FACTORS INFLUENCING WORKERS' COMPLIANCE WITH THE USE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

Abstract

Compliance with the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is an important component in occupational safety and health (K3) management. However, worker non-compliance is still the main cause of increasing work-related illnesses and injuries in various industrial sectors. This systematic literature review aims to identify and analyze factors that influence worker compliance in using PPE to prevent occupational diseases. From a total of 1,215 articles identified through five databases, duplicate and title/abstract screening left 152 articles. After full text review, a total of 30 articles (16 national, 14 international) published between 2020-2025 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. The results of the review show that compliance with the use of PPE is influenced by individual, organizational and environmental factors. Three factors were identified as the most dominant and consistent determinants across studies: (1) Individual knowledge of risks and procedures; (2) Availability of adequate, easily accessible and comfortable PPE; and (3) Organizational policies, which include strict K3 supervision, training, and implementation of sanctions or rewards. This review emphasizes that improving compliance requires an integrated systems and behavior-focused approach. Interventions must prioritize strengthening K3 knowledge, ensuring the availability of PPE by management, as well as strengthening policies and supervision to build a sustainable work safety culture.