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National materials handling centre
News Educational technology Despite limited success in the past, educational technology can perform a useful function in higher education, according to a report prepared b y a committee o f the National Academy of Engineering. 'Educational Technology in Higher Education: the promises and limitations of ITV and CAI', prepared b y the Instructional Technology Committee of the A c a d e m y ' s Commission on Education, states that the use of instructional television (ITV) and computer-aided instruction (CAI) in higher education should be directed towards assisting the student to become an efficient, independent learner. By using computers to aid the student in routine fact recitation or simple problem-solving exercises, the instructor can use his time more advantageously - to clarify difficult concepts, to introduce interrelationships, and to encourage creative thinking b y the student. The report is available, without charge, from the Commission on Education, 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20418
Metrication in transport and communications The operation of transport and communication services, the provision, operation and maintenance of roads, docks, airport and waterways, and the manufacture of road vehicles, locomotives, ships, aircraft and telecommunications equipment, are the areas of responsibility of the Metrication Board's Steering Committee for the Transport and Communication Industries.
Occupational safety and health standards Before a Senate committee considering proposed legislation on occupational safety and health, American National Standards Institute Managing Director Donald L. Peyton urged that consensus standards be given the first o p p o r t u n i t y to measure up to the needs of a federal occupational health and safety programme. But he stressed that t h e y should not be considered the only source of standards or means of accomplishing the objectives of the proposed act. The designated administrative agency, must be given necessary flexibility to adopt and promulgate standards for safety and health regardless of their source or method of development. Mr Peyton also said that the Institute favours provision in the legislation for a d o p t i o n of "nonconsensus" standards on an interim basis, if required for health and safety programmes. These are technically excellent standards that for various reasons have not been processed b y consensus organisations b u t that may hold the k e y to the development of needed safety and health programmes. Provisions in the proposed legislation to ensure that standards a d o p t e d are updated as required are also r e c o m m e n d e d b y the Institute.
Wages and salaries; conversion to decimals
The Steering Committee will be principally concerned to d e t e r m i n e : (a) What is happening in the particular sectors of the e c o n o m y to foster the change over to metric units and what are the further steps necessary.
The Department of E m p l o y m e n t and Productivity has been distributing to employers and trades unions, a free booklet dealing with problems of converting wages and salaries to a decimal system of currency. The booklet is designed to help managements and employees make a smooth changeover to the decimal system. It has been prepared in consultation with the CBI and TUC.
(b) What the sectors require public authorities to do, whether b y legislation and regulations or changes in purchasing policies.
Appraisal of Industrial Liaison Centres
(c) What help the Metrication Board could give b y publicity or otherwise in speeding the implementation of the programme for the change over.
An independent appraisal of the Ministry of Technology's Industrial Liaison Centre scheme concludes that basically the scheme is a worthwhile
national project, b u t that action is necessary in order to improve the weaker centres. Associated Industrial Consultants Ltd., were commissioned b y the Ministry in 1968 to investigate and report on the working of the scheme and to make a critical assessment of its effectiveness. Their r e p o r t analyses the benefits accruing from the activities of the Industrial Liaison Officers to industry, and to the colleges and technological universities on which they are based. A number of recommendations are made relating to the administration of the scheme, and it is suggested that the number of centres (now 72) should not be increased for the time being, to enable the Ministry to concentrate its efforts on improving the performance of the existing centres.
Safeguarding food slicing machines F o o d shcing machines account for more accidents than any other single type of machine used in shops. An illustrated article featuring safety devices and safe methods of using these machines appeared in "Accidents", No 81 - published b y HM Stationery Office, price 2s. The chief causes of accidents with these machines include high speed blades not properly guarded, using a hand to press the food being sliced up against the knife, unsafe ways of cleaning and little or no training in the use of the machines. E m p l o y e r s are urged to take a critical look at their methods of training employees of all ages in the correct use of slicers.
