Some Applications of the Sound Intensity Technique to Noise Control in the Workplace Joseph C.S. Lai, 1-15 Subjective Annoyance Response to Diesel Engine Sound During Idling Conditions M. Shafiquzzaman Khan, Örjan Johansson, Ulrik Sundbäck, 16-26 Physical Workload Analysis Among Small Industry Activities Using Postural Data M. Rabiul Ahasan, Seppo Väyrynen, Heli Kirvesoja, 27-34 Quantitative Inspection of Broken Wire in Wire Ropes: Method and Apparatus Xue Hongjian, Yang Kechong, Yang Shuzi, 35-40 Characteristics of the Workforce and Activity Optimization in the Building Industries of Lithuania Pranas Baltrenas, K. Serbenta, Houshang Shahnavaz, 41-46 The Preventive Approaches of the Statutory Accident Insurance System and their Effectiveness Wilfried Coenen, Karlheinz Meffert, 47-59 Human Adaptation to Work in Two Different Climates Barbara Griefahn, Christa Künemund, Hortense Neffgen, Stefan Sommer, 60-73

Some Applications of the Sound Intensity Technique to Noise Control in the Workplace
Joseph C.S. Lai, 1-15

Over a decade has elapsed since commercial sound intensity measurement systems became available. A literature search has shown that the sound intensity technique has found increasing applications in recent years. In this paper, the principle and errors of the sound intensity technique are briefly described. Four case studies are given to illustrate how the sound intensity technique can be applied to determine sound power both under laboratory and field conditions, to identify noise source and to measure sound transmission loss of composite partitions 'in-situ'.It has been shown that provided the limitations of the sound intensity technique are understood, results obtained by the sound intensity technique enable effective noise control to be implemented in the workplace.

Subjective Annoyance Response to Diesel Engine Sound During Idling Conditions
M. Shafiquzzaman Khan, Örjan Johansson, Ulrik Sundbäck, 16-26

Subjective annoyance response to diesel engine sound during idling conditions was evaluated by 80 participants. Eight different sound spectra were presented to the participants at a constant level of 80 dB(A) in a paired comparison procedure. Stereo recorded sound stimuli were played back through a pair of loudspeakers in an anechoic room. Four objective parameters of loudness, sharpness, impulsiveness, and roughness were found to be the determining factors that cause subjective annoyance. An annoyance prediction model for the test stimuli of an idling diesel engine was developed on the basis of these factors. The objective parameters and their interactions have a significant effect on the annoyance prediction model. The spectral distribution indicated by test participants to be pleasant can be used as a basis for appropriate modification of engine sound. A single microphone measurement in free field conditions can be used to estimate objective parameters for defining the cause of annoyance.

Physical Workload Analysis Among Small Industry Activities Using Postural Data
M. Rabiul Ahasan, Seppo Väyrynen, Heli Kirvesoja, 27-34

Small industry workers are often involved in manual handling operations that require awkward body postures, so musculoskeletal disorders and occupational injuries are a major problem. In this study, various types of tasks were recorded with a video camera to chart and analyze different postures by computerized OWAS (Ovako Working Posture Analysing System). Collected data showed that poor postures were adopted, not only for lifting or hammering operation, but also for other tasks; mostly with bent and twisted back. The main aim was to determine the physical workload by identifying harmful postures and to develop recommendations for improving the existing situation. Forty-eight male workers from 8 different units (mean age: 37) participated. The performed activities were then divided into 26 sub-tasks. Altogether 1534 postures were selected for analysis. Then they were classified into different OAC (OWAS Action Categories). From all the observation, unhealthy postures, for which corrective measures had to be considered immediately (i.e., 10.6% classified as OAC III and 3.3%-as OAC IV) were found. The applied method was useful in determining the physical workload by locating potential activities due to harmful postures, providing a detailed description with analysis, and suggesting successful means to reduce postural load.

Quantitative Inspection of Broken Wire in Wire Ropes: Method and Apparatus
Xue Hongjian, Yang Kechong, Yang Shuzi, 35-40

This article introduces a complete system for automatic inspecting broken wire in wire ropes. The development of this technique is reviewed. It is followed by a description of the hardware and software of the apparatus. The hardware uses magnetic concentrators and Hall effect sensors. Signal analysis is based on wavelet processing. Quantitative identification of broken wire in wire ropes is based on a pattern recognition approach of the neural network.

Characteristics of the Workforce and Activity Optimization in the Building Industries of Lithuania
Pranas Baltrenas, K. Serbenta, Houshang Shahnavaz, 41-46

The evaluation of human individual characteristics is very important for any ergotechnical system optimization, especially in occupational safety. Investigations were carried out for this purpose. An important classification of ergonomic characteristics for construction workers was prepared. The importance and relevance of the choice of those characteristics as well their application are presented in the article.

The Preventive Approaches of the Statutory Accident Insurance System and Their Effectiveness
Wilfried Coenen, Karlheinz Meffert, 47-59

For decades, prevention has been an integral and important part of the German statutory accident insurance system. The very close link between prevention, rehabilitation, and compensation, which is so typical for the German system, had an extremely positive effect on the frequency of notifiable occupational accidents. What is more, if we compare benefits and costs of the system, it appears that prevention has also been successful in a strictly monetary sense.
After a short outline of the basic principles of the German accident insurance system, the authors take stock of the last 33 years. The period between 1960 and 1993 also covers the repercussions of the German reunification in 1990. The trends in accident and disease frequency are presented together with the trends in costs and benefits. To allow a realistic comparison, all figures are indicated in terms of 1960. It can be shown that the average contribution rate to accident insurance decreased in the period under consideration. This is particularly remarkable if we look at the enormous increase in contributions rates that took place in all other branches of social insurance. It is also noted that the contribution rates of the different industrial branches are immediately dependent on the accident risks in those industries. The last part of the paper contains a qualitative and quantitative description of the prevention measures available to the German accident insurance institutions.

Human Adaptation to Work in Two Different Climates
Barbara Griefahn, Christa Künemund, Hortense Neffgen, Stefan Sommer, 60-73

The processes of acclimation to hot-dry and to warm-humid climates were studied using 2 approaches: a quantitative analysis of literature data and an experimental study in the laboratory concerning the physiological parameters of heart rate, rectal temperature, sweat loss, and subjective assessment.
Analysis of literature data: Data from 62 experiments with all together 813 participants were pooled and recalculated. The experiments ranged from 6 to 24 days, air temperatures from 30.4 to 50.0° C, water vapor pressures from 1.5 to 6.5 kPa, and wet bulb globe temperatures (WBGT) from 27.4 to 38.6° C.
Laboratory studies: In the laboratory, 8 participants were acclimated during 15 consecutive days to a hot-dry and to a warm-humid climate, which were equivalent in terms of the WBGT (33.5 and 33.6° C respectively). The participants walked 4 times for 25 min on a treadmill at a speed of 4 km/h.
The hot-dry climate caused somewhat greater strain than the warm-humid condition. In the course of acclimation to the hot-dry climate, heart rate and rectal temperature started at higher levels, decreased slightly steeper but remained on a higher level throughout. Nevertheless, the differences between both thermal conditions were small and both physiologic functions reached the point of acclimation almost at the same time under warm-humid and under hot-dry exposure. Sweat loss, which is not regarded as a valid predictor for acclimation, was considerably higher but increased less in the hot-dry than in the warm-humid climate.