Earticle

Purpose: This study examined the association between high- and low-temperature exposure and sleep disturbance among construction workers. Methods: This secondary analysis used data from the 7th Korean Working Conditions Survey. A total of 1,321 non-office wage workers in the construction industry were included, and complex sample logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: High-temperature exposure was significantly associated with sleep disturbance in the moderate (OR=3.14, 95% CI=1.32 –7.44) and high exposure groups (OR=4.76, 95% CI=1.82–12.45), with stronger associations observed at higher exposure levels. Moderate low-temperature exposure was significantly inversely associated with sleep disturbance (OR=0.41, 95% CI=0.19–0.88); however, no consistent exposure-response relationship was observed across low-temperature exposure levels. Conclusion: Occupational health management for construction workers should include strategies to control thermal environments and monitor sleep health. Further studies are needed to clarify the association between low-temperature exposure and sleep disturbance.

Purpose: This study examined current safety standards for welding fire blankets from the perspective of workers’ skin health and proposed measures to improve worker protection. Methods: A narrative review of academic literature, laws, technical standards, and official documents was conducted. The physical characteristics and dermal hazards of fiberglass, carbon fiber, ceramic fiber, vermiculite-coated fiberglass, and silicone-coated fiberglass were analyzed, and domestic and international safety standards were compared. Results: Fiberglass and ceramic fibers were associated with potential skin irritation through direct contact with or release of fine fibers during handling. Skin symptoms related to direct contact with carbon fibers have also been reported. For coated fiberglass, damage to the coating may expose the underlying fiberglass and increase the possibility of skin contact. Current safety standards primarily address fire prevention, fire performance, and general worker protection, while independent product-level tests for skin irritation and fiber release were not identified. Conclusion: Safety standards for welding fire blankets should consider not only fire-prevention performance but also workers’ skin health. Measures should include evaluation of skin irritation and fiber release, product information on constituent materials, protective gloves and clothing, appropriate use of skin protection creams as a supplementary measure, skin cleansing, and education on preventing dermal exposure.

Purpose: This study examined the association between occupational heat exposure and sleep disturbance among construction workers aged 60 years and older. Methods: Data from the 7th Korean Working Conditions Survey (2023) were analyzed. The original seven heat-exposure categories were retained. A two-stage complex survey design incorporating strata, enumeration districts, households, and standardized weights was applied. Descriptive analyses included 750 workers, and the complete-case multivariable analysis included 736 workers. Results: In the fully adjusted model, the overall effect of heat exposure was significant (Wald F=2.626, p=.016). Compared with no exposure, sleep-disturbance scores were higher among workers exposed for 1/2 of working time (B=.214, p=.029), almost all working time (B=.314, p=.005), and all working time (B=.642, p=.008). A significant linear trend was observed across the ordered exposure categories (B=.057, 95% CI=.022–.092, p=.002), although category-specific estimates were not completely monotonic. Conclusion: Occupational heat exposure was significantly associated with sleep disturbance among older construction workers after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, self-rated health, and well-being.