Advancing safety and sustainability through occupational safety, health, and environment integration in Uganda’s cement manufacturing industry

Abstract

Cement manufacturing poses significant risks due to inadequate Occupational Safety, Health, and Environment (OSHE) performance, a challenge that remains insufficiently examined despite the industry’s rapid expansion. This study, therefore, aimed to evaluate OSHE management practices, assess workplace risks, analyze the integration of safety management, and the mediating effect of production pressure on safety performance across two major cement plants. A mixed methods approach was employed. For objective (i), perception surveys involving 233 participants in Plant A and 186 in Plant B were analyzed using SPSS 2020, while hazard checklists and site inspections engaged over 400 respondents. Risk assessment tools, including a 6×6 risk assessment matrix and risk modeling algorithms such as Artificial Neural Fuzzy Interface Systems (ANFIS), and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using AMOS, were applied to strengthen analysis and prediction. The results revealed that an OSHE budget was critical in Plant A, whereas OSHE policy and specialized training were essential in Plant B (p < 0.05). In both plants, worker involvement and hazard awareness were key drivers of safety management, highlighting the need for rewards, recognition, education, training, and accountability programs. Hazard assessments identified confined spaces, unsafe behaviors, and mechanical and electrical hazards as major threats, with baseline risk ratings exceeding 30/36. ANFIS models predicted escalation under production pressure and during irregular shifts, underscoring the need for dynamic risk assessment, predictive tools, and advanced Personal Protective Equipment. Further analysis demonstrated a strong positive correlation between safety integration and safety performance, with Labor Safety Accountability (LSA) and Management Safety Accountability (MSA) exerting the most significant influence (p < 0.001). Contractor Safety Management (CSM) and Safety-Based Labor Management (SBLM) also made substantial contributions. However, Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) revealed that production pressure manifested through Production Pressure Intensity, Disruptions in Safety Protocols, and Normalization of Unsafe Practices, negatively mediated the safety integration-performance relationship, with Production Pressure Intensity (p = 0.014) and Disruptions in Safety Protocols (p = 0.026) significantly reducing safety outcomes. Overall, the study confirms that safety integration enhances safety performance, but its benefits are undermined by production pressure. These findings underscore the need for proactive, data-driven OSHE strategies to improve worker safety in Uganda’s cement industry.