Effects of occupational health and safety measures on employees’ productivity in maize flour processing companies in Nakuru West Sub-County in Nakuru County, Kenya

Abstract

Human beings are the most valuable assets in an Organization and at the same time they are social creatures. Health and safety regulations are vital to the well-being of the worker and the employer. Health and safety risks are present in contemporary work environments. It is the duty of Organization’s management to keep their workers safe from work related risks. Globally, health and safety issues have been of great concern in Organizations. The International Labor Organization concern itself with 80% of health and safety issues at workplace. In most Sub-Sahara Africa, Occupational health and safety is an element that is crucial in maintaining conducive working conditions and strong preventive safety culture that is suitable. In Kenya, 36,000 employees work on harsh conditions. This issue has affected employees’ productivity in different industries. This study was carried out in order to add to the existing body of literature and to create awareness to the policy makers who are concerned with the issue of health and safety of employees in relation to employees’ productivity. The dissertation aimed at investigating the effects of workplace health and safety issues on employees’ productivity in maize flour processing companies in Nakuru West Sub County in Nakuru County, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were to examine the effects of health and safety, test the effects of work-related stress and asses the effects of ergonomics determinants on employees’ productivity in maize flour processing companies. The study population was 204 employees of C01 and C02 maize flour companies in Nakuru West Sub-County in Nakuru County, Kenya. The descriptive research design was suitable for the study. Stratified sampling technique was employed to obtain the respondents that represented the population. Naissuma formula for sample size determination was used to select a sample size of 67 employees from the selected companies for the study with a total population of 204 employees. The research instruments was questionnaire and interview guide. The study used qualitative and quantitative methods of data gathering. The questionnaires were supervised as the study progressed and interview guide responses were documented. The respondents were educated about the ethical considerations prior to the questionnaires distribution. Pilot study was carried out among 10 management staff in C03 maize flour processing company in Nakuru East Sub-County, Nakuru County, Kenya. The collected data was analyzed by the use of descriptive Statistics aided by package for social sciences (SPSS) software. The analysis of the qualitative response was put into category of themes, patterns and sub-topics. The study found that occupational health and safety affected the employees’ productivity due to a correlation of coefficient of 0.496. The study also found that work-related stress affected the productivity of employees with increase in work-related stress leading to reduced employees’ productivity due to a correlation coefficient of -01521. The study further established that ergonomic aspects of workplace affected the productivity of employees due to a correlation of 0.379. The study concluded that work-related stress had the greatest effect on employees’ productivity, followed by occupational health and safety and lastly ergonomic aspects of workplace.