Oczekiwania pracowników huty szkła wobec odzieży ochronnej z funkcją chłodzenia – wyniki badań ankietowych

Work in the metallurgy industry often involves exposure to a hot microclimate relating to the technological processes carried out. Employees are exposed to hot factors, including thermal radiation and contact with flames or glass mass, the temperature of which reaches approx. 1000–1200°C. Thermal discomfort of persons exposed to a hot microclimate during work can be reduced by using cooling clothing. Expectations regarding such clothing were determined thanks to surveys conducted among the staff of the glassworks Krosno Glass S.A. Their results confirmed the need to use cooling clothing during work – according to a significant number of employees, such clothing should be used when the ambient temperature is 25°C. According to the respondents, such clothing should provide cooling primarily of the chest and shoulder blades, and also be as light as possible, preferably below 0.5 kg, and allow for the control of the cooling intensity. The results of the survey will form the basis for the development of cooling garments as part of a system for monitoring and counteracting heat stress while working in a hot microclimate in a glassworks. Keywords: cooling clothing, thermoelectric modules, smart clothing, metallurgy, expectations