How Health and Safety Training Affects Service Delivery Among Staff in the Ministry of Health in Busia County, Kenya

Abstract

Employee safety and health programmes occupy a pivotal position in Human Resource Management. Improving employee productivity and occupational health and safety (OHS) therefore, have been an important field of interest to industry especially in developing countries. The purpose of this study therefore was to analyze effect of health and safety training on service delivery. This study adopted explanatory research design. The target population consisted of 13 Administration staff, two (2) County Health Chief Officers (CO), three (3) Directors of Health, two (2) County Health Human Resource Managers, 13 Nursing Officers, 13 Health Administrators, 582 nurses, 12 Clinical Officers and 14 Health Records Information Officers. A sample of 284 employees was derived. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data and a pilot study conducted to pre-test questionnaires for validity and reliability. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed as the main data analysis methods using Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS Version 20). The findings of the study were presented using tables and figures. Findings of the study showed that health and safety training had a statistically significant positive relationship with the service delivery in Busia County. The conclusions of the study were: health and safety training should be very efficient and practiced in Busia County to improve service delivery. Safety inspection should be carried out on regular basis by the line managers and supervisors with the advice and help of safety and health advisers. Routine inspection for all premises for possible safety and health problems, using checklist as aids should be enhanced. Therefore, the following were recommendations of the study: The County Government of Busia County should seriously consider and implement effectively health and safety training. Workplace safety should be considered by the County Government as an important operational priority in addition to cost, quality, flexibility, delivery, and innovation to save lives and improve service delivery. The study would help the County government and other employers who had the legal responsibilities to provide safe workplaces and systems of work, adopt occupational health safety management system.