Organizational Recruitment Script

Appendix B. Project Information for Organizational Recruitment

NIOSH Pilot Project: Advancing Equitable PPE Protection for
Women Working in Hazardous Environments

Who is NIOSH NPPTL? The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is a non-regulatory agency that conducts research to prevent work-related injury, illness, and death. At the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) within NIOSH, we achieve this mission by advancing the state of knowledge and application of personal protective technologies (PPT) that can be used to protect workers.

What are we doing? Research has identified initial challenges related to equitable personal protective equipment (PPE) use, availability, accessibility, acceptability, and knowledge across sectors and occupations. We are conducting a study to identify drivers and barriers to improve equitable PPE protections for female workers in healthcare, public safety, construction, and mining sectors. This study includes the following activities:

• 60-minute focus groups – in-person or virtual – with female workers to ascertain experiences with PPE

• 60-minute focus virtual groups with managers/organizational personnel who are responsible for PPE procurement to determine barriers to equitable PPE selection and distribution

Using these data, NIOSH will develop a framework to inform the selection and sustainability of equitable PPE for female workers across high-risk industries.

Why are we doing this? There are many challenges related to equitable PPE use, availability, accessibility, acceptability, and knowledge across sectors and occupations, especially for women. However, no framework exists to help recognize and overcome these challenges. Participating in this study will identify drivers, resources, and tools that accurately target and support the PPE being procured and made available to female workers while providing information to manufacturers as well.

What are we asking your organization to do? As a member of management, we’re asking your assistance in making this study opportunity available to your frontline female employees and allowing participation during their normally scheduled work hours (study protocol available upon request). Names will not be recorded and all organization information will remain private.

What are we asking your frontline workers to do? Participate in a 60-minute focus group – either in-person or virtual – with other female employees in their occupational sector to better understand experiences with PPE on the job. Questions focus on the use, availability, accessibility, and health and safety factors related to these issues.

What are the outcomes?

• Develop a framework (either for standalone use or to be integrated with existing programs) that inform the selection and sustainability of equitable PPE for female workers across high-risk industries.

• Verify that the recommended framework drives change to equitable PPE selection and procurement to adequately protect female workers on the job.

What will we provide supporting organizations?

• Deidentified, aggregated data summary (upon request).

• Framework that informs the selection and sustainability of equitable PPE for women within your industry.

• Collaboration on publications as desired by supporting associations, organizations, and individuals.
  
  

Thank you for your time and consideration to participate.

Katherine Yoon, PhD Primary Study Contact Phone: 412-386-6752 Email: [email protected]

Patrick Dempsey, PhD Principal Investigator Phone: 412-386-6480 Email: [email protected]

Wesley R. Attwood, Dr.C.J. Public Health Advisor Phone: 412-386-6156 Email: [email protected]

* This template is based on a previous NIH Protocol Template for Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Involving Humans. It maintains much of the content and structure of the NIH template but has been tailored to CDC/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health research.