Sample and sampling procedure
In this particular study, all the employees and managers of the mining companies are deemed viable. However, only a small number of participants will be the selected depending on the frequency with which they have been involved in the processes of safety work environment (SWE) as well as their knowledge in the SWE.
From the total number of managers that may be sampled, just one hundred will be selected via a technique dubbed as convenience simple online random sampling strategy and the research questionnaire will be administered to help in addressing the formulated research questions (Spector 221).
Data analysis techniques and measurement strategies
To obtain the best correlation approximation values, the study quantitative data analysis will be carried out by utilizing the integrated Statistical Analysis Tool (SAT). Further quantitative data analysis techniques including spearman’s correlation, percentages, frequency distribution and deviations will be used to determine the research respondents’ proportions that chose various responses.
The method will be applied for each group of items available in the questionnaire that ideally corresponds to the formulated research question and objectives. Line graphs, tables as well as statistical bar charts will be used to make sure that quantitative data analysis is simply comprehensible (Spector 222).
The data analysis will be performed using the Microsoft excel together with the Statistical Analysis Tools (SAT). The study applies the Likert scale measures. Therefore, spearman’s correlation would be appropriate in the analysis since ordinal scales have been applied. The spearman correlations coefficient indicates statistical dependence between two variables (Spector 222).
Ethical considerations
Like in any research study, ethical issues are likely to emerge. Thus, ethical consideration is critical. The ethical issues that are likely to arise include the informed consent of the participants, the power differences between the researcher and the participants, the confidentiality of the information as well as the consent of the authorities (Richey and James 233).
Looking into ways through which these ethical issues can be dealt with is critical for the success of the study. Before undertaking the study, all the requirements will be completed as a requisite by the research committee as well as the department. In addition, explanations regarding freedom of participation will be offered to the respondents.
A letter of introduction specifying and explaining the aims of the study and the standard methods will also be provided. The letter will also provide an assurance of the confidentiality of their information. Moreover, information sheet guiding and describing the study will also be provided. The participants will also be made aware that they can remove their participation without any consequence.
Lastly, the participants will be provided with letter of consent. An approval will be sought from the responsible authority particularly the companies top management and safeguards will be put in place during and after the research study to help protect the respondents and any other human subjects.
In fact, both physical and emotional harm that may accrue will be given due consideration in this section by stating the basic ethical approach along with the power differentials between the researcher and the respondents as well as how the participants will be protected from any eminent abuses.
Informed consent will similarly be sought. Finally, the information acquired from the study participants will be securely stored and protected whereas study-finding reports will not divulge the participants’ identification (Aguinis and Henle 312).
Findings, analysis and discussion
Out of 20 respondents, 10 accepted that they have fallen ill because of work environment in the past year while 13 have sustained injuries. According to the findings, only one employee has died due to work related injuries in the past one year. Compared to the year 2008, 15 employees have fallen ill while 11 sustained injuries related to working conditions.
In 2008, 3 workers died because of poor working conditions. The findings also indicate that most of the firms have not implemented any safety rules for the last three years. Only five percent of the firms interviewed have implemented few changes in the safety measures. However, safety measures are highly observed in risky environment within firms.
Despite illnesses and at times death in most of the mining quarries, the mining firms most often ignore or fail to implement the safety measures even though they exists. Most interesting is that mining workers are not trained on safety measures. According to the findings, workers point out that they learn through work experience. About 17 respondents agree that they are orientated on work safety on their arrival.
Two respondents agree that they have not received any orientation or training on the work safety while one respondent agree that they were trained on safety measures during work. On measures put by the firms to ensure safety for their workers, most respondents agree that the company have supplied the quarries with fire extinguishers though most of them are not usable.
About 18 respondents agree that fire extinguishers are properly supplied in the mines while only two respondents disagree. In terms of safety exits, 10 percent accept that their companies provided spacious and visible safety exists while 10 argue that safety exits are not in good conditions.
From the findings, it is clear that most of the firms do not emphasize safety work environment. Notably, it can easily be observed that the numbers of employees falling ill and sustaining injuries are increasing over the years. Equally important to note is that the firms’ rate of implementing the safety measures is very low.
The meaning is that the firms must improve on their implementation of safety measures in order to provide satisfactory safety environment to their workers. The indication is that training on safety measures during emergencies to the workers is just equally important like any other services training provision.
The indication that most of the firms provide leap service training or do not provide at all is dangerous to the workers. Lack of training of safety measures exposes workers more to the work related risks and hazards (Zaccarelli 234). The results also indicate the negligence on part of the mining firms towards their workers in spite of risky environment they operate.
The outcomes are in accordance with Sargeant and Maria account that the workers expect their firms to offer quality and safe working environment 76. As a result, the study outcome proves that in the case of emergencies, workers expect to arrive at their safer destinations easily devoid of any delays.
Nevertheless, it is important to note that the data analysis does not show such aspects as the firms’ final output due to safety measures, the individual output due to working in safe environment as well as workers health in open questions. The traits are pointed out to be significant aspects that make a firm better than others (Sargeant and Maria 79).
The study limitation and anticipation
The research scope is limited to particular demographic group of mining company managers and employees only one within the industry. However, work safety environment occurs in all firms and in all industry. Further, the study is limited to few firms within the mining industry. The anticipation is that the outcome of the study will inform further research on the field and help formulate appropriate measures that would ensure safety-working environment for workers.
Moreover, the outcome of the study should inform industry practitioners as well as those within the field on the appropriate safety work environment to be adopted by the corporations. Further, the study provides a historical and current broad view of what is happening in most of the firms regarding safety work environment.
Conclusion
Results show that poor work environment still exists in most of the companies. In other words, most of the firms’ managers and employees have not recognized the importance of safe working environment. As such, both the managers and the employees have not taken serious measures to enhance safety in workplaces.
Managers should emphasize on the safety at workplaces and enforce ethical procedures as well as regulations that increase environmental safety in their factories. Evident point out that lack of safety rules enforcement increases workplace environmental hazards.
In the contrary, clean and safe working conditions have a direct correlation to the increased workers output. Safe working conditions also have direct association with increased health and wellbeing of the workers. Therefore, it is critical for firms’ management as well as all the stakeholders to ensure safety environment at workplaces.
Works Cited
Spector, Peter. “Method variance in organizational research.” Organizational Research Methods, 9.3 (2006): 221-232. Print.
Aguinis, Henle and H. Carol. Ethics in research. Handbook of research methods in industrial and organizational psychology. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers, 2002. Print.
Zaccarelli, Henry. Improving Employee safety: Effective Training. London, UK: Kogan Publishers, 2007. Print.
Sargeant, Malcolm and M. Giovannone. Vulnerable Workers: Health, Safety, and Well-Being. Farnham: Gower Publishing, 2011. Print.
Richey, Rita and J. Klein. Design and Development Research: Methods, Strategies, and Issues. London: Routledge, 2008. Print.