Effects of health and safety on the performance of small and medium enterprises:

Abstract

The main objective of this research project was to establish the effects of Health and Safety programs on the performance of Small and Medium Enterprises. Specific objectives supporting this idea included: to establish the importance of Health and Safety programs to Small and Medium Enterprises in Narok Town, to identify challenges facing implementation of health and safety programs in Small businesses in Narok Town, to identify how problems arising from unsafe conditions and poor health affect service delivery in Small and Medium Enterprises and finally to identify ways safety and health programs can be effectively initiated in Small and Medium Enterprises. The research project pinpoints the benefits of implementing a health and safety program for a carpenter, costs associated with poor and unsafe working conditions and how these benefits or costs affect the overall performance of a business and its productivity. Descriptive research design was used for the study. A sample of 70 workshops in Narok Town was identified using convenience sampling but only 40 responded. A questionnaire was the main data collection tool used for this study and a pilot study was conducted to pre- test the validity and reliability of this tool. Data collected was presented through multiple bar charts, pie charts and tabulation. This data was them analyzed by use of percentages. The findings from this research will be useful to any woodworker or carpenter .It shows them how relevant occupational safety and health is important for their employees and benefits accrued from implementation of health and safety programs.