Overview - ISO 16976-6:2023 (Respiratory protective devices - Psycho-physiological effects)
ISO 16976-6:2023 is the ISO human-factors guidance on psycho‑physiological effects associated with wearing respiratory protective devices (RPD). Intended primarily for writers of RPD selection and use standards, it explains how physiological and psychological responses to RPD influence wearer acceptance, compliance, and safe use. The document clarifies principles for interaction between RPD and human perception, criteria for selecting potential wearers, and the role of training to improve acceptance. It does not set hazard‑specific protection requirements.
Key topics and technical focus
- Physiological responses to RPD: changes in breathing space gas concentrations (O2, CO2), cardiovascular responses, work of breathing, metabolic effects and impacts on task performance.
- Subjective discomfort: sensations such as dyspnoea (air hunger), dry airways, heat stress, and visual field narrowing that can reduce tolerance to RPD.
- Psychological responses: anxiety, claustrophobia, phobia toward RPD, and how psychological states have physiological correlates (e.g., elevated heart rate).
- Objective measurement and screening: use of physiological and psychological measures (heart rate, respiratory rate, STAI anxiety inventories, transcutaneous CO2, etc.) and screening tools to predict wearer tolerance.
- Selection criteria and training: principles for identifying who is best suited to prolonged RPD use and how training/conditioning can improve acceptance and compliance.
- Human factors integration: guidance for standard writers to account for psycho‑physiological interactions when specifying RPD selection, fit, and user programs.
Practical applications - who uses this standard
- Standards developers writing RPD performance and selection standards who need human‑factors principles.
- Occupational health & safety professionals and respirator program managers developing selection, fit‑testing, and training programs.
- RPD manufacturers and designers integrating ergonomic and physiological considerations into product development.
- Medical and fitness-for-duty assessors using screening approaches to determine suitability for RPD use.
- Safety trainers and ergonomists designing training to reduce anxiety, improve tolerance, and increase compliance.
Related standards and references
- ISO 16976 series (other parts addressing vocabulary and functional aspects)
- ISO 16972 (Respiratory protective devices - Vocabulary and graphical symbols)
- ISO 16976-3 (addresses O2/CO2 physiological effects referred to in this part)
By incorporating the psycho‑physiological principles in ISO 16976-6:2023, organizations can improve respirator acceptance, reduce premature removal of RPD, and enhance overall respiratory protection program effectiveness.
Open preview (PDF)Respiratory protective devices — Human factors — Part 6: Psycho-physiological effects