Analysis of Safety Compliance and Accident Impacts on Lost time Performance of Small Scale Automotive Maintenance Workshops in Calabar, Nigeria

Abstract

The objective of the present research is twofold; first to assess the level of safety compliance practices among artisans and secondly, to measure the impacts of unplanned lost time emanating from accident on time performance of small-scale auto maintenance firms. Ninety different auto-maintenance jobs executed by automobile, heavy duty, generator and panel beater auto firms between, Januarys to December, 2016 were analyzed using direct observation. Furthermore, primary data collected were analyzed using MS Excel 2013 and Minitab 17 software. Results revealed the mean performance rating of workshops on the availability and usage of personal protective equipment as 143.9 and 154.7. While 224.2 and 302.7 constitutes respective poor usage rate and non-availability of personal protective equipment in the respective workshops. Results further revealed 58.2% as average productive lost time rate resulting from accident occurrence. Conversely, regression analysis revealed that a unit increase of 659.2, 63.5 and 82.8 in accident, severity and lost time index, caused a decreased of-150.8 in overall productivity lost factor. With a coefficient of determination (R 2) of 72.01% at p-value less than 0.005. Hence, a positive and significant relationship between accident and auto mechanics time performance exist. Therefore, sensitization of stakeholders in this sector on the usage of personal protective equipment and the need to make safety their priority as well as regular inspection for safety compliance by regulatory bodies are recommended to build customers trust and improve productivity in this sector.