The Effects of Chemical Protective Clothing on Manual Dexterity

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of wearing chemical protective clothing on manual dexterity. In addition, this study tested whether the manual dexterity measured from the protective glove only can represent the manual dexterity for the full protective clothing. The results indicated that the completing time required for the bare hand, glove only, and full protective clothing settings were 45.97 ± 5.87, 127.36 ± 45.45, and 129.44 ± 48.77 s, respectively. Wearing protective device (glove only and full protective clothing) decrease the manual dexterity, however, no significant differences were found between these two settings. Therefore, the traditional way which uses the glove only to establish the dexterity data can be used for selection of the full chemical protective clothing to meet the dexterity requirements.