Protective clothing system for interventions in emergency situations

Abstract

Emergency workers are exposed to many different risks at the same time and possible consequences for their safety and health may be manifold. Many emergency workers suffer from accidents and injuries in the course of their jobs, as well as other negative health effects that lead to severe deterioration of their physical and psychological well-being. The use of specific personal protective equipment (PPE) according to the given risks is of great importance in preventing adverse health effects among emergency workers. This research aimed to develop, for emergency workers, a PPE system, in a modular structure consisting of: i) modular layer 1: the inner layer, in contact with the skin/Underwear PPE, with the function of sensorial and thermophysiological comfort and which ensures thermal protection; ii) modular layer 2: the intermediate (basic) layer/Duty uniform – with the function of limited protection to the specific risk factors of an unpredictable intervention action (thermal risks: convection heat, flame; risks from the external environment: liquid splashes; mechanical risks: cutting, abrasion, etc); iii) modular layer 3: the outer layer/specialized PPE, with a function of barrier against specific risk factors for fire intervention missions, extreme weather conditions etc. This modular approach provides some advantages, including preserving comfort and flexibility until the intervention mission requires the use of the next level of protection. This helps ensure that emergency responders are not in the position of choosing between their safety or mission effectiveness.