Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of Health and safety management on the
working performance of machine operators in the apparel sector (with special reference to the Gampaha district).
The Physical and environmental conditions, ergonomics and psychosocial conditions, and Health and safety
practices of the company were considered as the independent variables. Female workers’ working performance
was considered the dependent variable. 300 female machine operators is used as the sample for the study. The
questionnaire was used to collect data from probation-level employees. Respondents’ agreement and disagreement
were indicated on the Five Point Likert Scale as the scaling method. The measurement scale for independent and
dependent variables was an interval. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Mean and standard deviation
was used for all the variables for univariate analysis and correlation coefficient and regression analysis was used
for bivariate analysis. The hypotheses were tested using the Pearson Product Movement Correlation Coefficient
(r). The result of the correlation analysis illustrated that the Physical & Environmental factors, Ergonomics and
psychosocial factors, and Health & Safety practices of the company, were positively correlated with female
workers working performance. Also, this study concluded that there is a significant impact of Physical &
Environmental factors, ergonomics and psychosocial factors, and Health & Safety practices of the company on
female worker performance in the apparel industry. The adjusted R2 was 0.104 showing that there was a 10.4%
the variation in female workers’ working performance which is accounted for by the combined effects of the
Physical and environmental conditions, ergonomics and psychosocial conditions, and Health & Safety practices
of the company. It indicates that a sufficient portion of the model (10.4%) is fit for the population. Also, this study
reveals some recommendations to improve the organization’s health and safety management and working
performance among the employees.
