A screening framework for critical movements in the ergonomic evaluation of personal protective clothing: validation...

Objectives. Movement constraints imposed by personal protective equipment (PPE) not only increase the risk of occupational injuries but also significantly impair operational efficiency. However, current ergonomic evaluation frameworks often lack a systematic approach for selecting critical movements, leading to redundant testing and imprecise evaluation outcomes. This study aimed to reduce occupational injury risks and establish a standardized methodology for movement selection in the ergonomic evaluation of PPE. Methods. Four principles - relevance, significance, complementarity and conciseness - were proposed to develop a universal framework for movement selection, incorporating both subjective and objective assessments. Empirical validation was conducted on a pilot immersion-resistant winter protective suit, combining objective range-of-motion measurements, subjective comfort questionnaires, statistical analysis and a priority diagram weighting method. A parallel test on summer protective clothing was also conducted to validate the effectiveness of the movement screening process. Results. Eight objectively evaluated movements and six subjectively evaluated movements were identified which precisely pinpoint areas of movement restriction in protective clothing. The results from the parallel tests demonstrated a high degree of consistency. Conclusion. The proposed framework offers a standardized, efficient tool for ergonomic screening that can be adapted to various types of PPE and high-risk occupational settings.