Factors influencing the use of personal hearing protection equipment among workers in the ceramics industry
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29352/mill0220e.43534Keywords:
Keywords: occupational noise; worker health; personal protective equipment; occupational health nursing; ceramics industryAbstract
Introduction: Exposure to noise in industrial environments, particularly in the ceramics industry, represents a significant occupational risk, with negative impacts on workers’ hearing health. However, despite the availability of hearing personal protective equipment (PPE), its use remains inconsistent.
Objective: To characterise the factors that influence the use of hearing personal protective equipment among workers in the ceramics industry and to propose strategies that increase its adoption.
Methods: Qualitative study, within an interpretative paradigm, conducted with a focus group of twelve workers from a ceramics company exposed to noise levels of at least 85 decibels. Content analysis followed Laurence Bardin’s guidelines, using the webQDA software. All ethical and formal procedures were duly observed.
Results: The categories that emerged were interfering factors, with the subcategories facilitators (obligation, (mis)information, supervision, provision, behavioural adaptation and risk perception), inhibiting factors (discrediting and maladaptation), and promoting strategies with vertical approaches (imposition, accountability and penalisation) and horizontal approaches (peer motivation).
Conclusion: The identified factors indicate that adherence to the use of hearing PPE depends on an educational and motivational approach, the development of a preventive organisational culture, and the recognition of hearing health as a priority in the workplace.
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