A REVIEW OF THE ERGONOMICS OF WORK IN THE US MILITARY CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

Encapsulating protective clothing (PC) is often employed in industry; however, its use often limits worker productivity. Because there are many potential variables including PC type, work rate and work task, environment, worker's physical status, and workers fitness, synthesis of the research literature is difficult. This paper reviews some of the key issues in PC use, and attempts to extend the observations from a military PC to industrial PC types. Work tolerance was found to be decreased in all PC work even in cool (18 degrees C WBGT) environments. Liquid, air and ice cooling were found to provide beneficial effects in industrial type settings. Prediction of work tolerance in PC has been attempted on both a global and individual basis with some success. Individualized prediction may permit more liberal tolerance limits, and may improve voluntary compliance with safety standards. Cognitive performance in PC was found to decrease in certain situations. Considerable additional basic research on increasing worker productivity and safety in PC is needed.