Review of research studies of ergonomic aspects of selected personal protective equipment.

This article is a review of research studies conducted in the Central Institute for Labour Protection (CIOP) on ergonomic aspects of personal protective equipment (PPE) design and use. Research was related to, among other things, a comparison of body strain and work time limitation for users wearing gas-tight and drill suits. Some other studies were connected with the biophysical properties of clothing materials for medical use. On the basis of the measurement results, a proposal of clothing construction with an optimum combination of protection and comfort was created. Research leading to the development of test methodology concerning automatic welding filters with switchable luminous transmittance is also conducted in CIOP. The article also brings up the subject of designing new PPE assuring a high level of comfort. A model of material to be used under tight protective clothing, an inflammable harness for working at a height, and a model of intelligent clothing that will assist human thermoregulation processes during physical effort are examples of new PPE.