A review on ergonomics of headgear: Thermal effects
Författare
Summary, in English
The thermal effects related to wearing headgear are complex and different studies have investigated single parts of this topic. This review aims at summarizing the different findings to give a complete overview on this topic as well as to suggest new perspectives. Headgear increases head insulation and therefore is mainly problematic under warm conditions, which is the focus of this review. Helmets do not affect physiological parameters other than the local skin temperature and sweat rate. However, the head is among the most sensitive body parts related to thermal comfort, thereby directly affecting the willingness to wear headgear. Several methods have been used to study thermal aspects of headgear, which could be categorized as (i) numerical, (ii) biophysical, (iii) combined numerical and biophysical, and (iv) user trials. The application of these methods established that heat transfer mainly takes place through radiation and convection. Headgear parameters relevant to these heat transfer pathways, are reviewed and suggestions are provided for improving existing headgear concepts and developing new concepts, ultimately leading to more accepted headgear.
Relevance to industry: This review provides a sound basis for improving existing headgear concepts. Firstly, a concise overview of headgear research related to thermal effects is given, leading to empirically based improvement suggestions and identification of research fields with a high potential. Finally, relevant research methods are described facilitating evaluation in R&D processes.
Relevance to industry: This review provides a sound basis for improving existing headgear concepts. Firstly, a concise overview of headgear research related to thermal effects is given, leading to empirically based improvement suggestions and identification of research fields with a high potential. Finally, relevant research methods are described facilitating evaluation in R&D processes.
Avdelning/ar
Publiceringsår
2015
Språk
Engelska
Sidor
1-12
Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie
International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
Volym
45
Issue
February
Dokumenttyp
Artikel i tidskrift
Förlag
Elsevier
Ämne
- Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics
Nyckelord
- Helmets
- Headgear
- Ergonomics
- Thermal physiology
- Mass transfer
- Heat
- transfer
- Comfort
- Heat loss
- Ventilation
- CFD
- Manikins
- Review
- Temperature
Status
Published
Forskningsgrupp
- Thermal Environment Laboratory
ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt
- ISSN: 0169-8141