Muruka, Andrew Oduor Msc OSHA-2012_2

Evaluating the Use of the ‘Savannah Hypothesis’ among Kenyan Workers and Japanese Students Andrew Oduor Muruka A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment for the Degree of Master of Science in Occupational Safety and Health in the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology 2012 II DECLARATION This thesis is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other University Signature: ……………………………………… Date: ……………………… Andrew Oduor Muruka This thesis has been submitted for examination with our approval as University Supervisors: Signature: ……………………………………… ……………………… Prof Jospeh M Keriko JKUAT, Kenya i Date: Signature: ……… Date: … Prof Shinji Miyake University of Occupational and Environmental Health, (UOEH), JAPAN DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my beloved daughter, Joy Quinsley Anyango Oduor who was born during data analysis ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The preparation of this thesis would not have been possible without the support and help of several persons and especially the 890 respondents who voluntarily participated in my study Their valuable contributions were what made the pages of this thesis come alive My sincere appreciation is expressed to my Kenyan supervisor, Professor Joseph M Keriko (Principal, Nairobi Campus, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) for not only scrutinizing every word in this thesis but also for his vote of confidence in me and unending support from the beginning to the end of my study To my special advisor, mentor, teacher and Japanese academic supervisor, Professor Shinji Miyake, Director of Education, Department of Safety and Health Management, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, I give special thanks for the words of encouragement and a smile when I needed them most, as well as for his patience, enthusiasm, special interest, technical assistance, expertise and friendly criticisms I sincerely thank him for directing his and his university’s resources towards the success of this thesis by personally travelling to Kenya, his first trip ever to Africa Special recognition is due to my family members who gave moral, financial, social support and to my wives, Mrs Christine O Muruka and Mrs Margaret M Muruka for enduring long periods of psychological and physical absence during the study period And to my parents, Patricia and Joanes Muruka and all my children: Alfred, Mary Jullienne, Ryan Dileque Junior, Prince Emmanuel and Joy who truly missed me when they needed me most To Prof Fumio Yamada, Head of Department, iii Department of Health Psychology , School of Human Sciences, Osaka University of Human Science, Japan for his special expertise as an external examiner I am most grateful to both my bother-in-law, Mr Vincent Were and brother, Mr Steven Muruka for assisting in data collection, developing keen interest in my work and supporting my data analysis and to my brother Charles Muruka and sister Joyce Muruka for giving invaluable and immeasurable support to my studies I want to express deep appreciation to my Director, Mr P W Makhonge, Director of Occupational Safety and Health Services and Mr Samuel Thuita, for according the time that I needed most to conduct the research work and write my thesis May comfort be upon them all A final, but very special, appreciation is directed to God for everything iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION………………………… ……………………………………………… II DEDICATION…………………………………………………………………………… III ACKNOWLEDGMENT………………………………………………………………… IV TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………………………………… VI LIST OF TABLES…………… ……………………………………………………… XIV LIST OF FIGURES…………………… ……………………………………………… XV LIST OF PLATES……………………………………………………… XVIII LIST OF APPENDICES……………………………………………………………… XIX ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………………… XX CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW v 1.1 Background on Savannah Ecosystem………….…… ……… ………… 1.2 The Savannah Hypothesis………………………….……………………… 1.3 The Concept of Comfort…….……….………………….………………… 1.4 Indoor Work Environment Quality……………………………………… 1.5 The Effects of Nature Elements and Trees on Comfort and Productivity 1.6 Savannah Hypothesis and Most Preferred Visually attractive Tree Species 12 1.7 Stress at Work……………………………………………………………… 14 1.8 Legal Framework on Working Conditions in Kenya……………………… 15 1.8.1 The Constitution of Kenya…………………………….……………… … 15 18.2 The Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007……………… ……… 16 1.8.3 The Factories (Noise Prevention and Control), Rules, 2005…………… 16 vi 1.9 Paired Comparison Method (The Law of Comparative Judgment)………… 17 1.10 Conceptual Framework……………………………………………….… … 20 1.11 Theoretical Framework…………………………… … ……………….…… 21 1.12 Statement of the Problem…………………………………….……………… 26 1.13 Significance and Justification of the Study……………………………….… 27 1.14 Research Questions……………….……………………………… ….…… 28 1.15 Hypotheses……………………………………………….……………….… 29 1.16 Objectives…………………………………………………………………… 29 1.16.1 Main Objectives………………………………………………………… … 29 1.16.2 Specific Objectives…………………… ………………………………… 30 1.17 Limitations and Assumptions of the Study……………………………… 30 vii CHAPTER 2: MATERIALS AND METHODS………………………………… 33 2.1 Research Sites/areas… ……………………………………………………… 33 2.2 Research Design ……………………………………………….………… 34 2.3 Study Population…………………………………………………………… 35 2.4 Sampling Design…… …………………………………………………… 36 2.4.1 Kenyan Workers…………….…………………………………….……… 36 2.4.2 Respondents from Nyakach District, Nyanza Province, Kenya…….…… 38 2.4.3 Respondents from Japan…………………………………………………… 39 2.5 Data Collection Instruments and Methods………………… ………… 40 2.5.1 Respondent Categories………………………………………… ………… 40 viii 2.5.2 Workplaces in Nairobi…………………………………………………… 41 2.5.3 Primary School Teachers in Nyakach District, Nyanza Province, Kenya… 43 2.5.4 Tree Species and Tree Silhouettes Canopies Selected for the Study……… 43 2.5.5 Questionnaires …………… ……………………………………………… 45 2.5.6 Pre-Testing of Questionnaires………………… ……………….