Factors influencing selection, use and maintenance of protective clothing by students in technical institutions in Central Kenya
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Date
2012-11
Authors
Kimemia, Millicent Wamuyu
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
This research sought to investigate selection, use and maintenance of protective clothing;
in Technical Institutions in Central Kenya. The objectives of this study were to
investigate factors influencing selection of protective clothing, appropriateness of
protective clothing used, to establish the factors influencing cleaning and storage of nondisposable
and to investigate the general safety practices at workplace. A conceptual
framework was used to show the process of selection, use and maintenance of protective
clothing. The study area was purposively selected as it has majority of the Technical
Institutions. Stratified sampling was used to select three Technical Institutions which
participated in the study. Qualitative data was collected using a questionnaire which was
administered by the researcher to a sample of 119 respondents in the participating
departments. Majority of the respondents (88.2%) identified that colour was important
when selecting protective clothing. Harmful materials handled by respondents and price
were also important when selecting protective clothing. Most respondents indicated that
lack of protective clothing made performance of certain tasks difficult. On investigating
the factors influencing use of protective clothing, 79% of the respondents strongly agreed
that use of protective clothing was very important, over 50% disagreed that there was
adequate protective clothing in their institutions. It was established that injuries were
common during practical lessons since 39.5% of the respondents indicated that they had
been injured during practical lessons. In the study, 97.5% of the respondents felt that
there is need for training on protective clothing but only 48.7% had participated in such
training. The respondents had a positive attitude towards the use of protective clothing
with 82.4% indicating that they were comfortable with the use of protective clothing.
From the study, it emerged that there were inadequate cleaning and storage facilities in
Technical Institutions with 70.6 % of respondents indicating that there were no cleaning
facilities while 84% of the respondents felt that storage facilities were not available.
Availability of signage indicating need for use of protective clothing was also identified
as an important safety measure. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to determine
the relationships between selected key variables. The study concluded that protective
clothing is not fully used by students in Technical Institutions in Central Kenya.
Technical Institutions in Central Kenya need to enlighten their students on care of textile
articles and use in terms of selection, use and maintenance of protective clothing. The
study indicated that, the training students had received on protective clothing did not
playa significant role towards selection, use and maintenance. The study recommended
that, the students in Technical Institutions in Central Kenya be trained on the use of
protective clothing by their course instructors on reporting to the institutions. It also
recommended that, the individual institutions should ensure that safety measures are
adhered to in workshops and laboratories to promote the culture of using protective
clothing.
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of master of science degree in the school of applied human sciences of Kenyatta University. HD 7395 .C5K5