ASSESSMENT OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT USAGE AND ITS DETERMINANTS AMONG BUILDING CONSTRUCTION WORKERS IN DAMBI DOLLO TOWN, ETHIOPIA.

Major Advisor: Bahiru Bewket, PhD. Various studies and reports from global institutions like the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasize the high rate of accidents, injuries, and fatalities experienced by construction workers worldwide. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) plays a crucial role in safeguarding the health and safety of workers in the construction industry. The scope of this study is confined to examining the determinants of PPE usage and consequences related to the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Dambi Dollo Town. While PPE usage is a broad and multifaceted topic, covering every aspect within a single study is not feasible. Based on the mean score values presented in Table 17 above, the highest mean score for the analysis of interest in using PPE is 2.74, indicating a medium level of concern. Table 35 indicates, based on the mean score results, that the most significant benefits of using personal protective equipment (PPE) include reduced injuries, increased productivity, the promotion of a safety culture, enhanced safety, and regulatory compliance. Table 54, based on the mean score results of each data set, and revealed that building PPE usage control structures with mean score of 4.09 was the most efficient way of controlling the impacts PPE usage in the study area. The site visit also revealed that most of the building construction that were constructed in Dambi Dollo Town were for the purpose of protection of the workers against the impacts of not using PPE. The research findings identified the primary benefits of PPE usage in the study area, which include reducing injuries, boosting productivity, fostering a safety-conscious culture, enhancing overall safety, and ensuring compliance with safety regulations. On the other hand, the key impacts of not using PPE were shown to be increased injury and death rates, greater health risks, lowered productivity, project delays, and financial burdens. To mitigate these issues, the study recommends several strategies: improving access and availability of PPE, enhancing training and awareness, providing incentives, enforcing supervision, conducting regular hazard assessments, and promoting a strong safety culture within the construction sector. Key word: Improving PPE usage and safer working environment.