Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles (한국의류학회지)

The Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles (한국의류학회)
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Efficacy of Cooling Vests for Alleviating Heat Strain of Farm Workers in Summer

여름철 농민의 서열 부담 경감을 위한 냉각조끼의 성능 평가

  • Choi Jeong-Wha (Dept. of Clothing & Textiles, College of Human Ecology, Seoul National University) ;
  • Kim Myung-Ju (Dept. of Clothing & Textiles, College of Human Ecology, Seoul National University) ;
  • Lee Joo-Young (Dept. of Clothing & Textiles, College of Human Ecology, Seoul National University)
  • 최정화 (서울대학교 생활과학대학 의류학과) ;
  • 김명주 (서울대학교 생활과학대학 의류학과) ;
  • 이주영 (서울대학교 생활과학대학 의류학과)
  • Published : 2005.08.01
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of cooling vests developed for farm workers harvesting red pepper in summer. The study was performed using the following two steps: 1) Climatic chamber test, 2) Field test. For the chamber test, a work environment was simulated as $33^{\circ}C$ and $65\%$RH, and the thermo-physiological and subjective responses were measured with and without cooling vests. Twelve young males participated as subjects. For the field test, three farmers participated while harvesting red pepper on the form, in summer. The measurements used were same as in the chamber test. Subjects were tested without any cooling vests, as a control. They were tested wearing vests with 2 frozen gel packs (CV2: Cooling area, $308cm^2$), and vests with 4 frozen gel packs (CV4: Sooting area, $616cm^2$). As a result of the chamber test, rectal temperature($T_{re}$) and mean skin temperature( $T_{sk}$) were lower in both CVs than in Control, and this tendency was statistically significant in CV4 (p<.05). Clothing microclimate temperature ($T_{clo}$) and total sweat rate (TSR) were significantly lower when wearing cooling vests (p<.05) Heart rate (HR) was also lower in wearing cooling vests than in Control, and the speed of recovery to the comfort level was faster when the subjects wore cooling vests. In addition, subjects felt 'less hot, less humid, and less uncomfortable' in both CVs than in Control. Field tests showed a similar tendency with the chamber tests. In particular, wearing the cooling vest was effective in restraining the raise of $T_{clo}$ on the back. It can be concluded that the cooling vest was effective in alleviating heat strain and discomfort in both the chamber test and the field test, despite the cooling area of the cooling vest being just $3.4\%$ of the body surface area ($616cm^2$).

Keywords

References

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