This study analyzed symptoms of MSDs(Musculokeletal Disorders) associated with characteristics of smartphone usage based on questionnaire survey. This study also tried to identify their relationship based on the results from questionnaire survey. A total of 943 subjects participated for the survey. The results in terms of symptoms associated with smartphone usage were as follows; 1) 49.8% of respondents experienced symptoms associated with MSDs, 2) 35.9%, 34.0%, 22.1%, 21.7% and 20.9% of respondents had symptoms at shoulder, neck, elbow, wrist, and fingers respectively, 3) The effect of ‘daily time of data use’, ‘monthly costs’ for MSDs of respondents was significant. Specifically, this study has some significance since it tries to identify the relationship between MSDs symptoms and characteristics of smartphone usage. The results of the study can be good basis for better design and user guidelines of smartphone to prevent MSDs associated with smartphone usage.

This study tried to identify the problems associated with the posture to be analyzed and tried to suggest guidelines for MSDs(Musculoskeletal Disorders) evaluation based on working posture. A total of 50 jobs from 3 different types of industries(electronics, hospitals, automobiles) were used for MSDs evaluation study which was done by 6 observers. Two indexes were applied to identify the problem in this study which were percentage of agreement and counter-time-error rate. Specifically, ‘counter-time-error rate’ represented a degree of consistency in terms of selecting the posture to be analyzed time after time. Main results of the study were as follows; 1) The average percentage of agreement for representative posture for whole body was relatively higher than that for representative postures for individual body parts, 2) The counter-time-error rate(%) has been reduced as the evaluation process has repeated for the same job. 3) The counter-time-error rate(%) for electronics, hospitals, and automobiles were 63.4%, 61.2%, and 67.3% respectively. 4) The counter-time-error rate(%) for the job with the work cycle of 0.5 to 2 minutes were lower than that of the jobs with the work cycles less than 0.5 minute or greater than 2 minute. 5) The work cycles and the number of trials had significant effects on counter-time-error rate while the types of industries did not have significant effects on counter-time-error rate. Some guidelines could be prepared from the results of the study. Probably, there should have an extension in terms of form and matter for this study in order to have more practical output.

The validity of the results from observational methods such as RULA, REBA, OWAS has been one of major concerns due to their subjective characteristics in determining the posture of interests. There have been many studies regarding validity of the results from each checklist. However, most studies provided only fragmentary rather than comprehensive results in nature. This study specifically tried to analyze consistency of novice user based on intra-observer consistency and sensitivity of industrial types during MSDs(Musculoskekltal Disorders) evaluation with major checklists. In this study, twenty two novice subjects were participated to conduct MSDs evaluation for the forty five jobs from three types of industries(automobile, electronics, hospital). The main results for this study were summarized as follows; 1) The action level based on RULA was always higher than that from REBA and OWAS for all three types of industries., 2) The order of consistency from novice users was OWAS(72.7%(kappa=0.57)) RULA(54.3%(kappa=0.41)), REBA(41.0%(kappa=0.34))., 3) The percentage of agreement between 2nd and 3rd trials was higher than those between 1st and 2nd trials and between 1st and 3rd trials irrespective of industrial types during using RULA and REBA., 4) The average score of automobile industry was higher than those of hospital and electronics industries., 5) The types of jobs associated with five body parts(A1(Front), A2(Interior), A3(Rear), A4(Lower), A5(Door)) in automobile industry showed statistically significant differences in terms of MSDs scores for the body parts considered in each checklists.

This study tried to focus on nontraditional job that has not been studied in terms of the subjects associated with MSDs(Musculoskeletal Disorders). Specifically, dental procedure was the job to be analyzed in this study. An alternative method as well as a traditional method for viewing teeth while performing simulated dental procedures. Four graduated students did both methods(direct view and indirect view) as the subjects in this study. The method based on indirect view used a video camera and monitor to view the teeth. The experiment was conducted five times for each subject. The major findings in this study were as follows; 1) Job speed was increased with the repetitions for both methods, 2) Difference of Neck flexion between direct and indirect methods was statistically siginificant(Neck flexion for indirect method was dramatically decreased), 3) Difference of job speed between direct and indirect methods was statistically significant(Job speed for direct method was faster than that of indirect method), 4) Difference of error rate between direct and indirect methods was statistically significant(error rate for direct method was lower than that of indirect method), 5) Even though indirect method did not provide better performance in terms of job speed and error rate yet, it seemed to need a trade-off between two methods in the future since indirect method provided better working postures than that of direct method.

While musculoskeletal disorders increased, its prevention efforts were rather decreased or its operation was insufficient. This study aims to examine the actual conditions of musculoskeletal disorders at Electronics Company in Korea, analyze occupational danger factors related to musculoskeletal disorders through analysis of components of wrong workplaces and works, evaluate degree of danger of factors examined, analyze association between danger factors and musculoskeletal disorders, accumulate data of musculoskeletal disorders which are not enough in Korea and further prepare the foundation of improving working environment and developing prevention/management program of musculoskeletal disorders.

This paper was proposed to show the comprehensive review of laws and regulations on the musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) that are being established and carried out in various countries. Ten countries including USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, and 6 European countries which were regarded as the leaders in the prevention of MSDs were selected for review. Comparative analysis were performed on the laws, regulations, and guidelines of MSDs among different countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of the various efforts of the advanced countries concerning on preventing MSDs and suggest the improvement factors that might be introducible to Korean policies. Some recommendations were made to improve the appropriateness and efficiency of our MSDs prevention policies based on the comprehensive review and comparative analysis. It is expected that the results of this study would be used as valuable information when revising relevant legal system.

After conducting an investigation of a specific workplace, 372 labor workers, who are employed at a certain domestic petrochemical company valve operating and maintenance processing section, were personally questioned about specific work-related ailments. According to the results, 57% of workers who were working in the petrochemical industry have suffered from pain-related musculoskeletal disorders in, at least, more than 1 body part. Specifically, there are more than 28% of workers suffering from pain in more than two body parts. Among the total work population, 18.8 % of workers are assumed to have a high probability of being diagnosed with musculoskeletal disorder. Also, according to the RULA checklist which evaluates environmental improvement conditions of the workplace, 76.7% of workplaces among the inspected areas have high hazardous work factors that are related to musculoskeletal disorder and needs to be improved upon and observed right away or in the foreseeable future. The prior factor has a high correlation and pain rate which is due to an improper work posture. Originally, this improper work posture is caused mostly by ergonomically incorrect facility design. Furthermore, the structure of the workplace does not consider the worker's individual build.

Occupational illness analyses are used to identify common factors contributing to occupational illness and to give recommendations for illness prevention. We discuss safety and health management policies based on the present status of MSDS(Musculoskeletal Disorders) characteristics and the actual safety and health problems. These results can be used to develop more effective occupational safety and health management policies for the prevention of MSDS.