Occupational Health and Safety Management and Employee Productivity in Manufacturing Companies in Enugu Industrial Layout

Occupational health and safety (OHS) management has gained renewed urgency as manufacturing organisations recognise that employee physical and psychological safety is not merely a compliance obligation but a fundamental determinant of workforce productivity and organisational performance. This study examines the relationship between OHS management practices and employee productivity in manufacturing companies located in the Enugu Industrial Layout. The research is anchored on the Systems Theory of Safety Management, which conceptualises organisations as interrelated systems where safety inputs, processes, and outcomes are interdependent. A cross-sectional survey design was employed. The population comprised 483 production workers, safety officers, and HR managers across 18 manufacturing companies in the Enugu Industrial Layout. Using stratified random sampling, a sample of 214 respondents was selected. Data were gathered through structured questionnaires and workplace observation checklists, and analysed with regression analysis and Spearman's rank correlation. Findings reveal that regular safety training, provision of personal protective equipment, hazard identification systems, and management commitment to safety culture are the OHS dimensions most significantly and positively associated with employee productivity scores. The study further finds that firms with documented OHS management systems record 34 percent fewer workplace accidents and significantly higher output per worker compared to non-compliant firms. It is concluded that OHS management is a strategic driver of productivity rather than merely a regulatory burden for manufacturing firms. The study recommends that the Factory Inspectorate Division intensify compliance enforcement and that manufacturing firms appoint dedicated safety officers with adequate authority and resources.

Keywords: Occupational health and safety, employee productivity, manufacturing, Enugu, Systems Theory