Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Environment at Work

  • Chapter
Psychology and Industrial Productivity

Abstract

This article discusses the limits within which the working environment should be maintained. The limits are listed in a table. When the limits are exceeded, there is likely to be a fall in efficiency, an increased susceptibility to accidents, and a reduced attendance at work.

Originally published in Applied Ergonomics, 3 [1] (1972) 24–9. Reprinted by permission.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Notes

  • Beranek L. L., ‘Airplane Quieting II — Specification of Acceptable Noise Levels’, Transactions of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 69 (1947) 96–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berkun M. M., Bialek H. M., Kern R. P. and Yagi K., ‘Experimental Studies of Psychological Stress Man’, Psychological Monographs, 76 (1962) 543.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brand J. J., Colquhoun W. P., Gould A. A. and Perry W. L. M., ‘L-Hyoscine and Cyclizine as Motion Sickness Remedies’, British Journal of Pharmacology and Chemotherapy, 30 (1967) 463–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Broadbent D. E., ‘Noise Paced Performance and Vigilance Tasks’, British Journal of Psychology, 44 (1953) 295–303.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broadbent D. E., ‘Effects of Noises of High and Low Frequency on Behaviour’, Ergonomics, 1 (1957) 21–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Broadbent D. E. and Little E. A. J., ‘Effects of Noise Reduction in a Work Situation’, Occupational Psychology, 34 (1960) 133–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown I. D., ‘Safer Drivers’, British Journal of Hospital Medicine, 4 (1970) 441–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burns W. and Robinson D. W., Hearing and Noise in Industry, (London: HMSO, 1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Buzzard R. B. and Liddell F. D. K., ‘Coalminers’ Attendance at Work’. Medical Research Memorandum No. 3 (London: National Coal Board, 1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • Chambers E. G., ‘Industrial Fatigue’, Occupational Psychology, 35 (1961) 44–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corcoran D. W. J., ‘Noise and Loss of Sleep’, Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 14 (1962) 178–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Denison D. M., Ledwith F. and Poulton E. C., ‘Complex Reaction Times at Simulated Cabin Altitudes of 5000 Feet and 8000 Feet’, Aerospace Medicine, 37 (1966) 1010–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dennis J. P., ‘Some Effects of Vibration upon Visual Performance’, Journal of Applied Psychology, 49 (1965) 245–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frankenhaeuser M., ‘Effects of Prolonged Gravitational Stress on Performance’, A eta Psychologica, 14 (1958) 92–108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garvey W. D., ‘A Comparison of the Effects of Training and Secondary Tasks on Tracking Behaviour’, Journal of Applied Psychology, 44 (1960) 370–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hammerton M. and Tickner A. H., ‘Physical Fitness and Skilled Work after Exercise’, Ergonomics, 11 (1968) 41–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hammerton M. and Tickner A. H., ‘An Investigation into the Effect of Exercising Particular Limb-Segments upon Performance in a Tracking Task’, Ergonomics, 12 (1969a) 47–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hammerton M. and Tickner A. H., ‘An Investigation into the Effects of Stress upon Skilled Performance’, Ergonomics, 12 (1969b) 851–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartman B. O. and McKenzie R. E., ‘Hangover Effect of Secobarbital on Simulated Pilotage Performance’, Aerospace Medicine, 37 (1966) 1121–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawther P. J., Personal communication, MRC Air Pollution Unit, St. Barts. Hosp. Med. Coll., London EC1, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Link J. M. and Pepler R. D., ‘Associated Fluctuations in Daily Temperature, Productivity and Absenteeism’, Transactions of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers Inc,., 7 (1970) 4.1–4.12.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCallum R. I. and Walder D. N., ‘Bone Lesions in Compressed Air Workers’, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 48B (1966) 207–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKenzie R. E. and Elliott L. L., ‘Effects of Secobarbital and D-Amphetamine on Performance during a Simulated Air Mission’, Aerospace Medicine, 36 (1965) 774–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackworth J. F., ‘The Effect of Signal Rate on Performance in Two Kinds of Vigilance Task’, Human Factors, 10 (1968) 11–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan C. T., Cook J. S., Chapanis A. and Lund M. W., Human Engineering Guide to Equipment Design, (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1963).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Osborne E. E., Vernon H. M. and Muscio B., ‘Two Contributions to the Study of Accidental Causation’, Industrial Fatigue Research Board, Report No. 19 (London: HMSO, 1922).

