusts were 24.6, 30.7, 28.0 and 28.5 years, respectively. Ages at the time of diagnosis as having pneumoconiosis of welders, foundry workers, coal dust and other dusts were 41.3, 49.3, 46.4 and 44.1 years, respectively. The duration of exposure to main dust of welders, foundry workers, workers exposed to coal dust and other dusts were 16.8, 18.2, 13.3 and 11.6 years, respectively. Therefore initially exposed age was significant difference between the welders and the foundry workers (p<.05). Age which was diagnosed pneumoconiosis was significant difference between the welders, workers exposed to other dusts and the foundry workers (p<.01). And exposure duration of main dust was significant difference between the workers exposed to other dusts and foundry workers (p<.01) 4. Initially diagnosed X-ray category of the workers were category 0/l (76workers, 52.8%), 1/0 (35workers, 24.3%) Therefore, workers' pneumoconiosis of manufacturing factories was mild, relatively. And there was no significant difference between initially diagnosed X-ray category of the workers and dust exposure history. 5. Among 97 workers, who could follow up more than 1 year, 60 workers(61.9%) were not changed, 24 workers (24.7%) were progressed, 13 workers (13.4%) were improved in their initially diagnosed X-ray category. Among 11 welders, initially diagnosed X-ray category of 5 welders(45.5%) were improved and of only 1 welder was progressed. But, among 19 workers exposed to other dusts, 10 (52.6%) workers were progressed and none of them were improved. 6. Among 53 workers, who were Initially diagnosed X-ray category was 0/l, 12 workers (22.6%) were progressed and 5 workers (9.4%) were improved in their initially diagnosed X-ray category. And among 40 workers, who were initially diagnosed X-ray category was 1, 12 workers(30.0%) were progressed and 7 workers(17.5%) were improved. Above results suggest that not a few workers of manufacturing factories have pneumoconiosis and their pneumoconiosis is progressed. Therefore, we have to prepare management plan and to study epidemiologic findings of pneumoconiosis with workers of manufacturing factories.
Anthracosis ; Coal ; Diagnosis ; Dust ; Follow-Up Studies ; Incheon* ; Korea ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Talc ; Welding