Effect of Health and Safety on Employees Productivity
CHAPTER ONE
Research Objectives
General objectives:
The main objective seeks to evaluate the effect of health and safety standards of employees on productivity.
Specific objectives:
The specific objectives of the study include to:
- identify health and safety standards in Nigeria Rubber Estates Limited
- determine the effect of health and safety on employees‟ productivity.
- examine employees‟ level of understanding of health and safety policies of the organisation.
- assess the attitude of management towards the health and safety of employees.
- identify the challenges of health and safety standards in the organisation
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Introduction
This chapter seeks to review related literature of the study through a historical background information of health and safety standards in Nigeria, various literature on health and safety to empirical analyses.
Historical background information of health and Safety standards in Nigeria
In Nigeria, the Occupational Health and Safety Act was established under the Factory Offices and Shops 1970 (Act, 328). The main provisions of the Act are intended to bring it in line with internationally accepted standards on safety, health and welfare of employees. The occupational health and safety activities stated under the Act, include, creating safe work and work environment and promoting the safety, health and welfare of employees in order to ensure effective utilisation of human capabilities thereby promoting increased productivity.
Although Nigeria does not have a national policy on Occupational Health and Safety, the Nigeria Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651) has made provision for Occupational Health and Safety. Provisions made under Part XV Section 118 of the Act include placing a responsibility on employers to ensure a safe and healthy working environment and obligation on employees to use safety appliances provided by the employer in compliance of the employer„s instructions.
It is generally known that developing countries like Nigeria lack relevant policies to adequately cater for the health and safety of employees (Quainoo,2001). Accident rate in the manufacturing and construction in developing countries are known to be at levels that are several times higher than in the industrialized countries (Clarke, 2005). In the case of Nigeria, Quainoo, (2001) noted that the Factories Inspectorate Division spanning a period between 1987 and 1996 showed that many accidents occur in Nigerian factories that go unnoticed and are not reported in the media. Available statistics indicate that about 734 persons sustained various kinds of injury with 55 fatalities in 1997 at workplaces in Nigeria. Another 898 work-related injuries and 54 deaths were recorded in 1998. In 1999 alone, 57 fatalities occurred with 1,190 injuries (Micah & Aikins, 2002)
Bavon, (2000) remarked that in Nigeria, the current legislation (Labour regulation,2007, L.I,1833) does not meet the standards of a good compensation system for the modern worker. A draft policy jointly developed by the Ministries of Labour, Health and Mines and Energy as far back as 2000 is yet to be adopted. In the absence of a national occupational safety and health policy in Nigeria, two main statutes have charted the cause for the provision of services over the years. These are the Factories, Offices and Shops Act, (328) of 1970 and the Mining regulations 1970 LI 665. These have driven the implementation in the labour and mining sectors respectively. Other statutes that have a bearing on health and safety are the Workmen’s Compensation Law 1987, Environmental Protection Agency Act, (490) of 1994.(Bavon, 2000).
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
Introduction
This chapter describes the methods and procedures used to collect and analyse data in order to determine the health and safety standards in Nigeria Rubber Estates Limited. Sections of the chapter include the study design, population, sample size and sampling procedures, instrumentation, data collection and procedures for analysis and presentation.
The study area
The study was carried out in Nigeria Rubber Estates Limited, a manufacturing firm which has the largest industrial rubber plantation in Nigeria. The study was carried out at Utagba Uno site, Delta state.
Subjects of the study specifically included management, supervisors/line managers and factory operational workers. The company draws employees from diverse social, cultural, educational and economic background with varied perceptual orientations. It is therefore not farfetched to presume that these employees may hold different opinions on how health and safety of employees is ensured within the organisation and its impact on their work performance.
CHAPTER FOUR
ANALYSIS, DISCUSSION AND REPRESENTATION OF RESULTS
Introduction
This chapter presents the views from respondents which were elicited to find out the effects of health and safety standards on productivity in Nigeria Rubber Estates Limited. Primary data were collected through questionnaires to address the objectives of the study which were to: identify health and safety standards in the organisation; determine the effect of health and safety on employees‟ productivity; determine employees‟ level of understanding of health and safety policies; access the attitude of management towards the health and safety of employees and identify the challenges of health and safety standards in the organisation. The results are discussed in accordance with the research questions and attempts are also made to relate findings to alternative or supportive views as stated in the literature review.
Frequency distribution tables are presented and which contain the percentage for each response. To facilitate interpretation of the data, responses to items on the Likert-type scale, mostly involving „agree‟, „disagree‟, and „yes‟ , „no‟ were scored 2 and 1 respectively. The presentation of findings is preceded by background information on the respondents.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Introduction
This chapter presents a summary of the research process and the major findings from the study. It then draws conclusions and makes recommendations for policies and practice.
Suggestions are also made for future research.
Overview of the Study
The study was conducted in the Nigeria Rubber Estates Limited to access the effects of health and safety standards on productivity in the organisation. The study purposed to identify health and safety standards in Nigeria Rubber Estates Limited and to determine the effects of health and safety on employees‟ productivity. It also aimed at determining employees‟ level of understanding of health and safety policies in the organisation. Additionally, it purposed to assess the attitude of management towards health and safety of employees and to identify the challenges associated with health and safety standards in the organisation. Descriptive research design was used to conduct the study. The target population consisted of employees and management in the selected organisation. The total sample size was 120.
