Ann C. Slocum

A Model for Protective Clothing Effects on Performance

Personal protective clothing (PPC) enables people to work in hazardous environments, but PPC can have a detrimental effect on worker performance. Predicting garment effects on worker performance is difficult because quantitative relationships among garment properties and human responses are not known. Presents a systematic structure for studying the relationships among garment properties and their immediate effects on the worker. Using a survey of 118 studies, previous work was categorized according to garment parameters and dependent measures. Except for studies of heat stress, most of these studies compared competing garments or simply measured physiological response, rather than relating these effects to garment attributes. Such results are seldom transferable to other clothing systems or tasks. Proposes a conceptual model based on this systematic structure. Introduces garment impediment indices (GIIs) as response functions of garment attributes, and offers an approach for developing quantitative models of PPC effects on worker performance.

Effect of protective gloves on hand movement: an exploratory study.

This exploratory study was conducted to determine whether wearing protective gloves limits the range of motion that the hand can complete. The kinematic motion of the hand/wrist/forearm of two participants was analysed during the performance of two tasks typical of pesticide applicators. High-speed cinematography was used to collect data which were then digitized and combined to produce three-dimensional data. Graphs of the transformed data showed that in comparison with the barehanded state, the protective glove decreased the abduction/adduction and supination/pronation ranges that the hand could complete. Extension/flexion did not appear to be affected. Overall, kinematic motion of the hand appeared to decrease while wearing protective gloves.

Farm Families' Attitudes and Practices Regarding Pesticide Application and Protective Clothing: A Five- State Comparison Part 1: Applicator Data

A survey offarm families in five states was conducted to determine attitudes and practices regarding pesticide application and protective clothing. Specific objectives included determining relationships among actual risk factors, perceived risk, and precautionary activities as well as identifying practices that needed modification in order to reduce risks associated with use ofpesticides. Some analyses suggested a positive relationship between actual and perceived risk measures whereas others did not. For example, the two states reporting the highest use ofmore toxic chemicals and greatest incidence of healthproblems related to pesticide application also accounted for the highest average ratings on the overall perceived health risk scale. On the other hand, the majority of growers in each state assumed that common work clothingprotected them from dermal exposure regardless ofthe formulation or application method they were using. Although most growers reported following recommended practices such as wearing gloves during pesticide application and storing pesticide-soiled clothing separatefrom other laundry, enough deviation occurred to indicate the need for continuing education on pesticide hazards.

Measurement of Surface Area of 3‐D Body Scans to Assess the Effectiveness of Hats for Sun Protection

Three-dimensional (3-D) body scans of golfers in active positions were used to generate a simulation of UV exposure by projecting a cone from the brims of a selection of five hat styles with different brim designs onto the body from two sun angles. From these scans, researchers measured the total body area that would be protected from UV exposure by calculating the surface area shadowed by the hat brims. Objective measurement data can provide valuable measures of protection to help the designer create attractive and functional hats and clothing for sun protection. The 3-D scanner is an important new tool for designers that allow visualization and manipulation of 3-D images and sophisticated image measurement and analyses.

Spray deposition patterns during simulated work activities by lawn care specialists

This simulated field study investigated patterns of spray deposition on the clothing of lawn care applicators using a tank truck and handheld spray gun. The purpose was to provide a basis for designing a protective garment for lawn care specialists. The influence of flow rate and experience level of applicators on spray deposition was studied. FD&C Blue #1 dye was sprayed simultaneously by novice and experienced applicators in timed walks. There were four replications at full and at reduced flow rates. Spray garments were cut into 23 pieces representing body parts. Dye was recovered using four rinses of distilled water and analyzed by standard spectrophotometric techniques. Significantly more dye was deposited on the lower portion of the body, both front and back legs, than on other body parts. The amount on the lower legs accounted for 59% of the total, while hands accounted for 28%. There was a tendency for experienced applicators to have more dye on their clothing than the novice applicators. The amount of dye deposition did not differ significantly with flow rate. The findings provide a basis for designing clothing and developing recommendations to improve protection for lawn care specialists.

