Citation

Feeney RJ. J. Occup. Accid. 1986; 8(3): 207-213.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1986, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Feeney, R.J., 1986. Why is there resistance to wearing protective equipment at work? Possible strategies for overcoming this. Journal of Occupational Accidents, 8: 207-213.Why do workers involved in hazardous environments refuse to wear appropriate protective equipment? This is a question commonly put to those involved, in different ways, with the design, manufacture and personal use of protective equipment. This paper first deals with the many assumptions posed in this question and goes on to describe the work of other authors which has demonstrated that factors such as poor functional design, discomfort, interference with work task, nuisance value, conflict with other influences, etc., feature very significantly in a worker's attitude to wearing or non-wearing of protective equipment. The paper also refers to work of other authors illustrating that other factors of a psychological nature also increase resistance to wearing. The paper describes at some length two important contributions to research which sought to determine which factors are important in pursuading workers to wear protective equipment and which are under their own control.The conclusion is that the wearing or non-wearing of equipment must be carefully examined in the terms of what factors are outside the influence of the workers involved and what factors could be said to be under their control. With regard to the former, the initiative lies with the employer, the designer and manufacturer of equipment and those agencies responsible for enforcement. With regard to the latter, changes in behaviour may prove to be extremely difficult and whilst propaganda may, if carefully organized, have some results, other measures designed to improve the relationships with workers and others concerned with safety may, in the long term, be more successful.