Safety shoes (Skyddsskor)

Neither rationalisation of ventilation nor air conditioning can solve all the problems in coal seams where there are severe climatic conditions. In the case of an effective temperature of less than 35°C and a low velocity air flow (0"5 m/s), merely stirring the air by ordinary ventilation is enough to improve conditions considerably. With temperatures above 35°C, however, either the air blowing on the individual worker must be cooled, or else the worker must wear cooled clothing. Research in this field has shown that priority must be given to cooling the head and trunk, that cooling by dry ice is very effective but is ergonomically unsatisfactory, and that the simplest and most effective solution is to issue workers with a hooded jacket of double sponge fabric soaked in cold water (15°C). This article is illustrated by many tables and graphs showing, in particular, pulse rate variations when different types of cooled suits were given. 11.3.38 (78354) Miura, T. Human performance under hot thermal conditions of the work environment. Journal of Human Ergology, 1978, 7.2, 157-168. In the summer of 1950, 1963, 1966 and 1973, repeated surveys were carried out on thermal conditions in various industries. Meanwhile technical innovations began to take hold gradually in Japan, causing, in major industries with hot work places, attenuation of heat exposure during work and reduction of the energy expenditure of workers by the replacing of heavy muscular work with machines. Comparison of data of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s disclosed appreciable improvement of the thermal conditions in major countries which could be attributed to technical progress in recent years. An examination was

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AppliedErgonomics

made of the propriety of the existing legal provision on permissible threshold limit, of 37°C in the coal mine in Japan. Experiments were conducted to investigate changes in some physiological functions and subjective feeling of coal miners during moderate muscular work in a hot and humid experimental gallery. The experimental results seemed to suggest that 34°C of dry bulb air temperature might be a considerably severe condition for coal miners, even in cases of intermittent exposure or continuous exposure with rather frequent work intervals, working under conditions of high humidity and low air velocity at a moderate work rate.

Specialised and

protective clothing and equipment l 1.3.39 (78362) Vaaranen, A., et al Need for protective clothing and equipment in small workplaces. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health, 1979, 5. Supplement 2, 2 1 - 2 3 .

attributed to insufficient knowledge or negligence of responsibilities on the part of the employers. Management should provide more appropriate instructions for workers in the use and, particularly, the maintenance of personal protectors. To be effective, the inspection of the appropriateness of the protectors requires suitable training. This training should also be received by the staff providing occupational health services. Visits to workplaces, as well as health examinations, provide an opportunity to discuss protection and to advise employers and employees on protection. The problem of protection against harmful exposures is closely connected with health counselling. Yet, the provision of proper protectors and the supervision of their use is still the responsibility of the employer. 11.3.40 (78364) Ivergard, T., and Claridge, N. Safety shoes (Skyddsskor). (In Swedish.) Arbetsmil]o, Feb 1979, No 2, 1 1 - 2 7 ; abstr in CIS Abstracts (CIS 79-1108).

A series of short articles evaluating safety shoes and boots available commercially in Sweden: conditions to be met by safety shoes in order to be Some kind of protective clothing considered satisfactory; factors (form and personal safety items were needed in 90% of the 163 workplaces surveyed. adapted to foot, leather manufacture, Protective clothing was used in 31%, adaptation to workplace temperature ear protectors in 28%, eye protectors in and humidity, non-slip qualities, etc); 22%, respiratory tract protectors in 18% resistance to wear and protection and other safety items in 1% of the afforded (results of a consumer survey); firms. Gloves were the most commonly Swedish market study (data on some used type of protective clothing. 15 Swedish and foreign makes); Protection against risk was proper in commentary on the new Swedish one-quarter of the firms, satisfactory standard for safety shoes; laboratory in half, and poor or lacking in the rest. tests to develop non-slip soles; toe caps 95% of the protectors available were for workers employed in materials appropriate, but only in a few companies handling; penetration-resistant soles for were they properly cared for. Seven building workers; wooden-soled clogs (12%) industrial firms, 15 (20%) service on slippery and cold floor surfaces in establishments and 1 (7%) other firm the meat canning industry; boots used in the logging industry; statistics of toe lacked proper protective clothing or injuries. safety items. Faults were generally

September1980