IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

IIARD International Journal of Economics and Business Management (IJEBM )

E-ISSN 2489-0065
P-ISSN 2695-186X
VOL. 2 NO. 5 2016

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An Analysis of the Level of Awareness and Barriers to Effective Organizational Health and Safety Practices among Nigerian Public and Private Sectors Workers

Nelly .C. Nwachukwu, Ugochukwu .U. Ikeije

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Abstract

Occupational health and safety (OHS) is sine qua non to a safe work place and productive workforce. Developing countries are widely criticised for the lack of effective OHS policy and consequent lack of awareness. This study analysed barriers to effective occupational health and safety uptake in Nigeria’s public and private sector. The objectives were to determine current barriers to effective OHS uptake; examine extant OHS policies and their adequacy, ascertain the level of awareness of applicable OHS standards in the workplace, and compare the level of awareness of OHS between public and private sectors workers. In order to achieve this, a survey research method was conducted. Questionnaire survey was used to collect relevant data for the study. Test statistics includes percentage and charts, chi-square and inter-rater agreement. Findings of the study reveal that unemployment, lack of government commitment, low accident reporting culture are current barriers while corruption and non-domestication of safety standards are disincentives for the uptake of effective OHS. Further finding indicates there is a high level of awareness on the needs for safe work place practices. The study however contend that a high level of awareness ought to drive the demand for standard health and safety policies where there are none in the workplace, but regrettably, the enforcement mechanisms available to the employees are very weak. While barriers and disincentives may be distinguished, the implication is that, strategies towards improving OHS practices in Nigeria should first be targeted at mitigating barriers in order to curb the challenges arising from disincentive factors.

keywords:

Occupational health and safety, Health and Safety awareness, Health and safety barriers, Public sector, Private sector, Workers

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