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BSc (Hons) Ergonomics (Human Factors Design)
2016
Loughborough Design School
Harry Shepherd
Investigating human factors issues inherent with CBRNe technology and PPE usage —Details +44 (0) 7975 875 839 hshepherdergo@gmail.com — Experience '16 Ergonomics Human Factors Course Representative '15 Ergonomics Human Factors Course Representative — 01 One of the emergency vehicles used by the Hazardous Area Response Teams (HART) in response to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and explosive (CBRNe) events. Lots of technology inside!
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Effects of CBRNe-PPE on detection technology effectiveness This project focuses around the rather unique world of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and explosive (CBRNe) events; an emerging topic of increasing importance on both a local and national scale. After the well-publicised terrorist attacks of 7/11 and 9/11, along with a series of lesser known yet still highly dangerous incidents, the need for a program that could minimise the negative impact associated with an event of this kind was slowly being recognised. This idea was eventually converted into reality through the development of rigorous CBRNe response guidelines, all of which were shared among a variety of different organisations working together to maximise damage control and minimise harm to both the public and the environment. These organisations include Hazardous Area Response Teams (HART) and the National Ambulance Resilience Unit (NARU), among others.
linked and vitally important in the success of CBRNe response are the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) worn by the responders, and the detection/diagnosis technologies used by them in the field. Since the main priority of CBRNe response is public safety and damage control, it is of utmost importance that the protective suits serve to completely insulate responders from harm while maintaining their ability to perform essential dextrous tasks such as cannulations. Similarly, due to the immediate and persistent danger posed by the various types of CBRNe agent, the quality of technology used in response situations has to be correspondingly high in a human factors sense. Unfortunately, however, this is not necessarily the case. The PPE, though effective in that it protects the wearer from harm, actually serves to inhibit responder performance in the field which can be considered an unacceptable trade-off. The technology also suffers due to crude design that doesn’t take human factors or ergonomics into sufficient account.
Because CBRNe response is a relatively new discipline, there are still certain aspects of it that can be improved – as is often the case with even the most established of realms. Other related projects are looking at the hierarchical and operational structure of the interconnected organisations, as well as the comparative preparedness of non-CBRNe entities. This project, however, takes the ergonomics approach in a more practical direction. New focus on new organisations brings with it the development of new products. Two things that are inextricably
This project identifies and evaluates a variety of different problems with these products that were encountered through a series of practical and observational sessions, and uses ergonomic principles to make essential design recommendations. It is intended that this work will lead to increased effectiveness of the ground-responders, minimising the damage caused to both the public and the environment, and potentially saving the lives of those unfortunate enough to be caught up in these traumatic events.