Firefighters’ Anthropometrics: A Comparison Between Two Portuguese Fire Brigades

Anna S.P. Moraes; Miguel A.F. Carvalho; Rachel S. Boldt; Fernando B.N. Ferreira; Susan P. Ashdown; Linsey Griffin

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-74614-8_12

Firefighters’ Anthropometrics: A Comparison Between Two Portuguese Fire Brigades

Anna S.P. Moraes, Miguel A.F. Carvalho, Rachel S. Boldt, Fernando B.N. Ferreira, Susan P. Ashdown, Linsey Griffin

Apparel Design

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

In firefighting, fit and sizing of personal protective equipment are directly related with the protection level, work performance, and comfort of firefighters. Furthermore, proper fit and sizing depend on appropriate sizing systems and the validity of the data from which they were constructed. Thus, anthropometric data are paramount for personal protective equipment design. Despite recent studies, anthropometric databases on firefighters are still very limited. Aiming to fulfill this shortcoming as well as to understand if Portuguese firefighters’ protective equipment is adjusted to their anthropometrics, a study designated as Size FF Portugal – Anthropometric Study of Portuguese Firefighters is currently underway. This paper presents a preliminary comparison of anthropometric data of firefighters from two different fire brigades: a mixed brigade and a professional brigade. Results of an initial analysis show that participants from the professional brigade were on average 29 mm taller than participants from the mixed brigade. Moreover, participants from the mixed brigade were on average 6.93 kg heavier. Further, results of inferential ANOVA test at a 95% confidence level revealed statistically significant differences of the stature and weight between career-volunteer firefighters from the mixed brigade and career firefighters from the professional brigade. Furthermore, an examination of Body Mass Index revealed that 71.88% of all participants from the mixed brigade as well as 41.58% of participants from the professional brigade were considered above the normal weight range. Differences of anthropometric measurements between the two fire brigades reveal the relevance in developing a more comprehensive yet detailed anthropometric database of Portuguese firefighters.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the 21st Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, IEA 2021
Subtitle of host publication	Methods and Approaches
Editors	Nancy L. Black, W. Patrick Neumann, Ian Noy
Publisher	Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages	105-113
Number of pages	9
ISBN (Print)	9783030746131
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-74614-8_12
State	Published - 2022
Event	21st Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, IEA 2021 - Virtual, Online Duration: Jun 13 2021 → Jun 18 2021

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems
Volume	223 LNNS
ISSN (Print)	2367-3370
ISSN (Electronic)	2367-3389

Conference

Conference	21st Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, IEA 2021
City	Virtual, Online
Period	6/13/21 → 6/18/21

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Acknowledgments. We would like to acknowledge the 2C2T-Centre for Textile Science and Technology of the University of Minho. This work is financed by FEDER funds through the Competitive Factors Operational Program (COMPETE) POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007136, by national funds through the FCT-Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the project UID/CTM/000264, by Fundo de Apoio às Vítimas dos Incêndios de Pedrógão, and by ICC/Lavoro.

Funding Information:
We would like to acknowledge the 2C2T-Centre for Textile Science and Technology of the University of Minho. This work is financed by FEDER funds through the Competitive Factors Operational Program (COMPETE) POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007136, by national funds through the FCT-Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the project UID/CTM/000264, by Fundo de Apoio ?s V?timas dos Inc?ndios de Pedr?g?o, and by ICC/Lavoro.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Keywords

Anthropometric data
Body mass index
Firefighting
Fit and sizing
Personal protective equipment

Access

10.1007/978-3-030-74614-8_12

OpenUrl availability

Full text

Cite this

Moraes, A. S. P., Carvalho, M. A. F., Boldt, R. S., Ferreira, F. B. N., Ashdown, S. P., & Griffin, L. (2022). Firefighters’ Anthropometrics: A Comparison Between Two Portuguese Fire Brigades. In N. L. Black, W. P. Neumann, & I. Noy (Eds.), Proceedings of the 21st Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, IEA 2021: Methods and Approaches (pp. 105-113). (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems; Vol. 223 LNNS). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-74614-8_12

Firefighters’ Anthropometrics: A Comparison Between Two Portuguese Fire Brigades. / Moraes, Anna S.P.; Carvalho, Miguel A.F.; Boldt, Rachel S. et al.
Proceedings of the 21st Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, IEA 2021: Methods and Approaches. ed. / Nancy L. Black; W. Patrick Neumann; Ian Noy. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2022. p. 105-113 (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems; Vol. 223 LNNS).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Moraes, ASP, Carvalho, MAF, Boldt, RS, Ferreira, FBN, Ashdown, SP & Griffin, L 2022, Firefighters’ Anthropometrics: A Comparison Between Two Portuguese Fire Brigades. in NL Black, WP Neumann & I Noy (eds), Proceedings of the 21st Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, IEA 2021: Methods and Approaches. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol. 223 LNNS, Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, pp. 105-113, 21st Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, IEA 2021, Virtual, Online, 6/13/21. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-74614-8_12

