Performance Evaluation of Newly Developed Smoke and Particulate Resistant Structural Turnout Ensemble

Ormond, R. Bryan; Kwon, Cassandra; Mathews, M.K.

doi:10.1520/stp161420180049

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 12 publications

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“…As the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) reports, occupational cancer is the leading cause of line-ofduty deaths in the fire service, especially when tracked longitudinally across their long service careers (International Association of Fire Fighters, 2023). Recent research into interface testing of PPE has exposed these vulnerable areas, as seen by the visual assessments from the Fluorescent Aerosol Screening Test (FAST) (Ormond et al, 2019). Based on the conditions of the emergency scene, smoke and particulates can seep through gaps and spaces at the neck, waist, wrists, and ankles.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Female firefighters’ increased risk of occupational exposure due to ill-fitting personal protective clothing

2023

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Despite the growing female firefighter population, firefighting gear was originally designed with only the male human form in mind. As a result, women in the fire service experience issues of improper fit and injuries at rates exponentially higher than their male counterparts. Areas of ill-fit, specifically in interfaces, can increase the risk of occupational exposure for women in the fire service. The purpose of this research was to determine fit and sizing issues of personal protective clothing (PPC) to improve female firefighters’ comfort, mobility, and safety. A mixed methods approach was adopted including a nationwide questionnaire, end-user focus groups, and remote three-dimensional body scanning of 189 female structural and wildland firefighters. Between 15%–21% of female firefighters were found to intentionally leave off a part of their PPC at least “sometimes,” if not “nearly always,” with the coat and pants being the primary items not donned. 100% of participants had wrist and ankle circumferences smaller than the smallest size garment’s wrist and pant leg openings per the wildland sizing system, indicating interface areas and wildland PPC have the greatest opportunities for design and fit improvement. This study gathered and created the first and largest U.S. female firefighter anthropometric database. Overall results indicate female firefighters are wearing PPC with significant fit issues that not only reduce their comfort and restrict their mobility but pose increased safety risks related to occupational exposure.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%