Enforcement and Compliance on Occupational Health and Safety Measures in Industries in Thika municipality, Kiambu County

Abstract

Occupational Safety and Health (OHS) is a cross-disciplinary area concerned with protecting the safety, health and welfare of people engaged in work or employment. The goal of occupational health and safety programmes is to foster a safe and healthy work environment. As secondary effects, OSH may also protect coworkers, family members, employers, customers, suppliers, nearby communities, and other members of the public who are impacted by the workplace environment as well as reduce medical care, sick leave and disability benefit costs. The lack of effective OHS measures in the industries in the study area and the laxity of the responsible institutions to enforce OHS regulations have contributed heavily to non-compliance with OHS measures. Data from both primary and secondary sources was collected using interviews, observations, questionnaires and documented literature. Sampling frame of twenty five respondents was identified from five industries in the study area and sampling units drawn using systematic random sampling. Both quantitative and qualitative methods of data analysis were employed in the organization and interpretation of the gathered data in line with the objectives of the study. The objectives of the study helped to find out what OHS measures existed in the industries in the study area, assess the enforcement and compliance of OHS regulations in the study area and to give suggestions on and how to enhance safety and health of workers in industries in the study area. The findings assisted the researcher in formulating recommendations that could significantly improve the efficacy and compliance levels of OHS measures in industries in Thika Municipality.