Einfluss des Geschlechts auf die Schutzwirkung von Persönlicher Schutzausstattung bei den Freiwilligen Feuerwehren

• Influence of sex on the protective effect of personal protective equipment in volunteer fire departments

Schiffer, Carsten; Mertens, Alexander (Thesis advisor); Nitsch, Verena (Thesis advisor)

Aachen : RWTH Aachen University (2023)
Master Thesis

Masterarbeit, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, 2023

Abstract

Female firefighters have less confidence in their protective clothing and feel less protected by the PPE than their male counterparts. On this basis, it was investigated whether female firefighters suffer more frequent and more severe accidents than male firefighters. Accident data from the statutory accident insurers was used for this purpose. Female firefighters are more than twice as likely to have an accident as male firefighters; their accidents are significantly more severe. Accident histories and affected body parts differ between female firefighters and male firefighters. For women, the musculoskeletal system is most affected. Constructional modifications to PPE and equipment, as well as organisational adjustments in the selection and procurement of PPE, could be effective in equalising the risk of accidents between female and male firefighters and achieving an overall reduction.

Institutions

• Chair and Institute of Industrial Engineering and Ergonomics [417110]