Personal Protective Equipment Utilization and Associated Factors among Industry Park Construction Workers in Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction: Equipment that safeguards the user from the risk of accidents or harmful health effects is known as personal protective equipment. Reports show personal protective equipment utilization is low in Africa. Workers are exposed to a wide range of physical, chemical, and incidental hazards because of low utilization of personal protective equipment. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the magnitude and factors associated with personal protective equipment utilization among Bure Industrial Park construction workers, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 368 construction workers was carried out. The questionnaire was prepared to collect data on sociodemographic, work-related, and behavioral characteristics. Personal protective equipment usage was assessed by observation. Descriptive statistics’ frequencies, proportions, and means were computed, and the analysis results were presented in text and tables. To find independent variables associated with personal protective equipment utilization, bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: The proportion of workers at the Bure Industrial Park who utilized personal protective equipment was 47.8%, 95% CI (47.7-47.9). After adjusting employment type as a confounding factor; not being a substance user [AOR = 9.52, 95% CI (5.07-17.8)], regular workplace supervision [AOR = 4.09, 95% CI (1.26-5.48)], having occupational safety training [AOR = 6.01, 95% CI (2.05-17.6)], and provision of personal protective equipment at workplace [AOR = 7.36, 95% CI (3.97-13.6)] were the factors associated with personal protective equipment utilization. Conclusion and recommendation: Nearly 1 in 2 workers wear PPE at work. Lack of PPE utilization is a public health problem in the study area. According to the study, personal protective equipment utilization was influenced by behavioral and occupational factors. To increase the utilization of personal protective equipment, training in safety procedures and regular workplace supervision must be considered.

Welding fume exposure and prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms among welders in micro- and small-scale enterprise in Akaki Kality sub-city, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study

“…The prevalence of chronic symptoms in the current study was consistent with a study conducted in Malaysia, India, and Tanzania, which determined symptom levels of 24.5%, 21.4%, and 21.6% respectively [ 17 – 19 ]. In addition, the prevalence of coughing and breathlessness were similar to studies conducted in India and Iran, which found 15.5% coughing, 3.9% breathlessness, 17.8% coughing, and 2.35% breathlessness respectively [ 3 , 20 ]. Generally, the elevated prevalence of respiratory symptoms may be attributable to exposure to welding fumes in their work environment.…”

“…In the present study welders who were not given training on occupational safety were more likely to develop a chronic respiratory symptom than those who did not get training. This might be because the welders utilized RPE more effectively after the training [ 20 ].…”