title: The development of anti-heat stress clothing for construction workers in hot and humid weather.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to develop anti-heat stress clothing for construction workers in hot and humid weather. Following DeJonge's functional clothing design process, the design situation was explored, including clothing fabric heat/moisture transporting properties and UV protection and the aspects of clothing ergonomic design (mobility, convenience, and safety). The problem structure was derived from the results of the surveys in three local construction sites, which agreed well with the task requirements and observations. Specifications were consequently described and 30 commercially available fabrics were identified and tested. Fabric testing data and design considerations were inputted in S-smart system to predict the thermal functional performance of the clothing. A new uniform prototype was developed and evaluated. The results of all measurements suggest that the new uniform which incorporated fabrics with superior heat/moisture transporting properties and loose-fitting design could reduce the workers' heat stress and improve their comfort and work performance. Practitioner Summary: The construction workers' uniform currently used in Hong Kong during summer was unsatisfactory. Following DeJonge's functional clothing design process, an anti-heat stress uniform was developed by testing 30 fabrics and predicting clothing thermal functional performance using S-smart system. The new uniform could reduce the workers' heat stress and improve their comfort and work performance.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Building and Real Estate , The Hong Kong Polytechnic University , Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: Albert P C
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: a Department of Building and Real Estate , The Hong Kong Polytechnic University , Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: Y P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: a Department of Building and Real Estate , The Hong Kong Polytechnic University , Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: Francis K W
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: c Textile Science and Engineering, School of Materials , The University of Manchester , Manchester , UK.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: b Institute of Textiles & Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University , Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: b Institute of Textiles & Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University , Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D060389:Construction Industry; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006723:Hong Kong; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D011481:Protective Clothing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014887:Weather; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Construction workers; anti-heat stress clothing; functional clothing design process; hot and humid weather; strategy for design situation