Understanding firewomen’s fit problems with their coats and pants and its impact on mobility and safety

Article type: Research Article

Authors: McKinney, Ellen^{a; *} | Morris, Kristen^b | Wu, Yingying^c | Griffin, Linsey^d | Sokolowski, Susan^e | Carufel, Robin^f | Park, Juyeon^g

Affiliations: [a] Department of Apparel, Events, and Hospitality Management, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA | [b] Department of Design and Merchandising, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA | [c] Department of Apparel, Textiles, and Interior Design, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA | [d] Department of Design, Housing, and Apparel, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA | [e] Sports Product Design, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA | [f] Department of Art & Design, Brenau University, Gainesville, GA, USA | [g] Department of Textiles, Merchandising & Fashion Design, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Ellen McKinney, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Apparel, Events, and Hospitality Management; 31 MacKay, Ames, Iowa 50011-2100, USA. Tel.: +1 515 294 7536; E-mail: emckinne@iastate.edu.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Inadequately fitting turnout coats and pants hamper mobility and safety of firewomen. Previous research has established that firewomen are dissatisfied with their turnout coats and pants. Yet, there has been minimal in-depth research into the specific fit problems and consequences of these problems on the workplace health of firewomen. OBJECTIVE:The researchers sought to uncover common fit problems firewomen have with turnout coats and pants, and their impact on mobility and safety while performing work. METHODS:The researchers performed a qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews of 35 firewomen. RESULTS:The study illuminated specific fit problems firewomen have with their turnout coats and pants. These fit challenges include challenges with the overall proportions of the turnout coats and pants as well as issues of length and how the turnout coats and pants fit around their body (circumference), leading to concerns about mobility and safety. CONCLUSIONS:This study builds an understanding of specific fit problems on the ability of firewomen to do their challenging work in a safe and stress-free manner. Firewomen’s protective apparel should protect and empower all firewomen. To adequately protect firewomen, manufactures should prioritize the implementation of these findings to improve the safety and mobility that firewomen’s turnout coats and pants offer them.

Keywords: Turnout gear, firefighter, protective equipment

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-213490

Journal: Work, vol. 69, no. 2, pp. 449-464, 2021