The Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) among Workers of Five Refuse Disposal Companies within Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is a crucial functional element that guard against or minimize the effects of occupational hazards. This has prompted the American occupational safety and health administration (AOSHA) agency, to insist that employers protect employees from work place hazards that can cause serious injuries. One of such jobs is done by the refuse disposal companies where hazards refuse exist in different forms at refuse disposal sites. This study seeks to evaluate the compliance level to the use of PPE among workers of five refuse disposal disposal companies in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Nigeria. Adequate use of PPE is minimizing or avoiding occupational /workplace hazards/ injury.   Two sets of workers were randomly selected: the senior staff and field workers of the five companies. Three senior staff members from each of the companies were selected and a survey  using questionnaire was conducted among them for a period of one week  to evaluate  their knowledge and opinion on PPE. Field workers were monitored(We got to work the same time as the workers,followed them to their different pickup sites and observed whether they used PPE or not in while they discharged their duties every day for the period of the study)  and interviewed(we tried to find out from the field workers what they know about PPE, their opinion of the importance of PPE and whether they agreed to the use of PPE)  for a period of four weeks. Results obtained showed 28% compliance and 72% non-compliance revealing a need for companies to step up on their use of personal protective equipment in the field.