Workers’ Perceptions of Workplace Safety: An African Perspective

Abstract

This study investigated workers ‘ perceptions of workplace safety in an African work environment, specificallyin Ghanaian work places. Workers’ safety perceptions were examined with Hayes et al. ‘s. (1998) Work SafetyScale. Comparative analyses were done between high- and low-accident groups, and t tests were employed totest for differences of statistical significance. Relative to their colleagues in the low-accident category, workersin the high-accident category exhibited negative perceptions on safety. They had negative perceptions regardingwork safety, safety programmes, supervisors, and co-workers ‘ contributions. Besides, they expressed less jobsatisfaction and were less committed to safety management policies. Perceptions regarding management’sattitude towards safety between the 2 groups were not of statistical significance. The analyses provided anexplanation for the cause of a substantial portion of the high rate of industrial accidents in Ghana’s workenvironment. Implications for safety management are discussed.

• organizational safety climate
• work environment
• developing nations
• safety perceptions
• industrial accidents