Abstract:
This study looked at how shop owners and artisans at Kokompe, in Sekondi - Takoradi
Industrial Area managed safety in machine shops. The study employed a case study as its
research design. The population consisted of shop owners, factory inspectors, and artisans
(auto body builders and welders). The sample size of ninety - six (96) comprised twenty - one
(21) shop owners, one (1) factory inspector and seventy - four (74) artisans totalling ninety -
six (96) purposively selected from the Kokompe Industrial Area of Sekondi - Takoradi. Three
sets of questionnaires were prepared and used to collect data for the study. The data was
analyzed using Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS v16). The findings of
the study revealed that 52 (54.7%) of the respondents admitted that accidents do occur at the
machine shops and the frequency is very high 67 (70.5%). Among the common accidents they
encountered were cuts, hammering of hands and burns recorded respectively. It was found out
that generally the common accidents were as a results of inexperience,
inattentiveness/carelessness and unsafe acts and unsafe conditions. The study concluded that
the artisans work in poor ergonomic posture. The study also concluded that some effects of
accidents in the workshop that affects the artisans are; loss of man hours, absenteeism, body
pains, deformities, high cost of treatment. Based on the findings, it is recommended that
training and refresher courses should be organized using simulations or scenarios at the work
place for both new recruits and regular workers respectively. The master/shop-owner should
enforce that all the new apprentices coming should come with their Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) before allowing them to start the work.
Description:
A dissertation in the Department of TECNOLOGY EDUCATION Faculty of
TECHNICAL/VOCATIONAL EDUCATION, submitted to the school of Graduate
studies, University of Education, Winneba in partial fulfilment of the requirement for
award of the Master of Technology in Mechanical degree.
SEPTEMBER, 2018