Design and Product Development

Human-Centered Design Approach to Develop Personal Protective Equipment for Pesticide Applicators in India

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Abstract

Pesticides are a complex mixture of biocidal chemicals linked to several detrimental diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's, and reproductive and neurodegenerative disorders when absorbed in the body through inhalation, ingestion, or dermal exposure. The US EPA recommends wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to avoid these health risks. However, Indian farmers rarely wear commercially available PPE. In this study, we used a human-centered design approach to first conduct a survey on 120 users (pesticide applicators) to understand their needs, motivations, barriers, and alternatives associated with PPE usage in Punjab, India. Using this information, we designed two chemically protective, climatically suitable, and culturally acceptable PPE ensembles for the pesticide applicators followed by the design and performance evaluation of both ensembles in a field study.  

Keywords: PPE, Pesticide applicators, Human-centered design, pesticide toxicity, functional apparel

How to Cite:

Mehta, S. & McCay, J., (2023) “Human-Centered Design Approach to Develop Personal Protective Equipment for Pesticide Applicators in India”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 80(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.17064