Effects of fire fighter protective ensembles on mobility and performance.

Many studies have shown that fire fighter turnout gear and equipment may restrict mobility. The restriction of movement is usually due to a decrease in range of motion (ROM). It is important to know how much the decrease in ROM affects performance. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of fire fighter protective ensembles on mobility and performance by measuring static and dynamic range of motion (ROM) and job-related tasks. Eight healthy adults (5 males, 3 females), aged 20-40 years, participated in this study. The study consisted of measuring a battery of motions and fire fighter specific tasks while wearing a standard fire fighter ensemble (SE) or regular light clothing (baseline or BL). Several BL ROM tests were significantly (p < 0.05) different from the SE test, including a decrease in shoulder flexion, cervical rotation and flexion, trunk lateral flexion, and stand and reach. There was a significant decrease in time from SE to baseline performing the one-arm search task and object lift. These overall findings support the need for a comprehensive ergonomic evaluation of protective clothing systems to ascertain human factors issues. The development of a Standard Ergonomics Test Practice for further use in laboratories that conduct personal protective systems evaluations using human test subjects is recommended.

[1]  J. O. Stull,et al.  Ergonomic comparison of a chem/bio prototype firefighter ensemble and a standard ensemble , 2008, European Journal of Applied Physiology.

[2]  W M Keyserling,et al.  The effect of size and fabric weight of protective coveralls on range of gross body motions. , 1995, American Industrial Hygiene Association journal.

[3]  Roger L. Barker,et al.  Performance of Protective Clothing , 1986 .

[4]  Roger L. Barker,et al.  A REVIEW of GAPS and LIMITATIONS in TEST METHODS FOR FIRST RESPONDER PROTECTIVE CLOTHING and EQUIPMENT , 2005 .

[5]  T L Guidotti,et al.  Occupational health concerns of firefighting. , 1992, Annual review of public health.

[6]  M. Pollock,et al.  Practical Assessment of Body Composition. , 1985, The Physician and sportsmedicine.

[7]  J Huck,et al.  Protective clothing systems: A technique for evaluating restriction of wearer mobility. , 1988, Applied ergonomics.

[8]  J. Patton,et al.  Energy cost of physical task performance in men and women wearing chemical protective clothing. , 2001, Aviation, space, and environmental medicine.

[9]  Lucy E. Dorman,et al.  The effects of protective clothing on energy consumption during different activities , 2008, European Journal of Applied Physiology.

[10]  George Havenith,et al.  A test battery related to ergonomics of protective clothing. , 2004, Applied ergonomics.

[11]  W. Monroe Keyserling,et al.  Three methods for measuring range of motion while wearing protective clothing: A comparative study , 1993 .

[12]  W. Monroe Keyserling,et al.  A Model for Protective Clothing Effects on Performance , 1994 .

[13]  Lloyd L. Laubach,et al.  The Effects of Personal Protective Equipment Upon the Arm-Reach Capability of USAF Pilots , 1973 .

[14]  J Huck,et al.  Restriction to movement in fire-fighter protective clothing: evaluation of alternative sleeves and liners. , 1991, Applied ergonomics.

[15]  Ps Adams,et al.  Methods for assessing protective clothing effects on worker mobility , 1996 .

[16]  Jo Stull.  New Comprehensive Performance Standards for Chemical Protective Gloves, Boots, and Other Types of Protective Clothing , 1992 .

[17]  J M King,et al.  Impact of the chemical protective ensemble on the performance of basic medical tasks. , 1984, Military medicine.