Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
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 1 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. 2 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, 3 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. 4 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. 5 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. 6