Evaluating the Correct Usage, Comfort and Fit of Personal Protective Equipment in Construction Work
Paper in proceeding, 2024
Several factors contribute to the use, non-use, or inadequate use of personal protective
equipment (PPE) in construction work. This study aimed to analyse correct usage
of various PPE, such as helmet, ear protectors, goggles, respiratory mask, gloves, protective
clothing, and a safety harness. Correct usage was assessed as guessability,
which refers to human perceptions of how to don, adjust, use, and doff the equipment
as intended. First an analytical evaluation was conducted using ECW (enhanced
cognitive walkthrough) and PUEA (predictive use error analysis) to identify usability
problems and use errors during handling. Then usability tests were performed with
13 persons of different heights and body constitutions. Observations, the think-aloud
method, short interviews, and subjective estimations were employed. The analytical
evaluation revealed most minor usability problems and use errors resulting in physical
discomfort. Some safety harness-related errors emerged, particularly for novices,
potentially leading to severe incidents. The usability tests demonstrated physical as
well as functional discomfort when using a combination of PPE, intensifying over time.
The combination of goggles and face mask caused pressure, chafing, heat rash and
limited vision. The helmet, combined with goggles and ear protectors, did not fit
well, and caused pressure. The guessability for donning and wearing the combination
of PPE was moderate, requiring time for proper adjustment. The guessability of
the safety harness was poor, lacking design cues for donning, adjusting, and positioning
on skeletal bones. Physical discomfort arose when straps were overly tightened.
Not all straps could be adjusted for some body constitutions, compromising safety. In
conclusion, using several types of PPE together may lead to physical and functional
discomfort and pain over time, potentially resulting in misuse, non-use, or reduced
performance. The findings of this study can serve as a basis for redesigning PPE,
particularly for scenarios involving combined usage.
equipment (PPE) in construction work. This study aimed to analyse correct usage
of various PPE, such as helmet, ear protectors, goggles, respiratory mask, gloves, protective
clothing, and a safety harness. Correct usage was assessed as guessability,
which refers to human perceptions of how to don, adjust, use, and doff the equipment
as intended. First an analytical evaluation was conducted using ECW (enhanced
cognitive walkthrough) and PUEA (predictive use error analysis) to identify usability
problems and use errors during handling. Then usability tests were performed with
13 persons of different heights and body constitutions. Observations, the think-aloud
method, short interviews, and subjective estimations were employed. The analytical
evaluation revealed most minor usability problems and use errors resulting in physical
discomfort. Some safety harness-related errors emerged, particularly for novices,
potentially leading to severe incidents. The usability tests demonstrated physical as
well as functional discomfort when using a combination of PPE, intensifying over time.
The combination of goggles and face mask caused pressure, chafing, heat rash and
limited vision. The helmet, combined with goggles and ear protectors, did not fit
well, and caused pressure. The guessability for donning and wearing the combination
of PPE was moderate, requiring time for proper adjustment. The guessability of
the safety harness was poor, lacking design cues for donning, adjusting, and positioning
on skeletal bones. Physical discomfort arose when straps were overly tightened.
Not all straps could be adjusted for some body constitutions, compromising safety. In
conclusion, using several types of PPE together may lead to physical and functional
discomfort and pain over time, potentially resulting in misuse, non-use, or reduced
performance. The findings of this study can serve as a basis for redesigning PPE,
particularly for scenarios involving combined usage.
Personal protective equipment
Construction
Discomfort
Usability tests
Guessability
Author
Jonas Borell
Lunds tekniska högskola
Anna-Lisa Osvalder
Chalmers, Industrial and Materials Science, Design & Human Factors
Bijan Aryana
Chalmers, Industrial and Materials Science, Design & Human Factors
AHFE Open Access
Vol. Vol 129 67-74 1004812
AHFE (2024) International Conference, USA
Nice, France,
Nice, France,
Personal protective equipment: Strategies and recommendations for increased use through adaptation to users
AFA Insurance (Dnr190290), 2020-04-01 -- 2022-03-31.
Subject Categories
Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics
Areas of Advance
Health Engineering
DOI
10.54941/ahfe1004812