The Impact of occupational health and safety practices of employees in the Sri Lanka Navy

Abstract

The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), as the nation’s primary maritime defense force, relies on its engineering and technical personnel to maintain the operational readiness of ships and crafts. These high-risk roles make effective Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) practices vital for protecting personnel, ensuring job satisfaction, and sustaining organizational performance. Despite established safety protocols and workplace standards, accident rates particularly in engineering units remain high, reflecting gaps in practical implementation. This study assessed OSH practices within the Western Naval Command dockyard using a quantitative design with stratified random sampling, complemented by interviews with key personnel. Objectives included evaluating current safety measures, identifying implementation gaps, examining their impact on performance, and recommending improvements. Findings show that while guidelines and facilities exist, persistent issues such as non-compliance with safety protocols, inadequate provision and use of personal protective equipment (PPE), limited refresher training, weak supervision, and an informal work culture contribute to ongoing accidents. Loss of skilled personnel due to injuries disrupts workflow and reduces efficiency. The study concludes that bridging the gap between policy and practice is critical. Strengthening training and audits, improving managerial accountability, ensuring consistent PPE availability, and fostering a safety-compliant culture can reduce accidents and enhance the SLN’s operational effectiveness through better workforce well-being and productivity