Effect of Occupational Accident on Job Performance; A Case of a Construction Firm in Kumasi-Ghana

Abstract

The construction industry is besieged with accidents. Incidents of accidents at the construction site are higher in developing countries than developed countries. Safety at the construction site remains the poorest of all when compared with other manufacturing industry like the furniture and fixtures, fashion industries among others. The construction industry comprises of several people with different backgrounds and different tasks performed by them. The study examined the effect of occupational accident on job performance; a case of a construction firm in Kumasi-Ghana. 5 section questionnaires enclosing questions on demographic characteristics, general knowledge on safety and legalities, accident occurrence, safety management systems and employee attitude were administered to 110 workers of the construction firm. Chi-square and Pearson‟s Correlation Coefficient(r) were statistical tools used for the analysis of results. The result established a weak negative correlation between accident and job performance (labor productivity) and a statistically significant association between the accidents occurrence, its nature and absenteeism as (χ2 = 108.645; d.f. = 4; p < 0.001) and (χ2 =101.864; d.f. = 2; p < 0.001) respectively. The questionnaire result revealed that there was higher knowledge of safety legalities and practices, and low records of accidents among the construction workers of the firm. It also found that the effect of the accidents and its nature on absenteeism was low. The study concludes that a good safety management system and a positive employee attitude would reduce absenteeism, occupational accidents and further increases labor productivity as demonstrated in the conceptual framework.