Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to identify the challenging barriers faced by female firefighters, which limit workplace entrance and performance. Design/methodology/approach: Occupational barriers from both psychological and physiological viewpoints were explored based on previous literature and the reported experiences of female firefighters. Findings: A comprehensive review of literature synthesizes previous studies pertaining to gender anthropometric differences, female firefighters’ experiences in the work environment and protective clothing issues. The physical capabilities of men and women in specific relation to performing firefighting activities are also examined. Issues of greatest concern are identified for personal protective clothing (PPC) and equipment, which have traditionally been designed for the male human form. This leads to a lack of protection, an increased risk of onsite injury, reduction in mobility and poorer comfort for female firefighters. Originality/value: This review provides an original overview of the critical workplace challenges faced by female firefighters. The need for female-specific PPC and equipment is specifically addressed to retain the growing number of women entering the male-dominated firefighting profession.

While electronic textiles (e-textiles) hold significant potential for improving everyday life, scalability remains a key challenge, particularly in optimizing circuit routing for effective signal transfer and reliable connections without compromising textile properties. Interconnects are essential for transmitting electrical power, data, and signals within these structures. Weaving, the most commonly used fabric production method, offers distinct advantages for integrating yarn-based interconnects. Despite various studies on weaving techniques for integrating electronic circuits into textiles, a notable gap exists concerning the impact of weaving parameters on interconnect performance. This review addresses this gap by analyzing how weaving parameters, classified into yarn properties, weave construction, machine parameters, fabric properties, and environmental conditions, affect the functionality of yarn-based interconnects. It was revealed that these parameters significantly influence the electrical conductivity, resistivity, reliability, durability, washability, comfort, and mechanical properties of the interconnects. The findings provide a framework for developing flexible, durable, and esthetically appealing woven e-textiles by enhancing the understanding of how weaving parameters influence interconnect performance.

Most commercially available electronic textile (e-textile) products and research prototypes rely on conventional printed circuit boards (PCBs) for integrating electronic functionality. However, these rigid PCBs offer limited flexibility, are prone to mechanical failure when subjected to stretching or repeated deformation and add significant bulk to the textile form. Woven textile circuit boards (WTCBs) offer a promising alternative by incorporating electronic components directly into the fabric structure. While prior studies have investigated circuit integration in textiles, a comprehensive review of WTCBs is still lacking. This review aims to address that gap. It begins with an overview of woven e-textile fundamentals, including loom types and mechanisms, weave structures, and the role of weaving parameters in determining textile performance. It then examines the methods reported for developing WTCBs and reviews the interconnect materials and joining techniques used in their fabrication. The review concludes with key insights and highlights areas where further investigation is needed. Major findings include the identification of four main approaches for creating WTCBs: woven conductive tracks with external electronics, integration of flexible circuit boards into woven structures, self-contained woven circuit boards, and post-weaving surface integration. Recent studies demonstrate growing interest in both conventional and novel joining techniques; however, further investigation is still needed to enhance their durability and reliability under real-world environmental and mechanical conditions. These findings lay the foundation for designing functional, scalable WTCBs that deliver electronic capability while maintaining the comfort, flexibility, and durability expected from traditional textiles.