Effective factors in utilizing personal protective equipment by workers:studying social, perceived, interpersonal and system-based aspects

Background: Using personal protective equipment (PPE) in the workplace has an important role in preventing occupational diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate social, perceived, interpersonal, and system-based effective factors in using PPE. Methods: Data were collected through a cross-sectional survey including ۳۴۰ workers exposed to organic solvents working at three major industrial companies from Tabriz. A Health Promotion Model (HPM) was used as a theoretical framework to examine the effective indicator for using PPE. The analysis was performed using the chi-square test, t-test, and two-level logistic regression by STATA software. Results: In our study, utilization rates for facemasks were ۴۷.۹% and gloves were ۶۷.۴%. In addition, our results show among the HPM components, interpersonal factors were most significantly associated with PPE use. Interpersonal support and system-based variables were only associated with utilizing protective gloves. Our study shows that the HPM framework is more relevant than different cultural contexts and the importance of interpersonal and system-based factors role in the use of PPE. Conclusion: Several solutions can be proposed to improve the use of PPE. These include increasing mutual supervision of using PPE, providing training programs to enhance peer-group support, supervision of using PPE and developing OH&S policy.

کلیدواژه ها:

Personal Protective Equipment ، Health Promotion Model ، Occupational Diseases ، Occupational agents ، Face musk ، Interpersonal supports ، OH&S policy