The Influence of Occupational Hazards on Motivation and Productivity of Employees: a Case Study of SMEs in Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

The focus of this research was to ascertain the influence from occupational hazards upon motivation and productivity among Nairobi County SMEs. The study goals contained; establish the prevalent occupational hazards in Nairobi County’s SMEs, to ascertain the influence from occupational hazards affecting motivation in employees engaging in SMEs in Nairobi County, Kenya, establishing the influence from occupational hazards in productivity among Nairobi County SMEs, Kenya. The research used a case study approach. Quantitative data was collected to establish the occupational hazards and the impact of work-related hazards upon laborer motivation and productivity in Nairobi County SMEs. The study targeted 98071 owners from the registered SMEs in Nairobi County. The researcher utilized random sampling procedure to select 224 participants. The study utilized questionnaires throughout the investigation to collect data. Data collected was stored and analyzed using relevant statistical methods within the Statistics Package for Social Sciences, or SPSS, version 27. Statistical methods (percentages, means and standard deviations) and inferential methods, Pearson’s correlation, and regression were employed to analyze quantitative information for second and third objectives. To answer research question one, data collected via objective one was analyzed and presented in form of narrations. A threeway Chi square analysis method was utilized to help map the contribution of confounding variables to the connection between occupational hazards, motivation as well as productivity in workers. The study found that there are various prevalent occupational hazards that employees in SMEs in Nairobi County are exposed to. These include noisy working environments, crooked and bending working conditions and doing more than two hours straight of standing. The research found that occupational hazards have a significant influence on motivation of employees in SMEs in Nairobi County, Kenya (B=0.968; p=0.00). The study found that occupational hazards have a significant influence on productivity of employees in SMEs in Nairobi County, Kenya (B=0.817; p=0.00). The study revealed that Age, gender, and level of education contributed significantly to improved motivation and productivity of employees in SMEs in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study concluded that occupational hazards are significantly related to motivation of employees in SMEs in Nairobi County, Kenya. Further, the study concluded that occupational hazards are significantly related to productivity of employees in SMEs in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study recommends that county government of Nairobi should establish comprehensive occupational health and safety policies that address the specific hazards present in SMEs in Nairobi County. The study recommends that the government of Kenya should provide financial incentives in terms of tax incentives and grants to SMEs that invest in occupational health and safety measures. The study also recommends that management and owners of SMEs in Nairobi County need to ensure that their employees are exposed to favorable working environment. Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners should also consider implementing incentive initiatives that recognize and reward employees for following safety protocols and promptly reporting any potential hazards. This can help create a safety-conscious culture and improve employee productivity and motivation.