Evaluation of Personal Protective Equipment Usage Among Construction Workers in Erbil City, Iraq

Background and aim The construction industry is a high-risk environment where the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential for worker safety. Despite the clear benefits of PPE, compliance rates among construction workers are often suboptimal. In response to these concerns, this study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes regarding PPE usage among construction workers in Erbil City, Iraq. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted from December 15, 2022, to June 15, 2023, among construction workers in Erbil. Convenience sampling was used to collect data through a self-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire collected demographic information, as well as responses to a 15-item Knowledge Questionnaire and an 8-item Attitude Questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 28 (Released 2021; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York). Frequency and percentage were used to describe qualitative variables, while mean and standard deviation were calculated for quantitative variables. Parametric tests such as the independent sample t-test and ANOVA were used, along with multinomial logistic regression, to assess the relationships between knowledge, attitude, and various demographic factors. Results A total of 280 workers participated in the study. The mean knowledge score was 13.56 ± 1.17, indicating a good level of knowledge, while the mean attitude score was 6.86 ± 1.11, reflecting a fair attitude toward PPE usage. A significant majority of the participants, 97.9% (274), were categorized as having good knowledge, while 68.2% (191) exhibited a fair attitude towards PPE usage. The analysis showed that demographic factors such as age, marital status, working hours, work experience, and employment type did not significantly affect knowledge or attitude, with all odds ratios (ORs) near 1 and P-values above 0.05. Conclusion The findings indicate that construction workers in Erbil generally have good knowledge but only a fair attitude toward PPE usage. These results suggest that healthcare providers and policymakers should implement targeted educational interventions to improve workers' attitudes toward PPE, aiming to boost compliance and enhance workplace safety. Additionally, these interventions should address practical barriers to PPE usage, such as discomfort or lack of accessibility. By fostering more positive attitudes and ensuring the availability of necessary resources, overall safety in the construction industry can be significantly improved.