Leadership Role In Health And Safety At The Workplace In The Context Of Covid-19 In Zimbabwe
Abigail Shumba
Graduate School of Business, Bindura University of Science Education, Zimbabwe
Judith Mwenje
Graduate School of Business, Bindura University of Science Education, Zimbabwe
Keywords: assess, role, leadership, health, safety, workplace, Covid-19, protection, implementation
Abstract
The purpose of the study is to assess the role of leadership in occupational health and safety practices in the context of Covid-19 . Most employers fail to put in place adequate health and safety measures at their workplace to safeguard not only the employees but also clients/customers and other stakeholders who might have some kind of interest in the company or institution. Ineffective occupational health and safety policies have a negative effect on the organization as well as the workforce. Being a health institution, the hospital staff, management, patients and other stakeholders are exposed to several risks and hazards. The research aimed among other things to identify systems put in place by hospital management in the implementation of health and safety activities. Literature review reveals that the employer has both the legal and moral obligation of protecting and promoting the health and safety of workers at their workplaces. It states that, employees also have a role in promoting their health and well-being as they adhere to or comply with health policies put in place by the management. The benefit is that if the workers’ well-being is protected, that in-turn ensures the protection and well-being of their families and the society at large. The descriptive cross-sectional survey was used for the purpose of discovering the safety measures provided by the management during the Covid-19 Pandemic. The questionnaire, interview guide and personal observation checklist were used for collection of data. The researcher used the probability sampling techniques which are stratified and simple random. Analysis of data was done using both qualitative and quantitative tools. With the quantitative tools, the current version of EPI Infor version 7.1.3.10 was used to analyse data and qualitative data was analysed using NVIVO package. The results of this study therefore signifies that instituting workplace safety policies and enforcing them is a major step towards promoting the health and safety of workers. The study revealed that although the hospital management had in place most of the safety systems for health and safety implementation there were not adequate. The study showed that both the employer and the employee plays a critical role in health and safety activities at the workplace. Staff commitment and compliance to health and safety rules was seen to be low. From the findings of this study, it was therefore concluded that there cannot be an effective occupational health and safety policy if both employers and employees fail to perform their respective responsibilities. Staff should be made to understand that safety and health practices are the responsibility of both the employer and the employee. Management on the other hand, should continue organizing trainings, workshops, seminars on health and safety for staff, publish materials on safety and many other steps to inculcate safety consciousness in the minds of workers. The employee is required to comply with all health and safety rules, knowing that the person ultimately responsible for his/her health and safety is himself/herself