근로자의 건강을 보호하기 위해서는 안전보건수준을 향상시키는 것이 필요하다. 사업장의 안전보건수준은 다양한 안전보건활동을 통해서 향상될 수 있다. 사업장의 안전보건활동은 법적 규제에 대응하는 활동과 경제적 합리성에 근거해서 이루어지는 활동으로 구분될 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 제조업체의 다양한 안전보건활동 중에서 사업장의 안전보건수준에 대한 인식에 가장 큰 영향을 미치는 활동이 무엇이며, 위험도 수준에 영향을 미치는 활동이 무엇인지를 알아보았다. 본 연구에 활용된 자료는 2009년 산업안전보건연구원이 실시한 산업안전보건동향조사 자료이며, 이 중에서 제조업체 응답 자료만 선별하여 분석에 활용하였다. 사업장의 다양한 안전보건활동을 범주화하기 위하여 요인분석을 한 결과 사업주의 일반적인 안전보건경영활동, 근로자 건강관리 활동, 화학물질 관리, 보호구 및 유해위험기계기구관리, 및 정보전달과 의사소통 등의 5개 하위 활동으로 분류되었다. 5개로 분류된 안전보건활동은 모두 사업장의 안전보건활동 수준에 대한 인식에 통계적으로 유의한 영향을 미쳤으며, 이 중에서 사업주의 일반적인 안전보건경영활동의 영향이 가장 큰 것으로 나타났다. 반면 위험도에 대한 인식은 5%의 유의수준에서 보호구 및 유해위험기계기구 관리만 통계적으로 유의한 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 결국안전보건수준에 대한 인식과 위험도에 대한 인식이 서로 다른 차원으로 구성되고 있음을 보여주는 것이다. 본 연구는 단면조사 자료를이용하였기 때문에 인과관계에 대한 해석에 한계를 지니고 있으며, 안전보건활동의 다양성을 충분히 포괄하지 못한 제한점이 있다.
In order to protect workers’ health it is needed to improve the level of occupational safety and health. The level of workplace safety and health can be improved through a variety of activities of occupational safety and health. Workplace safety and health activities can be divided into two categories such as response to the legal and regulatory activities and economically rational activities for profit making. Author investigated which activities have the greatest effect on awareness of workplace safety and health levels and workplace risk level. Materials utilized for this study was data from 2009 Occupational Safety and Health Trend Survey conducted by Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute. Using factor analysis the various activities of workplace safety and health were classified into five sub categories such as employer’s general safety and health management activities, employee health-related activities, management of chemicals, machinery protection and personal protective equipment management, and information delivery and communication. All of the activities of safety and health has had a significant impact on perceived level of workplace safety and health. Among five categories of activities, the employer’s general health and safety management showed the largest impact. Whereas awareness of risk was influenced by only activity of personal protection equipment and hazard machinery at 5% significance level. After all perceived level of health and safety and risk awareness are recognized differently by safety and health managers in workplace. This study has some limitation. Cross sectional survey data cannot be interpreted as causal relationship and surveyed activities about workplace safety and health cannot cover all kinds of activities.
In order to protect workers’ health it is needed to improve the level of occupational safety and health. The level of workplace safety and health can be improved through a variety of activities of occupational safety and health. Workplace safety and health activities can be divided into two categories such as response to the legal and regulatory activities and economically rational activities for profit making. Author investigated which activities have the greatest effect on awareness of workplace safety and health levels and workplace risk level. Materials utilized for this study was data from 2009 Occupational Safety and Health Trend Survey conducted by Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute. Using factor analysis the various activities of workplace safety and health were classified into five sub categories such as employer’s general safety and health management activities, employee health-related activities, management of chemicals, machinery protection and personal protective equipment management, and information delivery and communication. All of the activities of safety and health has had a significant impact on perceived level of workplace safety and health. Among five categories of activities, the employer’s general health and safety management showed the largest impact. Whereas awareness of risk was influenced by only activity of personal protection equipment and hazard machinery at 5% significance level. After all perceived level of health and safety and risk awareness are recognized differently by safety and health managers in workplace. This study has some limitation. Cross sectional survey data cannot be interpreted as causal relationship and surveyed activities about workplace safety and health cannot cover all kinds of activities.
