Regulatory Compliance And Eye Safety: A Review Of Industrial Standards In Mashonaland Central Province.

Author

Mutumwa, Tafara C

Title

Regulatory Compliance And Eye Safety: A Review Of Industrial Standards In Mashonaland Central Province.

Abstract

Background: Occupational eye injuries remain a concern in many industrial settings, despite most industries complying with safety training protocols and personal protective equipment (PPE) wear enforcement. Although these injuries can be prevented, the actual compliance level of employees to prevent such instances is still unclear.

Purpose: To determine regulatory compliance and eye safety in accordance with industrial standards in the Mashonaland Central Province.

Methods: A cross-sectional study approach using questionnaires was conducted at Freda Rebecca Gold Mine in Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The questionnaires were used to gather information on workers’ use of protective eyewear, employee training experiences, and how safety culture is perceived in the workplace. Data on workers’ personal and professional details, including age, sex, educational attainment, work experience, job function, use of eye protection, and a subjective rating of workplace safety, were collected with their consent.

Results: The study comprised 178 participants from the Freda Rebecca Gold Mine. The workforce was predominantly male (91.6%) and ranged in age from 18 to 64 years. About 39.3% (n=70) held a bachelor’s degree, 36% (64) had either a diploma or certificate, and 24.7% (n=44) completed high school. Of these, 88.8% (n=158) had received eye safety training, with only 66.9% (n=119) reporting always using eye protection, reflecting a gap between awareness and practice. A total of 80.9% (n=144) were comfortable reporting eye-related injuries, and 80.3% (n=143) reported receiving regular safety feedback from their colleagues or supervisors.

Conclusion: Regardless of work experience or educational level, workplace safety compliance is still an issue, indicating a significant gap between knowledge and its consistent implementation. There is still a need to close the gap between knowledge and knowledge implementation.

Date

July 2025

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

Regulatory Compliance

Eye Safety

Industrial Standards

Supervisor

Dr C N Mtuwa