Classification of communication signs appearing in clothes and accessories and suggestions for safer working wears.

Clothes and accessories function as communication signs. The functions of relevant phenomena appearing in our daily life are classified according to their meanings as communication signs. The makeup, body painting, artificial deformation, modification (for example, tattoo or cut) and such kinds of decoration on the bodies are included in accessories. While the clothes and accessories have other functions such as body temperature regulation, protection of the body, being the fortune value by themselves and so on, the functions as communication signs are focused on in this paper. The resemblance of the communication functions of clothes and accessories to those appearing in animals are examined, through which the origin of clothes and accessories is discussed. Among many kinds of communication signs, including vocal or behavioral ones, the communication signs of clothes and accessories are characterized by their appearance, and may be named 'morphological signs' more precisely. The classification is thought to be useful for investigating the social or communicational functions of clothes and accessories from the viewpoint of socio-behavioral science and ergology, because the communication in the work situation is very important. The requirements for safer working wears are suggested.