Issue of Compliance with Use of Personal Protective Equipment among Wastewater Workers across the Southeast Region of the United States

Abstract

Wastewater workers are exposed to different occupational hazards such as chemicals, gases, viruses, and bacteria. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is a significant factor that can reduce or decrease the probability of an accident from hazardous exposures to chemicals and microbial contaminants. The purpose of this study was to examine wastewater worker’s beliefs and practices on wearing PPE through the integration of the Health Belief Model (HBM), identify the impact that management has on wastewater workers wearing PPE, and determine the predictors of PPE compliance among workers in the wastewater industry. Data was collected from 272 wastewater workers located at 33 wastewater facilities across the southeast region of the United States. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted to present frequency distributions of participants’ knowledge and compliance with wearing PPE. Univariate and multiple linear regression models were applied to determine the association of predictors of interest with PPE compliance. Wastewater workers were knowledgeable of occupational exposures and PPE requirements at their facility. Positive predictors of PPE compliance were perceived susceptibility and perceived severity of contracting an occupational illness (p < 0.05). A negative association was identified between managers setting the example of wearing PPE sometimes and PPE compliance (p < 0.05). Utilizing perceived susceptibility and severity for safety programs and interventions may improve PPE compliance among wastewater workers.

Farm-Workers Perception of Personal Protective Equipment: Case Study in the Lower South Coast, South Africa

“…Attitudes and normative issues positively explain farmers' intentions (Zeweld et al, 2017), while perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are significant predictors of farmers' attitudes. These are similar to the constructs in the health belief model widely used to explain behaviour and attitude in various occupational settings for PPE compliance (Sim et al, 2014;Wright et al, 2019). Similar studies also use additional constructs such as the perceived adequacy of use, following Davis et al (1989).…”

Protecting wastewater workers from disease risks: Personal protective equipment guidelines

“…In addition, wastewater and collection system workers should be surveyed about their existing PPE behaviors. For example, Wright et al recently surveyed wastewater workers in the southeastern United States to assess their beliefs about biological hazards and the influence of those beliefs on PPE practices (Wright et al, ). Although Wright et al found that workers generally were knowledgeable about the risks, implementation of some key types of PPE, particularly for preventing aerosol exposures, was low.…”

Utilization of Personal Protective Equipment and Associated Factors among Large‐Scale Factory Workers in Debre‐Berhan Town, Amhara Region, Ethiopia, 2021

“…Interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect the required quantitative information on utilization and determinates of PPE use. Questionnaire was developed after review of similar literatures [11,14,15]. It includes socio-demographic characteristics of the workers, knowledge about PPE and occupational exposures, and seven HBM construct measures, namely, perceived susceptibility of occupational-related health problems, perceived severity of occupationalrelated health problems, perceived benefits of using PPE, perceived barriers to using PPE, perceived self-efficacy of using PPE, and cues to action of using PPE.…”