Factors contributing to discomfort or dissatisfaction as a result of wearing personal protective equipment.

In a metal refining plant, 366 workers were interviewed to investigate factors contributing to the discomfort or dissatisfaction of wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). Up to 97.8% of these individuals used one or more types of PPE. The percentages of employees who reported their hard hats and cooling vests as comfortable were 17% and 19%, respectively. Twenty-five percent of workers felt their respirators and safety harnesses were comfortable. Safety glasses ranked at 50%, gloves 53%, and safety shoes 54% for comfort factor. The percentage of employees who tolerated their PPE (just acceptable) ranged from 27% to 52%. The most frequently cited factors contributing to discomfort or dissatisfaction of wearing PPE were related to the workers' beliefs that the PPE was not needed, created a new hazard, interfered with work, was too heavy, was hard to wear, prohibited breathing or communicating, irritated skin, put pressure on the body, and was of an undesirable type or model.