Occupational Safety and Health Hazards Among Employees
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives of the Study
The objectives of the study are:
- To inquire the various occupational hazards affecting factory workers.
- To examine the impact of occupational hazard on psychological well-being of factory workers behavior (job satisfaction, commitment and compliance).
- To ascertain the impact of job satisfaction on the efficiency of factory workers.
- To determine various response or reaction to occupational hazard in terms of job satisfaction, commitment and compliance.
- Make plausible recommendations on the effective ways of ameliorating occupational hazards among factory workers.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED AND RELEVANT LITERATURE
Introduction
The health of adults of working age affects economic and social development. Recent occupational health data indicate that 40%-50%, of the world population is exposed to hazardous conditions in the workplace. It is estimated that approximately 120 million occupational accidents occur worldwide each year, with 200,000 fatalities. Each year between 68 million and 157 million new cases of occupational diseases arise as a consequence of various types of work-related exposures. In addition, approximately 30% -50% of workers in industrialized countries experience psychological stress. Environmental stressors such as hazardous conditions are one cause, but occupational stress results from work organization (e.g. workload, lack of autonomy and control over work, shift work, wage scales and routine, repetitive work). Stress associated with work organization has been shown to contribute to cardiovascular disease, muscular skeletal problems and other conditions. Other than the transfer of unsafe technologies, the changing nature of work will have a dramatic impact on worker’s health. Technological innovations will result in job losses, replacement of full time work and part-time work, more work in the informal sector and self-employment. Unfortunately, only 5%-10% of workers in developing countries and 20%-50% of workers in industrialized countries have access to adequate occupational health services. In many countries there are neither the resources nor the control of occupational hazards. Healthy workers are more likely to be productive workers, who are essential for successful business and lay the foundation for a prosperous economy and sustainable development. The healthy workplace concept provides a valuable tool for developing or reinforcing occupational health and health standards so that conditions continuously improve for the working population.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to examine Occupational Safety and Health Hazards among Employees.
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to emphasize that the objective of this study was to examine Occupational Safety and Health Hazards among Employees. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given.
In this chapter, certain recommendations are made which are the express opinion of the researcher is based on the findings from the study which includes the responses from the respondents and through observation.
Summary
The study has examined Occupational Safety and Health Hazards among Employees. The study stated the problem, its objectives and research questions in the chapter one. Occupational safety and health hazards are not just a national issues. It is also an international affair, thus, a literature review was undertaken in the second chapter, where the various causes for health hazards were examined. The way out as prescribed by other authors were recognized and an empirical and theoretical background was given in the second chapter. The third chapter examined the method for data collection and the population and sample size. The fourth chapter analyzed and presented the information converted from the data collected in the field.
Conclusion
From the findings of this research, it is evident that employees felt that the organization’s management had put in place a number of health and safety practices to ensure they worked in safe and healthy environment. Most respondents agreed that there are wellness programmes in place, adequate accident prevention measures, provision of health care and safety training. They were satisfied with the wellness programmes, accident prevention measures and the health services provided to employees at the health facility.
The respondents were dissatisfied with safety training and education. Job satisfaction is affective and by a series of factors including employee health and safety. This study revealed that occupational health and safety practices should be effective and efficient to influence employee satisfaction positively.
Recommendations
From the findings of the study, it is recommended that the management of the company improves the frequency of refresher training on safety to equip employees with necessary skills and knowledge in line with the changing technology and the work environment.
The training should be customized to meet the needs and requirements of different jobs in different workstations of the organization. The study also recommends that all employees undergo an annual medical checkup to ensure that all employees with medical issues are assisted and referral services be improved. The government should enforce the safety laws as stipulated in Occupational Health and Safety Act (2007) by taking legal action against all employers who do not abide by the safety laws and standards.
REFERENCES
- Armstrong, M (2006). Human Resource Management Practice, 10th Ed. London: Kogan page Ltd. Performance Management- Key Strategies and Practical Guidelines, 2nd Edition.
- Armstrong, M. (2009). Human Resource Management Practice, 11th Ed. Kogan Page.
- Ashraf, A. M.,(2005). Ergonomics and occupational health in the sugar industry of Pakistan. Unpublished thesis, University of Agriculture,Faisalabad.
- Bernadin, H.J. (2007). Human Resource management. 4th edition. Tata Mc Graw Hill.
- Alfers, L. (2009). Occupational health and safety for informal workers in Ghana: A case study of market and street traders in Accra. Manchester, UK: WIEGO.
- Alli, B. O. (2008). Fundamental principles of occupational health and safety 2nd edition. International Labour Organisation, Geneva.
- Ametepeh, R, S., Adei, D.,&Arhin, A. A. (2013). Occupational Health Hazards and Safety of the Informal Sector in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Area of Ghana.Research on Humanities and Social Sciences,3, 20. Retrieved from www.iiste.org
- Bacchetta, M., Ernst, E., & Bustamante, J. P. (2009). Globalization and informal jobs in developing countries. Geneva: International Labour Organization. Retrieved from http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/jobs_devel_countries_e.pdf
- Barwa, S. D. (1995). Structural adjustment programmes and the urban informal sector in Ghana. International Labour Office, Development and Technical Cooperation Department.
- Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (2010). The 2009 Kenya Population and Housing Census, Volume 1C. [14].
