Compliance Assessment for Safety and Health Measures in a Geothermal Development Company: a Case Study of Baringo-silali Geothermal Drilling Sites

Abstract

Workers are among the most valuable assets an organization has and this implies that there is need to guarantee safe and healthy workplace for them. Some of the safety and measures that organizations have in place include formulation of safety and health policies as well as establishing safety committees. The main objective of the study was to assess the compliance with safety and health measures at GDC’s Baringo-Silali geothermal drilling sites. The study was guided by the following specific objectives: to identify the existing workplace hazards at GDC’s Baringo-Silali geothermal drilling sites; to identify the existing safety and health measures at GDC’s Baringo-Silali geothermal drilling sites and to establish the level of compliance with safety and health measures at GDC’s Baringo-Silali geothermal drilling sites. The study was carried out in Baringo-Silali geothermal drilling sites that is located in Baringo County in the Rift Valley Region of Kenya. Descriptive cross-sectional study design was utilised as it uses both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. The study population was 156 workers engaged in geothermal drilling operations categorized as drilling operations, drilling maintenance and drilling support services at Baringo-Silali geothermal drilling sites. A simple random sample of 112 drilling workers was employed to collect primary data using questionnaires and observation guides. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data to derive percentages and frequencies. The qualitiative data from open-ended questions was analysed using content analysis and presented in narratives. The findings showed that 80% of the sampled employees are aware of any existing workplace hazards at GDC’s Baringo-Silali geothermal drilling sites. At least 70% of all sampled workers confirmed existence of health and safety policies at Baringo-Silali geothermal drilling sites while 75.3% perceived a compliance with the safety and health measures. The study concluded that while GDC’s Baringo-Silali geothermal drilling sites have various safety and health measures in place, workers perceived that a 100% compliance with the measures was yet to be achieved. The study recommended that improved awareness of drilling hazards and higher compliance with safety and health measures could be achieved through a concerted training and development programme for drilling workers.