SAFETY AND HEALTH MEASURES ON ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE AT KENYA POWER AND LIGHTING COMPANY
SAFETY AND HEALTH MEASURES ON ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE AT KENYA POWER AND LIGHTING COMPANY
Florence Njeri Muriuki - Student, Master of Arts in Public Policy & Administration, Kenyatta University, Kenya
Jane Njoroge - Lecturer, Kenyatta University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Occupational health and safety is considered by modern organizations as an ingredient to safe and productive workplaces. Even with extensive research in organizational health and safety in the recent years, there is little evidence to understand health and safety measures on organizational performance. This study examined the effect of first aid training, supervision and personal protective equipment on performance of Kenya Power Company (KPLC). Constructivism learning theory, goal freedom alertness theory and distractions theory are the theories upon which the study is anchored. This study utilized the descriptive research design and sampled 290 employees of KPLC working in the Central Rift region. The study administered questionnaires to top management up to shop floor employees working at the various departments. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation and regression measures. The study results showed that first aid training, occupational health and safety supervision as well as protective equipment had significant relationship organizational performance. The results of the study conclude that first aid training, OHS supervision and use of PPEs have strong positive association with organizational performance. The study recommends regular first aid training including short courses and in-the-job training, enforcement of safety and healthy work practices, and ensuring safety of workers exposed to risk, hazards and workplace accidents. The implications of the study are that KPLC organization should embrace the occupational health and safety (OHS) measures since they significantly improve its performance. It is therefore crucial for KPLC management to over emphasize on health standards to enable productivity of the employees. Specifically, there should be policies governing first aid training, occupational health and safety supervision and personal protective equipment.