National Materials Handling Centre A National Materials Handling Centre (NMHC) has been established at the College of Aeronautics, Cranfield. Set up with financial backing from Mintech, the Institute of Materials Handling and the National Joint Council on Materials Handling, and with the full support and co-operation of Cranfield College and the Federation of Associations of Materials Handling Manufacturers, the
Applied Ergonomics June 1970
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Metrication in transport and communications The operation of transport and communication services, the provision, operation and maintenance of roads, docks, airport and waterways, and the manufacture of road vehicles, locomotives, ships, aircraft and telecommunications equipment, are the areas of responsibility of the Metrication Board's Steering Committee for the Transport and Communication Industries.
Occupational safety and health standards Before a Senate committee considering proposed legislation on occupational safety and health, American National Standards Institute Managing Director Donald L. Peyton urged that consensus standards be given the first o p p o r t u n i t y to measure up to the needs of a federal occupational health and safety programme. But he stressed that t h e y should not be considered the only source of standards or means of accomplishing the objectives of the proposed act. The designated administrative agency, must be given necessary flexibility to adopt and promulgate standards for safety and health regardless of their source or method of development. Mr Peyton also said that the Institute favours provision in the legislation for a d o p t i o n of "nonconsensus" standards on an interim basis, if required for health and safety programmes. These are technically excellent standards that for various reasons have not been processed b y consensus organisations b u t that may hold the k e y to the development of needed safety and health programmes. Provisions in the proposed legislation to ensure that standards a d o p t e d are updated as required are also r e c o m m e n d e d b y the Institute.
Wages and salaries; conversion to decimals
The Steering Committee will be principally concerned to d e t e r m i n e : (a) What is happening in the particular sectors of the e c o n o m y to foster the change over to metric units and what are the further steps necessary.
The Department of E m p l o y m e n t and Productivity has been distributing to employers and trades unions, a free booklet dealing with problems of converting wages and salaries to a decimal system of currency. The booklet is designed to help managements and employees make a smooth changeover to the decimal system. It has been prepared in consultation with the CBI and TUC.
(b) What the sectors require public authorities to do, whether b y legislation and regulations or changes in purchasing policies.
Appraisal of Industrial Liaison Centres
(c) What help the Metrication Board could give b y publicity or otherwise in speeding the implementation of the programme for the change over.
An independent appraisal of the Ministry of Technology's Industrial Liaison Centre scheme concludes that basically the scheme is a worthwhile
national project, b u t that action is necessary in order to improve the weaker centres. Associated Industrial Consultants Ltd., were commissioned b y the Ministry in 1968 to investigate and report on the working of the scheme and to make a critical assessment of its effectiveness. Their r e p o r t analyses the benefits accruing from the activities of the Industrial Liaison Officers to industry, and to the colleges and technological universities on which they are based. A number of recommendations are made relating to the administration of the scheme, and it is suggested that the number of centres (now 72) should not be increased for the time being, to enable the Ministry to concentrate its efforts on improving the performance of the existing centres.
Safeguarding food slicing machines F o o d shcing machines account for more accidents than any other single type of machine used in shops. An illustrated article featuring safety devices and safe methods of using these machines appeared in "Accidents", No 81 - published b y HM Stationery Office, price 2s. The chief causes of accidents with these machines include high speed blades not properly guarded, using a hand to press the food being sliced up against the knife, unsafe ways of cleaning and little or no training in the use of the machines. E m p l o y e r s are urged to take a critical look at their methods of training employees of all ages in the correct use of slicers.
National Materials Handling Centre A National Materials Handling Centre (NMHC) has been established at the College of Aeronautics, Cranfield. Set up with financial backing from Mintech, the Institute of Materials Handling and the National Joint Council on Materials Handling, and with the full support and co-operation of Cranfield College and the Federation of Associations of Materials Handling Manufacturers, the
Applied Ergonomics June 1970
185