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This study concerned with the characteristics of occupational deaths and injuries in the construction industry of South Korea. The national statistics of industrial accidents in the years 1991-1994 were extracted from the annual publications of the Ministry of Labor. These data were analyzed in terms of the size of company, age of injured person, work experience, accident type, injury type, injured part of body, and agency of accident. The results show that there are some patterns in the characteristics of occupational injuries of construction industry: (1) deaths occur more frequently in the older workers; (2) the most common type of accident is 'falls from a height'; (3) 'fracture' is the leading injury type; (4) the body sites most vulnerable to injury are the leg, foot and toe in the non-fatal injuries, while the head, face, and neck in deaths; (5) most of the accidents occurred from the temporary construction or fabric. The results also show that there are differences in accident characteristics between occupational deaths and nonfatal injuries. These findings identified in this study can be used to decide the accident prevention programs. Keywords: accident analysis, occupational deaths and injuries, construction industry

A method for objective assessment of physical work load at the workplace based on the DynaPort ADL Monitor was studied, as well as its usefulness in support of occupational research. The cause and reduction of mechanical low back pain (LBP) were emphasized in the study, wherein a subject suffering from the disorder was monitored. The ADL profiles indicated that the messenger job was more likely to cause LBP than the occupation of a mechanic.

The prevalence of neck/shoulder and low-back disorders among forestry employees was analyzed, as well as their relationship to work tasks and perceived psychosocial job stress. The prevalence of the disorders was higher among machine operators and manual workers than among the managers. An increasing level of psychological demands combined with a decreasing level of intellectual discretion was linked with an increased prevalence of the disorders. These results suggested that musculoskeletal disorders were associated with both physical and psychosocial work factors.

In this study three different types of industrial activities in a steel plant have been studied in Thailand. Workload has been described and assessed by means of an ergonomics approach, encompassing task, organisation and environment as well as the physiological reactions and the subjective appreciation of the exposed workforce. The results are evaluated by means of the ISO Standard on Heat Stress (WBGT-Index) and by the cardiovascular load. Strain results reveal important basic physiological differences between Thai workers and Western data. The use of the ISO-Standard for the studied activities in Thailand is questioned and a proposal for adaptation of the WBGT-Index is formulated. Before implementing the proposals the results should be confirmed by a larger sample of workers and for other less demanding work.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects on the working postures and movements of a cashier when two different locations of the scales (one to the left of the cashier, the other under the conveyer belt in front of the cashier) were used in a grocery checkout system. Two cashiers (of average stature and short stature) were videotaped while working, in both sitting and standing working positions. Analysis of the video tapes was performed using the WOPALAS method and video observations. The results of the study show that the design of the checkout system with the scales under the conveyer belt provides a more favourable working position for both the taller and the shorter cashier. Additionally, the results indicate that a standing position is more favourable than a sitting one for the taller cashier while for the shorter cashier the sitting position is better. Keywords: checkout system, scales, evaluation, working postures, movements

Prolonged use of video display terminals (VDTs) has been shown to be a risk factor for musculoskeletal and visual discomfort. A standard workplace design recommendation is to position the centre of the VDT 15 [degrees] below horizontal eye level. Recently a viewing angle of 40 [degrees] below horizontal has been suggested based on studies that have indicated that this is the preferred viewing angle for visually intensive tasks. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of these two VDT positions on muscular activity, muscular fatigue, head/neck posture, visual acuity, operator performance (productivity and quality), heart rate and operator subjective assessment. The experimental task consisted of reading text from a computer screen and answering reading comprehension questions using a mouse and a keyboard. Each experimental session lasted 2 h. The 40 [degrees] VDT position showed significantly greater head tilt angles and higher muscle activity levels for six of the 10 neck, shoulder and back muscles sampled. No significant differences in visual acuity, operator performance or heart rate were detected as a result of monitor location. Seven of the 12 subjects preferred the 15 [degrees] monitor position. Keywords: VDT, biomechanics, working posture, muscular activity

A study on the magnitude and types of wrist motion used in bone-trimming jobs in the meat packing industry was undertaken. Nine healthy male meat packing workers participated in the study. Results show that bone-trimming workers are classified as high risk for developing cumulative trauma disorder (CTD), providing evidence for the numerous occurrence of CTDs in the meat packing industry.

Objectives. This study examined decisions of California County Coroner's offices in determining injury at work and identified factors influencing this decision. Methods. Surveys were sent to California County Coroner s offices (response rate = 93%). The survey included 23 vignettes that required the respondent to determine whether the fatality involved an injury at work. The Rasch method was used to determine internal consistency in endorsing vignettes and to determine overall endorsability of vignettes based on underlying factors. Results. Respondents showed internal consistency but much disagreement in their endorsement of vignettes. Decedents who were performing paid work or were on their work site during working hours were almost unanimously endorsed as having incurred an injury at work. Non-payment, travel/transportation, suicide, and nontraditional work sites and work hours led to disagreement and uncertainty among respondents. Conclusions. Coroners have different methods of determining injury at work on the death certificate, and available guidelines do not define many of the ambiguous situations encountered by coroners. (Am J Public Health. 1997;87:998-1002)

Load carrying and floor contaminants affect the slip and fall resistance parameters, including heel velocity and stride length, in slippery industrial environments. The conventional set-up values for heel velocity are extremely low and unapplicable for oily floors where decreased stride length leads to faster transfer of body weight. Heel velocities of 60-140 cm are ideal for effects and dynamic coefficient of friction. Oily floors and heavy load carriage lead to short stride length and abnormal gait pattern as a result of an effort to maintain better stance on slippery floors.