A Study Into Knowledge, Attitude, And Practices Towards Confined Spaces At Harare Water Department

Author

Vimbai Chikosha

Title

A Study Into Knowledge, Attitude, And Practices Towards Confined Spaces At Harare Water Department

Abstract

Background: Working in confined spaces is very risky and unavoidable in water services and carries potential hazards because such spaces are not primarily designed or intended for continuous human occupancy. Confined spaces pose a risk of injury or death to anybody who works there as a result there are regulatory rules such as, Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) 1994 and Industry Code of Practice for Safe working in Confined Space (ICOP)2010.These are to ensure the safety of employees and assets. Failing to follow standard operating procedures may result in fatalities, injuries and diseases. In spaces like manholes, water tanks and sewers, septic tanks to mention a few. This study aimed to understand the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of workers who work in confined spaces at Harare City Council Water Department Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out and data was collected using research questionnaires. Eighty (80) research questionnaires were administered amongst the participants in confined spaces in the Harare City Council Water Department (HCCWD). The questionnaire consisted of four sections namely, demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) section. Data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2019 and SPSS version 21. Results: A total of 80 respondents participated in the study with 90% being male, while 10% were female.65.8% of the participants were accounted for by the age group from 25-40 years. The participant’s knowledge score was quite fair at 68%. The attitude score was quite positive at 63%. The practices score was positive at 51%. Conclusion: In conclusion, the workers in the water department who works in confined spaces demonstrated fair knowledge, positive attitude and positive practices when working in confined spaces. Despite fair knowledge and good attitude however practices show that even if they know what they are supposed to do it is not what they put into practice on the actual ground

Date

June 2024

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

Confined spaces

Knowledge

Attitudes

Water department

Supervisor

Dr.Nyamugure