Immersion Suit Donning in Dynamic Environments: Implications for Design, Construction & Use

Abstract

Marine abandonment immersion suits are a vital piece of safety equipment intended to protect individuals from exposure to harsh environmental elements. The operational effectiveness of a well maintained and fitted suit depends on the ability of a user to correctly don a suit system. Thirty‐two participants performed immersion suit donning trials in six experimental conditions. Dynamic, pre‐abandonment marine emergency scenarios were simulated using a six degrees of freedom motion platform and varying environmental lighting levels. This article details user‐suit interaction challenges encountered throughout immersion suit donning tasks and examines their connection to safety and survival in marine emergencies. Analysis of user‐suit functionality during the donning process is critical for identifying current deficiencies in order to develop future design solutions, training methodologies and ultimately improve users’ practical competencies.