Occupational Health and Safety Training and Employee Performance of Brookside Dairy Limited, Kiambu County, Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64137/31079423/IJEBMR-V2I2P117Keywords:
Occupational, Health, Safety, Training, PerformanceAbstract
Occupational Health and Safety training is a critical aspect of organizational performance because it promotes safe working conditions, reduces workplace accidents, and enhances employee productivity. This study examined the influence of occupational health and safety training on employee performance at Brookside Dairy Limited in Kiambu County, Kenya, while also assessing the moderating effect of government Occupational Health and Safety policy guidelines. The study was guided by the Theory of Organisational Effectiveness, which emphasises the importance of organisational adaptation to environmental and operational conditions for achieving improved performance outcomes. The study adopted a positivist research philosophy and employed a descriptive cross-sectional research design. The target population comprised 1,530 employees of Brookside Dairy Limited, including top-level management, middle-level management, and non-management staff. Stratified random sampling was used to obtain a sample size of 317 respondents, determined through Yamane’s formula. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires containing closed-ended questions. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression analysis to establish relationships among variables and test the moderating effect of government policy guidelines. The findings revealed that occupational health and safety training was highly rated by employees, with respondents indicating that training programs were regularly conducted, of good quality, and positively influenced employee performance. Correlation analysis established a strong positive and statistically significant relationship between Occupational Health and Safety training and employee performance (r = 0.825, p < 0.01). Regression analysis further showed that Occupational Health and Safety training significantly predicted employee performance (β = 0.436, p < 0.001). The study also established that government Occupational Health and Safety policy guidelines had a significant moderating effect on the relationship between Occupational Health and Safety training and employee performance, with government policy guidelines strongly enhancing compliance, accountability, and implementation of workplace safety practices. The study concluded that effective Occupational Health and Safety Training, supported by strong management commitment, adequate financial resources, and effective government policy enforcement, significantly improves employee performance. The study recommends strengthening employee safety training programs, increasing financial support for Occupational Health and Safety initiatives, and enhancing enforcement of government Occupational Health and Safety regulations to improve organizational performance and workplace safety.
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