Employer Provision of Personal Protective Equipment and its Use by Latino Construction Workers

Objective. OSHA Standard (1926.95) requires employers in the construction industry to provide protective equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE) for eyes, face, head, and extremities, as well as respiratory devices for all employees. This study documents adherence to this policy by employers of Latino construction workers, and it documents the role of employer provision of PPE in workers' use of PPE.

Method. Cross-sectional (N=120) and longitudinal data (n=108) were obtained from construction workers self-identified as “Latino” working in western North Carolina. Workers represented a variety of trades, including framing, masonry, roofing, and general labor.

Results. The availability of employer-provided PPE varied by type of PPE. Nearly 65% of participants reported their employer provided specialized hand tools (e.g., tools with soft, slip-resistant, or anti-vibration handles) without cost to the worker. By contrast, less than 30% of workers reported their employer provided hearing protection without cost to workers, and less than half (43%) reported their employer provided workers with no-cost head protection. Additional analyses indicate that employer no-cost provision of each type of PPE to workers is associated with more frequent use of PPE by workers.

Conclusion. Construction employers in western NC are not generally adhering to OSHA Standards in their provision of no-cost PPE to Latino workers. These results also suggest that construction employers' greater adherence to OSHA Standard 1926.95, either through enforcement or incentives, would contribute to greater use of PPE by Latino construction workers, and potentially, reduce the burden of occupational injury experienced by these workers.