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Heat stress conditions prevailing in a steel factory were evaluated using a newly developed radiotelemetry system. This system was used as a station monitor for determining environmental temperature conditions and as a personal monitor to obtain data of worker physiological responses. Environmental information was used in calculating wet-bulb globe temperature heat stress index values. Physiological data were used in confirming safety limits. The study demonstrated the effectiveness of radiotelemetry in assessing occupational exposures to heat stress.

A noise exposure survey and audiometric assessment of 750 Los Angeles City fire fighters carried out to study the impact of fire service noise exposure on fire fighter hearing loss revealed evidence of excess hearing loss at the 3000Hz, 4000Hz, and 6000Hz test frequencies. Fire fighter medical history and life-style data did not point to a significant impact of hobbies and diseases on hearing threshold changes. The hearing loss observed at the test frequencies was, in relation to age, in excess of a general national population. This increased hearing loss with age for fire fighters suggests occupational overexposure to noise. A hearing conservation program for the fire service is therefore recommended.