Short answer

Designers and manufacturers of personal protective equipment must move beyond gender-neutral or male-centric design paradigms and actively develop gear that accommodates the anthropometric diversity of all users, particularly women.

Field: Human Factors
Source: Frontiers in Materials (2023)
Method: Mixed Methods
Sample: 189 participants
Evidence: Strong effect

Personal protective clothing designed without considering the female anthropometric form leads to significant fit issues, increasing occupational exposure risks for female firefighters. This human factors research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Frontiers in Materials. Using Mixed methods with 189 participants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers and manufacturers of personal protective equipment must move beyond gender-neutral or male-centric design paradigms and actively develop gear that accommodates the anthropometric diversity of all users, particularly women.

Study

Human FactorsRecentStrong effect

Ill-fitting Personal Protective Clothing Increases Occupational Exposure Risk for Female Firefighters

Personal protective clothing designed without considering the female anthropometric form leads to significant fit issues, increasing occupational exposure risks for female firefighters.

Frontiers in Materials · 2023

Key Findings

0115%-21% of female firefighters intentionally omit parts of their personal protective clothing (PPC) due to poor fit.
02100% of participants had wrist and ankle circumferences smaller than the smallest available garment openings, indicating significant interface fit issues.
03The study established the first large-scale anthropometric database for U.S. female firefighters.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

When designing any form of protective clothing or equipment, conduct thorough anthropometric research to understand the physical variations of the target user group. Prioritize fit and function at critical interface points.

Project actions

01When researching user needs, consider how existing products fit different body types.
02If designing for safety, ensure your design accommodates a range of user anthropometrics.

Method & Evidence

AimTo identify fit and sizing issues in personal protective clothing for female firefighters to enhance their comfort, mobility, and safety.

MethodMixed Methods

ProcedureA nationwide questionnaire was administered, followed by end-user focus groups and remote 3D body scanning of 189 female structural and wildland firefighters.

Sample189 participants

ContextFirefighting (structural and wildland)

Variables

IVDesign of personal protective clothing (male-centric vs. anthropometrically diverse)

DVFit of personal protective clothing, user comfort, mobility, risk of occupational exposure

CVType of firefighting (structural/wildland), individual firefighter anthropometry

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Utilized a mixed-methods approach for comprehensive data collection.
+Created a novel and valuable anthropometric database for female firefighters.

Limitations

The study's sample was limited to U.S. firefighters. The specific types of occupational exposures were not detailed, only the increased potential for them.

Reliability & validity

The study's reliability is supported by the mixed-methods approach and the creation of a large anthropometric database. Validity is enhanced by direct user feedback through questionnaires and focus groups, alongside objective 3D scanning data.

Think critically

How might the historical design process for personal protective equipment have perpetuated a male-centric approach, and what systemic changes are needed to ensure future designs are inclusive?

Design Principles

"Design for diverse anthropometry to ensure equitable safety and performance."

This research highlights a critical gap in the design of essential safety equipment. When protective gear does not accommodate the intended user's physical characteristics, it compromises their safety and effectiveness, necessitating a re-evaluation of design standards and manufacturing practices.

What This Means for Your Design

Firefighting gear is often made for men, so it doesn't fit women well. This means women might not wear all their protective clothes, putting them at more risk of getting hurt or exposed to dangerous things.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing the importance of user anthropometry in the context of safety equipment design.
2.Use the findings to justify the need for user-centered design approaches that consider diverse user groups.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

Research indicates that personal protective clothing designed without adequate consideration for female anthropometry results in significant fit issues, leading to reduced mobility and increased occupational exposure risks for female firefighters. A study by McQuerry et al. (2023) found that a substantial percentage of female firefighters intentionally omit parts of their gear due to poor fit, particularly at interface areas like wrists and ankles, highlighting a critical need for gender-specific design in safety equipment.

Source

Frontiers in Materials

Female firefighters’ increased risk of occupational exposure due to ill-fitting personal protective clothing

journal · 2023

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about ill-fitting personal protective clothing increases occupational exposure risk for female firefighters?: Designers and manufacturers of personal protective equipment must move beyond gender-neutral or male-centric design paradigms and actively develop gear that accommodates the anthropometric diversity of all users, particularly women. Evidence: Frontiers in Materials (2023).
Why does "Ill-fitting Personal Protective Clothing Increases Occupational Exposure Risk for Female Firefighters" matter for design?: This research highlights a critical gap in the design of essential safety equipment. When protective gear does not accommodate the intended user's physical characteristics, it compromises their safety and effectiveness, necessitating a re-evaluation of design standards and manufacturing practices.
How can designers apply this research?: Designers and manufacturers of personal protective equipment must move beyond gender-neutral or male-centric design paradigms and actively develop gear that accommodates the anthropometric diversity of all users, particularly women.
What were the main findings?: 15%-21% of female firefighters intentionally omit parts of their personal protective clothing (PPC) due to poor fit.. 100% of participants had wrist and ankle circumferences smaller than the smallest available garment openings, indicating significant interface fit issues.. The study established the first large-scale anthropometric database for U.S. female firefighters.
What research method was used?: Mixed Methods with 189 participants.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2023 journal from Frontiers in Materials.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing any form of protective clothing or equipment, conduct thorough anthropometric research to understand the physical variations of the target user group. Prioritize fit and function at critical interface points.
What are the limitations?: The study focused on U.S. female firefighters; findings may not be directly generalizable to other regions or professions without further research. The study did not quantify the exact increase in exposure risk, only identified the conditions that facilitate it.