User comfort

Protective clothing includes overalls, bibs, duffle coats, aprons, complete one-piece suits with hoods, spats, armlets etc. It is chosen for protection against mechanical hazards, abrasion, extremes of temperature etc. as well as chemicals. The nature of the hazard and user comfort dictate the choice. The properties of a range of protective clothing materials are listed in Table 11.22. 

Each of these methods can be used individually or combined to account for the specific visued and acoustical requirements of the task or individual employee needs. Planning for privacy should not be made at the expense of visual interest or spatial clarity. For instance, providing wide visueil views can prevent the individual from feeling isolated. Thus, a balance between privacy and openness enhances user comfort, work effectiveness, and office communications. Involving the employee in decisions of privacy can help in deciding the compromises between privacy and openness. 

Research in textile electrodes has led to encouraging findings globally and to some product launches. Investigating textile electrodes for medical purposes, Hertleer et al. (2004) demonstrated that heart beat signals obtained from conventional electrodes with electrogel are comparable with knitted textile electrodes made with yams of metallic fibres. No gel was needed for the textile electrode, which can be a benefit in terms of convenience and user comfort. De Rossi et al. (2003) also found that their... 

MSA s EVOTECH full-body harness offers advanced design features that improve user comfort, ease of use, durability and user safety. The harness is RFID enabled, offering the Field ID Safety Network with Field ID access to provide a reliable, online inspection and safety compliance (ISCM) management system. MSA, wwwMSAnet.com/evotech,... 

Biomedical sensors imbedded in a WBSN may need to be modified to accommodate the user comfort and rehability. In addition the integrated fabric sensors should be small in size, flexible, and adaptable to E-Tex connectivity. 

The goal is user comfort as well as protection. If comfortable, employees will more likely wear hearing protection properly and at all times that they are required. 

The Scott Safety NIOSH-approved ACS i SCBA is designed for comfort, reliability and flexibility. Its molded back-plate and padded harness contribute to greater user comfort and reduced user burden and fatigue. With its reliable, quarter-turn, two-stage pneumatic system, the ACSi is engineered for reliability and ease of use. Scott Safety, www.scottsafety. com. Booth 1160. Circle 179... 

Since the weight of the shoes is an important factor to the user comfort and one of the goals of this project is the decrease of the shoe weight, the mass per unit of area of the new materials was tested and compared with the materials normally used in penetration resistant inserts (Figure 3). The results show us that the replacement of the traditional inserts available in the market for inserts made of any of the new materials would be advantageous in terms of weight. 

Attributes of hquid repeUency and stain resistance (Gulrajani, 2006) are properties that are particularly attractive in work attire and uniforms. Fiber surface modification by nanowhiskers introduces advantages in stain management without alteration to breathabihty, touch sofmess, and user comfort. Multifunctional fluorocarbon molecules form bonds with cellulosic and proteinous fibers and orientate side-chains to produce a robust hydrophobic and oleophobic finish that shows good wash-fastness (Linford et al., 2005). The apphcation of suitable chemical components (Barthlott, 1996) to fiber surfaces introduces self-cleaning functions that mimic those of leaf surfaces (Neinhuis and Barthlott, 1997) by providing nanoscale elevations and depressions on the modified surface. 

Training of the implementers and users is critical otherwise the planned project is doomed to failure. This training makes future users comfortable with the changes. It also offers a bit of ownership since the planned users will now feel comfortable with the changes. 

The CPC can be meant for limited use (or single use) or they can be reusable. The clothing needs to be of adequate mechanical sdength to fit to the task to be carried out. Maintenance and user comfort are not to be overlooked in the selection process. If there is a risk of fire, the flame-protective CPC should be selected. 

Gerard PVG, Hanneka L, and Ab DH. (2007) Effects of vertical keyboard design on typing performance, user comfort and muscle tension. Applied Ergonomic,s (38), 99-107. 

Manufacturers are also redesigning the interior of welding gloves. A variety of linings — such as moisture wicking fabrics, channeled foam and aluminized materials — are incorporated to provide heightened protection and enhance user comfort. 

Dental whitening is a commonly requested treatment nowadays, which has led to the development of increasingly effective and user-comfortable techniques. 

Fabric-supported or coated fabric gloves are a small but important part of the market. They are primarily used where a high degree of mechanical protection, combined with water and chemical resistance, is required. The construction is based on a textile liner which has been coated with a polymeric layer. The liner fabric gives a benefit in user comfort and may be made from cotton, polyester, nylon or even Kevlar. The liners are formed by cutting and sewing the chosen fabric into the desired shape, or they are knitted in one piece. While the cut and sewn type predominates... 

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