Assessing the Knowledge and Use of Safety Clothing Among Road Cleaners: Occupational Health and Human Development

Attaining an optimum level of safety against exposure to environmental hazards is one of the most urgent human needs and a wellness approach to life. Lack of knowledge and inadequate use of safety clothing by road cleaners exposes them to environmental hazards. This study therefore examined the level of knowledge and use of safety clothing among road cleaners. A cross-sectional survey design was employed. A sample size of 381, was selected from a total population of 8143 road cleaners. Gender-based differences in knowledge and use of safety clothing were analyzed using a T-test. Road cleaners had low knowledge of safety clothing and perceived it as less important for protection. More than half of road cleaners disagreed that employers supervised the use of safety clothing, ensured the provision of safety clothing, and provided training and programs. Respondents also complained that safety clothing restricted their movements. There were significant differences in the mean responses of male and female road cleaners on both the knowledge and extent of using safety clothing at work, with the male respondents showing a higher mean level of understanding and use of safety clothing. The results indicated a general lack of knowledge about the importance of wearing safety clothing among road cleaners and their dissatisfaction over the employers’ oversight. These findings necessitate improvements in safety measures for road cleaners. The study findings will encourage road cleaners to understand the need to wear safety clothing while working and urge the government and employers to organize programs and periodical training for road cleaners to enlighten them on the importance of wearing safety clothing for their health and well-being and supervise its use at work.