Factors Influencing Accident Occurrence among Food Laboratory Workers in Mombasa County, Kenya

Abstract

Occupational accidents kill nearly one thousand people every day. There were over 313 million non-fatal occupational accidents in 2010, meaning that around the world work provokes injury for approximately 860,000 people every day. Kenya has put in place legislations to safeguard the safety and health of workers, but still the number of accidents at workplaces has continued to increase. According to the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services (DOSHS) Annual Report, the Coast region was leading with the number of fatal accidents at 42 and non-fatal accidents at 842 for the year 2004. Literature from various parts of the world has identified numerous factors influencing these accident occurrences. Human error plays a big role in accident causation, behavioral factors such as factors attributed to the worker, e.g. improper attitude, lack of knowledge, lack of skills and inadequate physical and mental condition. Carelessness and reckless behavior, inattention or fatigue, inadequate or unsafe equipment and lack of adequate training increase the probability of accidents to occur. However, not much has been documented in Kenya, particularly in Mombasa County. This study therefore sought to investigate the factors influencing the occurrences of accidents in the food laboratories in Mombasa Country through establishing the influence, if any, of drug and substance use, working environment and trainings in OSH on laboratory safety practices and accident occurrence among the laboratory workers. Data collected was analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively using the SPSS computer software and results were presented in tables as percentages and frequencies. Results indicated slip and falls as the main cause of accidents as was reported by 43% of respondents. The results also showed a strong inverse correlation between the work experience and accident occurrence. Knowledge on OSH and laboratory safety Practices, drug and substance use among the laboratory and working environment were the key factors affecting accident occurrence among food laboratory workers. The level of awareness on occupational safety and health was inadequate as 53.8% of the workers were not aware of the safety precautions. The study concluded that; inadequate training on occupational health and safety, drug use among Food laboratory workers and poor working environment were the key causes of accident occurrence in food laboratories. The study recommended an inclusion of training progamme for all food laboratory workers, development and implementation of alcohol and substance policy and screening of workers before accessing their station and inspection of work environment to be done regularly to ensure it is conducive for the workers.