Manual performance in cold conditions while wearing NBC clothing

Area of Science:

• Environmental Physiology
• Human Factors Engineering

Background:

• Manual performance in cold environments is critical for personnel safety and mission success.
• Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) protective garments can significantly impact thermal regulation and manual dexterity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of cold exposure (-10°C) while wearing NBC garments on manual performance and skin temperatures.
• To evaluate the impact of different cold exposure conditions and manual tasks on hand and finger temperatures.
• To assess the effectiveness of thermal insulation provided by gloves and the role of exercise in mitigating cold effects.

Main Methods:

• Subjects performed manual tasks after 40-minute exposures to various cold conditions (-10°C standing, -10°C with exercise, -10°C holding a cold bar, 20°C control).
• Manual performance was assessed using six different tasks, including screwing, peg-board, and magazine loading.
• Skin temperatures were monitored, and the effects of contact cooling and rewarming rates were examined.

Main Results:

• Cold exposure significantly deteriorated manual performance, particularly finger dexterity tasks.
• Finger skin temperature decreased rapidly in the cold, correlating strongly with performance decrements in dexterity-related tasks.
• Exercise partially improved finger temperatures and manual performance, while rubber gloves provided insufficient thermal insulation.

Conclusions:

• Standard NBC garment ensembles offer inadequate thermal protection for hands during cold work, leading to impaired manual performance.
• Tasks demanding fine finger dexterity are most affected by cold-induced reductions in skin temperature.
• Physical exercise can enhance heat production and partially restore manual function, but direct contact with cold objects poses a significant risk to hand temperature.