Evaluation of Four Portable Cooling Vests for Workers Wearing Gas Extraction Coveralls in Hot Environments

Details

• Personal Author:
  Johnson JK
• Description:
  Objective: This study evaluated the performance of four personal cooling systems for use with insulated protective clothing in warm-humid (35 degree C, 50% relative humidity) and hot-dry (40 degree C, 30% relative humidity) conditions. Methods: On 10 separate occasions, 5 male volunteers walked on a treadmill to elicit a target metabolic rate of 300 watts, for 120 minutes, while wearing either a (a) liquid-cooled vest, (b) air-cooled vest, (c) frozen polymer vest (d) novel liquid CO2 cooling vest, or (e) no cooling (control). A three-way mixed effects ANOVA was used to assess the results. Multiple t-tests were used to determine where the main differences occur. The level of significance was p < 0.05. Results: There was no difference between no-cooling and liquid CO2 for storage rate (28.24 +/- 3.8 W; 24.64 +/- 4.29 W) as well as the other physiological metrics. The same was true for the frozen polymer, air, and liquid systems, which were not statistically different for heat storage rate (14.76 +/- 3.90 W; 12.58 +/- 3.98 W; 9.89 +/- 3.90 W) or the physiological metrics. The frozen polymer system was not clearly differentiated from the liquid CO2 system for storage rate or rate of rise of skin temperature. Conclusion: To the extent that the gas extraction coverall is worn in environment between 30 and 45 degree C and the rate of work is moderate, the air vest and water vest were shown to manage heat storage well, reducing storage rate by 55% in comparison to no-cooling. Although if being free of a tether is important, the frozen polymer is acceptable as it reduced heat storage rate to about 50% compared to no-cooling. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Carbon Dioxide Environmental Exposure Heat Stress Disorders Hot Temperature Men Mental Health Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Temperature Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Acute Exposure Author Keywords: Heat Stress Carbon Dioxide Cooling Device Cooling Systems Exposure Levels Heat Heat Exposure Heat Stress Humans Injuries Microclimate Outdoors Personal Protection Personal Protective Equipment PPE Protective Materials Psychological Effects Psychological Reactions Risk Factors Temperature Effects Thermal Effects Work Environment Workers

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• Publisher:
  University of South Florida (USF)
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  Florida ; OSHA Region 4
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  15
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20063674
• Citation:
  Sunshine ERC Research Poster Session/USF Health Research Day, February 21-23, 2013, Tampa, Florida. Tampa, FL: University of South Florida (USF), 2013 Feb; :15
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2013
• Performing Organization:
  Sunshine Education and Research Center, University of South Florida
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Sunshine ERC Research Poster Session/USF Health Research Day, February 21-23, 2013, Tampa, Florida
• End Date:
  20290630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:74bbc5838fe711de948f7aa84ff2e065f86103e7c608596d3a9f63370a9d26083a4e4141628f7e8197b2a1d309c8f083163f506db6cd41eb538a595566a8636c
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/222236/cdc_222236_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 329.72 KB ]