Jungsun Park1, Boyoung Han2, Yangho Kim3. 1. Department of Occupational Health, Catholic University of Daegu, Gyeongsan, South Korea. 2. Department of Sociology, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea. 3. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, South Korea.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: We assessed the occupational safety and health (OSH) issues of self-employed individuals in Korea. METHODS: The working conditions and OSH issues in three groups were analyzed using the Korean Working Conditions Survey of 2014. RESULTS: Among self-employed individuals, "Physical work" was more common among males, whereas "Emotional work" was more common among females. Self-employed individuals performing "Mental work" had more education, higher incomes, and the lowest exposure to physical/chemical and ergonomic hazards in the workplace. In contrast, those performing "Physical work" were older, had less education, lower incomes, greater exposure to physical/chemical and ergonomic hazards in the workplace, and more health problems. Individuals performing "Physical work" were most vulnerable to OSH problems. CONCLUSION: The self-employed are a heterogeneous group of individuals. We suggest development of specific strategies that focus on workers performing "Physical work" to improve the health and safety of self-employed workers in Korea.
INTRODUCTION: We assessed the occupational safety and health (OSH) issues of self-employed individuals in Korea. METHODS: The working conditions and OSH issues in three groups were analyzed using the Korean Working Conditions Survey of 2014. RESULTS: Among self-employed individuals, "Physical work" was more common among males, whereas "Emotional work" was more common among females. Self-employed individuals performing "Mental work" had more education, higher incomes, and the lowest exposure to physical/chemical and ergonomic hazards in the workplace. In contrast, those performing "Physical work" were older, had less education, lower incomes, greater exposure to physical/chemical and ergonomic hazards in the workplace, and more health problems. Individuals performing "Physical work" were most vulnerable to OSH problems. CONCLUSION: The self-employed are a heterogeneous group of individuals. We suggest development of specific strategies that focus on workers performing "Physical work" to improve the health and safety of self-employed workers in Korea.