Simple random sampling technique was used to select the employees whiles purposive sampling technique was used to select management. Questionnaire and structured interview were designed and used to collect data for the study. The items were administered personally by the researcher. The research instruments were designed with the assistance of the supervisor. Data collection lasted for three weeks. The data were edited, coded, presented and analysed using statistical tools such as percentages, frequency tables, were used to summarise the data and the results were presented in the form of tables for discussion which aided in answering the research questions. Even though various recommendation techniques were adopted to reduce the cumulative effects of the limitations on the study, their impacts on the findings were not entirely ruled out.
Key Findings
The study revealed that majority (91.7%) of the employees who participated in the study postulated that the organisation has put in place a safety policy as well as the company having a safety unit and a coordinator. It again came to the fore when majority 95.8% of the employees intimated that the organisation has an accident book or similar accident record system in which accidents and near miss are recorded. However, majority, 70.8% disagreed that the organisation has procedures for employee for reporting deceases in relation to their job.
It again emerged all respondents 100% affirmed that the safety procedures put in place would have a positive impact on productivity. Again 91% admitted that all employees are given the opportunity to voice out health and safety opinions to management.
With the issue of employees‟ understanding of health and safety procedures, 87% asserted that the organisation has a safety procedure. However 80% of the respondents did not have health and safety manual to guide their operations. 77% indicated that they do not have knowledge of the health and safety Act. The study revealed that employees‟ right to health and safety are not maintained and also the organisation does not take appropriate steps to assist employees to exercise their right to health and safety under the law, policies and procedures.
The study also revealed that the organisation has not trained employees extensively on health and safety. The employees who participated confirmed that only major accidents are investigated to determine the root cause and examined to prevent a future reoccurrence. With regards to whether employees are properly trained in the handling and use of machines, equipment, flammable and combustible materials, majority 94.2% responded in the affirmative.
Conclusions
Based on the findings it can be concluded that occupational health and safety practices at Nigeria Rubber Estates is not in conformity with what has been described as “best practices”. This is because, responsibilities of employees and management are not clearly spelt out with regards to health and safety. Employees are not trained in strategies for protection against hazards at the workplace.
Increasingly, occupational health and safety is recognized as an issue that can impact on the effective functioning of firms and economic growth of the country. Safety of employees is primarily important at any workplace be it the manufacturing, construction, utility, educational institution or hospital. The importance of safety at work place cannot be over simplified. Labour productivity measures the extent to which labour is efficiently used. From the study, it can also be deduced that health and safety of the worker, the better the motivation to boost productivity. Therefore, if an organisation does not adequately invest in the competence of its labour force, in modernizing its plants and factories or in improving the efficiency of its operations, it would affect the organisation. Adaptation of safety measures, policies and procedures not only ensure safety of life of the employee and fellow workers but also their family dependents.
Recommendations
From the findings and conclusions of the study, the following recommendations are made.
Management should be more responsible for the needs and concern of their employees‟ safety and health by being more sensitive to the problems of the employees. This can be carried out by the provision of a suggestion box or other avenues for employees to give their suggestions on how safety can be improved.
Furthermore, management should put in place policies and structures for improving occupational health and safety within the organisation. Management should not wait to form ad hoc committees after an accident has occurred in the organisation. Near misses should also be investigated thoroughly to forestall re-occurance of accident in the near future.
Management should allocate funds and invest in occupational health and safety programmes. This programme should include proactive measures like near miss reporting, accident investigations, risk assessment, auditing for compliance and using inherently safe technologies.
Again, organisations should put in place active health and safety committees which should be given full mandate to implement their recommendations. Moreover, copies of organisational health and safety procedures should be given to employees in order to make them aware of the laid down policies, rules and safety precautions to reduce accidents in the organisation.
Suggestions for Further Research
A similar study should be conducted in the health care institution. The study should be carried out in both public and private health care institutions in order to compare these two sectors in the implementation of organisational health and safety policies and procedures.
REFRENCES
- Alazab, L., (2003), A healthy and safe workplace. African Newsletter on Occupational Health and Safety.
- Amedahe, F. K, (2004), Research Methods Notes for Teaching. Unpublished manuscript. University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast.
- Baker, S. P., & Green, S. S. (1991). Injury Prevention in the Workplace. Pp. 86-99 in Work, Health, and Productivity, editors G. M. Green and F. Baker. New York: Oxford University Press.
- Bavon, A., (2000), Occupational Health and Safety in Nigeria. An Agenda for reform. African Social Science Review, 1(1), 37-46.
- Beach, D., (2000), The management of people at work, 7th edition. New Jersey: Macmillan publishing company Ltd.
- Bélanger, J. (2000). The Influence of Employee Involvement on Productivity: A Review of Research. Research Paper R-00-4E. Hull, QC: Applied Research Branch, Human Resources Development Canada.
- Billings, A. G., & Moos, R. H., (1982), Work Stress and the Stress-buffering Roles of Work and Family Resources. Journal of Occupational Behavior, 3, 215-232.
- Bohle, P., & Quinlan, M., (2000), Managing Occupational Health and Safety in Australia. A Multidisciplinary Approach. Melbourne: Macmillan
- Boyle, R., (2006), Measuring public sector productivity: lessons from international experience” CPRM Discussion Paper 35, Institute of Public Administration (IPA), Dublin.
- Brinkerhoff, R. O., & Dressler, D. E., (1990), Productivity Measurement: A Guide for Managers and Evaluators. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
- Bryan, B., (1999), Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems: Strategic Issues. New York: McGraw Hill.
