Personal protective technologies for occupational and environmental hazards

Agricultural workers who come into contact with pesticides, insecticides or other harmful chemicals require personal protective coveralls (PPC) to prevent exposure. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, more than 13 million workers in the United States are exposed to dangerous chemicals at work, and skin diseases are the second most common occupational illness. If workers do not have properly fitting PPC, their safety is at risk, as badly designed and sized coveralls may expose them to contamination through tears, or even become caught in machinery. The need for better-designed PPC has only increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, when many more workers (especially in medical settings) have begun wearing them.

This project tested PPC design and sizing on agricultural workers in active postures. Researchers used 3D body scans and participant feedback to analyze fit of disposable coveralls: Body scans of 35 total male and female participants were analyzed in three different poses (standing, reaching overhead and stepping up) while wearing minimal clothing, wearing two commercially available coveralls and wearing a novel coverall design developed at Cornell. The project team also compared their 3D body scan data against virtual body and garment prototypes, in hopes of improving virtual fit simulations for the benefit of clothing designers and manufacturers; human fit testing is far more expensive than simulated testing. Though these comparisons were done with protective coveralls, the improvements in fit simulations could be applicable to many types of garments.