The Relationship between Long Working Hours and Industrial Accident / 한국직업건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study analyzed the relationship between working hours and the occurrence of industrial disasters based on manufacturing businesses that are members of Federation of Korean Trade Unions. METHODS: Repliers were managers of the safety & health department in the union, and 215 surveys out of 300 businesses that agreed to participate in the research were analyzed. RESULTS: 94 out of 300 companies, which counted for 43.7%, replied to have experienced industrial disasters. 56 of those (59.6%) had less than 52 working hours per week, and 38 companies (40.4%) had more than 52 working hours per week. 109 companies, which counted for 50.7%, did not have an incident of industrial disaster. Companies with an average of more than 52 hours of working hours per week were shown to have a 2.29 times (95% CI 1.08~4.87) higher possibility of having industrial disasters than those with less than 52 hours of working hours. CONCLUSION: As the study showed that industrial disasters were more likely to occur in businesses with working hours longer than 52 hours, ways to reduce working hours need to be developed and various safety measures need to be taken to prevent industrial disasters in case workers are undergoing long working hours.

The Relationship between Long Working Hours and Industrial Accident / 한국직업건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study analyzed the relationship between working hours and the occurrence of industrial disasters based on manufacturing businesses that are members of Federation of Korean Trade Unions. METHODS: Repliers were managers of the safety & health department in the union, and 215 surveys out of 300 businesses that agreed to participate in the research were analyzed. RESULTS: 94 out of 300 companies, which counted for 43.7%, replied to have experienced industrial disasters. 56 of those (59.6%) had less than 52 working hours per week, and 38 companies (40.4%) had more than 52 working hours per week. 109 companies, which counted for 50.7%, did not have an incident of industrial disaster. Companies with an average of more than 52 hours of working hours per week were shown to have a 2.29 times (95% CI 1.08~4.87) higher possibility of having industrial disasters than those with less than 52 hours of working hours. CONCLUSION: As the study showed that industrial disasters were more likely to occur in businesses with working hours longer than 52 hours, ways to reduce working hours need to be developed and various safety measures need to be taken to prevent industrial disasters in case workers are undergoing long working hours.

Impact of Subsidies for Labor and Management-directed Health Promotion Activities on Industrial Accidents Prevention / 한국직업건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to compare the rates of industrial accidents in workplaces that adopted the 2011 Workplace Health Promotion Subsidy Scheme before and after the implementation. METHODS: The study analyzed the raw data of industrial accidents of 304 workplaces which received subsidies for health promotion activities in 2011. The raw data covered the period from February 2010 to July 2012, based on the dates of industrial accidents. RESULTS: Workplaces subsidized for health promotion activities reported fewer occurrences in staff injuries and illnesses than before the subsidization, as the total number of industrial accident victims dropped from 0.35 to 0.24. The rate of industrial accidents also dropped from 0.49 to 0.35, with the number of working days decreased from 35,433 to 23.867, about 33%. CONCLUSION: The study showed that financial support for health-promoting activities contributed to the decease in industrial accidents, which is an important indication advocating the need for corporate and government investment on workers health promotion programs. Furthermore, this study is also significant as it is the first research conducted in Korea to examine the impact of a workers health promotion project using a direct indicator, the rate of industrial accidents.

Perfil clínico epidemiológico de acidentados no pólo petroquímico de Camaçari, Bahia / Clinical epidemiological profile of work accident victims in camaçari s Bahia petrochemical complex

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi estimar o perfil clínico-epidemiológico dos trabalhadores que sofreram acidentes de trabalho (AT) no Polo Petroquímico de Camaçari. Estabeleceu-se um estudo descritivo, entre janeiro de 2000 e dezembro de 2006. Utilizaramse dados secundários provenientes das Comunicações de Acidente do Trabalho (CAT), disponíveis no Sindicato dos Químicos e Petroleiros da Bahia (Sindiquímica). Os dados foram coletados entre dezembro de 2007 e maio de 2008 e possibilitaram avaliação de variáveis sociodemográficas, ocupacionais e acidentárias. Após análise de 859 CAT, as seguintes características predominaram: sexo masculino (87,5%), idade entre 31 a 40 anos (37,2%), AT típicos (77,3%), agentes causadores físicos (63,3%) e a ocupação de operador (58,0%). A parte do corpo mais atingida foi a mão (30,3%). Os afastamentos e/ou internamentos foram minoria, representando, respectivamente, 20,7% e 4,5%. A morte também se mostrou pouco frequente (0,2%). Sugere-se a criação de ações educativas e dispositivos de segurança para evitar os AT, sobretudo para o grupo masculino, na faixa etária entre 31 a 40 anos, com ênfase na proteção das mãos. Supõe-se, contudo, que o sub-registro é elemento intrínseco da relação do AT, e o conhecimento dos direitos trabalhistas pode contribuir para sua minimização bem como dos próprios acidentes.

The aim of this research was to estimate the clinical-epidemiological profile of workers that experienced work accidents (WA) in Camaçari?s Petrochemical Complex. A descriptive study was established between January 2000 and December 2006. Secondary data from the Work Accident Communications (WAC), available from the Chemical and Petroleum Workers Union of Bahia (Sindicato dos Químicos e Petroleiros da Bahia SINDIQUÍMICA) were used. Data were collected between December 2007 and May 2008 and made it possible to evaluate the socio-demographic, occupational and accidental variables. After analysis of 859 WAC, the following characteristics stood out: men (87.5%), aged between 31 and 40 years (37.2%), typical WA (77.3%), physical causative agents (63.3%) and the operator s occupation (58.0%). The most affected part of the body was the hand (30.3%). Individuals laid off temporarily to recover from accident injuries and/or hospitalized were in the minority, representing 20.7% and 4.5%, respectively. Death was also shown to be infrequent (0.2%). It is suggested that educational actions should be created as well as safety devices to avoid WA, particularly for the male group in the 31 to 40 years age range, with emphasis on protection for the hands. Nevertheless, it is assumed that under-recording is an intrinsic element in the relationship of the WA, and that knowledge of worker s rights/labor laws could contribute to minimizing this as well as accidents themselves.

