Effects of safety and health training on accidents/ injuries' reduction among workers of chemical processing factories in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

The training and supervision of inexperienced workers, was found necessary because of the occupational hazards that may result into accidents/injuries. The main objective was to determine the effects of safety and health training on the reduction of accidents' /injuries among workers in chemical processing factories in Nairobi. The study was conducted in six factories in Industrial area and in three factories in Ruaraka. Data were collected using questionnaire, checklist, interviews, reviewing of curriculum, records, focus group discussion and none participatory observations.

Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Descriptive statistics were used to organize and summarize data into frequencies, percentages and presented in the form of tables and charts. Chi-Square tests were used to interpret results between these associations which were considered significant whenever p-value was < 0.05. The statistical tests of association between training and studied variables were done. Variables that were significantly associated with training . were provision of safety policies (t=13.534df=lp=0.001), policy formulation process (:(=46.146 df=3 p=O.OOOI), reason for use of safety appliances (:( = 21.071 df= 3 p= 0.0002), reason for accidents/injuries' reduction (:(=55.057 df=4 p=0.0004), safety improvement (:(=41.390 df=7 p=0.0003) and safety deterioration (:(=11.035 df=4 p=0.026). It was revealed that adequate safety and health training creates safety culture within the workforce, failure of which workers may not only be injured but may end up with fatal injuries.

The study concluded that there was significant association between the training and accidents/injuries' reduction, because the study found a 100 percent decline in major cases in factories with training and meager decline in major cases in those without training, table 4.6 refers.Likewise, the association between training and the change in occurrence of accidents was significant (:(=46.142 df=2 p=O.OOOI Based on these fmdings, it is recommended that respondents are accorded the right to participate in the policy formulation process, maximum category of protective appliances are acquired for use and safety and health training be regularly undertaken so as to create a safety culture within the workforce.