Occupational Health and Safety Practices Influence on Employee Performance in Beverage Manufacturing Firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Abstract

The employee performance in beverage manufacturing firms in Nairobi City County of Kenya have been declining in terms of poor delivery and quality production of products, and high absenteeism rate. The objectives of the study was to determine the effect of safety training practices, hazard control practices, workplace safety inspection and safety record on employee performance in beverage manufacturing firms in Nairobi City County of Kenya. And to determine the moderating effect of occupational health and safety law on the relationship between occupational health and safety practices and employee performance in beverage manufacturing firms in Nairobi City County of Kenya. The study adopted experimental research design. The target population was 483 employees working in 32 beverage manufacturing firms located in Nairobi City County of Kenya and it included: spirit, beer, wine, fruit juice and carbonated soft drinks. The 483 employees included: human resource managers, operation managers and factory floor staffs. Krejece Morgan table determined the sample size of 196 employees. A multi stage sampling technique was used to select sample size of the study. The semi structured questionnaire was used to collect qualitative and quantitative data. The statistical package for social scientist version 21 analyzed the data. The study conducted reliability and validity test of the questionnaire. The diagnostic test conducted includes: normality test, homogeneity of variance test and multicollinearity test. The qualitative data analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage and the information presented in form of statistical tables. The quantitative data analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as mean, standard deviation, Pearson correlation of coefficient, multiple linear regression analysis and moderated multiple regression analysis. The information presented inform of pie charts, bar graphs, and statistical tables. The null hypotheses rejected or failed to reject at 0.05 level of significance. There was a weak positive relationship which was statistically significant between safety training practices and employee performance. There was a weak negative relationship which was statistically significant between hazard control practices and employee performance. There was a strong positive relationship which was statistically significant between workplace safety inspection and employee performance. There was a moderate positive relationship which was statistically significant between safety record and employee performance. The safety training practices and hazard control practices were not significant predictors of employee performance. The workplace safety inspection and safety record statistically significantly predicted employee performance. The occupational health and safety law statistically significantly moderates the relationship between occupational health and safety practices and employee performance. The study recommends that the Director of Occupational Safety and Health Services to impose heavy fines on employers who are violating occupational health and safety laws. The study recommends employer to ensure that health and safety representative frequently conducts workplace safety inspection. The study recommends the employer to keep safety records in good condition. The study recommends that experimental research design should be adopted in the study. The study recommends that the target population should be employees working in beverage manufacturing firms in Nairobi City County of Kenya. The study recommends that the following theories should be adopted in the study: resource based view theory, institutional theory, goal setting theory of motivation and Herzberg’s two factor theory of motivation.