Occupational safety and health status of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology: A case study of Engineering Workshops

Abstract

Indicators of safety and health at work provide the framework for assessing extents to which workers are protected from work-related hazards and risks. These include indicators of outcome, capacity, capability, and activities. This research aimed at evaluating the occupational safety and health status of Engineering Workshops of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. The objectives of the study were to identify and evaluate significant hazards and establish their association with the safety management system. The methodology used involved literature review, fieldwork, and analysis of research findings. The fieldwork involved data collection using questionnaires, physical inspections, interviews, program evaluation profile and site measurement of major hazards within Engineering Workshops.

Research findings showed that the management system was at developmental stage, noise levels in classrooms were above 50dB(A) compared to recommended 35dB(A), while noise mapping around the standby generator gave an average of 79.7dB(A) against recommended 55dB(A). Dust levels were 17.7mg/m³ and 19.1mg/m³ for respirable and environmental, which were above recommended values of 5mg/m³ and 10 mg/m³ respectively. Lighting was less than 750lux in marking out areas while classrooms experienced disability glare at above 1000lux.

From the results, it was deduced that the state of occupational safety and health management system predisposed workers to adverse hazards. It was recommended that an evaluation be made of the entire university to establish the overall status in order to develop uniform safety policies for the entire university.