Management and motivational factors in the control of noise induced hearing loss (NIHL).

This paper describes a study investigating attitudes to noise as an occupational hazard. The objectives of the study were to understand the individual and organizational factors which affect attitudes towards noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) and to relate these to the standards of hearing conservation achieved in industry as demonstrated by compliance with the Noise at Work Regulations. The study comprised a survey of 48 organizations across Britain, and a more detailed examination of 10 of these as case studies. Methods used included desk research, audits of hearing conservation programmes, questionnaires and interviews. Whilst there is widespread acceptance that industrial noise is a hazard, it is one that is frequently taken for granted, and measures to deal with it are often inadequate. Most organizations place the onus on the workforce to protect their own hearing through the use of personal hearing protectors. Workers reactions to noise tended however to be passive and much of the time neither managers nor the workforce are concious of the noise hazard. This is the case even where some managers are committed to good industrial housekeeping and accident prevention. As effective hearing conservation programme requires three management attributes: leadership from senior management, the ability of middle management (particularly in production and engineering) to put hearing conservation measures into practice, and specialist technical knowledge of noise and of the legislation. The study points to the need for more education and motivation of senior managers as the priority in improving standards of hearing conservation and noise control.

An assessment of exposure to glutaraldehyde in hospitals: typical exposure levels and recommended control measures.

An assessment of exposure to glutaraldehyde in cold sterilisation and x ray development processes was undertaken in 14 locations at six hospitals in south east England. The results obtained indicate that routine exposures of hospital workers to airborne concentrations of the compound are within the current United Kingdom occupational exposure limit of 0.7 mg m-3. There was the potential for skin contact in many of the activities observed and alternative sterilisation and disinfection procedures would have been more appropriate in some situations. Recommendations are made on reducing exposures as the current occupational exposure limit for this compound may not be appropriate.

The application of test data in the selection and use of gloves against chemicals.

Within recent years there have been a number of papers on the testing of protective clothing materials for degradation, penetration and permeation by chemicals. However, little guidance has been provided concerning the practical application of such data in the selection and use of gloves. A scheme is proposed for the selection of appropriate gloves and for deciding whether they should be reused. This takes into account the toxic properties of the chemical involved, the type of activity being undertaken and the degree of protection afforded by a particular material as indicated by data obtained from standard tests.

Detection and measurement of volatile hydrocarbons at ambient concentrations in the atmosphere.

Modern techniques for the sampling and analysis of volatile hydrocarbons present at ppm-ppM levels in air are reviewed. Emphasis is placed on methods designed to detect and determine individual hydrocarbons of particular interest. Advances in instrumentation and automation are discussed with particular reference to systems combining gas chromatography, mass spectrometry and computerized data-analysis.