The effect of personal protective equipment on thermal stress: An experimental study on firefighters

BACKGROUND: Various parameters can affect the performance of firefighters. Thermal stress in firefighters is one of the most important harmful factors, which causes impaired performance and subsequent occupational accidents. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of personal protective e...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Work (Reading, Mass.) Mass.), 2020-01, Vol.67 (1), p.141-147
Main Authors: Ghiyasi, Samira, Nabizadeh, Hamed, Jazari, Milad Derakhshan, Soltanzadeh, Ahmad, Heidari, Hamidreza, Fardi, Ali, Movahed, Elham
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Body temperature
Cooling
Data analysis
Firefighters
Heart rate
Heat stress
Heat tolerance
Heat transfer
Mathematical analysis
Metabolism
Occupational accidents
Occupational health
Occupational safety
Parameters
Personal protective equipment
Protective clothing
Protective equipment
Thermal energy
Thermal resistance
Thermal stress
Weight
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Summary:BACKGROUND: Various parameters can affect the performance of firefighters. Thermal stress in firefighters is one of the most important harmful factors, which causes impaired performance and subsequent occupational accidents. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of personal protective equipment (PPE) on thermal stress in firefighters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was performed on 30 firefighters. Heart rate, metabolism and temperature parameters were measured with and without using PPE in a simulated standard chamber. Then, the two indices of predicted mean vote (PMV) and predicted percentage dissatisfied (PPD) were calculated. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 22.0. RESULTS: The results showed that PPE-induced weight directly increased heart rate and indirectly led to an increase in metabolism and temperature as well as significant changes in PMV and PPD indices (p 
ISSN:1051-9815
1875-9270
DOI:10.3233/WOR-203259