Safety Management System and Employee Performance in Textile Manufacturing Companies in Selected Counties in Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine how work safety compliance relates to employee performance in textile manufacturing companies in Kenya. The specific objectives of the study included: to determine the relationship of worker’s knowledge of safety standards in textile manufacturing companies in Kenya, to establish the influence of safety promotional policies in textile manufacturing companies in Kenya, to determine the effect of workers participation in implementation of safety standards in textile manufacturing companies in Kenya, to establish how communication influence employee performance in textile manufacturing companies in Kenya and to determine the moderating effect of management commitment on work safety compliance and employee performance in textile manufacturing companies in Kenya. The theories that anchored the study include: Heinrich domino theory, Human factor theory, behavioral based Safety theory, system theory and social exchange theory. The target population included all the textile manufacturing companies in the export processing zone which are 22 under Export processing zone program. This study sampled 400 respondents. This study adopted a descriptive cross sectional research design. Data was collected using questionnaire and key informant’s interviews. Data was revised, coded for computerized data entry. Data analysis included descriptive analysis and inferential analysis which was done by use of statistical package for social Sciences, Version 22. Inferential data analysis was carried out by the use of multiple regression analysis to determine the significance and a magnitude of each of the four independent variables and moderating variable in respect to employee performance in textile industries in Kenya. Hypothesis testing was carried out using t-test and multiple regression analysis. Inferential statistical analysis showed that there was a correlation between worker’s knowledge of safety standards, safety promotional policies, worker participation and safety communication, and employee performance. Management commitment was found to moderate the relationship between work safety compliance and employee performance in textile manufacturing companies in Kenya. The study concluded that workers knowledge of safety standards, workers participation in implementation of safety standards, safety communication and management commitment if properly utilized contributes to improved employee performance in textile manufacturing companies in Kenya. The study recommends that textile manufacturing companies should conduct periodic safety training and awareness of safety standards among their employees. The study also recommends that well-structured policies should be formulated and enforced to ensure compliance among their employees. It also recommended that workers should be involved in decision making of safety standards so they can own those policies.