Page 298 - Anthropometry, Apparel Sizing and Design

Sizing and fit for protective clothing 291

11.2 Protective clothing size and fit requirements

To ensure external look and functionality requirements of the PPE, it must be of good
appearance and fit. Side effects of using PPE can range from discomfort to severe con-
straint and physical load. The application of ergonomic principles to PPE allows opti-
mization of the balance between protection and usability (EN 13921:2017, 2017).
Although the corresponding standard EN 13921:2017 “Personal protective
equipment—Ergonomic principles” covers many aspects, it cannot be expected to
identify all the possible problem points. It will remain the responsibility of the relevant
experts to identify and quantify the hazards in the work and to foresee the potential
ergonomic problems, and thus to ensure that the PPE specified and manufactured
is fit for the purposes intended in all respects (EN 13921:2017, 2017). Principles in
standard for writers of PPE product standards are related to:
l anthropometric characteristics related to PPE;
l the biometrical interaction between PPE and the human body;
l the thermal interaction between PPE and the human body;
l the interaction between PPE and the human senses: vision, hearing, smell and taste; and skin
contact (EN 13921:2017, 2017).
Depending on the application, the PPE may vary; for instance, PPE is just a simple
smock for laboratory conditions (lab coat), the task of which, first of all, is to
protect the individual clothing of a human and the parts of the body from contact;
moreover, the more complex/dangerous the working conditions, the higher the level
of protection the PPE must ensure.

11.2.1 Types of PPE
To understand the importance of PPE fit and sizing, it is necessary to classify the PPE
according to its target. For example, PPE protecting an individual from the effects of
dangerous or harmful environmental factors for his or her health must target:
l temperature—heat and cold,
l fire,
l humidity,
l dirt,
l radiation,
l poisons,
l acids,
l alkali,
l biological pollution, etc.
A separate division of PPE is that of protecting against physical damage, such as stro-
kes, mechanical injuries, falling objects, bullets, electrical risks, etc. Groups such as
respiratory protective equipment (effects of different substances, dust, bacteria), eye
and ear protection products, and limb protectors such as gloves and boots (against all