Extent of the Implementation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 2007 in the Sarova Group of Hotels in Nairobi

Abstract

The objective of this study was to establish the extent of the implementation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 2007 in the Sarova Group of Hotels in Nairobi. The study utilized a descriptive survey research design. The target population for this study was all the employees of the Sarova Group of Hotels in Nairobi. The study used a questionnaire to obtain primary data. Data was analyzed using quantitative techniques. Standard deviations to measure response disparity particularly for the Likert-scale question items was also adopted. Pearson’s Correlation and Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to establish the relationships among the study variables. The entire hypothesis was tested at 95% confidence level. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation were used to describe the characteristics of collected data. In view of the study objective and from the analysis, worker participation, organization and communication, employee attitude, leadership and training factor components were found to statistically account for compliance levels since they have a positive and significant relationship with the extent of implementation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 2007. Only employee attitude was found to have a positive but non-significant relationship. This implies that the researched workplaces within Sarova Group of Hotels in Nairobi, i.e. Sarova Stanley Hotel, Sarova Panafric Hotel and Sarova Head Office are fairly safe in line with the provisions of Occupational Safety and Health Act 2007. The findings were in line with the Occupational Safety and Health Act 2007 which states that the employer is tasked with the duty to ensure that workers and their safety and health representatives are consulted, informed and trained on all aspects of Occupational Safety and Health. The Act further recommends that employer makes arrangements for workers and their health and safety representatives to have time and resources to update themselves about processes of organizing, planning, implementation, evaluation and action for improvement of the Occupational Safety and Health management system. Employee involvement tends to encourage employees to accept the safety program. The study recommends that: Occupational Safety and Health regulations at workplaces be publicized extensively to ensure managers/supervisors and workers in organizations increase awareness levels; mechanisms should be put in place to sensitize the general public, in this case visiting guests about Occupational Safety and Health; information should be provided for worker representatives to increase their knowledge of Occupational Safety and Health issues and thereby spread it to other workers; the presence of strong trade unions with an active engagement in health and safety issues should be encouraged; worker representation, management commitment and a degree of recognition of workplace role associated with risk management measures; awareness forums should be conducted by professional bodies like Kenya Association of Manufacturers, Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and Caterers and others in partnership with government departments like the Ministry of East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism, Ministry of Labour and Manpower Development and others; and government should strengthen the legal, institutional framework and inspectorate activities through the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services in order to enforce compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007. The study recommends that further research be carried out in other industries to capture their uniqueness in core activities, expertise and staffing capabilities since they affect performance in terms of compliance with safety regulations. Other studies should be carried out to capture factors that influence implementation of the OSH Act 2007 that were not captured in this study like the role of the Legislature and external support.