Development of a CAI Module and Comparison of its Effectiveness with Traditional Classroom Instruction

This paper reports the development and evaluation of a computer-aided instruction module to teach an advanced apparel construction technique. Participants were recruited and assigned to see the same procedure delivered either via CAI module or traditional lecture-demonstration. An attempt was made to balance the two groups with persons of similar age, computer experience, and sewing experience. There was no statistically significant difference in performance scores for zipper insertion between instructional methods; CAI was as effective as traditional instruction. The quality of work was high regardless of means of delivery, indicating that the procedure was carefully developed and the steps clearly explained. CAI modules have many advantages and the procedure used to develop the module for this experiment could be used for other content that is taught repetitively.

Freedom in Dress: Legal Sanctions

The specific purposes of this paper were to identify dress choices which resulted in legal sanctions, to examine the legal basisfor sanctions, to specify stituations in which sanctions were upheld, and more generally to examine whether judges were sensitive to traditional or emerging social values in making their decisions. Cases involved individuals who either anticipated or suffered arrest or were denied city permits because their appearance was considered deviant. Dress aspects included the American flag as dress, military uniforms, group identification symbols, degrees of public nudity, and courtroom and prison dress. Data were taken from published case law reports appearing in Wests National Reporter System. In recent years, an increasing number ofpeople initiated dress-related court cases challenging impending and actual arrests and city license denials. In 61 percent of the cases reviewed, judges ruled that legal sanctions were incorrectly applied. Judges were sensitive to emerging values in certain areas.

Use of Engineering Controls and Personal Protective Equipment by Certified Pesticide Applicators

A convenience survey of 702 certified pesticide applicators was conducted in three states to assess the use of 16 types of engineering controls and 13 types of personal protective equipment (PPE). Results showed that 8 out of 16 engineering devices were adopted by more than 50% of the respondents. The type of crop, size of agricultural operation, and the type of pesticide application equipment were found to influence the adoption of engineering controls. Applicators working on large farms, users of boom and hydraulic sprayers, and growers of field crops were more likely to use engineering devices. Respondents reported a high level of PPE use, with chemical-resistant gloves showing the highest level of compliance. An increase in pesticide applicators wearing appropriate headgear was reported. The majority of respondents did not wear less PPE simply because they used engineering controls. Those who did modify their PPE choices when employing engineering controls used tractors with enclosed cabs and/or were vegetable growers.

The Third Dimension for Apparel Designers: Visual Assessment of Hat Designs for Sun Protection Using 3-D Body Scanning

The three-dimensional (3-D) body scanner is an imaging tool with advantages for functional apparel designers. Images of garments can help assess the function of apparel as it is worn, especially images of wearers in active positions. We evaluate 3-D body scanning as a visualization tool for designers by comparing 3-D images and printed images from a digital camera to assess benefits and limitations of 3-D images. We used images of hats worn by female golfers to assess their effectiveness for sun protection. Data were collected from six female golfers in three different stances. Multiple 2-D images (using a digital camera) and a 3-D body scan were made of each participant for comparison. As a baseline we first compared printouts from the digital camera images to printed two-dimensional (2-D) images made from the 3-D body scan data. We then compared the printouts from the digital camera to 3-D scan images as viewed and manipulated on the computer screen. Printouts from the digital camera provided better information than the 2-D printed images from the body scan data, as the printed scan images had missing areas, a comparatively lower resolution, and lacked color and texture information. However, viewing and manipulating 3-D scan images on the screen showed the relationship between the hat and the wearer clearly. The 3-D images viewed on the screen were ultimately more useful than images from the digital camera for judging the effectiveness of the hat designs.

UV Radiation Exposure to Body Sites of Golfers and Effects of Clothing

This study focused on cumulative ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure to specific body sites of golfers and the effects of clothing in reducing UVR. Polysulphone film badges were used to measure personal exposure to UVB. Two experiments were conducted, in August and in October, at a midwestern golf course. Findings indicated that the upper back of golfers, such as the shoulders, back of the neck, and posterior arms, were more exposed to UVR than the front of the body such as the chest. Under clothing, the two most exposed areas were the back and front of the neck. However, the other body sites under the clothing received a limited amount of UVR, suggesting the importance of clothing in reducing UVR transmission.