Predictors of Respiratory Protective Equipment Use in the Norwegian Smelter Industry: The Role of the Theory of Planned Behavior, Safety Climate, and Work Experience in Understanding Protective Behavior

Abstract

Previous research has revealed a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms in Norwegian smelter workers compared to average population controls. Nevertheless, respiratory protective equipment (RPE) is not always used, even in situations with high exposure risk. A questionnaire was distributed to workers in the Norwegian smelting industry to investigate the relationship between psychological factors and self-reported use of RPEs. Response rate was 567/1,253. A scale measuring attitudes toward behavior (ATT), subjective norms (SN), perceived behavioral control (PBC), and behavioral intention (BI) was constructed based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Reliability and Confirmatory Factor Analyses partially supported the theoretical structure of the TPB-based scale, the Work Experience Measurement Scale (WEMS) and the Short Scale for Safety Climate (SC). A model explaining the relationship between observed variables, latent constructs from TPB, WEMS and SC was developed by SEM-analysis. Significant influence on BI from ATT (β = 0.31 p < 0.01), SN (β = 0.36 p < 0.01), and SC (β = 0.19, p < 0.01) emerged. Among the observed variables included, relationship status (β = −0.12 p < 0.05), education level (β = 0.09, p < 0.05), previously completed respirator fit-testing (β = −0.09, p < 0.05) and average hours spent in exposed areas (β = −0.09) p < 0.05) had significant influence on behavioral intention. The model explained 48% of the variance in BI. BI and PBC significantly predicted PB, with β = 0.65 and β = −0.06, respectively. Results of this investigation can help facilitate further work and development of health & safety routines within industrial settings.

Safe-Sex Behavioral Intention of Chinese College Students: Examining the Effect of Sexual Knowledge Using the Theory of Planned Behavior

“…Therefore, this theory is widely applied in various research contexts. In the TPB, three variables affect intention, namely perceived behavioral control (an individual’s evaluation of behavior that they intend to perform on the basis of their own ability or difficulties), attitude (an individual’s personal positive or negative beliefs about a specific behavior or action), and subjective norms (how an individual’s feelings about an act is influenced by the people around them or influential people such as their parents, friends, or colleagues), all of which can directly predict an individual’s intention to act ( Lee, 2010 ; Liñán et al, 2016 ; Robertsen et al, 2018 ; Al-Jubari et al, 2019 ; Canova et al, 2020 ; Su et al, 2021 ). Numerous studies have also used the TPB to explain the intentions of students in relation to safe sexual behaviors, such as a study that examined the implementation of sex education by nursing students ( Sharon et al, 2020 ).…”

Determinants of workplace safety towards SARS-Cov-2 and combating COVID-19 among non-healthcare workers in Hong Kong, Nanjing and Wuhan, China

“…In the phase of questionnaire design, we designed relevant questions using similar methodology of developing a novel index tool of safety culture measurement 14 . Specifically, the questionnaire was developed with key domains proposed by occupational health and safety expert working group of Wuhan, Nanjing and Hong Kong after conducting a systematic review through searching published papers using subheading "COVID-19", "SARS-Cov-2", "workplace", "industries", and "occupation" from PubMed and Embase for the period 11/2019-4/2020 15,16 . Pertinent studies were obtained to retrieve questions related to the proposed key domains covering company management and commitment of OSH and infection control, safety culture and worker's personal exposure behaviors towards infection control including COVID-19.…”

The Effect of a Knowledge-Based Intervention on the Use of Respirators in the Norwegian Smelter Industry

“…Questionnaires were used to collect data from participants before and after the intervention. Baseline data had been collected using a questionnaire described in Robertsen et al (2018), comprising scales measuring TPB variables, safety climate, work experience and items measuring perceived exposure, organizational perception regarding support and communication, knowledge and perceived inconveniences regarding the use of RPE. Followup data formed the basis for the current article and was collected 2 weeks post intervention.…”

“…Questionnaire items representing the TPB (Theory of Planned Behavior) factors (attitudes toward the use of respirators, subjective norms regarding the use of respirators, perceived control in regards of respirator use, intention to use respirators and rate of respirator use) had been developed in several steps following recommendations by Fishbein and Ajzen (2009); see Robertsen et al (2018) for details. The factors were employed in the follow-up questionnaires to investigate changes between pretest and posttest as a result of the intervention.…”

“…The single item creation was described in Robertsen et al (2018). Items aimed at measuring change due to intervention were included in the follow-up.…”