Field evaluation of a new prototype self-contained breathing apparatus

Details

• Personal Author:
  Coca, Aitor ; Duffy R ; Kim J-H ; Williams WJ
• Description:
  Firefighters are required to use a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for respiratory protection when engaged in a variety of firefighting duties. While the SCBA provides crucial respiratory support and protection, it is also cumbersome and heavy, thus adding to the physical work performed by the firefighter. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate and compare the low profile SCBA prototype to a standard SCBA, as assessed by the objective and subjective measures of mobility and comfort, time of donning/doffing, as well as by acquiring user feedback on SCBA design features during field activities. The results of the present study indicated that the prototype SCBA was rated as a significant improvement over the standard SCBA in the areas of range of motion (ROM), mobility, comfort, induction of fatigue, interaction with protective clothing, and operability when worn over a standard firefighter ensemble, while performing a series of International Association of Fire Fighters Fire Ground Survival Program training exercises. Statement of Relevance: A prototype SCBA was evaluated and compared with a standard SCBA, focusing on the objective and subjective measures of mobility and comfort during field activities. Feedback from end users was collected during the evaluation. The findings of the present study can be used for improving the system design and overall performance of new prototype SCBAs. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Firefighters Fires Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Respiratory Protective Devices Respiratory System Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Self-contained Breathing Apparatus Fire-fighters Fire-fighting Fire-fighting-equipment Fire-protection-equipment Firefighters Range Of Motion Respiration Respiratory-equipment Respiratory-protection Respiratory-protective-equipment Self-contained-breathing-apparatus Subjective Perceptions

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• ISSN:
  0014-0139
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  District of Columbia ; OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  NPPTL - National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  54
• Issue:
  12
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20040035
• Citation:
  Ergonomics 2011 Dec; 54(12):1197-1206
• Contact Point Address:
  W. Jon Williams, CDC/NIOSH/NPPTL, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, USA
• Email:
  aun7@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2012
• NORA Priority Area:
  Services ; Public Safety
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Ergonomics
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:99728f604611bbd119e6e4185424c9fa9d89d83dfacf0dafe57ba17e9859a87c240047c14ed6183c7b4c539bc5f930eeac2edfae419e8ab1be488cf486911da0
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/193039/cdc_193039_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1014.44 KB ]