The use of sight and hearing personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential in preventing injuries that can cause vision and hearing loss. High school vocational, technical and industrial (VTI) education programs use equipment that can cause these injuries. This study surveyed the use of PPE by 250 VTI students attending a large high school in central Wisconsin. An anonymous, written survey inquired about the actual use of PPE (response variable), as well as the types of activities performed, perceived hazards, level of knowledge about these hazards, attitudes regarding PPE use, factors influencing PPE use, safety education and history of eye injury or hearing loss (predictor variables). Positive, statistically significant associations were seen between the use of safety eyewear and the following: whether fellow students used it, the student’s desire to prevent eye injuries and if the student was concerned how he/she was perceived by fellow students when wearing it. The use of hearing protection was positively associated with whether others used it and if the student had ever undergone a hearing test. The use of hearing protection was negatively associated with whether the student had been taught about the use of eye and hearing protection or if the student lived on a farm. These relationships were also statistically significant. Positive peer pressure appeared to play the major role in determining PPE use in these students, and this should be recognized when deciding how to apportion and utilize resources to best protect students from eye injury and hearing loss.
Learning Objectives: "At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to:
Keywords: Youth at Work, Behavioral Research
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.