Mixed methods study into social impacts of work-related heat stress on Ghanaian mining workers: A pragmatic research approach

Although mixed methods research proves significant in understanding complex social phenomenon, inadequate research has explored its utility in heat exposure studies. The convergent mixed methods analysis comprising 320 surveys and two focus group interviews were used to evaluate the social impacts of occupational heat stress on Ghanaian mineworkers to enlighten policy choices for the purpose of complementarity. The study contributes to mixed methods study by affirming the practical use of between-method triangulation and complementarity. The merged quantitative and qualitative results also showed adequate corroboration and complementarity between both data, to illustrate the social impacts of work-related heat stress on mining workers as heat-related comorbidity, productive capacity loss, anxiety, slow pace of work, and inadequate social well-being. The mixed methods results would inform policy options on the health and safety of work settings, managing occupational heat stress, and adaptation guidelines in the mining industry

An Econometric Model of Factors Influencing Households’ Willingness to Pay for Improved Solid Waste Management Service within the Sekondi – Takoradi Metropolis in the Western Region of Ghana

Solid waste disposal, in particular, has become a daunting task for the municipal authorities. This paper presents an assessment of household's willingness to pay for improved solid waste management service. The paper engaged household's that demand the services of Solid Waste Management (SWM) within Sekondi -Takoradi Metropolis. Data for the study were collected through survey of households living at the Effiakuma estates. Three hundred questionnaires were administered to respondents to gather information on their willingness to pay and the amount they were willing to pay for an improved service. In this study, contingent valuation method (CVM) was used as a method of valuation. Probit and Tobit models were used in the empirical analysis to determine the factors that influence WTP and MWTP of households for improved SWM respectively. The outcome of the study shows that, environmental awareness, occupation, income, perception and house ownership significantly determined households willingness to pay for an improved SWM service. The paper recommends that government should create more employment opportunities so that people can earn regular income. In addition government and various stake holders should make efforts towards improving residents' income as willingness to pay relates positively to income.  More so, educational programs about the dangers of waste in our communities should be organized by various organizations in a quest to increase environmental awareness so as to increase the WTP for improved environmental quality in general and improved solid waste management in particular. Last but not least, the policy frameworks which have been set aside by government for service providers or companies must be given a strict enforcement. Keywords: Solid Waste Management, Willingness to pay, Contingent valuation method, Probit and Tobit model, Marginal effect, Sekondi – Takoradi  and Effiakuma Estate

Perceptions of Stakeholders on the Industrial Attachment Programme of Ghanaian Public Polytechnics

Industrial attachment based on experiential learning offers the most promising strategy in the development of productive and technically skilled human capital potentials of students in Ghanaian public polytechnics for the world of work. However, inadequate logistics, funding and follow-up visits and supervision of students on attachment seem to hinder the success of the industrial attachment programme of polytechnics in Ghana. This paper seeks to assess the perceptions of stakeholders on how the industrial attachment programme in selected Ghanaian public polytechnics affects the development of human capital. Mixed method and analytical research designs were employed in conducting the study with a sample of 594 respondents. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in data analysis. The study found that the industrial attachment programme has been perceived as a catalyst to human capital development in Ghanaian public polytechnics because it serves as a perfect transition from the classroom to the world of work. The disparities in perceptions of the industrial attachment programme for each pair of the four categories of stakeholders was moderate, while disparities in the perceptions of Accra and Kumasi Polytechnics; as well as Kumasi and Takoradi Polytechnics was small. To ensure effective, efficient and holistic practical development of human capital in Ghanaian public polytechnics, experiential learning via industrial attachment should be vigorously pursued by all polytechnics in connection with its stakeholders. Keywords: Perceptions, stakeholders, industrial attachment programme, experiential learning, Ghanaian public polytechnic

Human Capital Development in Polytechnics in Ghana: Prospects of Industrial Attachment

Industrial attachment in polytechnic education based on the philosophy of experiential education facilitates the production of technically skilled and productive human capital for national development. However, the snag of the programme in human capital development relates to inadequacy of logistics and funding, weak polytechnic-industry linkage, inadequate supervision, and evaluation. The objective of the paper is to assess the prospects of the industrial attachment programme in human capital development in selected public polytechnics in Ghana. The mixed method and explanatory research designs were employed in conducting the study. Sample size of 594 respondents was selected based on the purposive, simple random and systematic sampling techniques. The method of survey via questionnaires, interview guide, and focus group discussions was employed in collecting data, while descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in data processing and analysis. The difference in the prospects based on the benefits of industrial attachment among the stakeholders of polytechnics was significantly small but no significant differences were found among the four polytechnics involved in the study. A strong and effective polytechnic-industry synergy and an industrial attachment fund have the potential of improving and sustaining the prospects of the industrial attachment programme for developing technically skilled middle level manpower for national development. Keywords: Prospects, Human capital development, Industrial attachment, Experiential learning, Polytechnics in Ghan

Barriers to occupational heat stress risk adaptation of mining workers in Ghana

Increasing temperature and climate warming impacts are aggravating the vulnerability of workers to occupational heat stress. Adaptation and social protection strategies have become crucial to enhance workers’ health, safety, productive capacity and social lives. However, the effective implementation of work-related heat stress adaptation mechanisms appears to be receiving little attention. This study assessed the barriers to occupational heat stress adaptation and social protection strategies of mining workers in Ghana. Based on a mixed methods approach, focus group discussions and questionnaires were used to elicit data from 320 mining workers. Workers’ adaptation strategies (water intake, wearing loose and light-coloured clothing, participating in training programmes, taking regular breaks, use of mechanical equipment, use of cooling systems and housing designs) varied significantly across the type of mining activity (p \u3c .001). Workers’ social protection measures were adequate. The disparities in workers’ social protection measures significantly differed across the type of mining activity (p \u3c .001). Barriers of workers to the implementation of relevant adaptation strategies (inadequate knowledge of coping and adaptive behaviour, lack of regular training on adaptation measures, lack of specific heat-related policy regulations, lack of management commitment and the lack of access to innovative technology and equipment) also differed across the type of mining activity (p \u3c .001). Adaptation policy options and recommendations centred on overcoming the barriers that constrain the adaptive capacity of workers and employers have the potential to reduce workers’ vulnerability to occupational heat stress

Social impacts of occupational heat stress and adaptation strategies of workers: A narrative synthesis of the literature

Dimensions of risks and impacts of occupational heat stress due to climate change on workers\u27 health and safety, productivity, and social well-being are significantly deleterious. Aside from empirical evidence, no systematic review exists for policy development and decision making in managing occupation heat stress impacts and adaptation strategies of workers. This study sought to synthesise evidence on the social impacts of occupational heat stress and adaptation strategies of workers. From a review of existing literature, eight categories were obtained from 25 studies and grouped into three syntheses: (1) awareness of occupational heat stress, (2) social impacts of occupational heat stress and (3) workers\u27 adaptation to occupational heat stress due to changing climate. Awareness of occupational heat stress among workers varied and their social impacts were related to workers\u27 health and safety, productivity and social well-being. Sustainable adaptation to occupation heat stress due to climate change hinges on financial resource availability. Adequate investment and research are required to develop and implement policies to combat the threat of rising temperature and climate change to enhance workers\u27 adaptive capacity, boost resilience and foster sustainable development