43 - Sunday, June 14, 1987 ~ North Shore News

TaD

e Sovereignty

« Security

° Reaceleeping

» Commiiment to Europe
e Reserves

- Canada's new defence policy signals

" phato submitted °
THE BRITISH Columbia Boys Choir poses for a photograph during a rehearsal for the groups upcoming 25 a modem and realistic mandate for our
Canadian Forces.

city summer concert tour of Holland and Germany. The Nori Shore-based choir will be giving 2 perfor-
mance on Wednesday, June 17, at 7:30 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, 220 West 8th St., Copies of the White Paper on National
Defence are now available at Government of

North Vancouver before embarking to Europe. For further information call 926-5230.
Canada bookstores. A brochure outlining the
highlights of the White Paper is available free
of charge from your nearest Canadian Forces
Base or Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre.

A SIMON Fraser University
psychology professor is helping
find ways to keep Canada’s armed
forces alert.

Dr. Hal Weinberg is currently
working for the Department of
National Defence on a study to
determine how being deprived of
sleep affects depth perception.

The results are expected to be
particularly useful in the case of
high-stress jobs, such as those of
pilots and air traffic controllers,
that require quick and accurate
responses.

“Sleep deprivation produces
severe decrements in the process of
perception, and, in many cases, an
individual’s initial perception is
very important,’’ said Weinberg.

“The study should tell us not
only the effect of sleep depriva-
tion, but it will also help to iden-
tify which individuals are more
capable of performing well under
that condition — who can sustain
their performance and who
can't.”

The study is being conducted
with the use of a ‘‘dynamic ran-
dom dot stereogram,’' which looks
like a TV screen with a ‘“‘snow”’
effect. Individuals tested view the
screen until an image pops out.

“When it appears,’ explained
Weinberg, ‘‘we start looking at
what's going on in the brain.”’

The brain’s reaction is analysed
with the use of an instrument call-
ed SQUID — super-conducting
quantum interference device. The
device is made up of a series of
coils that are placed over the head
to allow magnetic fields to be
measured.

The initial findings, said
Weinberg, suggest there are dif-
ferent parts of the brain which
contribute to the processing of
stereopsis (stereoscopic vision and
consequent depth perception).

“The information comes into
the two eyes separately and is fus-
ed together,” he explained. ‘‘The

The week of June 14
through 20 has been pro-
claimed as the second
annual CANADIAN OCCU-
PATIONAL HEALTH AND
SAFETY WEEK. Across
British Columbia, various
participating organiza-
tions will be placing
special emphasis on tell-
ing employers, employees
and the public about the
need for more knowledge
concerning workplace
health and safety.

To make COHS Week
work, we need your

support and participation.

Look for the special
programs and activities
that are taking place

at work and around your

SAFER WO

JUNE 14-20 1S OCCUPATIONAL

A HEALTHE

HEALTH & SAFETY WEEK

LACE.

community. By taking
the time tolearn more
youare helping to ensure
that you and the ones
around you can benefit
from being safer on

the job and developing

a healthier workstyle.

Knowing how is the first
step. That's why COHS
Week was created. Doing — |
something with this
knowledge is up to you.
Do your part to get
involved during COHS
Week and every week
of the year. For further
information on the
programs happening in
your area, contact any of
the participating organi-
zations listed below.

Participating Organizations: B.C. Construction Association « 8.C. Construction Industry Health & Safety Council « B.C. Council of Confederation of Canadian Unions
+ B.C. Medical Association « B.C, Nurses Union « B.C. Safety Council « B.C. Yukon Territory Council of Labour CF. of L. - Business Council of B.C. « Canadian Association of
Industrial Mechanical & Allied Workers « Canadian National institute for the Blind - Canadian Society of Safety Engineering « Council of Forest Industries + Ministry
of Energy, Mines & Petroleum Resources « Ministry of Health - Ministry of Labour « Mining Association of British Columbia + Patterson Medical Foundation

«St. John Ambulance Association - Workers’ Compensation Board of British Columbia.

ne part of the brain fuses, n ; n
° P Published in the interest of safety by the Workers’ Compensation Board of British Columbia.

another is involved in perception
and the analysis of it.””

Weinberg hopes the study will
also help determine which types of
screens and displays would help
individuals perform their jobs
more effectively, even if they fail
to get a good night’s sleep.

WE NEED YOU TO MAKE IT WORK

WORKERS COMPENSATION BOAR

OF BRITISH
COLUMBIA