COMPLIANCE WITH THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT (2007) IN PUBLIC TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING (TVET) INSTITUTIONS IN KISUMU COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Occupational health and safety is a disciplinary area which is concerned with the protection and safety, health and welfare of people engaged in any kind of work or employment. In TVET institutions the role of promoting safety and health education is even more significant since the courses acquired there are practical in nature hence the risk of injury is higher. This study investigated the observance of OSHA 2007, OSH risk management and safe systems of work. This study investigated compliance with Occupational Safety and Health act 2007 (OSHA 2007) in Technical and Vocational Educational and Training (TVET) institutions in Kisumu County, Kenya. This study was guided by the following objectives; to investigate awareness of Occupational Safety and Health Act 2007 in public TVET institutions in Kisumu County, Kenya. To establish existence of Occupational Safety and Health training in public TVET institutions in Kisumu County, Kenya. To determine the existence Safety Health and Environment committees in TVET institutions in Kisumu County, Kenya. To investigate on the compliance with legislation of occupational safety and health risk management practices and of safe systems of work as stipulated in the Occupational Safety and Health Act 2007 in public TVET institutions in Kisumu County, Kenya. The findings will be valuable to the Ministry of Education in its mandate to ensure Education is delivered in a safe environment. The study will also be important to TVET authority and the institution’s management, by informing on existing gaps regarding occupational safety. The information obtained from this research will be useful to the Directorate of Occupational Safety in its mandate to ensure all places of work are safe. Descriptive survey research design was employed to collect data on what, when, where, and how of the compliance with OSHA 2007 in Kisumu County, Kenya. The research targeted 26 registered public TVET institutions, 26 principals, 416 trainers, 234 workshop technicians and 32,000 trainees in Kisumu County, Kenya. The sample size was 24 public TVET institutions, 24 principals, 203 trainers, 148 workshop technicians and 395 trainees. The research adopted stratified random sampling to acquire a sample. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected through observation checklist and questionnaires respectively. The data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. The findings were: Majority of the TVET institutions had OSHA 2007 in practice but the awareness of its statutes was inadequate; training on occupational safety were seldom conducted and when conducted there was no documentary evidence; Most TVET institutions didn’t have safety committees; compliance to legislation of occupational safety, health risk management practices and safe systems of work were neglected in most TVET institutions. The study recommends that; emphasis be given in regard compliance on the OSHA 2007 in public TVET institutions, the OSHA 2007 safe systems of work be installed in public TVET institutions, the top management in TVET institutions to comply and enforce OSHA 2007 in the work places, the TVET Authority to ensure compliance to OSH risk management practices in TVET institutions such as risk assessment programmes, workplace audits and workplace inspections.