An Investigation on the Effectiveness of Occupational Health and Safety Programme on Thekenya Power and Lighting Company Last Mile Connectivity Project Perceived Performance a Case Study of Nakuru County, Kenya

Abstract

Electricity transmission, distribution and connection face numerous Occupational Health and Safety risks and if unchecked can affect project performance. Kenya Power and Lighting Company Limited came up with the Last Mile Connectivity project (LMCP) to connect 1.2 million customers across various Counties in Kenya. There is no specific study that has been conducted to analyze the status of Occupational Health and Safety as far as Last Mile Connectivity Project is concerned particularly with regard to occupational accidents. The main objective of the study was to analyze the effectiveness of Occupational Health and Safety Programme on the Last Mile Connectivity Project (of the KPLC) performance within the County of Nakuru in Kenya. The study specifically analyzed the effect of Occupational Health and Safety training, employee assistance, ergonomics, audit and policy in relations to Last Mile Connectivity Project performance. The underpinning theories used to analyze the objectives of the study were; Goal-Freedom Alertness Theory, Distraction Theory, Domino Theory, Social Cognitive and Social Change Theories. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The target population consisted of 200 contractors working at different categories in Nakuru County and 2,289 customers connected under Last Mile Connection Project. The study used random sampling technique and sampling formula recommended gymnasium (2000) which gave a sample size of 71 for the contractors’ category. To sample the 2,289 customers connected through the Last Mile Connection Project, the study used Yamane (1967) simple random sampling technique, yielding a result of 341 customers connected by last Mile Project. The unit of analysis was contractors and customers in LMCP for each sample respectively. This study utilized a self-administered structured questionnaire to collect data. The questionnaire design was based on the conceptual framework developed after literature review. The data was analyzed through the use of descriptive statistics such as mean, median, standard deviation, frequency tables and percentages. The study tested the relationship between Last Mile Connection Project Occupational Health and Safety Programme and LMCP performance using Pearson Correlation and the regression model. The computer application package for social sciences SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 21.0) was used to aid in the analysis. The study established existence of significant positive linear relationship between training and LMCP performance indicating that Occupational Health and Safety training affected LMCP performance. Secondly, the study established a significant positive linear relationship between audit and LMCP performance indicating that Occupational Health and Safety audit affected LMCP performance. Lastly, the study established a significant positive relationship between employees’ assistance programme and LMCP performance. The study recommends that Kenya Power and Lighting Company should re-evaluate its Occupational health and Safety policy to be responsive to the reality of the extensive connectivity of the LMCP. Secondly, the company should put more effort on improvement of ergonomics both at the contractual level and consumer level to address concerns on the possibility of accidents occurrence. The study recommends further study on effect of the use of concrete corrugated poles on Occupational Health and Safety of contractors in the LMCP. The study also recommends an investigation on employees’ occupational health and safety in the Kenya Power and Lighting Company Limited.