Exploring the Relationship Between Instructors’ Attitudes with The Occupational Health and Safety Practices at Vocational Colleges

Abstract

Accidents and injuries at the workplace mainly occur due to the internal and external factors of the working environment. There is an early awareness among educational institutions to emphasise on occupational health and safety practices within the school areas. However, it raises a question whether there is a relationship between teachers’ attitudes and involvement in improving the practice of “occupational health and safety” in the school area. Therefore, the objective of this study is to examine the relationship between teachers’ attitudes with occupational health and safety practices in vocational colleges. This study involved a quantitative research via a survey design. A total of 213 questionnaires were distributed to the respondents who were selected using stratified random sampling. The data were analysed using inferential statistical analysis to test the relationship between the independent (teachers’ attitudes) and dependent (health and safety practices) variables. The results showed a significant relationship between the two variables (r = 0.464, p ≤ 0.000), hence indicating that the attitudes of the teaching staff are indeed a key factor to the successful implementation of occupational health and safety practices in vocational colleges. Thus, it is important for the atmosphere of occupational health and safety practices in vocational colleges to be improved for it to be at par with the industry’s standard by fostering a safety culture at the workplace.