Occupational health and safety dimensions and work outcomes in the mental hospitals in Ghana: The moderating effect of job satisfaction

Abstract

Like high risk industries such as aviation and mining, occupational health and safety issues in the mental hospitals cannot be underestimated. For instance, although some conceptual and empirical studies have focused on patient safety in mental hospitals, the safety and health management of nurses in the mental health sector has largely been ignored. This paper seeks to examine the relationship between occupational health and safety management and two work outcomes such as engagement and turnover intention in a large mental hospital in Ghana. Results of the correlation coefficient indicated a positive relationship between occupational health and safety and engagement, and a negative relationship with turnover intention. The hierarchical regression results revealed a positive influence of safety procedure and safety leadership on mental health nurses engagement. In addition, only safety supervision and safety leadership had negative effect on the mental health nurses’ turnover intention. Finally, job satisfaction of the mental health nurses moderated the relationships between safety supervision and safety leadership, and intention to turnover.