Moraes ASP, Carvalho MAF, Boldt RS, Ferreira FBN, Ashdown SP, Griffin L. Firefighters’ Anthropometrics: A Comparison Between Two Portuguese Fire Brigades. In Black NL, Neumann WP, Noy I, editors, Proceedings of the 21st Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, IEA 2021: Methods and Approaches. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. 2022. p. 105-113. (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems). doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-74614-8_12

Moraes, Anna S.P. ; Carvalho, Miguel A.F. ; Boldt, Rachel S. et al. / Firefighters’ Anthropometrics : A Comparison Between Two Portuguese Fire Brigades. Proceedings of the 21st Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, IEA 2021: Methods and Approaches. editor / Nancy L. Black ; W. Patrick Neumann ; Ian Noy. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2022. pp. 105-113 (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems).

@inproceedings{c2e3f0f41c934b4b9c3c45eade642d43,

title = "Firefighters{\textquoteright} Anthropometrics: A Comparison Between Two Portuguese Fire Brigades",

abstract = "In firefighting, fit and sizing of personal protective equipment are directly related with the protection level, work performance, and comfort of firefighters. Furthermore, proper fit and sizing depend on appropriate sizing systems and the validity of the data from which they were constructed. Thus, anthropometric data are paramount for personal protective equipment design. Despite recent studies, anthropometric databases on firefighters are still very limited. Aiming to fulfill this shortcoming as well as to understand if Portuguese firefighters{\textquoteright} protective equipment is adjusted to their anthropometrics, a study designated as Size FF Portugal – Anthropometric Study of Portuguese Firefighters is currently underway. This paper presents a preliminary comparison of anthropometric data of firefighters from two different fire brigades: a mixed brigade and a professional brigade. Results of an initial analysis show that participants from the professional brigade were on average 29 mm taller than participants from the mixed brigade. Moreover, participants from the mixed brigade were on average 6.93 kg heavier. Further, results of inferential ANOVA test at a 95% confidence level revealed statistically significant differences of the stature and weight between career-volunteer firefighters from the mixed brigade and career firefighters from the professional brigade. Furthermore, an examination of Body Mass Index revealed that 71.88% of all participants from the mixed brigade as well as 41.58% of participants from the professional brigade were considered above the normal weight range. Differences of anthropometric measurements between the two fire brigades reveal the relevance in developing a more comprehensive yet detailed anthropometric database of Portuguese firefighters.",

keywords = "Anthropometric data, Body mass index, Firefighting, Fit and sizing, Personal protective equipment",

author = "Moraes, {Anna S.P.} and Carvalho, {Miguel A.F.} and Boldt, {Rachel S.} and Ferreira, {Fernando B.N.} and Ashdown, {Susan P.} and Linsey Griffin",

note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgments. We would like to acknowledge the 2C2T-Centre for Textile Science and Technology of the University of Minho. This work is financed by FEDER funds through the Competitive Factors Operational Program (COMPETE) POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007136, by national funds through the FCT-Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the project UID/CTM/000264, by Fundo de Apoio {\`a}s V{\'i}timas dos Inc{\^e}ndios de Pedr{\'o}g{\~a}o, and by ICC/Lavoro. Funding Information: We would like to acknowledge the 2C2T-Centre for Textile Science and Technology of the University of Minho. This work is financed by FEDER funds through the Competitive Factors Operational Program (COMPETE) POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007136, by national funds through the FCT-Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the project UID/CTM/000264, by Fundo de Apoio ?s V?timas dos Inc?ndios de Pedr?g?o, and by ICC/Lavoro. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.; 21st Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, IEA 2021 ; Conference date: 13-06-2021 Through 18-06-2021",

year = "2022",

doi = "10.1007/978-3-030-74614-8_12",

language = "English (US)",

isbn = "9783030746131",

series = "Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems",

publisher = "Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH",

pages = "105--113",

editor = "Black, {Nancy L.} and Neumann, {W. Patrick} and Ian Noy",

booktitle = "Proceedings of the 21st Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, IEA 2021",

address = "Germany",

}

TY - GEN

T1 - Firefighters’ Anthropometrics

T2 - 21st Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, IEA 2021

AU - Moraes, Anna S.P.

