Investigation on occupational safety and health practices in university colleges of Sri Lanka

Abstract

The International Labor Organization (ILO) predicted that 2.3 million (World Statistics, 2011) deaths per year would be reported due to workplace accidents or diseases globally while having an approximation of 340 million workplace-related accidents. Most workers have undergone proper education while concentrating on the global annual death and accident rate. A significant relationship between work-related incidents and the education sector's health & safety (H&S) culture should exist. Identifying the significance of the H&S culture of the University Colleges (UC) in Sri Lanka will assist the further development of H&S culture of the vocational education sector in Sri Lanka. This research aimed to improve Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) practices and recommend a framework for enhancing OHS practices in University Colleges in Sri Lanka. A quantitative research approach was adopted, and data were collected through a structured questionnaire from 249 participants studying in all six University Colleges in Sri Lanka. Reliability and validity tests were undertaken, and data were evaluated using correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis. The findings demonstrated that workplace dangers, policies, and awareness were substantially connected with occupational health and safety practices. Multiple regression analysis revealed that workplace hazards, policies, and awareness significantly predicted OHS practices in Sri Lanka's University Colleges. These results suggest that a higher level of OHS practices can be achieved in the vocational education sector by implementing effective policies and procedures and raising awareness among management, staff, and students. These findings imply that vocational education institutions must prioritize implementing comprehensive policies and procedures related to OHS. It is also necessary to promote awareness among all stakeholders to enhance the overall level of OHS procedures in the vocational education sector in Sri Lanka. More study is required to examine the variables that impact the implementation of sound policies and procedures and discover successful techniques to enhance awareness and promote OHS practices in the vocational education sector. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the relationship between workplace hazards, policies, awareness, and OHS practices in the vocational education sector in Sri Lanka. The results of this study may be utilized to influence policy choices and guide future research on the subject of OHS in the vocational education sector. ii Keywords - Occupational Health and Safety, Workplace Hazards, Policies and Procedures, Vocational Education, Sri Lanka