Effect of first receiver protective ensemble on range of motion and postural balance.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Chetlin R ; Chiou S ; Hause M ; Powers J ; Ridenour M ; Ronaghi M ; Weaver D ; Zwiener J
• Description:
  Objectives: Healthcare workers are at risk for occupational exposures to chemical, biological, or radiological materials when treating contaminated patients, particularly after mass casualty incidents. When handling victims, healthcare workers normally wear the personal protective equipment (PPE) recommended in an OSHA Best Practices document for hospital-based first receivers. Traditionally, the design of PPE focuses on the physical and mechanical properties of materials, with very few considerations of usability. The bulky PPE ensemble can restrict mobility, limit effective emergency response, and increase risks for overexertion and slip-trip-fall injuries. The objective of this study was to quantify the barriers to the use of first receiver ensembles by evaluating ergonomic and biomechanical stresses imposed on the wearers. Methods: This study evaluates the effect of first receiver ensembles on range of motion (ROM) and postural stability. Healthcare workers (N=24) who had at least 12 months of experience wearing surgical masks or N-95 respirators were recruited. The test ensemble included a 3M Breathe Easy Powered Air-Purifying Respirator system, a double layer of gloves, boots, and a Tychem suit. Measurements of ROM at the shoulders, elbows, trunks, hips, and knees were taken for each subject while wearing PPE or regular clothing (T-shirt and shorts) using a universal goniometer. Postural stability, measured using a Tekscan HR MatTM, was assessed under the experimental conditions of subjects' eyes either open or closed, while standing on either a firm surface or a four-inch foam mat. Results: The use of PPE had a significant effect on all movements. ROM capability appeared to decrease consistently across all joints. The most restricted areas included shoulders and hips in the frontal plane with more than 30% decrease in shoulder and hip abduction. The use of PPE produced higher sway area and sway length, suggesting increased muscular activity is required to maintain balance. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that ROM and postural stability was affected by the use of PPE. Future study is needed to examine dynamic stability during decontamination operations. Findings from this study will be used to recommend safer work practices and PPE design to improve the usability of first receiver PPE.
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Aging Agriculture Animal Husbandry Animals Demography Family Farmers Morbidity Mortality Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Surveys And Questionnaires Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Biological-agents Biological-effects Chemical-composition Chemical-properties Emergency-responders Exposure-levels Health-care Health-care-personnel Medical-facilities Medical-personnel Personal-protection Personal-protective-equipment Radioactive-materials Risk-factors Work-environment Workers

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• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSR - Division of Safety Research ; OECSP - Office of Extramural Coordination and Special Projects
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  72
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20047364
• Citation:
  National Occupational Injury Research Symposium 2015, (NOIRS 2015), May 19-21, 2015, Kingwood, West Virginia. Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2015 May; :72
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2015
• NORA Priority Area:
  Healthcare and Social Assistance
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c3c37acc62a5057474d3542de3c28079e8d949ff86b5810d22db323ed11dd7bc940de7f827753d165377757a2bc8d9ccbbcc02878e53357aa29fa968751cfd36
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/181666/cdc_181666_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.16 MB ]