An evaluation of the relationship between physical exposures and adverse performance among nuclear power plant workers

This study reviews the literature on the impact of occupational exposure to vibration, noise, heat, cold, and light on the performance of tasks at work. Over 600 articles were summarized in an annotated bibliography. The results indicated that the occupational standards for vibration, noise, and heat were inadequate to prevent cognitive or motor deficits in performance. Further, there are few studies which address the more realistic case of exposure to multiple stressors on the job. Among several recommendations, the influence of heat or cold on cognition and noise on communication require more research