Citation

Liu X, Abeysekera JD, Shahnavaz H. Int. J. Ind. Ergonomics 1999; 23(3): 223-230.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Helmets are widely used in industries as a primary protection means for workers. Helmets can provide efficient protection against occupational hazards to the head, they also cause thermal discomfort to the wearers at work. To develop a reliable heat transfer testing method for helmets any objective testing method must be validated with subjective testing of the same helmets. Subjective evaluation of helmet heat transfer properties was conducted in both cold and hot conditions using three commonly used and commercially available helmets. Twenty-five subjects participated in a laboratory investigation in a simulated cold environment (+3[deg]C and 30% RH); forty-three steel-making workers participated in a field survey in the hot environment (31[deg]C and 32% RH). Subjects were either asked to conduct certain tasks (in the laboratory investigation) or performed their regular production duties (in the filed survey) while wearing a helmet; they were then asked to answer questions in a questionnaire at the end of the surveys. The results of the subjective assessment which were compared with the objective measurements taken on a sweating manikin head using the same helmets, were found consistent.Relevance to industryThermal discomfort in protective helmets prevents the acceptance and function of head protection devices in industries. Evaluation of heat transfer properties of helmets can provide design basis and suggestions to helmet manufacturers to produce thermally comfortable and well acceptable head protections.