Occupational Health Hazards and Safety Needs of Commercial Motorcyclists In, Kapseret Sub County, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

Abstract

In Kenya, the commercial motorcycle (boda boda) industry is one of the largest informal sector employing over 2 million riders and is a source of livelihood to 5 million Kenyans. Unprecedented levels of youth unemployment in Uasin Gishu County have driven novice riders to venture into the boda boda business with minimal recourse of the occupational hazards and risks they will be exposed to. Escalating cases of boda boda related accidents and fatalities in the region prompted the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital to set aside wards that cater for injured riders. The broad objective of this study was to assess occupational health hazards and safety needs of commercial motorcyclists in Kapseret Sub-County, Uasin Gishu County. The study used a cross-sectional research design. A two-stage cluster sampling technique was used to select study participants to the desired sample size of 368. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected using questionnaires, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Descriptive and inferential (chi-square) analysis was executed using SPSS software Version 20. From the findings, psychosocial, physical and ergonomic hazards featured as the predominant occupational hazards among commercial riders in Kapseret Sub-County with stress being categorized as high risk factor (55.4 %). The level of compliance to recommended Occupational Health and Safety practices among the riders was low, a factor that was attributed to lack of formal training whereby,47.6 % were novice riders with no formal training. The study established a prevalence of 57.5% of road traffic crashes in Kapseret –Sub-County mainly attributed to alcohol abuse, over speeding and poor visibility. The chi –square test results revealed that there was a significant relationship between rider training and accident involvement (χ2=151.7; df = 4; p= 0.000). Socio-demographic factors significantly associated with boda boda accidents in the study area included age (p=0.000), education level (p=0.016) and motorcycle ownership (p= 0.018). This study therefore demonstrates that commercial riding is an inherently risky occupation and the risk is exacerbated by precarious behavioural factors that increase the likelihood of fatal crash involvement. This study recommends for interventions aimed at enhancing capacity and behaviour change in the boda boda sector through refinement of the training curriculum, concerted sensitization on statutory requirements and strict enforcement of safety laws to enhance occupational safety in Kenya during the 2nd UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030.