• • • SAFETY IN ENGINEERING • • •
Science and subjectivity: Wearer comfort and ARC-rated PPE
Miguel Calixto, product specialist for GORE PYRAD Arc-rated garments at W.L. Gore & Associates, says the science of comfort as related to PPE has taken some great leaps forward in recent years
N
o longer do difficult and dangerous jobs, like those involving thermal electrical arc hazards, need to equate with feelings of
discomfort. But how has the development of PPE changed? Here I’ll look at seven major things you need to know when selecting PPE.
What is Comfort? If we are comfortable, more often than not, we don’t really notice it. The word ‘comfort’ has a number of meanings, around a lack of discomfort or pain, or more positively in terms of a feeling of ease or contentment. The science of comfort is a subjective experience. After all, some of us like the feeling of being out
in all weathers or taking a cold shower, while others prefer being cocooned in warmth. For the human body to function properly, the temperature of our vital organs, i.e. the brain, heart, lungs and liver, has to remain at approximately 37°C at all times. Comfort has both a physical and a
psychological or emotional element and they all interact. In other words, comfort combines human physiology and perception with physics and environment. Comfort is real but can best be understood as both objective science and subjective experience.
Protection with comfort However, defined, comfort is absolutely necessary for safety at work, especially when that work involves extreme conditions and/or specific risks such as working outdoors in foul weather or other factors such as fire or electrical hazards. Laws relating to safety at work cover elements such as appropriate equipment and PPE. For arc protection, for example, choosing Class 1
or Class 2 protection will be dependent on the type and level of electrical fault arc risk. Employers must consider whether an electric fault arc is a potential hazard and also whether there is an enhanced risk in the work environment. This first step in obtaining the correct PPE will
ensure protection, but historically, it has come at a price: comfort. In the past, to make PPE safe enough, garments have often been heavy, bulky, restricting movement, hot and frequently uncomfortable. However, recent changes in research have focused on the experience of wearers of PPE. Comfort scientists and designers have been looking at ways to balance safety with wearer satisfaction.
Breathability controls heat The science of comfort has much to tell us, beginning with issues of heat and cold. Simply put,
if we become too hot or too cold, our bodies must adapt by sweating or shivering. Our bodies can rise above a normal temperature
due to hard physical activity or external factors like the weather. In these circumstances our circulation is increased and blood is pumped to the surface of the body. This triggers perspiration which acts to cool the body. This works well as long as the sweat generated has somewhere to go. If it can’t evaporate due to the nature of the clothing, workers stay hot and can feel uncomfortable. This not only results in loss of concentration but
can lead to confusion, dizziness, even unconsciousness.
Insulation and wicking
combats cold Being too cold, the other extreme, leads to shivering, as our body’s way to warm us up. Again, cognitive and physical affects can be observed if we become too cold: loss of attention and poor muscle performance to name two. Where cold is concerned, the main
requirements for PPE clothing are adequate 18 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022
electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk
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