………… 48 2.6 Data Analysis Methods…….………………………………………….… 48 2.6.1 Conversion of the 5-Point Rating Scale into Mean Scores…………….… 48 2.6.2 Student-Newman_Keuls (S-N-K) Analysis of Paired Comparisons and Statistical Parameters used in making inferences…………………… 50 2.6.3 Multiple Comparisons Method for Significant Differences by Tukey Method with Studentized Range for Analysis of Elementary School Pupil Tree Preferences…………………… 52 ix ATTRACTIVE SLIGHTLY ATTRACTIVE CANNOT DECIDE SLIGHTLY ATTRACTIVE ATTRACTIVE ATTRACTIVE SLIGHTLY ATTRACTIVE CANNOT DECIDE SLIGHTLY ATTRACTIVE ATTRACTIVE Part 4: Form/Context for maximum comfort at the workplace 175 The different forms/contexts are: A- Potted plants; B- Murals (Wall Paintings); C- 2m x 1m size photographs; D-Plastic plants and E- Cloth paintings Figure 4: Paired Comparison Worksheets for Form/context Question: When you introduce trees/plants in your workplace, which form/context is better? 176 Best Slightly Cannot Slightly Best Form Better Form Decide Better Form Form Potted plants Murals(wall 2m x1m size Paintings) Plastic plants photographs Potted plants Murals (wall Cloth paintings 2m x1m size paintings) Plastic plants 2m x1m size photographs Cloth paintings Potted plants photographs Murals(wall Plastic plants paintings) Cloth paintings 2m x1m size Plastic plants Cloth paintings photographs Potted plants Murals(wall Plastic plants paintings) Cloth paintings 177 Part 5: Feelings about Trees and Plants in the Workplace Please give your honest views about plants in the workplace Your views may be important in the improvement of many workplaces Use the scales provided and tick where appropriate For each question tick only one answer NOTE: 1-DEFINITELY NOT, 2-SLIGHTLY NOT, 3-SLIGHTLY , 4-DEFINITELY Part 5.1: WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT Definitely Slightly Not Not Definitely Slightly Not Not Slightly Definitely Slightly Definitely Unsatisfied with temperature and/or humidity regulation Illumination is poor Noise worries me Rest room is dirty Locker room is small On the whole, the workplace environment is comfortable Workspace is small Part 5.2: Feelings about foliage Plants 178 | Foliage plants disturb work Foliage plants are obstacles to walking 10 Foliage plants bother me 11 Smells of foliage plants disturb me 12 Foliage plants are eyesores 13 Foliage plants make the workplace look small 14 Shapes of foliage plants are not my favorites 15 Colors of foliage plants are not my favorites 16 Arranging foliage plants is useless because they have no clear effects 17 Foliage plants are shabby because they are not well cared for 18 I prefer other kinds of plants 19 Budget for foliage plants should be used for other things Part 5.3: Feelings about Foliage Plants at Work Definitely Slightly Not Not 20 Foliage plants relax me 21 Foliage plants refresh me 22 Foliage plants enrich the workplace 179 | Slightly Definitely making it similar to home living space 23 I feel eased by foliage plants 24 Foliage plants make an office and/or a factory cheerful 25 Foliage plants make an office and/or a factory smart 26 More foliage plants should be arranged 27 Foliage plants improve work performance 28 Foliage plants raise work motivation 29 Foliage plants relieve eye-strain 30 I feel refreshed by foliage plants Part 5.4: Final Questions about foliage plants Before this survey, did you know that foliage plants purify harmful substances in indoor air? Yes Did you know that room humidity is kept moderately by water transpiration from leaves of plants? Yes No _ No _ Do you think arranging foliage plants at the workplace in an office/workplace/ factory is good? Yes No _ 4 Have you been concerned about foliage plants arranged at the workplace before this survey? Yes No _ Any other comments about plants in the workplace: 180 | Appendix : Questionnaire for Japanese University Students 181 | 182 | 183 | 184 | APPENDIX 3: Manual for the Savannah Hypothesis Evaluation Please use five tree photos (monochrome) in this investigation If possible, please enlarge them to A3 size Kindly finish before summer and send by fax or by post Please mark A, B, C, D, and E as shown below A B C D E Please write these letters on each photo Please use the record form attached on the next page Procedure is troublesome but not make any mistakes Please present each pair of photos in the order of that written on the record form For example, at first, please present A on the left and B on the right on a white/black board Next, C and D will be presented, and so on In total, ten pairs will be presented In the investigation, please instruct the pupils on the method at first For example, ask them to raise their hands once you have put the first pair on the board Then record the number of girls and boys who raise their hands for each tree silhouette presented Repeat this procedure ten times for the ten pairs A minor arrangement of the instruction and/or the method is OK Please consider the way to reject the effects of other pupils’ responses (small children tend to respond in accordance with their friends) An explanation of the purpose of this investigation is not necessary Just explain to them that this is an investigation of tree preference 185 | Please complete this investigation before summer vacation and send by FAX or a postal mail when you finish 186 | Appendix 4: PAIRED COMPARISONS RECORD FORM Place　　　　　　school　/　kindergarten Date and time class; Respondent　boy / girl 　　　 _; _ Boy who chose Boy who chose Girl who chose Girl who chose left right left right A: B C:D A:E B:C D:E C:A B:D E:C D:A E:B University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan 187 | ... been presented for a degree in any other University Signature: ……………………………………… Date: ……………………… Andrew Oduor Muruka This thesis has been submitted for examination with our approval as University... (UOEH), JAPAN DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my beloved daughter, Joy Quinsley Anyango Oduor who was born during data analysis ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The preparation of this thesis would