    Google Scholar 

  • Poulton E. C., ‘Measuring the Order of Difficulty of Visual-Motor Tasks’, Ergonomics, 1 (1958) 234–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poulton E. C., ‘On Increasing the Sensitivity of Measures of Performance’, Ergonomics, 8 (1965) 69–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poulton E. C., Environment and Human Efficiency, (Springfield, Ill.: Thomas, 1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Poulton E. C., Catton M. J. and Carpenter A., ‘Efficiency at Sorting Cards in Compressed Air’, British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 21 (1964) 242–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanders A. F., ‘The Influence of Noise on Two Discrimination Tasks’, Ergonomics, 4 (1961) 253–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shavelson R. J. and Seminara J. L., ‘Effect of Lunar Gravity on Man’s Performance of Basic Maintenance Tasks’, Journal of Applied Psychology, 52 (1968) 177–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suedfeld P., Glucksberg S. and Vernon J., ‘Sensory Deprivation as a Drive Operation: Effects upon Problem Solving’, Journal of Experimental Psychology, 75 (1967) 166–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suedfeld P. and Landon P. B., ‘Motivational Arousal and Task Complexity: Support for a Model of Cognitive Changes in Sensory Deprivation’, Journal of Experimental Psychology, 83 (1970) 329–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teichner W. H. and Kobrick J. L., ‘Effects of Prolonged Exposure to Low Temperature on Visual-Motor Performance’, Journal of Experimental Psychology, 49 (1955) 122–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teichner W. H. and Wehrkamp R. F., ‘Visual-Motor Performance as a Function of Short-Duration Ambient Temperature’, Journal of Experimental Psychology, 47 (1954) 447–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tinker M. A., ‘Illumination Intensities for Reading Newspaper Type,’, Journal of Educational Psychology, 34 (1943) 247–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tinker M. A., ‘The Effect of Intensity of Illumination upon Speed of Reading Six-Point Italic Print’, Americal Journal of Psychology, 65 (1952) 600–2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vernon H. M., Bedford T. and Warner G. C., ‘A Study of Absenteeism in a Group of Ten Collieries’, Industrial Fatigue Research Board, Report 51 (London: HMSO, 1928).

    Google Scholar 

  • Weston H. C., Sight, Light and Efficiency, (London: Lewis, 1949).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson R. T., ‘Interaction of Noise with Knowledge of Results and Sleep Deprivation’, Journal of Experimental Psychology, 66 (1963) 332–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson R. T., ‘Sleep Deprivation: Performance Tests for Partial and Selective Sleep Deprivation’, in Abt L. A. and Riess B. F., (eds), Progress in Clinical Psychology, Vol. 7 (New York: Grune, 1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodhead M. M., ‘Effect of Brief Loud Noise on Decision Making’, The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 31 (1959) 1329–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wyatt S. and Langdon J. N., ‘Inspection Processes in Industry’, Industrial Health Research Board, Report No. 63 (London: HMSO, 1932).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wyon D. P., ‘Studies of Children under Imposed Noise and Heat Stress’, Ergonomics, 13 (1970) 598–612.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Research Council, Applied Psychology Unit, Cambridge, UK

    E. C. Poulton

Authors
  1. E. C. Poulton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Michael M. Gruneberg David J. Oborne

Copyright information

© 1981 Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Poulton, E.C. (1981). The Environment at Work. In: Gruneberg, M.M., Oborne, D.J. (eds) Psychology and Industrial Productivity. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-04809-0_22

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation