Download Human Resource Management in Nigeria

Ph. D Proposal
By
ODOGWU JOSEPH EBAREOTU
INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE
IN SELECTED CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES IN DELTA STATE
Background of the Study
There is no doubt that the human resource that an organization has is one of
its versatile resources. Therefore, an effective and efficient use of the human
resource will translate into the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the
organization (John and Mark, 1996). Though many organizations accept this to be
true, they fail to realize that as part of their human resource management practices,
there is the need for management to ensure that personnel in the organization work
in safe and healthy environment that will promote their optimum utilization (Eze,
2006). It should be emphasized that accidents are costly both to the affected worker
and the organization.
Industrial safety in the workplace has become an integral component to the
viability
of
business
for
employers,
labour
unions,
governments,
and
environmentalists in general (Cooper, 1997). Naturally a need for safety is an
intrinsically human concern. Every individual in life whether one is employed or
not, both at the workplace and outside the workplace has the intrinsic need to be
safe. Poor health reduces productivity and worker's efficiency. Business decisionmakers are starting to recognize that a healthy organization is a place where
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employees are satisfied and committed – and healthy – and that unhealthy
organizations have reduced profits and increased absenteeism (Lyden and Klengele
2000). For instance Lipold (2001) argued that investing in health promotion is a
way of boosting employee performance and reducing absenteeism
A review of industrial accident literature reveals that most studies have been
carried out to analyze industrial accident in isolation from performance. Industrial
accidents affect production and reduce productivity of both the workers and the
organization (Ogbo, 2008). Accident does not only reduce performance, it also
contributes to the cost of production. This cost can be classified into direct and
indirect
costs.
The
direct
costs
are
made
up
of
medical
fees,
compensation/insurance cost, death benefits, wage lost etc. while the indirect cost
include, loss of time, damage to machineries and equipment, replacement of injured
employees etc.
Furthermore, Somavia (2008) posits that in an attempt to reduce industrial
accidents, organizations put in place necessary safety practices. Safety practice is
concerned with the behaviour of employees with regard to the rules, regulations,
policies and conducts that shape or govern their actions and inactions or activities in
the workplace in order to reduce or even eliminate accidental losses and injuries and
maximize the objective of the organization (Pelletier, 2001). The relationship
between safety practices and employees organizational performance may have been
well documented for other businesses in other economies but the same cannot be
said of the construction firms in Nigeria.
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Aims and Objectives of the Study
The aim of the study is to investigate the nature of health hazards/problems
encountered by employees in the work environment and its effect on organizational
performance in Nigeria. Specific objectives of the study are:
1. To examine how industrial safety leads to enhanced productivity in
selected construction companies in Delta state
2. To investigate the relationship between industrial safety and absenteeism
in selected construction companies in Delta state
3. To find out the implication of industrial safety on increased profitability
in selected construction companies in Delta state
4. To know whether industrial safety contributes to organizational
competitive advantage in selected construction companies in Delta state
5. To access the role of industrial safety in boosting customer loyalty in
selected construction companies in Delta state
6. To identify the problems militating against safety practices in selected
construction companies in Delta state
7. To recommend measures to improve industrial safety and organizational
performance in selected construction companies in Delta state
Methodology
The scope of the research is limited to the six most populous construction
companies in Delta State (Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Setraco Nigeria Ltd,
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Fourgerolle Nigeria Ltd, Nigercat Nigeria Ltd, Dantata & Sawoe Nigeria Ltd and
Costain Nigeria Ltd). It is assumed that responses obtained from workers in these
selected companies would be representative of all construction workers opinion on
industrial safety and organizational performance. An exploratory, cross-sectional
survey would be used in generating the primary data required for the study. The
population of study shall consist of 40,568 workers of three categories (3,560
supervisors, 10,028 foremen and 26,980 workmen) drawn from the six construction
companies selected for the study. A sample of 396 workers (35 supervisors, 98
foremen and 263 workmen) determined at 5% level of significance for sample error,
using Taro Yamane‘s (1964) formula, shall be selected using stratified random
sampling method for the purpose of questionnaire administration. The questionnaire
will be designed to obtain a fair representation of the opinions of the three
categories of construction workers in the six selected companies using a five-point
Likert type scale.
The questionnaire responses of the sample respondents would be presented
using tables, analyzed and interpreted using simple percentages while the study
hypotheses shall be analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC)
and regression via the Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences. The interviews
with Key Informants comprising three persons (manager, supervisor and human
resource officer) from each of the construction company will be conducted during
the workers’ lunch breaks and will last 30–50 min, depending on the context in
which they were conducted, and on the participants’ level of education.
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Expected Outcomes
Since human performance is higher when people are physically and
emotionally able to work and have the desire to work, healthy and safe work
environments will reduce the overall costs of health care, both public and private.
Also, effective occupational health and safety policies will no doubt have positive
impact on job performance in the selected companies. It is expected that industrial
safety will increase healthier and safer performance, increase job satisfaction and
lower psychological stress, decrease absenteeism, and increase profitability and
productivity. Creating a healthy workplace and a healthy workforce in any
occupational environment would be the best way to position that organization to
better delivery of services.
References
Cooper, W.T. (1997). Towards a Safe Working Environment. Engineering for
Safety Conference New York: Oxford University Press.
Eze, F.C. (2006). Human Resource Management in Nigeria. 2nd Edition, Enugu:
De-verge Agencies Publication.
John, J.P. and Mark, A.F. (1996). Fundamental of Occupational Safety and Health.
Rockville: MD. Lourandos J 2008. “The way forward” in Nigerian
Manufacturing Firms. Lagos: The Guardian Publisher.
Lipold, A. G. 2001. “Six Ideas to Boost Employee Productivity.” Business &
Health, 19(10):5.
Lyden, J. A. and W. E. Klengele. 2000. “Supervising Organizational Health.”
Supervision, 61(12):3-6.
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Ogbo, A.I. (2008). The Impact of Industrial Safety Management on the
Performance of Manufacturing Firms. Ph.D Thesis, Unpublished. University
of Nsukka.
Pelletier, K. R. (2001). A Review and Analysis of the Clinical- and CostEffectiveness Studies of Comprehensive Health Promotion and Disease
Management Programs at the Worksite: 1998-2000 Update.” American
Journal of Health Promotion, 16(2):107-16.
Somavia, J. (2008). My Life, My Work, My Safe Work: Managing Risk in the Work
Environment. Geneva: TUC.
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