“New Developments to Improve Safety and Health at Work” was a research paper prepared by Daniel Podgórski, Katarzyna Majchrzycka & Andrzej Grabowski of the Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland, at the 3rd International Scientific Conference, Safety Engineering 2012, held in  Ostrava, Czech Republic, 17 October 2012.

NEW AND EMERGING RISKS (related to PPE applications)

Poor risk control of chemical substances
● Nanoparticles and ultrafine particles
● Global epidemics of old and new pathogens
● Multifactorial risks due to complexity of new technologies and work processes
● Sophisticated human-system interfaces and information overload
● Ageing workforce and society

An intelligent textile (PPE system) is composed of:
● actuator(s), completed with possible sensor(s) information management device
● Functional textile material - material which interacts with its environment (it responds or adapts to changes in the environment)

Source: SMART PPE / INTELLIGENT TEXTILE SYSTEM
Based on ISO Technical Report No. ISO/PDTR 00248435:

Textiles and textile products – Smart textiles – Definitions, application and standardization needs

PPE systems with sensors:
● monitoring external environment
● indicate end-of-service-life of PPE components

The indicating system gives a clear signal for workers that gloves do not provide protection anymore and should be withdrawn from use immediately.

SIGNALIZATION OF CHEMICALS PERMEATION THROUGH PROTECTIVE GLOVES

Color change in contact with bases:
Acetic
Acid

For signalisation of acids and bases indicating pigments can be used. Microcapsules entrapping indicating pigments can be embedded into protective gloves during manufacturing process.

Future research in the field of smart PPE

● Ergonomics and comfort
● A need for a smaller and lighter smart PPE elements, particularly in case of embedded systems, batteries, antennas etc.
● Protective clothing, gloves, footwear or helmets etc. with built-in thermal management units heating/cooling) powered by ultra-light batteries or alternative energy sources (e.g. solar energy)