Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting
Occupational Safety and Health Risks Among Texas Plumbers: A Qualitative Approach
This qualitative study examined occupational safety and health risks among 23 Texas plumbers using a phenomenological approach. Participants described routine exposure to hazards including cuts, falls, confined spaces, sewer gases, electrical risks, heat stress, and biological contamination, alongside organizational pressures that normalize unsafe shortcuts. Thematic analysis identified seven interrelated themes: barriers to personal protective equipment use, challenges in safe tool use, health impacts of unsafe ex …