Heat tolerance during uncompensable heat stress in men and women wearing firefighter personal protective equipment

Julie Renberg; Maxime Jeanovitch Lignier; Øystein Nordrum Wiggen; Hilde Færevik; Jan Helgerud; Mariann Sandsund

doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2022.103702

Heat tolerance during uncompensable heat stress in men and women wearing firefighter personal protective equipment

Appl Ergon. 2022 May:101:103702. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2022.103702. Epub 2022 Feb 1.

Authors

Julie Renberg¹, Maxime Jeanovitch Lignier², Øystein Nordrum Wiggen³, Hilde Færevik³, Jan Helgerud⁴, Mariann Sandsund³

Affiliations

¹ SINTEF Digital, Department of Health Research, Trondheim, Norway. Electronic address: julie.renberg@sintef.no.
² Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Trondheim, Norway.
³ SINTEF Digital, Department of Health Research, Trondheim, Norway.
⁴ Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Trondheim, Norway; Myworkout, Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Trondheim, Norway.

PMID: 35121406
DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2022.103702

Abstract

Firefighters run a risk of heat strain during occupational tasks. The number of female firefighters has been increasing, but research relevant to this group is still scarce. We aimed to investigate whether there are any sex differences in heat tolerance or physiological responses during uncompensable heat stress while wearing firefighter personal protective equipment. Twelve female (28 ± 7 years, 66 ± 5 kg, 51.7 ± 4.7 mL kg^-1 min^-1) and 12 male (27 ± 7 years, 83 ± 8 kg, 58.8 ± 7.5 mL kg^-1 min^-1) participants performed walking (maximum of 60 min) at 6W·kg^-1, 40 °C, and 14% relative humidity. No differences were observed between groups in heat tolerance, rectal temperature, heart rate, percent body mass loss, thermal sensation, and rate of perceived exertion. Thus, when personnel are selected using gender-neutral physical employment standards, sex is not an independent factor influencing heat tolerance when wearing firefighter personal protective equipment during uncompensable heat stress.

Keywords: Core temperature; Occupational health; Sex differences.

MeSH terms

Body Temperature / physiology
Female
Firefighters*
Heart Rate / physiology
Heat Stress Disorders* / etiology
Heat Stress Disorders* / prevention & control
Heat-Shock Response
Hot Temperature
Humans
Male
Personal Protective Equipment
Physical Exertion / physiology
Protective Clothing
Thermotolerance*