Workers’ Perceptions of Workplace Safety: An African Perspective

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