Workplace Safety and Sustainable Practices as Predictors of Staff Health and Business Performance in Kaduna’s Hospitality Industry
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47514/kjg.2026.08.01.015Keywords:
Workplace Safety, Sustainable practices, Staff Health, Business Performance, Hospitality Industry, Kaduna MetropolisAbstract
The hospitality industry is a significant employer, yet it often features challenging working conditions. While sustainable practices are being increasingly adopted, their direct influence on key operational outcomes, such as staff productivity and business performance, remains poorly quantified, especially in developing urban contexts. This study addresses this gap by quantitatively analysing data from 349 staff and management organizations across hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria. Using descriptive statistics, regression analysis, and correlation analysis, the study investigates the effects of workplace safety practices on staff productivity and business performance, as well as the relationships between broader sustainable practices and staff health and safety. The results reveal a strong positive relationship, with workplace safety practices accounting for 52.7% (R² = 0.527) of the variation in staff productivity and 49.3% (R² = 0.493) of the variation in business performance. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between sustainable practices and staff health and safety (the correlation coefficient ranged from 0.54 to 0.68, p<0.001). The regression model indicated that sustainable practices explained 61% of the variation in health and safety outcomes (R² = 0.61). The findings suggest that sustainability is not merely a cost or a marketing tool but also a strategic driver of employee well-being, efficiency, and competitive advantage. The study concludes by recommending that hospitality managers prioritize safety training and equipment and integrate comprehensive sustainability practices such as waste management and energy efficiency to achieve tangible improvements in both human capital and business capital.
References
Abdou, A. H., Hassan, T. H., & El Dief, M. M. (2020). A Description of Green Hotel Practices and Their Role in Achieving Sustainable Development. Sustainability, 12(22), 9624. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12229624
Abubakar, M. L., Abdussalam, A. F., Mohammed, H. I., Ahmed, M. S., & Musa, A. S. (2025). Flood susceptibility assessment via GIS and the analytical hierarchy process in Kaduna, Nigeria. Discover Geoscience, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44288-025-00204-8
Ada, Y. R., Surono, A., Supriyati, S., & Pribadi, A. P. (2025). Strategies to improve compliance with personal protective equipment use in the textile industry: a scoping review. BMC Public Health, 25(1), 2743. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-24037-9
Adesua-Lincoln, A. (2025). Challenges to environmental sustainability and circular economy practices of Nigerian small and medium enterprises. Journal of Sustainable Business, 10(1), 6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40991-025-00110-9
Aliyu, M., & Rogo, A. (2022). Occupational safety practices in Kaduna’s hospitality industry. Journal of Tourism & Hospitality Studies, 8(2), 21–34.
Atofarati, E. O., Adogbeji, V. O., & Enweremadu, C. C. (2025). Sustainable smart waste management solutions for rapidly urbanizing African Cities. Utilities Policy, 95, 101961. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jup.2025.101961
Babagbale, E. (2020). Employees’ perceptions of the effects of green training and practices on hotel sustainability in Ilorin, Nigeria. African Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 2(1), 46–60. https://doi.org/10.47963/ajthm.v2i1.146
Bautista-Bernal, I., Quintana-García, C., & Marchante-Lara, M. (2024). Safety culture, safety performance, and financial performance. A longitudinal study. Safety Science, 172, 106409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2023.106409
Chan, E. S. W., & Hsu, C. H. C. (2016). Environmental management research in hospitality. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 28(5), 886–923. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-02-2015-0076
Cochran, W.G. (1977) Sampling Techniques. 3rd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York.
Ibrahim, A., Abdulkadir, H., & Baba, S. U. (2025). Institutionalization of Sustainable Practices in the Hospitality Industry: Evidence from the Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria. Kaduna Journal of Geography, 7(1), 419–432. https://doi.org/10.47514/kjg.2025.07.01.045
Ibrahim, A. H., Odunze, W. C., Farouk, N. M., & Liman, A. A. (2022). Analysing the Pattern and Urban Planning Implications of Sprawl on Quality of Life in Kaduna Metropolis - Nigeria. FUDMA Journal of Sciences (FJS), 6(2), 127–137. https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2022-0602-930
Jibril, M. S., Ariyo, M. O., Butu, A. W., & Emeribe, C. N. (2021). Effects of Human Activities On The Afaka Afforestation Project, Kaduna North, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Jurnal Geografi Lingkungan Tropik, 5(2).
