Occupational Safety Knowledge and Personal Protective Equipment Practices among Retail Butchers in the Cauvery Delta Region of Tamil Nadu, India

Retail butchers encounter occupational hazards associated with sharp instruments and meat handling. This cross-sectional survey assessed occupational health and safety knowledge, personal protective equipment (PPE) knowledge and reported use, and injury-prevention awareness among 200 retail butchers in the Cauvery Delta region of Tamil Nadu, India, during May–June 2026. The study covered Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai districts and used a structured questionnaire containing 29 occupational health and safety items. Knowledge scores were classified as poor (0–14), moderate (15–21) or good (22–29). Of the respondents, 72 (36.0%) reported previous formal occupational-safety training and 128 (64.0%) reported none. Knowledge of the protective roles of aprons and gloves was reported by 75.0% and 73.0%, respectively, whereas reported use was 61.0% and 42.0%, respectively. These figures derive from separate knowledge and use items and do not establish individual-level compliance. Safe knife handling, immediate first aid and prompt injury reporting were recognised by 79.0%, 77.0% and 64.0% of respondents, respectively. Overall, 32.0% had good knowledge, 41.0% moderate knowledge and 27.0% poor knowledge. Good knowledge was recorded for 43.1% of trained respondents and 25.8% of untrained respondents. Knowledge category was associated with previous training (Pearson’s χ²(2, N = 200) = 8.76, p = 0.013). The findings identify differences between aggregate knowledge and self-reported use measures and an association between previous training and knowledge, without demonstrating causality.