Excessive noise levels are generally acknowledged to have adverse effects on our environment. Studies indicate that excessive noise levels can cause fatigue in exposed individuals, lower efficiency and productivity, impaired speech communication, and hearing loss. Excessive noise is almost everywhere today - in the office, in schools, hospitals and other institutional facilities, in all classes of public buildings, and in our factories. INDUSTRIAL NOISE High noise levels in factories can make speech communication in the plant difficult and at times impossible. Foremen are often unable to hear warning shouts from co-workers. The problem of hearing loss due to excessive noise exposure is of particular concern to industry, and to the federal government. In the early 1970s, the United States Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) which sets criteria for health hazards and established limits for noise exposure of industrial workers. The OSHA Noise Standard was amended in 1982 to require audiometric testing of all employees exposed to noise levels of 85 dB or above for eight hours. A NOISE IN COMMERCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL BUILDINGS While noise levels in offices, stores, schools, and other commercial and institutional buildings seldom reach those encountered in many industrial environments, they often reach levels which are distracting to the occupants of such buildings. Impairment of speech communica tion among workers, or inversely the lack of speech privacy, are both deterrents to effiCiency and productivity and are detrimental to the occupants' comfort and sense of well-being.

Cumulative catalog of all National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) numbered publications, health hazard evaluations (HHE) and technical assistance (TA) reports, contract reports, and other educational and training materials.

February issue includes Appendix entitled Directory of United States Government periodicals and subscription publications; September issue includes List of depository libraries; June and December issues include semiannual index

Manual of Environmental Management is a practical guide for those involved in the control and reduction of environmental impacts in organisations. This comprehensive and practical guide takes you through the main environmental challenges organisations face and the improvement strategies used to manage them. Chapter by chapter, Manual of Environmental Management discusses the fundamental issues and principles surrounding environmental policy, law and management and provides crucial information on how to respond and implement environmental programmes. This book is the perfect reference tool for the environmental professional and an invaluable study text for those preparing for professional examinations such as the NEBOSH Environmental Diploma and IEMA Associate Membership Exam.