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Ladder safety at work
Ladder safety at work Public health inspectors from every local authority in the country and factory inspectors in each district are distributing a total of 200 000 leaflets in a bid to avert ladder accidents. The seven page leaflet, The Safe Use o[ Ladders, has been prepared by HM Factory Inspectorate. It points out that in the six years between 1966 and 1971, a total of 73 people died following falls from ladders in factories, warehouses, offices, shops and railway premises. And over 25 000 were hurt badly enough to need three days or more off work. A random investigation of 433 falls from ladders showed that in over half the accidents the ladder itself slipped. In nearly a quarter of the cases people slipped on a rung or missed their footing. The leaflet gives a checklist of what should be done and what avoided by b o t h management and workers.
Solving gas weighing problems Weighing liquefied gas inside a cylinder is a specialised operation because the container is usually much heavier than the gas itself and therefore a very accurate method o f deducting the weight of the cylinder from the total weight is essential. Another problem results from the shape of the gas cylinders. Damage to a weigher platform can be caused eventually as the various weights and sizes of
cylinders are lifted on to it and manoeuvred into position. A portable dial weighing machine supplied by the Ashworth Ross Division of W & T Avery Ltd of Dewsbury has solved these problems at the Brentford works of the British Oxygen Co Ltd. This weigher incorporates a special non-indicating quick taring device which permits the operator to allow for cylinder weights of up to 40 kg. As the capacity of the weigher chart itself is 20 kg, graduated in 50 gm divisions, the taring mechanism can cater for heavy cylinders while the chart indicates the higher weights of the gas inside. Platform damage is obviated by provision of a 'live' circular plate at the centre of the 2ft square platform. The rest of the platform is 'dead', a system that helps to cut down wear and tear as the cylinders are lifted into position.
Guidelines on redundancy counselling A new booklet for personnel and line managers, giving guidelines on how to minimise the traumatic effects of redundancy, has been published by The Industrial Society. Entitled Redundancy counselling (pp 26, 45p), the booklet is written by Pat George, a management and training adviser with the Society's information and personnel advisory service department. 'The aim of redundancy counselling', says the author, 'is to assist the employee in coming to terms with the situation, and to give practical help in finding another j o b or career, in which, ideally, he or she will be no worse off than before'. The booklet, based on discussions with people asking for guidance when faced with the redundancy situation for the first time, is intended to be used as a handbook primarily by those new to counselling of this nature.
Numerical control instructions simplified by miniature illuminated switches
Ashworth Ross dial weigher for gas cylinders.
Ergonomics and the need for an attractive, well-styled product have not featured very strongly in the design of control consoles used with numerical control equipment. Generally, the controls, including switches and signal lights, have been over-sized, complicated and in many cases very confusing. But, with modern ergonomic trends in mind, robust attractive miniature illuminated push button switches and annunciators, manufactured by Highland Electronics
Miniature illuminated push-button switchesby Highland Electronics used in machine tool controller. Ltd, 33-41 Dallington Street, L o n d o n EC1V OBD, are being used to simplify control functions on the latest Kremer 100 self-programming control for machine tools. To ensure operation accuracy and easy identification of a particular control function, the illuminated switches are provided in circular, square and rectangular shapes with several coloured screens engraved with the particular control function; (up to three rows of ten characters per row is possible). In addition, to prevent accidental operation, certain switches have been supplied with flap guards.
Industrial rehabilitation 1972-73 In the first six months of 1972, 52.7% of those completing courses at Industrial Rehabilitation Units were regarded as satisfactorily settled - the highest rate recorded - and the figure of 30% for those not in e m p l o y m e n t nor having worked since completing their course, is the lowest recorded. Although nominal capacity has increased by 55 places to 2432, the number of people admitted to full-time courses dropped slightly from 14 026 in 1972 to 13 781 in 1973. Total average occupancy of places was 83.1% and the completion rate was 83-4% compared with 82.6% in 1972.
Applied Ergonomics March 7974
57
Solving gas weighing problems Weighing liquefied gas inside a cylinder is a specialised operation because the container is usually much heavier than the gas itself and therefore a very accurate method o f deducting the weight of the cylinder from the total weight is essential. Another problem results from the shape of the gas cylinders. Damage to a weigher platform can be caused eventually as the various weights and sizes of
cylinders are lifted on to it and manoeuvred into position. A portable dial weighing machine supplied by the Ashworth Ross Division of W & T Avery Ltd of Dewsbury has solved these problems at the Brentford works of the British Oxygen Co Ltd. This weigher incorporates a special non-indicating quick taring device which permits the operator to allow for cylinder weights of up to 40 kg. As the capacity of the weigher chart itself is 20 kg, graduated in 50 gm divisions, the taring mechanism can cater for heavy cylinders while the chart indicates the higher weights of the gas inside. Platform damage is obviated by provision of a 'live' circular plate at the centre of the 2ft square platform. The rest of the platform is 'dead', a system that helps to cut down wear and tear as the cylinders are lifted into position.
Guidelines on redundancy counselling A new booklet for personnel and line managers, giving guidelines on how to minimise the traumatic effects of redundancy, has been published by The Industrial Society. Entitled Redundancy counselling (pp 26, 45p), the booklet is written by Pat George, a management and training adviser with the Society's information and personnel advisory service department. 'The aim of redundancy counselling', says the author, 'is to assist the employee in coming to terms with the situation, and to give practical help in finding another j o b or career, in which, ideally, he or she will be no worse off than before'. The booklet, based on discussions with people asking for guidance when faced with the redundancy situation for the first time, is intended to be used as a handbook primarily by those new to counselling of this nature.
Numerical control instructions simplified by miniature illuminated switches
Ashworth Ross dial weigher for gas cylinders.
Ergonomics and the need for an attractive, well-styled product have not featured very strongly in the design of control consoles used with numerical control equipment. Generally, the controls, including switches and signal lights, have been over-sized, complicated and in many cases very confusing. But, with modern ergonomic trends in mind, robust attractive miniature illuminated push button switches and annunciators, manufactured by Highland Electronics
Miniature illuminated push-button switchesby Highland Electronics used in machine tool controller. Ltd, 33-41 Dallington Street, L o n d o n EC1V OBD, are being used to simplify control functions on the latest Kremer 100 self-programming control for machine tools. To ensure operation accuracy and easy identification of a particular control function, the illuminated switches are provided in circular, square and rectangular shapes with several coloured screens engraved with the particular control function; (up to three rows of ten characters per row is possible). In addition, to prevent accidental operation, certain switches have been supplied with flap guards.
Industrial rehabilitation 1972-73 In the first six months of 1972, 52.7% of those completing courses at Industrial Rehabilitation Units were regarded as satisfactorily settled - the highest rate recorded - and the figure of 30% for those not in e m p l o y m e n t nor having worked since completing their course, is the lowest recorded. Although nominal capacity has increased by 55 places to 2432, the number of people admitted to full-time courses dropped slightly from 14 026 in 1972 to 13 781 in 1973. Total average occupancy of places was 83.1% and the completion rate was 83-4% compared with 82.6% in 1972.
Applied Ergonomics March 7974
57