them. A study of the relationship between the illumination level and human reactivity and fatigue shows that a bright white light enhances attention and work capacity. Other correlations are to be found between lighting, visual acuity and the colour of the light. The effect on safety of the general colour scheme, visual adaption, glare and visual functional disorders is examined.

7.1.26 (68123) Simmons, R.C. llluminance, diversity and disability glare in emergency lighting. Lighting Research and Technology, 1975, 7.2, 125-132.

Subjects were asked to take part in experiments which involved simulated escapes through a network of corridors. The purpose was to determine a safe minimum illuminance which should be provided by escape lighting systems. A substantially uniform floor illuminance of 0.28 lux was found to give subjects adequate visibility for carrying out the experimental task. The effects of a diversity in the emergency illuminance and disability glare were also noted. Within the limits investigated these were not found to affect performance. It was considered that a form of glare limit should be proposed to ensure the legibility of escape signs under emergency conditions.

Noise 7.1.27 (68134) Epp, S. and Konz, S. Home appliance noise: annoyance and speech interference. Home Economics Research Journal, Mar 1975, 3 . 3 , 2 0 5 - 209.

While listening to noise from ten different home appliances, eight subjects wrote the words being read to them. Then they voted their annoyance with each noise on a five-point scale. Annoyance score was well described by a straight line as a function of decibels on the A scale (dbA). Speech interference in percentage of words missed was also well predicted by a straight line where percentage missed was a function of dbA.

7.1.28 (68156) Schmidt, W. and Busch, G. Technical noise-control measures in large industrial projects (Mesures Techniques de Reduction de Bruit dans les Grands Projets de Fabrication). (In French.) Institut National de Recherche et de Securite, Paris, Translation INRS 81 B-73, 1973,

22 pp; abstr in CIS Abstracts (CIS 75-37O).

A report on noise control measures incorporated in two large projects at the design stage: a continuous tube- rolling mill and a large tube factory. Suppliers of machinery and cranes were required to ensure that these did not produce noise exceeding a specified level. The difficulties encountered in controlling noise are described with the aid of examples. The authors report on the substitution of a hydraulic fluid for compressed air for controlling transport installations at lower cost with little noise.

Thermal conditions 7.1.29 (68184) Blazek, K., Chaloupkova, E. and Joachimsthaler, J. A contribution to the problems of the working heat load at some brewery workplaces. Pracovni Lekarstvi, 1975, 27.1-2, 37 -40 .

The authors studied, in 12 workers at the boiling plant and the malt-house of the brewery, the working heat load at some working operations. They measured the pulse rate, blood pressure, sublingual temperature and the micro- climatic conditions. They noted a considerable working heat load with the assistants of the boiler man, when throwing out brewer's grains and when cleaning the boilers. The mean pulse rate increased from 131 to 176 beats/ min. On termination of the work there was a significant increase of the pressure amplitude, the sublingual temperature increasing up to 38"2°C. With female workers at the malthouse, there was a mean pulse rate of 125 beats/min, with no considerable change of the blood pressure and sublingual temperature during work. On the basis of the results obtained, measures for decreasing the load were recommended.

7.1.30 (68185) Dinman, B.D. Work in hot environments: 1. Field studies of workload, thermal stress and physiologic response. Journal of Occupational Medicine, Dec 1974, 16.12, 785-791 ; abstr in CIS Abstracts (CIS 75-400).

Among 34 workers studied for 1580 man-hours in aluminium smelting operations, there were no significant body temperature and pulse rate elevations or weight losses over the eight-hour shift despite light or moderate work loads occurring mainly in ambient conditions greater than 29"4 ° WBGT. There was no evidence of a cumulative effect due to a seven-

day work week, and there was no case of heat disorder during the course of the study. It is concluded that factors which apply in industry - such as the intermittent character of thermal and work stresses - make it possible for workers to operate without undue risk of heat disorders at work and heat levels which in the laboratory produce pathophysiological responses.

Specialised and protective clothing and equipment 7.1.31 (68227) Kamin, J.l. and Sealone, A.A. NIOSH Safety research in protective helmets. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, Aug 1974, 35.8, 4 8 9 - 5 0 2 ; abstr in CIS Abstracts (CIS 75-793).

In an introductory part, some significant findings are summarized, and the present status of head protective devices and the present requirements in the USA are listed. The American standard test methods for impact tests and penetration tests are considered. The concept of a Severity Index as a criterion for head injury is discussed, followed by studies of the anthropometry of the head and of human factors (weight and size of helmets, helmet fit, restriction of sensory process).

7.1.32 (68240) Harris, I-I.E. et al Respirator usage and effectiveness in bituminous coal mining operations. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, Mar 1974, 35.3, 159-164 ; abstr in CIS Abstracts (CIS 75-792).

After a brief review of the past and likely future developments in this field, the authors present a progress report on an in-mine research project on respirator effciency. Respirable dust concentrations outside and inside the face-piece of five models were measured in five subjects (mining machine operator, loading machine operator, shuttle car operator, roof bolter, non- miner). The ratio between the two concentrations yielded an Effective Protection Factor (EPF). Very different EPFs, ranging from 9"0 in mining machine operators to 3"2 in roof bolters, were obtained. One reason for the little use made of respirators in daily mining practice is that a man cannot remove his hard hat with lamp and cord attachment in order to position the head harness of the respirator in the recommended manner. On the whole respirators are worn only when dust is visible to the miners.

Applied Ergonomics March 1976 51