Assessing the Effectiveness of Occupational Safety and Health Management System: In The Case Of Ambo Hospital

Abstract

Occupational safety and health is one of the issues of concern in health sector. Occupational accidents and injuries not only entail an appalling human toll, but also account for a significant economic burden on national economies. The general objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of occupational safety and health management systems in Ambo Hospital. It was aimed to assess the occupational safety and health management systems effectiveness regard to rate of injuries and illnesses cases, management commitment, the completeness of employee personal protection as well as degree of regular control and inspection regard to OHS at Ambo Hospital. This study employed descriptive survey research design and used mixed research approach. The population of this study was 802. Primary data source was physician, nurses, management officers, management supportive staffs, medical officers and medical supportive staffs of Ambo Hospital. On the other hand, the secondary data was collected from reports and procedures of Ambo Hospital, published and unpublished journals, books, magazines, research reports and newspapers. Data was collected using a questionnaire, and interview. From 267 employee and managers selected by using stratified simple random sampling technique from Ambo Hospital. Descriptive statistics were used for the analysis of quantitative data. The qualitative data was organized in themes and presented in a descriptive narrative. The study findings indicate that musculoskeletal injuries were the most common occupational accidents, followed by infections. Participants expressed a notable perception that management lacks sufficient involvement in Occupational Safety and Health Management (OSHM). They reported limited encouragement for open communication channels between workers and management regarding safety concerns. Additionally, there was a deficiency in the provision of masks and full-body hazmat suits essential for protection from hazardous materials. Concerns were also raised about the absence of standardized checklists for health and safety inspections, as well as poor visibility due to inadequate workplace floor painting. Moreover, participants highlighted potential gaps in routine inspections for identifying safety hazards and periodic machine inspections by professionals, indicating a need for improvement in ensuring workplace safety. Therefore, to alleviate these problems the study recommendations the Management enhancing leadership involvement in OSHM, establishing clear communication channels, and integrating productivity, safety, and quality as well as involve standardizing workplace inspection checklists, enhancing cleanliness and protection standards, and conducting regular professional inspections. Employees focus on adherence to safety protocols, active participation in hazard reporting, and continuous training.