Critical drivers towards generative process health and safety culture
Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology
ISSN: 1726-0531
Article publication date: 18 August 2020
Issue publication date: 7 April 2021
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to report on the development of a model to improve process health and safety within the context of a petrochemical environment to achieve a generative health and safety culture within that sector.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative research methodology and deductive research approach were used in the study. A survey was conducted in a major petrochemical enterprise in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa with 259 returned and duly completed questionnaires. The data was statistically analysed using statistical packages for social science version 25.
Findings
This study found that the key process health and safety critical drivers needed to grow a generative process health and safety culture were leadership commitment, chemical exposure management, health and safety risk assessment, process hazard analysis and permit to work.
Research limitations/implications
This study was conducted in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa within the petrochemical industry. Because of self-reported methods of data collection, there is a probability of bias existing in the results of the study.
Practical implications
The contribution of this research is to understand, based on theoretical assumptions, how health and safety improvement could be institutionalised in an organisation. The developed model can be used as a practical tool.
Social implications
This paper is part of the larger discussion of increasing importance in health and safety policy-making. This study aims at contributing to the literature in the field of health and safety by incorporating the drivers towards a generative process health and safety culture.
Originality/value
This study provides a model to assist senior management to reduce exposure to process health and safety hazards in the petrochemical industry and improve overall performance.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The corresponding author would like to thank the Almighty GOD for granting him the power, courage and wisdom to finish this study. The author would also like to express his deep sense of gratitude to Professor Theodore Conrad Haupt, for providing his treasurable advice, recommendations and guidance to complete this journal paper.
THANK YOU to all the participants in this research, may GOD bless you and your families. The author is grateful to his wife, Dr Bongiwe Pepu, for her support, understanding and allowing him to work extra hours. In addition, the author is thankful to his sons Mfundo Nyawera and Nkazimulo Nyawera, his daughters Sandiswa Nyawera and Khwezilokusa Nyawera for providing him invaluable pleasure and amusement. You are AWESOME and HE LOVE YOU.
Citation
Nyawera, J.X. and Haupt, T.C. (2021), "Critical drivers towards generative process health and safety culture", Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. 19 No. 2, pp. 385-411. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEDT-05-2020-0165
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited