Environmental Health Division and oCentre for Environmental and Occupational Health Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, South Africa; Universidad El Bosque, Research Vice-rectoray, Bogotá, Colombia
Andrade-Rivas, F., Environmental Health Division and oCentre for Environmental and Occupational Health Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, South Africa, Universidad El Bosque, Research Vice-rectoray, Bogotá, Colombia; Rother, H.-A., Environmental Health Division and oCentre for Environmental and Occupational Health Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, South Africa
The high exposure risks of workers to herbicides in low- and middle-income countries is an important public health concern because of the potential resulting negative impacts on workers' health. This study investigated workers' personal protective equipment (PPE) compliance as a risk mitigation measure; particularly workers who apply herbicides for Working for Water (WfW) - a South African invasive alien vegetation control programme. The study aim was to understand workers' low PPE compliance by analysing their risk perceptions of herbicide use, working conditions and socio-cultural context. Research methods included ethnographic observations, informal interviews, visual media, questionnaires and a focus group. Study results indicated that low PPE compliance persists despite workers' awareness of herbicide exposure risks and as a result of the influence from workers' socio-cultural context (i.e. gender dynamics and social status), herbicide risk perceptions and working conditions (i.e. environmental and logistical). Interestingly, teams comprised of mostly women had the highest compliance rate. These findings highlighted that given the complexity of PPE compliance, especially in countries with several economic and social constraints, exposure reduction interventions should not rely solely on PPE use promotion. Instead, other control strategies requiring less worker input for effectiveness should be implemented, such as elimination and substitution of highly hazardous pesticides, and altering application methods. © 2015 The Authors.
herbicide; herbicide; compliance; health risk; herbicide; invasive species; pollution exposure; public health; risk assessment; risk perception; Article; awareness; control strategy; ethnography; female; gender; harm reduction; high risk behavior; human; male; mental compliance; normal human; occupational exposure; occupational hazard; occupational health; occupational safety; pesticide spraying; priority journal; protective equipment; questionnaire; research; risk assessment; risk reduction; social class; social status; South African; work environment; agricultural worker; analysis; occupational exposure; practice guideline; prevention and control; psychology; risk management; sex difference; social aspects and related phenomena; South Africa; standards; South Africa; Farmers; Female; Guideline Adherence; Herbicides; Humans; Male; Occupational Exposure; Personal Protective Equipment; Risk Management; Risk Reduction Behavior; Sex Factors; Sociological Factors; South Africa; Surveys and Questionnaires