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The physical environment at work, 1983
Books
The physical environment at work, 1983
D.J. Oborne and M.M. Gruneberg (Eds) John Wiley & Sons Ltd, pp 236 This is the first in a projected series of texts, under the series editorship of the editors of this volume, dealing with psychology and productivity at work. 'Psychology' in this context must be taken rather broadly in this volume, for subjects such as anthropometry are not usually seen as relevant to that science. Nevertheless, it is cavalier for this reviewer to quibble, in this journal too, that 'Ergonomics' would have been the better term, for one of the future volumes is entitled "The Psychology of Employment" and no doubt there would then have needed to be more straining at gnats to fit it into such a re-titled series. But enough of these partisan matters: this is a useful text, well compiled by its editors from contributions by nine other eminent specialists apart from themselves. David Canter introduces the whole subject of the spaces we work in by a w i d e ~ g discussion to show how behaviour and performance are influenced by architecturalfeatures. By avoiding detailed recommendations for specific situations, but discussing where possible the general results from a number of studies in each area, the reader canget a feel for the contributions of building features to alert him to enquire further, and to be aware where Otherwise he would have been blind. K.H.E. Kroemer's chapter on anthropornetry and its uses is a concise presentation of the field which many teachers will welcome. The statistics for the description of populations are presented as well as the population data themselves, Kroemer properly includes muscle strength as well as body sizes, and follows with brief descriptions of how to use the data effectively in the design of work spaces, Climate has a much larger chapter, but written more from a research viewpoint than from fieldwork. The early section covers the basic thermal indices and the physiology of thermal control. Work on heat, humidity, work load and performance such as that from the Johannesburg Chamber of Mines is absent and similar work from other areas but briefly dealt with. The last two thirds of the chapter provide an extensive, classified and critical review of some 90 research results. These are usefully examined in relation to their validity and the stated outcomes. This section provides a useful overview for workers concerned with the effects of heat on performance. A chapter on illumination is provided by E.D. Megaw and L.J. Bellamy. This is another model of its kind, where the basic factors are succinctly dealt with and the various influences arising from light sources and the tit environment
64
Applied Ergonomics March 1984
are related to their effects on performance. Case examples are given, each related to a productive situation. The disadvantageous effects of lighting are also summarised, providing a useful compact section when seeking to identify adverse conditions. Vibration is ably dealt with by D.J. Oborne, who also provides a summary of the basic facts concerning vibration and its general effects before dealing with specific sections of the field. The effects on performance deal. in particular, with the visual effects, with motor performance and with its effects on information processing. He discusses briefly the current state of standardisation in this field, expresses his personal concern about the value of the present ISO draft proposals and whether or not they will provide the intended protection. The chapter on noise is, again, somewhat of a research approach but is a compact presentation of the field. The detection of industrial deafness is discussed and various methods outlined, without the usual simple reliance on audiometry alone. The effects of noise are then dealt with, covering sue.It a~as as speech interference and masking, cognition, ~a~oyance, si~p a n d . t ~ arousal Of stress responses. The authors (P.L. ~ i ~d:G:R~ Bienvenue) conclude with a concise s u ~ of measurement methods for several of the situations earlier L,~i~eir chapter. Unusually enough, the noise chapter has not been used to mask the effects of music, which has been given a chapter of its own, written by J.G. Fox. He brings together a range of studies with clarity and illustrates where music can contribute in a production situation and where it has nothing to provide. He sets his discussion in the framework of apsychologieal model which assists the reader to achieve a structured understanding of the material. He also usefully points out that providing music is not a substitute for better management practices. Altogether, this text will be welcomed by ergonomists and psychologists, particularly occupational psychologists. as a readable and comprehensive presentation in an important area. It is a good start to the series. E.N. Corlett
EncycloPaedia of occupational health and safety (3rd Edition) International LabourOffice, Geneva. 2 Volumes£78. This thirdand revised edition contains in two large volumes no less than 1150 articles by 900 authors from 60 countries and 20 international organlsations. Aspects of the subject covered include accident prevention and
