INVESTIGATING THE LEVEL OF COVID-19 SAFETY COMPLIANCE IN MANUFACTURING COMPANIES

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Manufacturing companies are those that engage in the transformation of goods, materials or substances into new products. The transformational process can be physical, chemical or mechanical. Manufacturers often have plants, mills or factories that produce goods for public consumption. Machines, equipment and huge human labour are typically used in the process of manufacturing. The branch of manufacturing is based on the fabrication, processing, or preparation of products from raw materials and commodities. This includes all foods, chemicals, textiles, machines, and equipment. However, the emergence of coronaviruses have dramatically influenced manufacturing companies in Nigeria due to its dangers to human life and diversification; from the initial epidemic of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), to sporadic outbreaks of Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), to the pandemic of COVID-19 diseases. These viruses were originally transmitted from animals to people. SARS, for instance, was transmitted from civet cats to humans while MERS moved to humans from a type of camel. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans. However, the confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country between February 27 and March 17 (the first 30 days) were imported by returning travelers. As of March 27, 2020 one month after the first case, ten states in Nigeria had 81 clinically confirmed cases. Three patients had fully recovered, and one death was reported. At this time, Lagos State had the highest number of cases (52; 64.2%). By April 5, the number of positive cases had increased exponentially to 232. The death toll had risen. This ugly situation brought about some many restrictions and the Government Imposed prevention measures on all sectors including manufacturing companies. This was to help manage the spread of this virus. Hence all manufacturing companies in Nigeria are left with no alternative but to restructure there working environment and invent other strategies that will help to ensure the execution of Government’s order with respect to Covid-19. This study’s interest is geared towards assessing the level at which manufacturing companies complies with the Government’s order on Covid-19 prevention measures.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Covid-19 gained its access to Nigeria on 27 February 2020 through an Italian citizen who works in Nigeria that returned on 25th February 2020 from Milan, Italy through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. The Italian citizen fell ill on 26th February 2020 and was transferred to Lagos State Bio-security Facilities for isolation and testing. Hence after the confirmation of the outbreak of this horrendous virus in Nigeria, the federal Government obliged all individuals and organizations to observe the global Covid-19 safety measures to help manage the dispersion of the virus in the country. However this imposed an unbearable challenge on many companies including infant companies with no strong funding who may find it uneasy to consistently supply all the required items needed to observe these Covid-19 preventative principles. Furthermore, many tasks in manufacturing companies demands good number of man power which without adequate human labour force many are not accomplished. Therefore, in the view of the above this study strives to ascertain how manufacturing companies in Nigeria ensure compliance to the Covid-19 prevention strategies.

1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The apex aim of this study is to investigate the Level of Covid-19 Safety Compliance in Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria using Golden Guinea Breweries, Umuahia, Abia State. Below are other specific objectives;

1. To identify the numerous Covid-19 prevention measures mandated by the Nigerian Government for Manufacturing Companies.

2. To investigate if the management of the Company provides adequately the items such as sanitizers, face mask, and hand gloves necessarily need to abide by the Covid-19 safety measures.

3. To find out if the company enacted laws that compels employees to observe the Covid-19 prevention measures.

4. To find out the impact of Government enforcement agencies and the Company’s regulative board on ensuring complete compliance to Covid-19 prevention measures by the workers.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION

1. What are the various Covid-19 prevention measures mandated by the Nigerian Government for Manufacturing Companies?

2. Does management of the Company provides adequately the items such as sanitizers, face mask, and hand gloves necessarily need to abide by the Covid-19 safety measures?

3. What is the level to which manufacturing industries comply to the Covid-19 prevention measures?

4. Are there laws enacted by the company that compels the employees to observe the covid-19 prevention measures?

5. What is the impact of Government enforcement agencies and the Company’s regulative board on ensuring complete compliance to Covid-19 prevention measures by the workers?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The relevance of this study can not be over emphasized as it will serve as a source of information and ideas to the Government, business organizations and employees on the Compliance level and challenges limiting the adherence to the Covid-19 rules. However this study will serve as an academic material to students, researchers, and other sagacious individuals.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study is limited to Golden Guinea Breweries Umuahia, Abia State Nigeria.

1.7 LINITATION OF THE STUDY

This study is delimited by by various factors ranging from time frame of the study, financial Implication necessary for the success of this study and inadequate availability of materials need carry out the study. More also ethnical issues and organizational politics which arsed at the course of this study was an impedimental factor to this study.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Covid 19: This is also known as coronavirus and it is a communicable respiratory disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus that causes illness in humans.

Compliance: The act of obeying and observing that which is lawful and legal.

Government: The body of persons that constitutes the governing authority of a political unit or organization: such as. a : the officials comprising the governing body of a political unit and constituting the organization as an active agency.

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