Machingura, T., & Muyavu, A. T. (2024). Can integrated safety intervention practices improve sustainable performance? A survey of service organizations. Heliyon, 10(10), e31081. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31081
Musa, K., & Abubakar, M. L. (2024). Monitoring urban growth and landscape fragmentation in Kaduna, Nigeria, using remote sensing approach. Journal of Degraded and Mining Lands Management, 12(1), 6757–6769. https://doi.org/10.15243/jdmlm.2024.121.6757
Mutegi, T. M., Joshua, P. M., & Kinyua, J. M. (2023). Workplace Safety and Employee Productivity of Manufacturing Firms in Kenya. Cogent Business & Management, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2023.2215569
Ndalnamu, J. P., Ezenagu, N., & Olugbemi-Gabriel, O. (2024). The effect of environmentally sustainable practices on hotel guests’ satisfaction and retention. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 13(1), 149-158. https://doi.org/10.46222/ajhtl.19770720.492
Ndasauka, Y. (2024). The Blindspot of Environmental Issues in Corporate Social Responsibility in Africa. In M. Sarfraz, K. Iqbal, & U. Iyer-Raniga (Eds.), Corporate Social Responsibility - A Global Perspective. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.1005184
Obiora, C. J., & Okonkwo, E. E. (2023). Health and safety concerns of hospitality workers in Nigeria: A post-pandemic review. International Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Studies, 4(1), 77–89.
Ofem, N. O., Uttah, C., Etim, N. S., Ayeni, Q. O., Emeka, J. O., Ewuru, A. A., Eba, M. B. A., Eja, E. I., Abanbeshie, J., James, D. D., Achu, A. A., Otu, M. T., Akwaji, F. N., & Etta, E. O. (2024). Evaluating the Impact of Mass Tourism on the Hospitality Industry and Tourism Destination Development of Cross River State, Nigeria. Geojournal of Tourism and Geosites, 55(3), 1208–1218. https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.55321-1293
Ojo, I., & Mejabi, E. (2024). Hospitality Industry and Socio-Economic Sustainability of the Host Communities in Ondo State, Nigeria. International Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 12(4), 239–253. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijebo.20241204.15
Ojonuba, S. A., Ahmed, M. S., & Abubakar, M. L. (2025). Assessment of Public Awareness, Knowledge, Attitude and Perception on Microplastics Pollution in Kaduna Metropolis, Kaduna. Ghana Journal of Geography, 17(1), 7–14. https://doi.org/10.4314/gjg.v17i1.2
Olalekan, A. S., Zubairu, S., Akande, O., & Ahmed, S. (2023). Passive Design Strategies in Mitigating Hospitality Employees Work-Environment in North Central Nigeria. International Journal of Built Environment and Earth Science, 2(2), 14–22.
Oluwaseun, F. A., & Eze, P. N. (2020). Occupational health and safety hazards among hotel workers in Nigeria: A systemic concern. Journal of Workplace Health and Safety, 63(8), 125–134. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/216507992090272
Prakash, S., Sharma, V. P., Singh, R., Vijayvargy, L., & Nilaish. (2023). Adopting green and sustainable practices in the hotel industry operations- an analysis of critical performance indicators for improved environmental quality. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 34(4), 1057–1076. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-03-2022-0090
Sharma, G. D., Taheri, B., Cichon, D., Parihar, J. S., & Kharbanda, A. (2024). Using innovation and entrepreneurship for creating edge in service firms: A review research of tourism and hospitality industry. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 9(4), 100572. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2024.100572
Umar, A., Ahmed, A. M., Abubakar, M. L., & Abdussalam, A. F. (2025). Assessing Sustainable Environmental Practices and Carbon Footprint Awareness Among Urban Dwellers in Kaduna Metropolis. Science World Journal, 20(2), 639–646. https://doi.org/10.4314/swj.v20i2.27
UNWTO. (2023). Hospitality and tourism management. In Hospitality and Tourism Management.
Yisa, J., Olubadewo-Joshua, O., & Okosun, O. S. (2019). Utilization of GIS Techniques as Decision Support System for Location of Filling Stations in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria. Geosfera Indonesia, 4(3), 247. https://doi.org/10.19184/geosi.v4i3.9713
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Asiyatu Ibrahim, Yahya Saleh Ibrahim (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
