Influence of safety compliance on performance of small and medium construction firms in Nairobi County

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine how safety compliance influences performance among small and medium construction enterprises in Nairobi County. The specific objectives were to determine the influence of leadership involvement in safety, safety management practices, staff safety training, and investment in safety on the performance of SME construction firms in Nairobi County. Accident theory formed the theoretical framework of the study. The study subscribed to the pragmatic research philosophy and used a descriptive research design. The target population was1, 231 contractor firms registered by the National Construction Authority in Classes 5-8, which are categorized as small and medium enterprises. The sample size was determined as 302 managers; out of whom142 managers were reached. A structured questionnaire was used in data collection. The statistical analysis was done using descriptive statistics, Pearson (r) correlation and multiple regression analysis. The findings show that the model achieved 85.6 % and this effect was statistically significant. Safety management had the largest positive effect on contractors’ business performance followed by safety training, and safety investment. The study concludes that safety management, safety training, and safety investment had a positive and significant effect on business performance of small and medium enterprises contractors. However, it is this study’s conclusion that safety leadership had a negative but statistically significant effect on contractors’ business performance. The study recommends that management should develop internal safety identification and rewarding programs to motivate staff to adopt safety practices in the organization. The study further recommends for safety training to be extended to project stakeholders and also having a compulsory training program for firm staff. The study further recommends for firms to invest in safety practices such as promoting safety in the workplace by printing of pamphlets and posters, safety advertising boards, and banners. There is a need to study further the extent to which safety implementation affects the performance of Small and Medium Construction Enterprises contractors with other parameters like capital, marketing, human resources management, and other aspects, which are all important to the contribution of performance in a business.