Project Aquarius 12. Effects of Style, Fabric, and Flame-Retardant Treatment on the Effectiveness and Acceptability of Wildland Firefighters' Clothing

Abstract

Balanced comparisons, using a crossover experimental design, were made of the effectiveness and acceptability of several commonly-worn clothing outfits during three summers in Australian eucalypt forests. The wearers were four crews who attempted to suppress well-developed experimental bushfires of intensities commonly faced by hand-tool crews, and also built fireline in the same way without fire. Parallel comparisons were made on the clothing worn by 6 male scientific observers, who shared the same environment but did lighter work. The outfits differed mainly in style (coveralls vs. shirt and trousers), fabric (wool vs. cotton), and flame-retardant treatment ('Proban'-treated vs. untreated cotton coveralls). Analyses of variance showed that there were no significant differences between clothing outfits in the wearers' work rate, physiological strain, discomfort, productivity, or efficiency. The findings did not differ between crews or summers, nor between fireline construction with and without fire. Because all outfits were equally effective and acceptable, other considerations - such as durability, cost, appearance, and personal preference - can be given their due weight when choosing between them.