Factors Affecting Execution of Occupational Health and Safety Strategies at East African Portland Cement Company Limited
Abstract
Better health necessitates that change be made to the laborers environment, work
organization and practices of work. Many hazardous conditions are on a basic level
preventable and the essential hazardous approach is the most effective strategy
financially for the control and elimination. The study was to decide the components
influencing the implementation of Occupational Health and Safety Strategies at a
company in Kenya known as the East African Portland Cement. It offers a contextual
investigation of this company located in Athi River. The case study technique
provided in-depth information on the elements influencing the execution of
Occupational Health and Safety Strategy in the organization. The study gathered data
from the management staff and Board of EAPCC. The study utilized the essential
information whereby essential information was gathered through an interview guide.
The study specifically targeted the directors and heads of departments. Data collected
was analyzed through content analysis. Data analysis was done qualitatively and
presented in prose. The study established that the success of the Occupational Health
and Safety strategy in EAPCC was good. The company had successfully implemented
an occupational health and safety strategy (OHSAS 18001:2007) and adhered to
OSHA 2007. It was established that both the management and the general staff
initially were reluctant to change but management had started to embrace it.
Subsequently, Organization structure was also found to affect the execution of the
strategy; alignment of occupational health and safety to the company’s structure
exhibited a lacuna in the company. Additional factors such as lack of timely
correction of causes of incidences; repeat observations for issues of safety risk
importance; lack of effectiveness in monitoring the quality of strategy execution and
lack of effective supervision were also found to affect the execution of the identified
strategies. The researcher established that Portland cement has a well written formal
statement of Health and Safety Policy and subsequent Programmmes to implement
the conceptual frame work as structured by the management. There were accidents
occurrences as collaborated by employees who were randomly asked a few
interrogative questions on the same, by the researcher as the crisscrossed
departments/section within the organization in the course of doing the research. The
study encourages fostering responsibility which can be ensured through clear
communication of the strategy and the management commitment and support. Last
but not least, the company should consider a complete overhaul of the safety
department to ensure proper and strict supervision and adherence to the set policies on
health and safety. The management should embrace a leadership style that will be
committed to ensuring successful execution of the identified strategies. The study
therefore suggests that a future study should involve the general staff as the
respondents to the study so as to get their opinion on the factors that would enhance
successful execution.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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