Investigating the health and safety practices of fashion apprentices in small and medium sized dressmaking enterprises (SMES) in Kumasi metropolis

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the health and safety practices of fashion apprentices in small and medium-sized (SME) dressmaking enterprises in the Kumasi Metropolis in the Ashanti Region in Ghana. The study employed the exploratory research design in the conduct of the study. Using the purposive sampling technique, a total of 94 apprentices were sampled to participate in the study. Using the quantitative approach to research questionnaires were adopted as the main instrument of data collection. The study found that apprentices in the Kumasi metropolis are familiar with occupational health and safety practices and also, they are exposed to cut and injuries from sharp edges, knife blades, scissors and pins, slips, trips, and falls, dangerous machinery and electrical shocks, stitching or running over the fingers with the sewing machines. The study additionally discovered that various policies and systems are implemented to ensure work safety for workers and also that the policies relate to reception of workplace health and safety training. The study therefore recommended that health and safety compliance must be enforced to basic Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulatory requirements pertaining to the provision of first aid kits and first aider, protective clothing and equipment and training in and supervision of their use.