Evaluating the Impact of Personal Protective Equipment on Ladder Task Accuracy and Perceived Ergonomics

Abstract

This study examines how personal protective equipment (PPE) influences measurement accuracy and perceived ergonomics in ladder-based tasks. Twenty-four participants performed tasks under four PPE configurations using anti-slip gloves and sole grips while assessing ceiling-mounted shapes from a ladder. Measurement accuracy was evaluated against predefined ground truth values, and participants rated their confidence, task difficulty, and risk perception. Results showed a mean absolute error of 0.121 cm and a root mean square error of 0.248 cm. Higher confidence during ladder ascent was strongly correlated with greater accuracy (r = −0.75), while increased perceptions of difficulty and risk were associated with larger measurement deviations (r = 0.52 and 0.34, respectively). These findings suggest that both physical and cognitive factors play a significant role in task performance. No overconfidence effects were observed, indicating that accurate self-assessment contributes positively to task precision.