Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Jae Il Oh

2 Articles

Relationship between Workplace Physical and Chemical Hazard Exposures and Mental Health Problems in Korea: Kee Ock Joh, Tae Jun Park, Jae Il Oh, Do Myung Paek, Jung Sun Park, Sung Il Cho; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2011;23(3):287-297. Published online September 30, 2011; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2011.23.3.287

OBJECTIVES
Mental health and work efficiency are adversely affected by exposure to physical and chemical hazards in the workplace. This study is the first large scale evaluation of the relationship between physical and chemical hazard exposure in the workplace in relation to the mental health of Korean workers.
METHODS
A national survey of a random sample of workers (n=10,043) was conducted between June and September 2006 in Korea. Physical and chemical hazards in the workplace were considered if exposure occurred over more than a quarter of the time spent at work. Mental health problems were defined as work-related depression, anxiety or insomnia. We analyzed whether physical and chemical hazards were independent risk factors for work-related mental health problems by multiple logistic regression analysis after adjusting for age, gender, employment type, education, occupation, duty schedule, work hours, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
RESULTS
The mean age of surveyed workers was 42 years and 58% were male. A total of 7.8% of workers had work-related mental health problems. Exposure to high temperature, mist, fumes, dust, chemicals, and radiation were associated with an increased risk of work-related mental health problems.
CONCLUSIONS
This study reaffirmed that physical and chemical hazard exposure in the workplace significantly elevates the risk of work-related mental health problems.

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Association between physical hazardous agent exposure and mental health in the Korean working population: the 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey
Daeil Kwon, Kyeongmin Kwak, Kiook Baek, Youngchan Chi, Sewhan Na, Jong-Tae Park
Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2021;[Epub] CrossRef
Use of Frequency Analysis of Exposure of Hazards by Occupations: Findings from the Third and Fourth Korean Working Conditions Survey
Soon-Chan Kwon
Soonchunhyang Medical Science.2019; 25(1): 37. CrossRef
Factors Associated with Depression among Workers by Socio-economic Factors, Health Behaviors, and Characteristics of Work Environment
Hyunkyung Lee, Minsung Sohn, Mankyu Choi
Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion.2013; 30(5): 125. CrossRef

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Association between Physical Workload and Work-related Back Pain: A Nationwide Study: Jae Il Oh, Dong Hyun Yoo, Do Myung Paek, Jung Sun Park, Sung Il Cho; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2011;23(3):298-308. Published online September 30, 2011; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2011.23.3.298

Abstract PDF

OBJECTIVES
To date, no population-based epidemiological studies have estimated the association between physical workload (standing or walking, carrying heavy loads, carrying people, repetitive hand or arm movements, wearing protective equipment) and work-related back pain in Korea. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between physical workload and work-related back pain using a nationwide survey.
METHODS
We analyzed data obtained from working men and women age 15 to 64 (n=10,043) who participated in the 2006 national working condition survey of random sample workers in Korea. Using both simple and multiple logistic regression analysis, the association between physical workload and work-related back pain was evaluated.
RESULTS
Carrying heavy loads, repetitive hand or arm movements, and wearing protective equipment were associated with an increased risk of work-related back pain.
CONCLUSIONS
This study identifies that an increased risk of work-related back pain related to the nature and intensity of the physical workload of the general working population in Korea. We also found a strong association between repetitive hand or arm movements and back pain.

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A study on Related Factor and Knowledge of Back Pain in Workers Employed at Cement factory
Gi-Yeol Kim, Jung-Lim Oh, Kyoung-Ok Hwang
Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society.2015; 16(1): 536. CrossRef

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