Contribuições da Clínica da Atividade para o campo da segurança no trabalho / Clinic of Activity contributions to safety at work

A partir da análise de um estudo realizado no setor petroleiro, em 1996, o artigo expõe os fundamentos da Clínica da Atividade (Clinique de l Activité) - método de análise e compreensão do trabalho desenvolvido por Yves Clot, na França -, trazendo uma reflexão sobre suas possíveis contribuições para o campo da segurança no trabalho. A autora conclui que os conceitos de gênero de atividade e estilo (genre et style professionel), propostos por Yves Clot, são essenciais para a compreensão dos acidentes e suas causas.

Based on the analysis of a study held at the oil sector in 1996, the article presents the principles of the Clinic of Activity (Clinique de l Activité) a method for analyzing and understanding work developed by Yves Clot in France, reflecting on its possible contribution to the of safety at work. The author concludes that the concepts of professional framework and style (genre et style professionels) proposed by Yves Clot are essential for the comprehension of work related accidents and its causes.

Five-year Industrial Accidents of Ship-building Workers at a Ship-Yard / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the status of industrial accidents at a ship-yard in Korea in order to provide the basic materials for preventing further industrial accidents. METHODS: This study reviewed and analyzed the records of 252 industrial accidents that occurred in a ship-yard at Ulsan city from January 1 1997 until December 31st, 2001 according to age, the work career, the job department, the day of the week, the occurrence time, the part of body injured, and the accident type. RESULTS: There were a total of 252 industrial accidents over the five years. The incidence of industrial accidents per year were 17.38, 26.99, 16.44, 11.35, 14.50 per 1,000 persons from 1997 to 2001, respectively. The frequency of industrial accidents per year were 11.56, 11.23, 6.27, 4.42, 5.79 per one million man hours from 1997 to 2001, respectively. The intensity of industrial accidents per year was 1.67, 0.18, 4.32 per 1,000 man hours from 1999 to 2001, respectively. The highest incidence occurred in the over 50 age group (33.87 per 1,000 persons). Regarding the incidence according to the work career, it was highest in those who had worked for less than 1 year (39.76 per 1,000 persons). The incidence in those working in high places and those using heavy materials were higher than the others. The most frequent day of the week was Monday (19.8%), which was followed by Friday (16.7%) and Saturday (15.9%). The most frequent time of an accident was 15:00-16:59(25.8%), which was followed by 08:00-09:59(24.2%), 10:00-11:59(20.2%). The most frequent part of the body injured was the low back (28.6%), which was followed by the lower extremities (24.2%), and the upper extremities (23.0%). The types of industrial accidents were stenosis (27.0%) to have been happened most and upset (19.8%), fall down (14.7%), hard movement (12.3%), and falling (9.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The above results suggests that a more precise system of reporting industrial accidents will be needed in order to enhance the accuracy and reliability of the industrial accident statistics. In addition, the preventive activities for back injury, stenosis, and fall down are needed in order to prevent industrial accidents at ship-yards in Korea. Furthermore, the strengthening of a continuous health education program will be necessary for beginners, older workers, and those working in high places and using heavy materials.

An Analysis of Industrial Accidents in an Automobile Factory / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To know the present conditions of industrial accidents in automobile factories in Korea and make the basic materials essential to prevention of industrial accidents METHODS: We reviewed and analyzed the records of industrial accidents occurred in an automobile factory in 1997 by time of occurrence, job categories(fixed production, skilled trades, mechanical material handling, and clerical 8r technical), type of injury, kind of accident, and location of injury. RESULTS: 1. By age groups, the accident rate was the highest in age 45-49(1.6 %o) followed by age 35-39(1.3 %), 40-44(0.9 %), 30-34(0.9 %), 25-29(0.6 %), and 20-24(0.4 %) and by working duration, it was highest in group of experience over 25 years, and so we could see that the more age or working duration increases the more accident rate increases. 2. By work time, the accident rate was the highest in 10-11 a.m. (21.4 %) followed by 2-3 p.m. (17.9%). By the day of the week, it was as follows, Friday(20.5%) Wednesday (17. 9%), Monday (16. 2 %), Thesday (15. 4 %), Saturday (12. 0 %), Thursday(11.1 %), Sunday(6.8 %) in order. By the month, it was high in May(17.9 %), March(11.1 %), and April(11.1 %) followed by August(10.3 %) and January(9.4 %), so we could see it was high in spring. 3. The most frequent injury was in the back by 41.0 % followed by 17 cases in fingers(14.5 %), legs(9.4 %), hands(7.7 %), head(6.0 %) in order. And by the type of injuries, the sprain was most frequent by 38. 5% followed by fracture(22. 2 %, lumbar HNP(11.1 %), and contusion(9.4 %) in order. The causes of accident were handling heavy materials(34.2 %), upset(17.1 %), stenosis(16.2 %), and falling(6.8 %) in order. CONCLUSIONS: By the above results, to prevent the industrial accidents in automobile factories in Korea, preventive activities for handling heavy materials and back injury, and continuous industrial education are necessary.