Portuguese Firefighters Anthropometrics: A Preliminary Comparison with Portuguese Workers

Anna S.P. Moraes, Miguel A. Carvalho, Rachel S. Boldt, Fernando N. Ferreira, Susan P. Ashdown, Linsey Griffin

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Personal Protective Equipment protects firefighters against multiple hazards. The fit and comfort of such equipment are directly related to proper sizing systems which in turn depend on accurate anthropometric data. To present design solutions to the equipment used by Portuguese firefighters, a study designated as Size FF Portugal – Anthropometric Study of Firefighters is currently underway. Forty-four firefighters participated in a pilot study conducted in a fire brigade in the North of Portugal. This paper contrasts preliminary anthropometric data of participants with an anthropometric database of Portuguese workers. Results of the Student T-test at 95% confidence level show significant differences between the stature of Portuguese male firefighters and Portuguese male workers. On the contrary, the weight of male firefighters and workers do not present significant differences. In the case of women, differences between workers and firefighters’ weight and stature are not observed. A discussion of the results and final considerations are presented.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAdvances in Ergonomics in Design - Proceedings of the AHFE 2021
EditorsFrancisco Rebelo
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages33-41
Number of pages9
ISBN (Print)9783030797591
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021
EventAHFE International Conference on Ergonomics in Design, 2021 - Virtual, Online
Duration: Jul 25 2021Jul 29 2021

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Networks and Systems
Volume261
ISSN (Print)2367-3370
ISSN (Electronic)2367-3389

Conference

ConferenceAHFE International Conference on Ergonomics in Design, 2021
CityVirtual, Online
Period7/25/217/29/21

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Acknowledgments. We would like to acknowledge the 2C2T-Centre for Textile Science and Technology of the University of Minho. This work is financed by FEDER funds through the Competitive Factors Operational Program (COMPETE) POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007136, by national funds through the FCT-Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the project UID/CTM/000264, by Fundo de Apoio às Vítimas dos Incêndios de Pedrógão, and by ICC/Lavoro.

Funding Information:
We would like to acknowledge the 2C2T-Centre for Textile Science and Technology of the University of Minho. This work is financed by FEDER funds through the Competitive Factors Operational Program (COMPETE) POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007136, by national funds through the FCT-Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the project UID/CTM/000264, by Fundo de Apoio ?s V?timas dos Inc?ndios de Pedr?g?o, and by ICC/Lavoro.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Keywords

  • Anthropometry
  • Ergonomic design
  • Firefighting
  • Fit and size
  • Personal protective equipment
  • Stature
  • Weight

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