Human factors issues of working in personal protective equipment during the COVID‐19 pandemic (7 July 2020)

Summary

Over 300 health and social care staff died in the UK during the first COVID‐19 wave. There are concerns regarding infection risks but there has been very little discussion or research on personal protective equipment (PPE) design.

To understand how PPE changes clinical tasks, Hignett et al. conducted an online survey between (via Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) 4 April and 8 May 2020, when there was a peak of 33,173 deaths. They focused on human factor/ergonomic issues to avoid preconception bias about availability to ask with regard to fit and comfort, reading and operating equipment, hearing and communicating, reaching and moving, and dexterity to use touch screens, press buttons, open vials/taps and use syringes.

Content

The results of the study, published in Anaesthesia, found that:

• Wearing PPE posed problems with fit.
• Several human factor/ergonomic issues were reported when working in PPE, including visual difficulties and problems with communication and hearing alarms.
• Hand (fine motor) function was impaired, with additional problems for non‐clinical activities including typing and using electronic interfaces.
• Reaching (gross motor) activities were restricted by both surgical gowns with sleeves and one‐piece coveralls.
• Skin breakdown, musculoskeletal injuries and overheating.

The authors suggest that that more human factor/ergonomic research is needed to improve the functional design of PPE so that healthcare workers are better supported to carry out critical care and other medical treatment.