Effects of wearing protective chemical warfare-combat clothing on human performance. Final report, Sep 89-Aug 91
U.S. Department of Defense studies to measure performance decrements associated with wearing chemical warfare (CW) protective combat clothing indicate that heat stress produced seriously degraded human performance. Even when heat stress is not a significant factor, performance of many combat, combat support, and combat service support tasks is degraded. In most field studies, many crews of combat units became operationally ineffective due to voluntary withdrawal of individual crew members. Many combined arms, field studies, and laboratory studies indicate that when CW-protective combat clothing is worn performance is seriously degraded for (1) the detection of targets, engagement time, accuracy of fire, and (2) manual dexterity tasks; and that (3) a variety of psychological effects are created. Further, the degree of performance degradation varied with the tasks performed. Training in CW-protective combat clothing permits learning to modify procedures and consequently reduce negative effects, provided heat stress is not a significant factor. A growing body of evidence indicates there is inadequate training in the use of CW-protective combat clothing. A critical need exists for more and better training of skills needed under CW conditions.
- Research Organization:
- Institute for Defense Analyses, Alexandria, VA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 7046051
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A-250716/8/XAB; IDA-P--2433; CNN: MDA903-89-C-0003
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
450600* -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense-- Chemical & Biological-- (1990)
ACCURACY
ANIMALS
CHEMICAL WARFARE
CLOTHING
EDUCATION
ENGINEERING
HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEERING
MAMMALS
MAN
MILITARY PERSONNEL
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PERFORMANCE
PERSONNEL
PRIMATES
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
TRAINING
US DOD
US ORGANIZATIONS
VARIATIONS
VERTEBRATES
WARFARE