Full Body Protection
Flotation Gear
These include life jackets or work vests. (Commonly worn underneath chemical protective clothing to prevent flotation gear degradation by chemicals.)
- The floatation gear adds 15.5 to 25 lbs. (7 to 11.3 kg) of buoyancy to personnel working in or around water.
- The gear does add bulk and restricts mobility. They must meet USCG standards (46 CFR Part 160).
Cooling Garments
Cooling garments remove excess heat generated by worker activity, the equipment, or the environment.
Cooling Suit Testing
Several methods are used:
- A pump circulates cool, dry air throughout the suit or portions of it via an air line. Cooling may be enhanced by use of a vortex cooler, refrigeration coils, or a heat exchanger. Pumps circulating cool air require 10 to 20 ft3 (0.3 to 0.6 m3) of respirable air per minute, so they are often uneconomical for use at a waste site.
- A jacket or vest having pockets into which packets of ice are inserted is worn. Jackets or vests pose ice storage and recharge problems.
- A pump circulates chilled water from a water/ice reservoir and through circulating tubes, which cover part of the body (generally the upper torso only). Pumps circulating chilled water pose ice storage problems. The pump and battery add bulk and weight.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
9-5. Which type of gear removes excess heat generated by worker activity, equipment, or the environment?
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