Lighting at computer workstations.

Background: The visual conditions for computer work are complex and include several factors that need to be well controlled. These factors include the lighting system, the design of the computer and screen itself, the screens position and orientation within the room, the surface reflectances and colours of the room, and the visualability of the worker.

Objective: The objective was to review the literature (including standards) on lighting for computer work in an accessible summary.

Working spectacles for sorting mail.

Background: Sorting mail into racks for postmen is visually demanding work. This can result in backward inclination of their heads, especially more pronounced for those who use progressive addition lenses.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of customized working spectacles on the physical workload of postmen.

A multicenter study on the audiometric findings of styrene-exposed workers.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate hearing loss among workers exposed to styrene, alone or with noise.

Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted as part of NoiseChem, a European Commission 5th Framework Programme research project, by occupational health institutes in Finland, Sweden, and Poland.

Study Sample: Participants' ages ranged from 18-72 years (n = 1620 workers).

Audiological findings in workers exposed to styrene alone or in concert with noise.

Audiological testing, interviews and exposure measurements were used to collect data on the health effects of styrene exposures in 313 workers from fiberglass and metal-product manufacturing plants and a mail terminal. The audiological test battery included pure-tone audiometry, distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE), psychoacoustic modulation transfer function, interrupted speech, speech recognition in noise and cortical response audiometry (CRA). Workers exposed to noise and styrene had significantly poorer pure-tone thresholds in the high-frequency range (3 to 8 kHz) than the controls, noise-exposed workers and those listed in a Swedish age-specific database.

The introduction of sit-stand worktables; aspects of attitudes, compliance and satisfaction.

The introduction of sit-stand worktables was examined in this study. Purchasers at four companies were interviewed regarding preparations prior to purchase, follow-up after installation, and if expectations had been fulfilled. Personnel at the four companies answered a questionnaire examining use of the worktables' sit-stand function, and the influence of some variables on this.

Optical techniques for real-time penetration monitoring for laser welding.

Optical techniques for real-time full-penetration monitoring for Nd:YAG laser welding have been investigated. Coaxial light emission from the keyhole is imaged onto three photodiodes and a camera. We describe the spectral and statistical analyses from photodiode signals, which indicate the presence of a full penetration.

Low-level styrene exposure and color vision in Swedish styrene workers.

Styrene exposure and color vision for 108 workers (21-65 years) was studied at Swedish reinforced plastic plants. Acute exposure was measured at work. Data on past exposures and personal background data were collected by questionnaire.

Beliefs and attitudes among Swedish workers regarding the risk of hearing loss.

The beliefs and attitudes regarding the risk of hearing loss and their impact on hearing protector use were investigated among Swedish workers. A questionnaire, developed by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), was used. The study objective was to assess workers' attitudes towards using hearing protection devices (HPDs) and to enhance the ability of workers to protect themselves from occupational hearing loss.

Closed-loop power and focus control of laser welding for full-penetration monitoring.

We describe a closed-loop control system ensuring full penetration in welding by controlling the focus position and power of a 4-kW Nd:YAG laser. A focus position monitoring system was developed based on the chromatic aberration of the focusing optics. With the laser power control system we can determine the degree of penetration by analyzing the keyhole image intensity profile.

Low melatonin excretion during mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit.

Biochemical markers for the circadian rhythm were studied in patients treated at the ICU (intensive care unit) of two regional hospitals. A normal rhythm is characterized by a relatively higher melatonin and a lower cortisol excretion at night. Disturbances affect sleep, mood and cognitive performance.

Color vision and occupational chemical exposures. II. Visual functions in non-exposed subjects.

This paper presents data on visual functions (visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and several tests of color vision), in a group of 199 non-exposed healthy subjects with an even distribution over the age range 18-65 years, and sex. Although subjects with obvious congenital color vision deficiencies were removed from the analyses (four males), females were superior to males on several of the color vision tests applied. Age influenced visual acuity and contrast sensitivity, while color discrimination was less affected.

Color vision and occupational chemical exposures: I. An overview of tests and effects.

The paper presents a summary of the literature published until December 2000 on effects from some industrial chemical exposures on color perception, as well as short descriptions of the tests applied. Several different tests have been used to study acquired alterations of color vision. These changes are frequently found in the blue-yellow axis.

Audiometric findings in workers exposed to low levels of styrene and noise.

Audiometry and exposure measurements were conducted on workers from fiberglass and metal products manufacturing plants and a mail distribution terminal (N = 313). Workers exposed to noise and styrene had significantly worse pure-tone thresholds at 2, 3, 4, and 6 kHz when compared with noise-exposed or nonexposed workers. Age, noise exposure, and urinary mandelic acid (a biologic marker for styrene) were the variables that met the significance level criterion in the multiple logistic regression.