HUMAN FACTORS & ERGONMICS
THE SCIENCE OF COMFORT
The delicate balance between protection and comfort is no longer a compromise, says Jonas Andersson, GORE-TEX Professional Sales Associate.
Within the health and safety arena great scientific care and attention is given to the design and manufacture of personal protective clothing for workers who have a wide variety of needs and demands so that they can focus on the job in hand. Health and safety risk assessments provide employers with a very clear indication of the protection levels that are required by law. Identified risks can be wide ranging and often multiple protection is needed such as waterproof footwear which also requires toe cap protection or wet weather clothing which also protects against arc flash or chemical spillages or flame.
A core ergonomic consideration by design experts in this field is the effective balance of safety alongside human factors, such as wearer comfort, use of durable yet lightweight fabrics, mobility so there is no restriction of movement, thermal comfort and not forgetting the importance of correctly fitting PPE. It is this optimisation of human well-being through technically advanced PPE that enables protection and performance.
30
GREAT FIT BY GREAT DESIGN Workers in hazardous situations should not be impeded by the clothes they are wearing. Whilst wise employers should procure quality PPE, they should also ensure it is worn properly and can do this by consulting with and listening to wearers at all stages of the process so that safety is never compromised. A garment that fits well is more comfortable and should leave the worker unaware that they are being protected.
Yet historically there was a fine balancing act between protection versus comfort, but this now no longer needs to be the case. As well as complying with stringent safety standards, employers can now offer workers lighter, less restrictive and breathable clothing. The implications and benefits are multiple. A comfortable worker is one who makes better decisions, works longer and more productively. They are less likely to lose concentration or to make mistakes that could lead to danger or to jobs being interrupted. Poorly fitting and uncomfortable garments and footwear can lead to blisters, chafing, worker fatigue and can reduce dexterity.
Within the design and construction of garments further ergonomic considerations come into the fore. For example, the ease at which the wearer can put on and take off their protective layers, if they aren’t required constantly as part of their PPE. Donning and doffing should always be straightforward, intuitive and quick. This is especially key in the case of emergency situations or when there is an unpredictable change in weather. Garment design should also accommodate different
WWW.TOMORROWSHS.COM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42
