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Low back pain and industrial and social disablement
Low back pain and industrial and social disablement Proceedings of the International Symposium organised by the Back Pain Association and sponsored by the Colt Foundation. London, October 1982. Published by the Back Pain Association, Teddington. 107 pp. £6.50. This reports a symposium intended to be "practical, related to the needs of industry, international and multidisciplinary and of a high standard". Of the speakers, four of the 22 were not medically qualified and eight were not from the UK. The report is in four sections, dealing with the basic physiology and mechanics of the problem, social and occupational factors, and then two sections on treatments. The first is concerned with external and manipulative treatments, the second with surgical and psychiatric aspects. The contributions combined reviews of the field, clinical cases, discussions of practical techniques, interspersed by some lively exchanges between participants. The text is verbatim transcripts from the conference rather than entirely written contributions which, in some ways, do not do the contributors justice. However, it is clear that the range of disciplines which contributed - surgeons, chiropractors, osteopaths, physiotherapists, etc - were all talking to each other and, in many cases, listening to each other. This book gives perhaps the broadest, and most readable, overview of the causes and treatments for back pain. Whether the reader is a specialist or a sufferer, he will gain some useful information from its perusal. E.N. Corlett
An ergonomic checklist for industrial trucks Jan-Erik Hansson
National Swedish Board of Occupational Safety and Health Publikationsservice S-176 84 Solna, Sweden. 32 pp.
characteristics can be seriously magnified if the ergonomics factors are ignored. ENC
The history of Soviet labour psychology: Original texts of the 20s & 30s of the 20th century Editors: Z.P. Zintchenko, V.M. Munipov, O.G. Noskova Published by Moscow University, 1983. 360 pp. (In Russian)
This is a history which focuses on the developments of ergonomics in the Soviet Union. It integrates and reprints sections of important papers published before the Second World War to illustrate how sections of Soviet psychology came to investigate problems of work. Early chapters discuss the development of the necessary professional skills. The next five sections of the book then deal with major areas for the applications of psychology. Starting with the classical occupational psychology areas of personnel problems, aptitudes and selection, succeeding sections deal with occupational injuries and industrial accidents, fatigue, effort and the interactions between psychology and technology, working conditions and methods and, finally, consideration of the development of labour psychology and its applications to problems both within industry and in scientific research institutes. With the increasing interest in industrial history it is likely that the development of industrial psychology and ergonomics will also become of interest to historians. To understand the rise, contributions and decline of NIIP in Britain would, in itself, be of value to understand if only to understand better how sciences other than technical science can contribute to industry. This volume adds one contribution to an international comparative study which has yet to be written. ENC
This useful little booklet is another of the straightforward guides, published in the English language, by the Swedish Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It is intended for users, managers, buyers and also for academics. The booklet takes the reader through the major factors relevant for the health and efficient performance of users of conventional trucks, including fork lift trucks. The advice begins with the sizes, strengths and working postures for users under various circumstances, giving recommendations for the workspace and a brief checklist. Problems of vibration, sitting and positioning of controls are then covered, each with a short checklist to help in assessing important features. Illumination, noise, access to the vehicle, cab climate and instrumentation all receive their due coverage and some important general impressions end the text, giving an opportunity to balance the previous data against specific usage factors. This booklet gives coverage for major ergonomics aspects of industrial trucks in a simple and practical manner, allowing the user to assess the utility of such equipment reliably and quickly. It is an excellent means for applying ergonomics to a piece of equipment which is highly dependent on efficient human performance and where its dangerous
Books received Human aspects in office automation Barbara G.F. Cohen
Elsevier Science Publishers, pp 322 + xvi, US $50.00. Quality of working life in international perspective Yves Delamotte and Shin Ichi Takezawa International Labour Office, Geneva, pp 89 + ix, £4.30.
Introduction to safety engineering David S. Gloss and Miriam G. VVard/e John Wiley & Son, Chichester, pp 612 + xv, £47.50
Clothing: The portable environment Susan 114.Watkins
Iowa State University Press, pp 254 + xviii, $16.95.
Applied Ergonomics
September 1984
235
An ergonomic checklist for industrial trucks Jan-Erik Hansson
National Swedish Board of Occupational Safety and Health Publikationsservice S-176 84 Solna, Sweden. 32 pp.
characteristics can be seriously magnified if the ergonomics factors are ignored. ENC
The history of Soviet labour psychology: Original texts of the 20s & 30s of the 20th century Editors: Z.P. Zintchenko, V.M. Munipov, O.G. Noskova Published by Moscow University, 1983. 360 pp. (In Russian)
This is a history which focuses on the developments of ergonomics in the Soviet Union. It integrates and reprints sections of important papers published before the Second World War to illustrate how sections of Soviet psychology came to investigate problems of work. Early chapters discuss the development of the necessary professional skills. The next five sections of the book then deal with major areas for the applications of psychology. Starting with the classical occupational psychology areas of personnel problems, aptitudes and selection, succeeding sections deal with occupational injuries and industrial accidents, fatigue, effort and the interactions between psychology and technology, working conditions and methods and, finally, consideration of the development of labour psychology and its applications to problems both within industry and in scientific research institutes. With the increasing interest in industrial history it is likely that the development of industrial psychology and ergonomics will also become of interest to historians. To understand the rise, contributions and decline of NIIP in Britain would, in itself, be of value to understand if only to understand better how sciences other than technical science can contribute to industry. This volume adds one contribution to an international comparative study which has yet to be written. ENC
This useful little booklet is another of the straightforward guides, published in the English language, by the Swedish Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It is intended for users, managers, buyers and also for academics. The booklet takes the reader through the major factors relevant for the health and efficient performance of users of conventional trucks, including fork lift trucks. The advice begins with the sizes, strengths and working postures for users under various circumstances, giving recommendations for the workspace and a brief checklist. Problems of vibration, sitting and positioning of controls are then covered, each with a short checklist to help in assessing important features. Illumination, noise, access to the vehicle, cab climate and instrumentation all receive their due coverage and some important general impressions end the text, giving an opportunity to balance the previous data against specific usage factors. This booklet gives coverage for major ergonomics aspects of industrial trucks in a simple and practical manner, allowing the user to assess the utility of such equipment reliably and quickly. It is an excellent means for applying ergonomics to a piece of equipment which is highly dependent on efficient human performance and where its dangerous
Books received Human aspects in office automation Barbara G.F. Cohen
Elsevier Science Publishers, pp 322 + xvi, US $50.00. Quality of working life in international perspective Yves Delamotte and Shin Ichi Takezawa International Labour Office, Geneva, pp 89 + ix, £4.30.
Introduction to safety engineering David S. Gloss and Miriam G. VVard/e John Wiley & Son, Chichester, pp 612 + xv, £47.50
Clothing: The portable environment Susan 114.Watkins
Iowa State University Press, pp 254 + xviii, $16.95.
Applied Ergonomics
September 1984
235