Occupational health and safety knowledge, attitudes and practices of employees at an energy parastatal: Case of ZPC Munyati power station, Zimbabwe
- Author
- Nicole G Miruka
- Title
- Occupational health and safety knowledge, attitudes and practices of employees at an energy parastatal: Case of ZPC Munyati power station, Zimbabwe
- Abstract
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Background of study: Continuous improvement in occupational health and safety (OHS) has substantial reductions accidents and work-related disease. The energy industry is key to national economic development but has high incidences of occupational accidents and ill-health.
Aim: To determine knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of employees for OHS at energy parastatals in Zimbabwe.
Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted using a pre-tested questionnaire administered to 223 randomly selected employees from six departments at ZPC between March and April, 2023. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the characteristics of participants. Scoring method was used in determining the levels of KAP. Further analysis was done to determine the association between demographic information and KAP using a Chi-square test.
Key findings: Respondents had good knowledge (mean score =75.3%), moderate attitude (mean score = 61.8%) and moderate practices (mean score = 38.2%) towards OHS using Blooms cut off points. There was significant association between age, and the level of education of the participant with knowledge (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The study indicated acceptable knowledge, attitudes and practices of employees for OHS with potential room for continuous improvement. The KAP of employees towards OHS may be influenced by the individual characteristics suggesting the need for interventions targeting individual behaviour change.
- Date
- JUNE 2024
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- Key terms: energy sector; parastatal, occupational safety, Zimbabwe
- Supervisor
- NIL
- Item sets
- Department of Environmental Sciences
- Media
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Nicole G Miruka