The physical environment at work, 1983
D.J. Oborne and M.M. Gruneberg (Eds) John Wiley & Sons Ltd, pp 236 This is the first in a projected series of texts, under the series editorship of the editors of this volume, dealing with psychology and productivity at work. 'Psychology' in this context must be taken rather broadly in this volume, for subjects such as anthropometry are not usually seen as relevant to that science. Nevertheless, it is cavalier for this reviewer to quibble, in this journal too, that 'Ergonomics' would have been the better term, for one of the future volumes is entitled "The Psychology of Employment" and no doubt there would then have needed to be more straining at gnats to fit it into such a re-titled series. But enough of these partisan matters: this is a useful text, well compiled by its editors from contributions by nine other eminent specialists apart from themselves. David Canter introduces the whole subject of the spaces we work in by a w i d e ~ g discussion to show how behaviour and performance are influenced by architecturalfeatures. By avoiding detailed recommendations for specific situations, but discussing where possible the general results from a number of studies in each area, the reader canget a feel for the contributions of building features to alert him to enquire further, and to be aware where Otherwise he would have been blind. K.H.E. Kroemer's chapter on anthropornetry and its uses is a concise presentation of the field which many teachers will welcome. The statistics for the description of populations are presented as well as the population data themselves, Kroemer properly includes muscle strength as well as body sizes, and follows with brief descriptions of how to use the data effectively in the design of work spaces, Climate has a much larger chapter, but written more from a research viewpoint than from fieldwork. The early section covers the basic thermal indices and the physiology of thermal control. Work on heat, humidity, work load and performance such as that from the Johannesburg Chamber of Mines is absent and similar work from other areas but briefly dealt with. The last two thirds of the chapter provide an extensive, classified and critical review of some 90 research results. These are usefully examined in relation to their validity and the stated outcomes. This section provides a useful overview for workers concerned with the effects of heat on performance. A chapter on illumination is provided by E.D. Megaw and L.J. Bellamy. This is another model of its kind, where the basic factors are succinctly dealt with and the various influences arising from light sources and the tit environment
64
Applied Ergonomics March 1984
are related to their effects on performance. Case examples are given, each related to a productive situation. The disadvantageous effects of lighting are also summarised, providing a useful compact section when seeking to identify adverse conditions. Vibration is ably dealt with by D.J. Oborne, who also provides a summary of the basic facts concerning vibration and its general effects before dealing with specific sections of the field. The effects on performance deal. in particular, with the visual effects, with motor performance and with its effects on information processing. He discusses briefly the current state of standardisation in this field, expresses his personal concern about the value of the present ISO draft proposals and whether or not they will provide the intended protection. The chapter on noise is, again, somewhat of a research approach but is a compact presentation of the field. The detection of industrial deafness is discussed and various methods outlined, without the usual simple reliance on audiometry alone. The effects of noise are then dealt with, covering sue.It a~as as speech interference and masking, cognition, ~a~oyance, si~p a n d . t ~ arousal Of stress responses. The authors (P.L. ~ i ~d:G:R~ Bienvenue) conclude with a concise s u ~ of measurement methods for several of the situations earlier L,~i~eir chapter. Unusually enough, the noise chapter has not been used to mask the effects of music, which has been given a chapter of its own, written by J.G. Fox. He brings together a range of studies with clarity and illustrates where music can contribute in a production situation and where it has nothing to provide. He sets his discussion in the framework of apsychologieal model which assists the reader to achieve a structured understanding of the material. He also usefully points out that providing music is not a substitute for better management practices. Altogether, this text will be welcomed by ergonomists and psychologists, particularly occupational psychologists. as a readable and comprehensive presentation in an important area. It is a good start to the series. E.N. Corlett
EncycloPaedia of occupational health and safety (3rd Edition) International LabourOffice, Geneva. 2 Volumes£78. This thirdand revised edition contains in two large volumes no less than 1150 articles by 900 authors from 60 countries and 20 international organlsations. Aspects of the subject covered include accident prevention and