Home Articles List Article Information
Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research
Journal Archive
Volume Volume 6 (2018)
Volume Volume 5 (2017)
Volume Volume 4 (2016)
Volume Volume 3 (2015)
Volume Volume 2 (2014)
Volume Volume 1 (2013)
Akple, M., Turkson, R., Ezugwu, C., Biscoff, R., Bosrotsi, C. (2014). An empirical investigation into the relationship between workshop operations and accidents in local automobile garages in Ghana. Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research, 2(3), 142-150. doi: 10.22102/jaehr.2014.40156
Maxwell S Akple; Richard Fiifi Turkson; Chizoba I Ezugwu; Robert K Biscoff; Cephas K Bosrotsi. "An empirical investigation into the relationship between workshop operations and accidents in local automobile garages in Ghana". Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research, 2, 3, 2014, 142-150. doi: 10.22102/jaehr.2014.40156
Akple, M., Turkson, R., Ezugwu, C., Biscoff, R., Bosrotsi, C. (2014). 'An empirical investigation into the relationship between workshop operations and accidents in local automobile garages in Ghana', Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research, 2(3), pp. 142-150. doi: 10.22102/jaehr.2014.40156
Akple, M., Turkson, R., Ezugwu, C., Biscoff, R., Bosrotsi, C. An empirical investigation into the relationship between workshop operations and accidents in local automobile garages in Ghana. Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research, 2014; 2(3): 142-150. doi: 10.22102/jaehr.2014.40156

An empirical investigation into the relationship between workshop operations and accidents in local automobile garages in Ghana

Article 2, Volume 2, Issue 3, Summer 2014, Page 142-150  XML PDF (325 K)
DOI: 10.22102/jaehr.2014.40156
Authors
Maxwell S Akple1; Richard Fiifi Turkson 2; Chizoba I Ezugwu3; Robert K Biscoff4; Cephas K Bosrotsi5
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Ho Polytechnic, Ho, Ghana AND School of Material Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
2Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Ho Polytechnic, Ho, Ghana AND School of Automotive Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
3School of Material Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
4Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Ho Polytechnic, Ho, Ghana
5Department of Agricultural Engineering, School of Engineering, Ho Polytechnic, Ho, Ghana
Abstract
Local automobile garage workers carry out daily workshop operations, which sometimes lead to accidents and injuries. Therefore, this study was carried out to establish a relationship between automobile workshop operations causing accidents and safety practices among local garage workers in Ghana. Three main data collection approaches were used in the study namely focus group discussions (10 FGDs), observation and survey (250 respondents). Data were analyzed with SPSS. From the FGDs, participants identified workshop operations that had the potential of causing accidents, safety factors and safety practices. Factor reduction analysis was carried out where identified workshop operations were clustered into three factors relating to worker’s attitude toward workshop operations, working environment and management practices, and work monotony. Safety practices were clustered into two main components regarding worker’s approach to safety measures and provision and storage of chemicals appropriately. Five safety measures were mentioned to be practiced in garages that had a positive moderate correlation with the potential workshop operations causing accidents. Finally, it could be said that local garage workers had some level of knowledge concerning safety measures but the practice does not measure up to standard and best safety practices. Therefore, safety seminars and training sessions should be organized for local automobile garage workers. 
Keywords
Accidents; safety; automobile; Local Garages; Ghana
References
  1. Reverente BR. Occupational health services for small-scale industries. In: Jeyaratnam J, Editor. Occupational Health in Developing Countries. 9th ed. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press; 1992. p. 62-88.
  2. Ghebreyohannes T. Occupational health and safety in garages. African newsletter on occupational health and safety 2005; 15(2): 43-5.
  3. Leung PC, Ng TK. A Preliminary Look into the causative factors of occupational hand injuries in hong kong. Hong Kongm, China: The Bulletin of the Hong Kong Medical Association; 1978.
  4. Magyar SV. Confined Space Entry [Online]. [cited 2006]; Available from: URL:
  5. http://ohsonline.com/articles/2006/02/confined-space-entry-part-1.aspx
  6. Akple MS, Turkson RF, Biscoff R, Nyamuame GY. Accident and safety violation in automobile repair workshops in Ghana. International Journal of Business, Management and Social Sciences 2013; 4(1): 12-21.
  7. Streiner DL. Starting at the beginning: an introduction to coefficient alpha and internal consistency. J Pers Assess 2003; 80(1): 99-103.
  8. Field AP. Discovering statistics using SPSS: (and sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll). New York, NY: Sage Publications; 2005.
  9. Tabachnick BG, Fidell LS. Principal components analysis & factor analysis. In: Tabachnick BG, Fidell LS, Editors. Using multivariate statistics. Corte Madera, CA: HarperCollins College Publishers; 1998.
  10. Anglim J. Cluster Analysis & Factor Analysis; Research Methods Lecture Notes [Online]. [cited 2007]; Available from: URL:
  11. https://github.com/jeromyanglim/-jeromyanglim-old-psychsite-/blob/master/03clusterandfactoranalysis. pdf?raw=true
  12. .Yiha O, Kumie A. Assessment of occupational injuries in tendaho agricultural development S.C, afar regional state. Ethiop J Health Dev 2010; 24(3): 167-74.
  13. Chau N, Mur JM, Touron C, Benamghar L, Dehaene D. Correlates of occupational injuries for various jobs in railway workers: a case-control study. J Occup Health
  14. ; 46(4): 272-80.
  15. Rantanen J. Basic occupational health services-their structure, content and objectives. SJWEH Suppl 2005; 1: 5-15.
  16. WHO. Occupational health program of WHO Headquarters. Geneva, Switzerland: The Global Occupational Health Network; 2003.
  17. Alazab R. Work-related diseases & occupational injuries among workers in the construction industry in Egypt. African newsletter on occupational Health & Safety 2004; 14(2): 37-42.
  18. Sherry P. Person-Environment Fit and Accident Prediction. Journal of Business and Psychology 1991; 5(3): 411-6.
  19. Lundstrom T, Pugliese G, Bartley J, Cox J, Guither C. Organizational and environmental factors that affect worker health and safety and patient outcomes. Am J Infect Control 2002; 30(2): 93-106.
  20. Tadesse T, Kumie A. Prevalence and factors affecting work-related injury among workers engaged in Small and Medium-Scale Industries in Gondar wereda, north Gondar zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. Ethiop J Health Dev 2007; 21(1): 25-34.
  21. Gyekye SA, Salminen S. Making Sense of Industrial Accidents: The Role of Job Satisfaction. Journal of Social Sciences 2006; 2(4): 127-34.
Statistics
Article View: 3,584
PDF Download: 870