OBJECTIVES: Absenteeism due to musculo-skeletal disorders (MSDs) of workers is an important index of occupational health. Since research on its causes is rare in Korea, the risk factors for absenteeism due to MSDs should be studied. METHODS: Using the 2nd Korean working condition survey data, we investigated the prevalence of absenteeism due to MSDs. We also analyzed the risk factors for absenteeism by multiple logistic regression analysis in Korean employees. RESULTS: Prevalence of absenteeism due to MSDs was 0.7% in all employees, 0.5% in men, and 0.9% in women. In logistic regression analysis, gender, age, presence of a representative worker organization, working on tight deadlines, and pace of work dependent on automated equipment/machine were risk factors of absenteeism due to MSDs for both sexes. For males, working time, working at a very high speed were additional risk factors. For females, pace of work dependent on numerical production, performance, and targets were additional risk factors. Although not included in the multiple logistic regression analysis, handling heavy loads in both sexes and average monthly income for women were risk factors in the univariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: For absenteeism due to MSDs, the presence of a representative worker organization, along with work pace and its determinants were important risk factors.
Absenteeism ; Female ; Handling (Psychology) ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Occupational Health ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the associations between enterprise-scale levels, the information supplied regarding workplace safety and health, and occupational injury and disease using a nationally representative sample of Korean workers. METHODS: We used data from the '2006 Working Condition Survey' performed by the Korean Occupational Safety & Health Agency. Demographic variables, employment characteristics, workplace hazards, enterprise-scale levels, information supplied regarding workplace safety and health, and occupational injury and disease were included for the study. RESULTS: Subjects who had high incomes, or who were male, full-time workers, or shift workers were more likely to provide safety and health information at work, compared to other workers' groups. The larger the enterprise-scale level, the more likely they would offer information on safety and health at work. Workers who worked in small companies, especially those with less than 10 employees, were the most likely respondents to provide safety and health information. In the corresponding logistic regression, the presence of occupational injuries and disease was significantly associated with the provision of health and safety information, the enterprise-scale level had little correlation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the provision of health and safety information is a critical factor regarding occupational injuries and disease. Proper safety and health education, even in small companies, may contribute to a decrease in occupational disease and injury.
Data Collection ; Employment ; Health Education ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Occupational Diseases ; Occupational Health ; Occupational Injuries

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in university hospital healthcare workers and to evaluate the job-related factors that affect musculoskeletal symptoms. METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to health care workers who work at the university hospital. The self-reported questionnaire included the following information: general characteristics, health behaviors, job-related factors, depression symptom, ergonomic factor, job stress, and musculoskeletal symptoms. Ergonomic factor was measured by ANSI Z-365, depression symptom by CES-D, job stress by KOSS-26 and musculoskeletal symptoms by NIOSH questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 1,198(64.2%) of 1,842 respondents answered and 1,183 were included in the final study population. The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms was 53.3%. The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms of males and females was 25.6% and 63.9%, respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors, total job stress score(OR=3.05, 95% CI=1.62~5.74), depression symptom(OR=2.18, 95% CI=1.07~4.43), ANSI Z-365 high risk group(OR=5.33, 95% CI=2.08~13.66) in males and total job stress score(OR=2.14, 95% CI=1.53~3.00), three-shift work(OR=1.81, 95% CI=1.26~2.60), nurses(OR=1.82, 95% CI=1.22~2.73), and ANSI Z-365 high risk group(OR=3.33, 95% CI=1.58~7.03) in females were significantly associated with musculoskeletal symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Shift work, nurses, ANSI Z-365 high risk group, depression symptom and job stress were related with musculoskeletal symptoms. In order to prevent musculoskeletal disorders, ergonomic improvements and stress reduction are required.
Data Collection ; Delivery of Health Care ; Depression ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Male ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: The cold provocation test for diagnosing the vascular component in hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is likely to be accepted as an objective test, and a few studies have been performed. However, controversy has continued regarding the diagnostic performance of this method. Although objective methods such as plethysmography and laser doppler flowmetry have been studied, they have not received as much attention as other diagnostic methods. Therefore, our study aim was to spread the awareness of HAVS by reporting the results of the cold provocation test in a hand-transmitted vibration exposure group. METHODS: The study subjects were 549 workers who had been exposed to hand-transmitted vibrations and reported symptoms in their hands. While the subject immersed both their hands in 10degrees C water for 10 minutes, the skin temperature of 10 fingers was recorded from pre-immersion time to 20 minute postimmersion including 10 minutes immersion time. The recovery rates were calculated from the recorded skin temperatures. The 'decreased recovery rate' criteria were less than 30% at 5 minutes post-immersion and 60% at 10 minute post-immersion. RESULTS: Of the subjects, 69.1% and 30.9% had more severe symptoms in the right and left hands, respectively. The mean finger skin temperature of the right hand after cold-water immersion for 10 minutes was approximately 10degrees C, which increased gradually with time, but they did not reach the baseline temperature at 20 minutes post-immersion. The deviations of the skin temperature in the subjects were higher in the recovery phase than in the baseline and cold immersion phase. The 3rd finger of both hands showed the lowest 5-minute recovery rate among the fingers examined, and the left 4th finger and right 3rd finger showed the lowest 10-minute recovery rate. Of the subjects, 37.6% and 10.4% of subjects showed a lower recovery rate at 5 and 10 minutes in at least one finger, respectively, while 10.2% showed a lower recovery rate at both 5 and 10 minutes simultaneously in at least one finger. CONCLUSIONS: The larger deviations in the recovery phase than in the other phases indicated that interindividual differences are more prominent in the recovery phase. There might be no benefit in observing the finger skin temperature for an additional 10 minutes after 10 minutes post-immersion. Overall, approximately 10% of the subjects in the HAVS risk group had HAVS.
Cold Temperature ; Fingers ; Hand ; Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome ; Immersion ; Laser-Doppler Flowmetry ; Plethysmography ; Skin Temperature ; Vibration ; Water

