Utilisation of health and safety measures among students in mechanical workshops of technical schools- case study of Asuansi and Cape Coast Technical Institutes

Abstract

The general objective of this study was to investigate the utilization of health and safety measures among students of Asuansi and Cape Coast Technical Institutes. This study employed descriptive method to gather the relevant data obtained from the research area. The study used quantitative research approach for the study. The population for the study was 100. The population was made up of mechanical engineering students at Asuansi Technical and Cape Coast Technical Institutes. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 100 participants for the study. Primary and secondary data were used for the study. Primary data for this study was collected using questionnaires. The instruments were administered by the researcher in person. The data obtained from the respondents was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version (SPSS v 16). The study results concluded that it is important to wear eye protection when hammering in the workshop. Moreover, students are aware that it is not important to operate a machine at the shop anytime they want. Also, it is important to wear gloves when handling hot objects. Furthermore, it is not good to crack jokes at the mechanical workshops, because cracking jokes does not make people work faster. The study also concluded that, it is good to clean workshops frequently to ensure safe working conditions and machines must be stopped before greasing them. To add more, students are aware that, attachments and clamps on the milling machine should be checked for tightness before turning on the machine, the best way to remove metal cuttings or chips from your work is to use a rag. The study recommended that the Ghana education service, through the District Education Directorate should organize periodic demonstration workshops and seminars to educate technical students regarding the safe use of tools and instruments to improve safety at the mechanical workshops.