Journal
ERGONOMICS
Volume 47, Issue 1, Pages 75-90Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.1080/00140130310001611125
Keywords
uncompensable heat stess; rectal temperature; metabolic rate; exercise tolerance
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It was the purpose of this study to examine whether replacing long pants (P) with shorts (S) would reduce the heat stress of wearing firefighting protective clothing during exercise in a warm environment. Twenty-four Toronto Firefighters were allocated to one of four groups that performed heavy (H, 4.8 km.h(-1) , 5% grade), moderate (M, 4.5 km.h(-1) , 2.5% grade), light (L, 4.5 km.h(-1)) or very light (VL, 2.5 km.h(-1)) exercise while wearing their full protective ensemble and self-contained breathing apparatus. Participants performed a familiarization trial followed by two experimental trials at 35degreesC and 50% relative humidity wearing either P or S under their protective overpants. Replacing P with S had no impact on the rectal temperature (T-re) or heart rate response during heavy or moderate exercise where exposure times were less than 1 h (40.8 +/- 5.8 and 53.5 +/- 9.2 min for H and M, respectively while wearing P, and 43.5 +/- 5.3 and 54.2 +/- 8.4 min, respectively while wearing S). In contrast, as exposure times were extended during lighter exercise T re was reduced by as much as 0.4degreesC after 80 min of exercise while wearing S. Exposure times were significantly increased from 65.8 +/- 9.6 and 83.5 +/- 11.6 min during L and VL, respectively while wearing P to 73.3 +/- 8.4 and 97.0 +/- 12.5 min, respectively while wearing S. It was concluded that replacing P with S under the firefighting protective clothing reduced the heat stress associated with wearing the protective ensemble and extended exposure times approximately 10-15% during light exercise. However, during heavier exercise where exposure times were less than 1 h replacing P with S was of little benefit.
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