Worker Perception of Environmental Dust Anthony Ross-Rutter, Wahieloa Emmsley, Andy Francisco, Jaime Valencia Project Mentor(s): Julia Sager
Environmental dust exposure is common on large-scale construction and solar project sites, yet it is often treated as a nuisance instead of a serious health hazard. This project focuses on understanding how workers perceive environmental dust and whether those perceptions align with actual exposure risks. A key gap in safety management is that regulations address exposure limits but do not fully consider how the workers’ perceptions can influence certain behaviors, such as PPE usage and hazard reporting. To address this issue, we utilized a mixed-method approach. Data will be collected through an anonymous Qualtrics survey, which will be distributed to construction workers at the Ostrea Solar site in Moxee, Washington, and the DGS construction site in Costa Mesa, California. The survey questions will measure worker perception, exposure frequency, symptoms, and opinions on dust control methods. At the Moxee, WA site, Ostrea will provide access to their historical data to provide context to the worker perception data. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, comparisons across job roles, and evaluation of relationships between perception and protective behaviors. Preliminary findings suggest that while many workers are aware that dust can be harmful, it is often normalized as “part of the job,” which may reduce concern and impact PPE compliance. This supports research showing emotional concern influences safety behavior more than awareness. This project highlights the importance of bridging the gap between perceived and actual risk. Improving hazard communication, training, and worker involvement can strengthen safety culture and lead to more effective dust mitigation strategies. Presentation Type: Oral Presentation (May 20, 9:30am–5:00pm) Keywords: Dust hazard perception, Worker risk perception, Airborne particulate exposure, Occupational dust awareness, Dust exposure attitudes SOURCE Form ID: 199
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