Management commitment and its impact on occupational health and safety improvement: a case of iron, steel and metal manufacturing industries

Abstract

PurposeManagement commitments (MCs) have a prominent effect to create a safe work environment in the industries. Though there have been various studies on the prevalence and associated factors of OHS in Ethiopian manufacturing industries, the role of MCs in improving workplace safety, however, has not been studied so far. The purpose of this paper is, therefore, to investigate the role of MCs on improving OHS in iron, steel and metal manufacturing industries (ISMMI) in Addis Ababa.Design/methodology/approachThis paper used a close-ended questionnaire to collect primary data from 89 ISMMI and fitted the data in structural equation modelling (SEM) techniques using SPSS and AMOS.FindingsThe major findings of the study showed that directly or indirectly there are good MCs in Ethiopian ISMMI. To some extent, MCs have also resulted in reducing risk and diseases causing factors, which subsequently reduced occupational risks and disease. However, the study showed that MCs are not strategically supported.Research limitations/implicationsDue to the limited scope of data collection, the research results may not be equally implemented outside Addis Ababa and other sectors.Practical implicationsThe findings of the research may help policymakers and managers to strictly control MCs and follow up implementation of OHS policies.Originality/valueThis paper is the first of its kind in developing the conceptual framework model and attempting to assess MCs using structural equation model towards improving OHS in ISMMI.