Head and facial dimensions of Chilean workers for design purposes and the differences with other populations

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Rodríguez, Ariel Antonio^a | Escanilla, David Eduardo^b | Caroca, Luis Alberto^c | Albornoz, Christian Eduardo^d | Marshall, Paulina Andrea^e | Molenbroek, Johan F.M.^f | Lee, Wonsup^g | Viviani, Carlos^h | Castellucci, Héctor Ignacio^{h; *}

Affiliations: [a] Sección Elementos Protección Personal, Departamento Salud Ocupacional, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile | [b] Departamento Salud Ocupacional, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Chile | [c] Sección Ergonomía, Departamento Salud Ocupacional, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Chile | [d] Sección Riesgos Químicos, Departamento Salud Ocupacional, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Chile | [e] Departamento Antropología, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Chile, Chile | [f] Section Applied Ergonomics and Design, Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands | [g] School of Global Entrepreneurship & Information Communication Technology, Handong Global University, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea | [h] Centro de Estudio del Trabajo y Factores Humanos, Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valparaíso, Chile

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Héctor Ignacio Castellucci. Centro de Estudio del Trabajo y Factores Humanos, Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valparaíso, Chile. Tel.: +56 954 123 829; E-mail: hector.castellucci@uv.cl.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:An appropriate match between a product and its end-users requires anthropometric data, which show variations among different countries. Proper Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) fit is key for safety and comfort. Chile had no head and facial anthropometric data available in order to design face/head PPE. OBJECTIVE:To describe face/head anthropometric characteristics of Chilean workers. Additionally, this study compared those dimensions against other populations (United States (US), South Korea and China). METHODS:An anthropometric survey involving 21 measures was conducted between September 2013 to May 2016 using stratified sampling. The measurements were based on ISO/TS 16976-2 and ISO 15535 to ensure the highest standards possible, and a total of 474 workers, aged from 18 to 66 years old, participated in the survey. RESULTS:The biggest differences were in Neck circumference, Weight, Nose breadth, Nose protrusion, Bitragion chin arc, Face length, Subnasale-sellion length, Face width, Bigonial breadth and Bitragion subnasal arc. Head length of Chileans were longer than Chinese and South Korean ones, but shorter than US Head length. Chilean Head breadth is smaller than Chinese and South Korean ones. Chileans Face length was the largest observed. Face width of Chileans was smaller than US and Chinese ones. Gender specific differences were also observed in the inter-country comparisons. Chilean males had larger anthropometric dimensions than females. CONCLUSION:Chilean Head and face dimensions differed significantly when compared against US, South Korean and Chines Head and Face dimensions. Chileans have longer and narrower faces with wider mouths, with a head size in between the US and Asian heads. Face and head PPE for Chileans should use dimensions in the current paper in order to ensure proper fit.

Keywords: Design, anthropometrics, personal protection equipment, face, head

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205063

Journal: Work, vol. 71, no. 4, pp. 1073-1085, 2022