BACKGROUND: Ozone is a colorless, pungent, and highly reactive gas. It can cause headaches, burning eyes, irritation to the respiratory passages, and dyspnea. This article describes cases of respiratory difficulty associated with acute ozone exposure from an electronics company that manufactures touchscreen. CASE REPORT: Seven young female workers visited the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, complaining of cough, dyspnea, and chest discomfort that started within two days at work processing a touchscreen with ozone (0.103 ppm ozone detected in the their workplace). Other; symptoms observed included rhinorrhea, headaches, and dizziness. There was a temporary improvement in symptoms upon taking a day off, but their symptoms deteriorated upon continuing work again-suggesting the ozone exposure in their work environment was responsible for their symptoms. The results of pulmonary function and blood laboratory tests were normal; however, laryngoscopy and nasal endoscopy identified three cases of inflammation on laryngeal, intranasal, or vocal cord regions. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the levels of ozone detected in the workplace and clinical symptoms presented, we conclude that the respiratory symptoms in these cases were caused by excessive ozone exposures.
Burns ; Cough ; Dizziness ; Dyspnea ; Electronics ; Electrons ; Endoscopy ; Environmental Medicine ; Eye ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Laryngoscopy ; Ozone ; Thorax ; Vocal Cords

BACKGROUND: We report cases of high lead exposure in a Korean steel manufacturing company and a likely cause for these cases. CASE REPORT: Neurological examinations, neurobehavioral tests, blood tests, and urine tests were performed to detect an association between high lead exposure and physical symptoms for workers in a steel manufacturing company. In order to determine the cause of high lead exposure, the work process and environment was assessed. The highest lead exposure was during the work process. We found that the interior of an oil storage tank was coated with lead-containing paint, leading to severe exposure during the cutting process. In two observations, 4 of 12 workers diagnosed with occupational disease were found to have high exposure to lead from the storage tank and three had increased beta-2 microglobulin levels in the blood (indicative of urinary tract damage). CONCLUSIONS: Lead management, including routine measurements of the working environment and examinations of lead concentrations in workers, are needed in the korean scrap metal industry. In addition, rules requiring workers to wear personal protective equipment and receive education about lead exposure should be strictly enforced.
Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Neurologic Examination ; Occupational Diseases ; Paint ; Steel ; Urinary Tract

OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to define the relationship between the characteristics of tinnitus and hearing threshold (puretone and speech) in workers with noise induced hearing loss (NIHL). METHODS: A total of 189 cases(378 ears) from workers with compensation claims for NIHL during 2004-2009 were investigated. Various factors, including age, work carriers, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, noise exposure level of worksite hearing threshold, speech discrimination score, pitch match, and loudness of tinnitus were analyzed. RESULTS: The average hearing threshold of all subject was 44.2 dBHL, puretone audiometry thresholds in subjects with tinnitus were lower than the non-tinnitus group (except at 8000 Hz). Using speech audiometry, the tinnitus group showed a lower speech recognition threshold and speech discrimination score. The tinnitus group also had an average tinnitus frequency of 4195.2 Hz, loudness of 73.6 dB, and tinnitus sensation average of 6.0 dBSL. These frequencies of tinnitus were in the lowest puretone audiometry frequencies. Tinnitus loudness had a strong relationship with puretone and speech audiometry thresholds. CONCLUSIONS: In cases beyond moderate hearing loss, the tinnitus group had a better puretone (except 8000 Hz) and speech hearing status, and most comfortable loudness (MCL) level. In addition, puretone and speech audiometry thresholds increase with tinnitus loudness.
Audiometry ; Audiometry, Speech ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Compensation and Redress ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Noise ; Sensation ; Speech Perception ; Tinnitus ; Workers' Compensation ; Workplace

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the relationship between job stress and the common carotid intima-media thickness as an indicator of atherosclerosis (cardiovascular disease) among male firefighters in a metropolitan city. METHODS: Between November and December 2011, a total of 838 participants were analyzed using a questionnaire, which included the participants' general characteristics, job-related factors, health-related behaviors, and job stress. Job stress was measured using the Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short Form (KOSS-SF). The job stress data was merged with the clinical laboratory data and common carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) by a medical examination. The relationship between job stress and the CIMT was examined by multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Multiple logistic regression analyses adjusted for the general and cardiovascular risk factors revealed, the organizational system (adjusted OR 1.381 95% CI=1.005~1.898) to be associated with the right CIMT. Multiple logistic regression analyses adjusted for general and cardiovascular risk factors and job types, the occupational climate (adjusted OR 1.392, 95% CI=1.009~1.922) was also associated with the right CIMT. CONCLUSIONS: The level of job stress, particularly in regard to the organizaional system, shows a correlation with the right CIMT. Therefore, further preventive efforts and studies of firefighters will be needed to reduce job stress and help prevent cardiovascular disease.
Atherosclerosis ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Climate ; Firefighters ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the occupational risk factors associated with musculoskeletal symptoms in public workers. METHODS: In November 2010, 544 participants anwered a survey that included questions on the participants' general characteristics, job-related factors, health-related behaviors, and psychosocial stress. We measured the relationship of risk factors to musculoskeletal symptoms using a logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: After adjusting for general characteristics, factors associated with occupational musculoskeletal symptoms were gender (OR=2.858, 95% CI=1.701~4.801), unnatural posture (OR=2.386, 95% CI=1.308~4.354), psychosocial stress (OR=4.051, 95% CI=1.336~12.282) and sleep quality (OR=1.672, 95% CI=1.052~2.660). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that psychosocial stress levels and physical environment (especially in professions requiring an unnatural posture) are related to musculoskeletal symptoms in public workers.
Logistic Models ; Posture ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted in order to evaluate the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related factors in male firefighters in Daegu, Korea. METHODS: A total of 1,261 firefighters from fire stations in Daegu were the subjects of this study. Each firefighter completed a questionnaire on general and occupational matters, experience of traumatic events, and impact of event scale (IES). The IES questionnaire was administered to subjects in order to determine the high risk group for PTSD. We calculated the IES score and determined that an individual was abnormal if the IES score was over 26. RESULTS: The average IES score of the firefighters was 11.0+/-14.3, and the prevalence of high risk firefighters with PTSD was 15.1%. It was found that 40 years of age, fire sergeant, and emergency medical service personnel showed higher prevalence of PTSD than other groups. The most experienced event among traumatic events was 'witness death of victims or patients'. The results of multiple logistic regression analysis for the high risk PTSD group showed that fire sergeant (OR=2.28, 95% CI: 1.28~4.06), fire lieutenant (OR=2.47, 95% CI: 1.14~5.37), fire captain (OR=2.88, 95% CI: 1.11~7.45), firefighting department (OR=2.04, 95% CI: 1.00~4.17), emergency medical service personnel (OR=3.68, 95% CI: 1.47~9.23), total frequency of traumatic events experienced (OR=1.01, 95% CI: 1.00~1.02), and total type of traumatic event experienced (OR=1.35, 95% CI: 1.25~1.46) were significant variables with regards to the reference group (fire fighter and administration department). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that the prevalence of PTSD in firefighters is higher than that in the general population, and fire sergeant, fire lieutenant, fire captain, emergency medical service personnel, firefighting department, total frequency of traumatic events experienced, and total type of traumatic event experienced were significant variables for the PTSD high risk group.
Emergency Medical Services ; Firefighters ; Fires ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic