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Piloting a personal protection equipment distribution program among Chicago day laborers
Author(s) -
Contreras Elizabeth,
Buchanan Susan
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.21996
Subject(s) - personal protective equipment , medicine , occupational safety and health , occupational exposure , environmental health , demolition , occupational medicine , occupational injury , medical emergency , poison control , injury prevention , covid-19 , civil engineering , disease , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , engineering
Background Occupational injury rates among day laborers have been estimated to be as high as 31%, where lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) use is repeatedly noted as a contributor to occupational injuries. Methods We distributed duffel bags containing nine pieces of PPE and provided training on their use to Chicago day laborers during six distribution sessions over two summers. Participants were contacted 4–8 weeks post‐distribution and queried on PPE use. Results Of 117 participants who received the equipment, 42 completed the follow‐up survey. Workers performed construction, demolition, and painting type tasks and most often used gloves, safety glasses, and respirators. Hardhats, coveralls, and earplugs were the least used. Conclusions The PPE we provided was used during 94% of the jobs, and every one of the nine items was used. Hearing protection was underused. This project showed that providing PPE, along with training on its use, may increase PPE use among Chicago day laborers, likely preventing occupational injuries. Am. J. Ind. Med. 55:159–166, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.