Evaluation of the proper use of personal protective equipment by construction workers in the Chone Canton, Ecuador, period 2025-2026
Keywords:
Personal protective equipment, construction, workers, safety, risksAbstract
In the construction sector, personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential to protect workers from potential occupational hazards. However, it is common to find that PPE is frequently misused or even not used at all by construction workers. Therefore, it was deemed necessary to conduct research to evaluate the proper use of PPE by construction workers in the canton of Chone, Manabí province, during the year 2026. The research methodology employed a quantitative approach, with a non-experimental, field-based design, collecting empirical data through the application of the questionnaire from the First Survey on Occupational Safety and Health in Ecuador. on which it was considered to apply the items of the workplace safety dimension were applied to a representative sample of 283 construction workers in Chone. This descriptive, cross-sectional study revealed complex risk factors faced by construction workers, who in 89.8% of cases do not use personal protective equipment properly. This highlights a significant need requiring attention, as construction workers lack the knowledge to use protective equipment effectively.
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