AU - Carvalho, Miguel A.F.

AU - Boldt, Rachel S.

AU - Ferreira, Fernando B.N.

AU - Ashdown, Susan P.

AU - Griffin, Linsey

N1 - Funding Information: Acknowledgments. We would like to acknowledge the 2C2T-Centre for Textile Science and Technology of the University of Minho. This work is financed by FEDER funds through the Competitive Factors Operational Program (COMPETE) POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007136, by national funds through the FCT-Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the project UID/CTM/000264, by Fundo de Apoio às Vítimas dos Incêndios de Pedrógão, and by ICC/Lavoro. Funding Information: We would like to acknowledge the 2C2T-Centre for Textile Science and Technology of the University of Minho. This work is financed by FEDER funds through the Competitive Factors Operational Program (COMPETE) POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007136, by national funds through the FCT-Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the project UID/CTM/000264, by Fundo de Apoio ?s V?timas dos Inc?ndios de Pedr?g?o, and by ICC/Lavoro. Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - In firefighting, fit and sizing of personal protective equipment are directly related with the protection level, work performance, and comfort of firefighters. Furthermore, proper fit and sizing depend on appropriate sizing systems and the validity of the data from which they were constructed. Thus, anthropometric data are paramount for personal protective equipment design. Despite recent studies, anthropometric databases on firefighters are still very limited. Aiming to fulfill this shortcoming as well as to understand if Portuguese firefighters’ protective equipment is adjusted to their anthropometrics, a study designated as Size FF Portugal – Anthropometric Study of Portuguese Firefighters is currently underway. This paper presents a preliminary comparison of anthropometric data of firefighters from two different fire brigades: a mixed brigade and a professional brigade. Results of an initial analysis show that participants from the professional brigade were on average 29 mm taller than participants from the mixed brigade. Moreover, participants from the mixed brigade were on average 6.93 kg heavier. Further, results of inferential ANOVA test at a 95% confidence level revealed statistically significant differences of the stature and weight between career-volunteer firefighters from the mixed brigade and career firefighters from the professional brigade. Furthermore, an examination of Body Mass Index revealed that 71.88% of all participants from the mixed brigade as well as 41.58% of participants from the professional brigade were considered above the normal weight range. Differences of anthropometric measurements between the two fire brigades reveal the relevance in developing a more comprehensive yet detailed anthropometric database of Portuguese firefighters.

AB - In firefighting, fit and sizing of personal protective equipment are directly related with the protection level, work performance, and comfort of firefighters. Furthermore, proper fit and sizing depend on appropriate sizing systems and the validity of the data from which they were constructed. Thus, anthropometric data are paramount for personal protective equipment design. Despite recent studies, anthropometric databases on firefighters are still very limited. Aiming to fulfill this shortcoming as well as to understand if Portuguese firefighters’ protective equipment is adjusted to their anthropometrics, a study designated as Size FF Portugal – Anthropometric Study of Portuguese Firefighters is currently underway. This paper presents a preliminary comparison of anthropometric data of firefighters from two different fire brigades: a mixed brigade and a professional brigade. Results of an initial analysis show that participants from the professional brigade were on average 29 mm taller than participants from the mixed brigade. Moreover, participants from the mixed brigade were on average 6.93 kg heavier. Further, results of inferential ANOVA test at a 95% confidence level revealed statistically significant differences of the stature and weight between career-volunteer firefighters from the mixed brigade and career firefighters from the professional brigade. Furthermore, an examination of Body Mass Index revealed that 71.88% of all participants from the mixed brigade as well as 41.58% of participants from the professional brigade were considered above the normal weight range. Differences of anthropometric measurements between the two fire brigades reveal the relevance in developing a more comprehensive yet detailed anthropometric database of Portuguese firefighters.

KW - Anthropometric data

KW - Body mass index

KW - Firefighting

KW - Fit and sizing

KW - Personal protective equipment

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85111438716&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85111438716&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/978-3-030-74614-8_12

DO - 10.1007/978-3-030-74614-8_12

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:85111438716

SN - 9783030746131

T3 - Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems

SP - 105

EP - 113

BT - Proceedings of the 21st Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, IEA 2021

A2 - Black, Nancy L.

A2 - Neumann, W. Patrick

A2 - Noy, Ian

PB - Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH

Y2 - 13 June 2021 through 18 June 2021

ER -

Firefighters’ Anthropometrics: A Comparison Between Two Portuguese Fire Brigades

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access

OpenUrl availability

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this