N ERGONOMIC INVESTIGATION OF THE FIT OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT TO FEMALE ANTHROPOMETRY: A CASE STUDY ON SAFETY HELMETS

Abstract

Personal protective equipment (PPE) has historically been developed on anthropometric datasets largely derived from the male body. This study examines the fit of current PPE to female anthropometry in terms of safety, comfort, mobility, accessibility and work performance. Using a design-oriented narrative review, 27 peer- reviewed publications were synthesised together with field reports from Birleşik Metal-İş, IWPR, TUC and “Equity in Safety”; research on firefighter turnout gear, body armour, respirators, protective gloves and safety helmets was compared. In order to make market conditions concrete, the study is deepened through a case study of ten industrial safety helmet models whose technical data are publicly available. The findings show that ill- fitting sizes may produce excess volume, interface gaps, helmet displacement, localised pressure, restricted movement, loss of respirator seal, and abandonment of the equipment. The case study reveals that most helmets examined begin at a 51–53 cm lower limit and provide no hair-volume adjustment independent of head circumference. The study argues that anthropometric fit is a primary design criterion governing the continuity of protective function rather than comfort, and proposes a ≤50 cm lower size limit, a 300–340 g weight band and an independent hair-volume/seating-depth adjustment for safety helmets.

Keywords

• Personal Protective Equipment
• Ergonomics
• Inclusive Design
• Female Anthropometry
• Safety Helmet Design
• Occupational Health and Safety.

KİŞİSEL KORUYUCU EKİPMANLARIN KADIN ANTROPOMETRİSİNE UYGUNLUĞUNUN ERGONOMİK AÇIDAN İNCELENMESİ: BARETLER ÜZERİNE BİR VAKA ÇALIŞMASI

Abstract

Kişisel koruyucu ekipmanlar (KKE) tarihsel olarak büyük ölçüde erkek bedeninin ölçülerine dayanan antropometrik veri setleri üzerinden geliştirilmiştir. Bu çalışma, mevcut KKE’lerin kadın antropometrisine uygunluğunu güvenlik, konfor, hareket olanakları, ekipmana erişilebilirlik ve iş performansı açısından incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Tasarım odaklı anlatısal bir inceleme yöntemiyle 27 hakemli yayın ile Birleşik Metal-İş, IWPR, TUC ve “Equity in Safety” saha raporları sentezlenmiş; itfaiyeci koruyucu giysileri, vücut zırhları, respiratörler, koruyucu eldivenler ve baretler üzerine yürütülen araştırmalar karşılaştırılmıştır. Pazardaki mevcut durumu somutlaştırmak amacıyla çalışma, teknik verileri kamuya açık on endüstriyel baret modeli üzerinden yürütülen bir vaka çalışmasıyla derinleştirilmiştir. Bulgular, uygun olmayan beden ölçülerinin fazla hacim, ürün arayüzlerinde açıklık, barette kayma, bölgesel basınç, hareket kısıtı, respiratör sızdırmazlığında kayıp ve ekipmanı kullanmaktan vazgeçme gibi sonuçlar doğurabildiğini göstermektedir. Vaka çalışması, incelenen baretlerin büyük bölümünün 51–53 cm alt sınırdan başladığını ve saç hacmi için baş çevresinden bağımsız bir ayar sunmadığını ortaya koymaktadır. Çalışma, antropometrik uyumun konfordan önce koruyucu işlevin sürekliliğini belirleyen temel tasarım ölçütü olduğunu savunmakta ve baretler için ≤50 cm alt ölçü sınırı, 300–340 g ağırlık bandı ile bağımsız saç hacmi/oturma derinliği ayarı önermektedir.

Keywords

• Kişisel Koruyucu Ekipman
• Ergonomi
• Kapsayıcı Tasarım
• Kadın Antropometrisi
• Baret Tasarımı
• İş Sağlığı ve Güvenliği

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