2007, Piran, Slovenia

Personal protective equipment
PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF A MODIFICATION OF
IMPERMEABLE PROTECTIVE CLOTHING CONSTRUCTION
Anna Marszałek 1 , Grażyna Bartkowiak 2 , Krzysztof Łęża 2
1 Central Institute for Labour Protection – National Research Institute, Department of
Ergonomics, Warsaw, Poland
2 Central Institute for Labour Protection – National Research Institute, Department of
Protective Clothing, Lodz, Poland
Contact person: anmar@ciop.pl
INTRODUCTION
Protective clothing that is impermeable to air and water vapour affords good protection
against chemical agents, but makes the exchange of heat between a human body and the
environment difficult [1]. The body thermal load becomes especially high when work in this
clothing is performed in a hot environment. When air temperature is higher than the mean
skin temperature, the only way to remove excess heat from the body is through the
evaporation of sweat. Physical features of impermeable protective clothing disturb sweat
evaporation and therefore sweat accumulates in the underwear. As a result, air humidity under
the impermeable layer of protective clothing increases and physiological and subjective
assessments become worse.
The first stage of the study showed that light work ought to be performed for not more than 30
min in impermeable protective clothing L2, constructed as an overall [2]. As a result of the
next stage of the study, new construction solutions of protective clothing were developed. The
aim of the present stage of the study was to assess the efficiency of new models of the basic
protective clothing L2, and to indicate which of the construction modifications will be most
comfortable for users.
METHODS
Subjects: Six fire-fighters participated in the study. The descriptive characteristics of the
subjects (mean ± SD) were: age (29.0 ±3.7 y), height (183 ±7 cm), weight (80.3 ±4.8 kg) and
physical fitness (40.3 ±2.1 mlVO2·kg -1 ·min -1 ). The subjects were fully informed of the
purpose and procedures, and signed a statement of informed consent.
Protective clothing tested in the study: Chemical protective clothing L2 available on the
Polish protective clothing market, and used by military and civil services and fire-fighters,
was used in this study. The model was designed for the protection of workers against pouring
acids or alkalis during temporary work. It is made of polyamide fabric of 300 ±20 g·m -2
weight, covered on both sides with a rubber mixture based on a butyl rubber. The model
consisted of a boiler suit with a hood, and it had rubber boots glued to the trousers.
Construction modifications of the basic L2 model were as follows: (1) Prototype A had seven
pockets of size of 14 x 40 cm placed as follows: two pockets in the upper part of trousers in
front and in back, and four pockets in the upper part of the overall (two on the right and two
on the left part of chest, and double pocket on the back). (2) Prototype B had profiled vertical
tunnels in the waist level which make the air flow between lower and upper parts of clothing
easier. It also had ventilation holes in the front and back sides of the upper part of the clothing
covered with a thin, permeable net fabric. Moreover, it had a cloak with shorter sleeves over
the upper part of clothing to protect against liquid chemicals. (3) Prototype C was equipped
with a ventilator which delivered air from the outside. The air was then distributed in the
clothing by pipes directed to the legs and chest. There were two exit valves on the legs.
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