Abstract
This study evaluated thermo-physiological and subjective properties of improved disposable coveralls for railroad carriage maintenance through climatic chamber trials and a filed study. Subjects wore five kinds of disposable coveralls (Type A: a disposable coverall on the market, Type B: a coverall with an improved hood and size-adjustable design, Type C: a coverall with a portable hood, Type D: a coverall with small holes for ventilation, Type E: a sleeveless coverall, Type F: a separated type of coverall with half sleeves) The air temperature in the climatic chamber was set in 9$^{\circ}C$ and 30$^{\circ}C$ For each condition, subjects simulated the railroad work for 120min. and rectal temperature, skin temperatures, clothing microclimate and subjective sensations were measured. The results of chamber trials showed rectal temperature and clothing microclimate did not display significant differences by clothing type. In 30$^{\circ}C$ air temperature, mean skin temperature was higher in Type E and Type F than in Type A(p＜0.05) but between the improved coveralls(B-F), we could not find any significant difference. In the case of thermal comfort, the most preferred types were Type B and Type C in 9$^{\circ}C$ and Type F in 30$^{\circ}C$. All subjects felt more comfortable in the improved coveralls than in coveralls of the market (Type A). In field study, workers preferred Type B, Type C and Type F to Type A but the most favorite type differed by the specific type of work. Especially, workers were dissatisfied that Type D tore easily due to lots of small holes around the armpits and Type I did not protect workers＇ shoulder and arms from oil contamination. According to the climatic chamber trials and field study, the most effective coveralls were Type B and Type C for winter and Type F for summer.
