Determinants of the Use of Personal Protective Equipment: A Literature Review

Workers are exposed to many types of hazards daily, depending on their work type. Therefore, employers should ensure that their employees are trained on their workplace hazards, identify the threat, and provide them with the tools to prevent and control their exposure to risks. This study aims to identify the determinants of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) use.

Methodology: A systematic search was performed using various Electronic databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, Peer review Journal, Research gate, and others. We included original studies that evaluated the effect of several determinants on PPE use. In addition, free full-text studies published in English from 2010 – to 2020 were also included. A total of fourteen studies met all the criteria and were selected to be included in this review.

Results: Findings revealed that workers across the board in various disciplines are often without PPE gear for multiple reasons. These include discomfort, unavailability at work, to affordability. Other factors include a lack of knowledge of the use, importance, and lack of company policy enforcement.

Conclusion: The main determinants found to affect PPE use in organizations can be organized into three categories: Individual factors, such as knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and socio-demographics; Environmental factors, such as equipment availability; and Organizational factors, such as management’s expectations, and workplace policies.