title: Effectiveness of a newly designed construction uniform for heat strain attenuation in a hot and humid environment.
abstract: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a newly designed construction uniform in combating heat stress. Ten male volunteers performed treadmill running in a climatic chamber maintained at 34.5 °C temperature, 75% relative humidity, 0.3 m/s air velocity, and solar radiation of 450 W/m(2) that simulates typical summer working environment of construction sites in Hong Kong. The participants were tested while wearing two kinds of construction uniforms: a commonly worn uniform A, or a newly designed uniform B. It was found during exercise that Tc (38.34 ± 0.14 vs 38.45 ± 0.11 °C, p = 0.03), Tsk (36.01 ± 0.36 vs 36.27 ± 0.34 °C, p = 0.03), HR (162.7 ± 10.1 vs 172.5 ± 9.2 bpm, p < 0.01), PSI (7.0 ± 0.4 vs 7.5 ± 0.5, p = 0.04), thermal sensation (1.7 ± 0.9 vs 2.6 ± 0.7, p = 0.02), and wetness sensation (1.9 ± 0.9 vs 2.6 ± 0.8, p < 0.01) was lower when wearing uniform B than that of uniform A. It was found during recovery that Tc (37.89 ± 0.13 vs 38.06 ± 0.13 °C, p < 0.01), Tsk (35.68 ± 0.37 vs 36.02 ± 0.41 °C, p < 0.01), HR (104.2 ± 10.1 vs 112.6 ± 10.7 bpm, p < 0.01), PSI (3.3 ± 0.7 vs 4.1 ± 1.0, p < 0.01), thermal sensation (0.1 ± 0.9 vs 1.0 ± 0.8, p = 0.02), and wetness sensation (1.1 ± 1.0 vs 2.3 ± 0.8, p = 0.02) was lower when wearing uniform B than that of uniform A. The findings of this study suggested the newly designed construction uniform could reduce thermoregulatory and cardiovascular strain, and improve thermal comfort while exercising in a hot and humid environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Building and Real Estate, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: yiwen96@163.com.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Department of Building and Real Estate, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: albert.chan@polyu.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Albert P C
authors.initials: APC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Building and Real Estate, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: francis.wong@polyu.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Francis K W
authors.initials: FKW
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Sport Science Research Center, Shandong Sport University, China. Electronic address: delwong.cuhk@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Del P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D060389:Construction Industry; D005080:Exercise Test; D006339:Heart Rate; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011481:Protective Clothing; D012881:Skin Temperature; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013697:Thermosensing; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Construction uniform; Heat strain; Moisture management textile