Increasing use of respirators through a leadership-based intervention

Abstract

This dissertation presents a multifaceted leadership-based intervention focused on increasing rotogravure printing press operators' use of respirators and safe work practices. The research followed a leadership-based intervention model in which first line supervisors, managers and team leaders were utilized to drive the change. In addition to the use of leadership, the intervention included employee-conducted air sampling to communicate toluene concentration levels inside the printing press enclosures. To measure certain determinants of respirator use, a pre- and post-intervention questionnaire was used. The pre-intervention questionnaire focused on each employee's past use of respirators and future intentions to use a respirator when required according to company expectations. The post-questionnaire was aimed at evaluating how a leadership-based intervention affected employees' attitudes towards respirator use. Six weeks of video monitoring was the observation tool used to verify pre-intervention use of respirators and safe work practices compared to postintervention use of respirators and safe work practices. Although the trend toward increased use of safe work practices was observed, intentions toward increased respirator use were not predictive of behavior (r = -.161, p>.05). While no employee was observed using a respirator during the six-week study, utilization of safe work practices aimed at protection employees from high concentrations of organic solvents increased (p<.027). It was concluded that use of employee-conducted air monitoring might have been the most effective tool at communicating the risk of organic solvent exposure and the importance of avoiding exposure by using a respirator or adhering to safe work practices.