Significant management practices influencing the occurrence of workplace injuries: the case of apparel industry in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Safety culture provides a basis to understand the state of safety in an organization. Further, it gives considerable contribution to the performance of the industry. The management practices; one of components in safety culture also creates a considerable influence on achieving safety. The reviewed literature proved that there is a relationship between management practices and workplace injuries. Workplace injuries can be identified as the bad consequences of the improper safety handling. However, most of the researches have not focused on in-depth investigation of management practices in safety culture and have not looked at the influence which is created on workplace injuries. Therefore, this study aims to identify the critical management practices influencing occurrence of workplace injuries in apparel industry in Sri Lanka. The quantitative research approach was applied in this research. Questionnaire survey was conducted to collect the data. Nineteen management practices identified through literature are evaluated under six major categories, such as, management commitment, employee participation, training programmes, communication and feedback, hiring practices and rewards system. The questionnaire survey data were analysed using statistical software and Mean Weighted Rating was used to determine significant management practices. As per the statistical test results, nineteen significant management practices influencing occurrence of workplace injuries in apparel industry in Sri Lanka are determined. As the main implication, this research provides a basis for modelling the relationship between different management practices and the occurrence of workplace injuries and, for implementing best management practices in apparel industry in Sri Lanka.