Optical properties of plane and convex mirrors: investigation of mirror use to enhance construction flagger safety

Details

• Personal Author:
  Cohen M ; Spielholz P ; Stevens E Jr.
• Description:
  Legislation and product development in the USA has prompted an interest in mirror-use by traffic flaggers to improve awareness of vehicles approaching from behind. Helmet- and flagpole-mounted configurations were studied using a graphical approach with field verification studies by comparing fields of view, object magnifications, and human factors considerations. Plane and convex mirrors with different radii of curvature were investigated. Results found image formation on helmet-mounted convex mirrors occurs too close to the mirror. A 0.038 m helmet-mounted plane mirror performed similarly to a 0.076 m diameter, 0.508 m radius of curvature convex mirror. Fields of view and image information between helmet-mounted plane mirrors and flagpole-mounted convex mirrors were compared. Issues of image perception, practical use, and attention were identified; they pose serious issues for use as a primary safety device. Additional investigation is needed to determine the requirements and applicability of mirror-use for flagging in work zones. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Automobiles Construction Industry Occupational Health Safety Safety Management Workplace
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Flagger Backing Construction Construction-industry Construction-workers Equipment-design Intrusion Mirrors Motor-vehicles Safety Safety-equipment Safety-measures Safety-practices Vehicle Work-areas Work-environment Workers Work Zone

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• ISSN:
  1080-3548
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 10 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  89-100
• Volume:
  15
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20044351
• Citation:
  Int J Occup Saf Ergon 2009 Mar; 15(1):89-100
• Contact Point Address:
  Peregrin Spielholz, Sound Transit, 401 South Jackson Street, Seattle, WA 98104
• Email:
  peregrin@alumni.washington.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2009
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20040901
• Source Full Name:
  International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics
• End Date:
  20070831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:78baa27e56004aefe38fb711c1451c3da1b5a3a5f7934bb5d6a7dbbb1b0f6ce7e75bb197424cf2e14462c1e53cfd7ab899b456a148efebe89106c82ba9d3c85a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/200071/cdc_200071_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 654.28 KB ]