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Table 1. Worker assessment of two types of protective garments:
Kleenguard and Tyvek.
Question n
Was it comfortable? 20 20 0 9 11
Did it feel hotter?
Any problem when spraying?
20
16
10
3
10
13
19
ba
1
6
Did you like the garments? 20 19 1 9 11
a
The main pmblem was sticking and wrinkling.
Table 2. Comparison of Kleenguard (K) and cotton (C) protective garments
regarding comfort and acceptability (numbers represent positive answers).
Day2 Day3 Day5
Question n K C K C K C
Was it comfortable? 10 10 10 9 10 10 10
Did it feel hotter? 10 10 7 10 7 8 4
Any problem when spraying? 8 0 0 2 0 3 3
Did youlikethegarments? 10 10 8 10 10 10 9
garments to wrinkle. Most of the workers with Tyvek garments felt hotter as
a result of wearing them. On the basis of questionnaire results and observations
made by the study team, it was decided that Kleenguard garments would
be used in the main study.
Workers wearing both Kleenguard and cotton stated that the garments were
comfortable to wear every day of the main study (Table 2). Most workers in
both groups experienced no problems. When problems did occur, they were
due to the individual fit of the garment rather than general physical discomfort.
Although most workers felt somewhat hotter when wearing the
garments, this was not sufficient to cause undue stress or loss of working
efficiency. By day 5, fewer workers wearing cotton garments felt hotter.
Most of the cotton protective garments were unaffected by wear over the first
3 days (Table 3). From day 4 on, an increasing number of cotton garments
showed signs of slight chafing, mainly around the shoulders, lower back,
around the buttock area, and knees. There was no evidence of tearing or
splitting.
Kleenguard garments showed evidence of slight chafing on day 1. By day 3,
the chafing was pronounced and tearing and splitting of the garments was
also noted. This was more evident in the garments worn by workers who
carried the knapsack sprayers, which rubbed against their shoulders and
lower back. The damage was progressive; by day 6, all Kleenguard garments
were affected, some producing severe chafing. The chafing was mostly on the
shoulders and lower back.
190
Kleenguard Tyvek
Yes No Yes No