Design and Evaluation of Workwear for Protection Against Steam and Hot Water

People working in the oil industry are often exposed to hazardous materials and equipment, in which case Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is essential for protection. Current workwear can adequately protect the workers from hazards such as flash fire and radiant hear exposures; however, increasing steam and hot water burn injury statistics indicates that the garment fails to protect wearers from these hazards (Crown & Dale, 2005). With a focus on design and evaluation of a new workwear prototype, this continuing research is part of a larger project aimed at investigating and developing improved materials and garment systems for protection from steam and hot water for the Western Canadian oil industry. Purpose & Objectives: The research presents four main objectives: 1) identifying the natural work environment and task-related hazards; 2) understanding the functional, comfort and aesthetic requirements of the potential wearers; 3) establishing garment design criteria and recommendations; 4) applying the functional apparel design process to develop workwear prototypes.