You are here:
PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF LIFE-CYCLE COSTS OF PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
Citation:
Schwope, A. PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF LIFE-CYCLE COSTS OF PROTECTIVE CLOTHING. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/2-90/021.
Description:
Many different types of chemical protective clothing (CPC) are used to isolate workers at hazardous waste sites from contact with the potential hazards posed by chemical wastes. he goal in selecting the appropriate clothing for a particular occupational situation is to optimize worker protection and performance while minimizing cost. he study was performed to provide a more quantitative basis for making these chemical protective clothing decisions. he study examined the cost and quality factors that influence the choice of CPC, and gathered data on different brands of CPC. he research consisted of three analyses conducted independently: a life-cycle cost analysis; an analysis of the quality of construction and sizing of Tyvek coveralls; and a survey of U.S. Environmental protection Agency (EPA) personnel to pinpoint research and development needs for protective clothing other than ensembles and gloves. he study provides preliminary information on impact of various factors on clothing costs; design, quality, and sizing of a limited sample of Tyvek coveralls; and on the size, availability, and use problems associated with various types of CPC. everal actions that could be taken to provide users with information useful for selecting appropriate CPC are recommended. his is a preliminary study to address the factors that govern the choice of CPC. any assumptions were made and many of the results are qualitative and based on a limited sample size. ore research is needed to develo quantitative information and to refine the analyses in the study. uggestions for future research are provided.