Effects of Management Commitment and Workers’ Participation on Occupational Safety and Health Performance in Public Health Facilities

Abstract

The Kenya Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) mandates employers to maintain the highest standards of occupational safety and health in their workplaces. It further provides the rights and roles of workers in occupational safety and health. However, occupational incidents persist in public health facilities. The researcher aimed to determine whether management commitment and employee participation hindered the implementation of OSHA in public dispensaries and health centres, using Machakos County. The study was a cross-sectional descriptive survey involving 107 health workers in public dispensaries and health centres in Machakos County. The assessment involved data collection from respondents using Likert-scaled questionnaires, physical observations such as documents review in the selected facilities. The Likert-scaled questions were in form of positive statements. Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) were 0.7222 for management commitment and 0.7053 for workers’ participation, both showing high correlations. Linear regression analysis indicated reasonably strong negative relationships between each of the independent variables and hindrance in the implementation of OSHA. The prediction factors for management commitment and workers’ participation were -0.6600, p<0.05 and -0.6300, p<0.05 respectively. The null hypotheses failed in the t-test thus favouring the alternative hypotheses. The researchers concluded that implementation of OSHA in the selected facilities was hindered by lack management commitment and workers’ participation. The health management, workers and the Directorate of Safety and Health Services should act as mandated to improve in implementation of OSHA in the health facilities.